Strings

I've always used 11s on electric, 13s on acoustic. Pretty much always tuned done a half step.
Always used the same size on my Gibson as my Fender lengths and never really noticed much difference, but I like steel on my The Paul and nickel on my Strat, for some reason.

I don't play very much these days, don't record much, just home playing for fun, but even when I did I didn't change strings very often.
These days it's years!
Tbh I don't really like new strings. Well, obviously any difference the "newer string" thing makes is short lived so why bother chasing it? I've not got money to burn!
I just set up my gear to sound good with worn in strings, so if anything new ones sound a bit too much.
I also kind of think that, to a degree, a guitar string is far more likely to break in the first few days of use. Probably less! If they've been used for a while and not broke they are not likely to break, until they start to rot of course.

Think the last set was d'Addario, but I got some cheaper "shop brand" type things a while back and they seemed to last just as long. Didn't notice any difference in sound on feel or anything either.
I might just take a punt and buy a load that will see me out. I suppose they'll only really get more expensive.
 
D'Addario XL for a long time, mainly because I've bought them in bulk and the packaging allows them to last ages.

I've tried the NYXLs on my 8-string but am not really loving them.

DR strings are totally out because I kept getting way too many strings that would not intonate correctly.

  • 10-46 on most electrics
  • 11-49 on some like my LPs and Jazzmaster
  • I think I have 12s on my acoustic.
Next time I buy strings I might give the European brands like Rotosound or Pyramid a go.
 
3 years later I’m still using Stringjoy Broadways.

I’ve been gradually switching all my instruments to Stringjoy. I just switched my acoustics to Foxwoods and mandolins to Naturals and I’m very happy with both!

Stringjoy seem to be very consistent, they last a long time, and I love the sound and feel of them.

I tried Curt Mangan recently but found the quality to be lacking. Also bought some bulk D’Addario XLs to keep on backup guitars, but I don’t like the feel or sound as well.
 
I started using Stringjoys on my two 7's, primarily since they have 10-64 sets (and they'll customize you a set of any sizes). So far, so good. Sound great and feel great. We'll see on the longevity . . .

Only thing I don't like is opening the box, lmao.
 
Warmart said:
I started using Stringjoys on my two 7's, primarily since they have 10-64 sets (and they'll customize you a set of any sizes). So far, so good. Sound great and feel great. We'll see on the longevity . . .

Only thing I don't like is opening the box, lmao.
Click to expand...

I found it’s easier to open the side of the box, haha

Longevity has been excellent for me! At least on par with NYXLs or Paradigms if not better
 
I think I'm just settling into D'Addario XL 10-46. Anything lighter than 10 now sounds too plinky to me. I don't hear enough benefit from coated or fancy strings to spend any more. And I like the reward points.
 
Sleezy E said:
I've been enjoying the guitar fetish Xavier hybrids
9-46
Click to expand...

Alex Kenivel said:
I've been having a love affair with NYXLs 9-46 for the past few years.
Click to expand...

Fireproof said:
Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkies = 9-46. On all my guitars.
Click to expand...
Been playing 9-46s a lot lately. I like the bullet ends on the Fender strings cause they fit snug as a bug in a rug in the ferrules of my Tele and the Trem block of my Strat. And the EB Slinkys and D'Addarios are way cool too. I like the 9-46 gauge 'cause the plain strings are bendy and the wound strings are boomy. Except for hollowbodies, on them I use 11-49s to drive the top.

20250416_181505.jpg
 
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For the last decade or so it's been D'Addario XL's. 9.5-44 on Strats and 10's on 24.75 scale lengths with E standard or no lower than drop D tuning.

Just tried a set of NYXL's on my Suhr Std. Custom 9-40. I'm used to them now but they're just a little too light on the low strings. I like that they aren't quite as bright as the XL's when new. And I didn't like the feel of the set of EB's I tried last year, it was odd but how it worked out. Liked the sound but they felt odd.

Since there is a sale I'm going with the 9-42's. NYXL's And 9.5-44's on the LP trying to give the aging joints a little break.

I was going to go with the 9-46's which are like a 10-9 hybrid set, but I think the 9's would be a little too light on the LP. 9.5 is absolute minimum and I might go back to straight 10's on the LP for a little longer.
 
Yeah I had been using 9's for a couple years because everyone was going back to lighter strings and I liked the idea of more clarity. But with that came more buzzing, and I seemed to lose some sustain. I bumped up to 9.5's and liked that too, but going up to 10's seemed to really help with avoiding the buzz and getting more sustain. I'm not sure if that's a setup issue with guitars or what, but if it works better who am I to argue?

I thought about guitars in different scale lengths and tunings but it just gets too complicated. I don't know what is where and honestly the 10's see to work fine for anything from 24.5 to 25.5 and E or E flat. My one guitar in drop C has 11's and it sounds kind of dark, so I'm either thinking of trying a 10-52 hybrid set.
 
Jarick said:
[…] I thought about guitars in different scale lengths and tunings but it just gets too complicated. I don't know what is where and honestly the 10's see to work fine for anything from 24.5 to 25.5 and E or E flat. My one guitar in drop C has 11's and it sounds kind of dark, so I'm either thinking of trying a 10-52 hybrid set.
Click to expand...
All my guitars are tuned to D Standard and 10-52 works perfectly on all of them, even though their scale lengths vary from 24.594“ to 25.5“.
 
GuitarBilly74 said:
GHS Boomers. 10-46 on 24.75 scale and 9-42 on 25.5 scale. I am tuned to E standard
Click to expand...

Do you have any tuning issues with those strings? I think they are round core right?

I used to use Boomers a lot, especially when you wound find the 10-packs on sale for like $25!
 
Jarick said:
Do you have any tuning issues with those strings? I think they are round core right?

I used to use Boomers a lot, especially when you wound find the 10-packs on sale for like $25!
Click to expand...
No issues at all. They're as stable as any other strings.

Yep, I love when the 10-packs go on sale. I just bought one for $30 at MF the other day.
 
Jarick said:
Do you have any tuning issues with those strings? I think they are round core right?

I used to use Boomers a lot, especially when you wound find the 10-packs on sale for like $25!
Click to expand...
Never had issues with Boomers. They are indeed round core.
 
Oh I really should mention the very convincing fakes available of Ernie Ball Daddario and Elixir.
Packaging looks right the strings even look ok but they sound like shit and don’t stay in tune.
IMG_3041.jpeg
 
Might try a set of 11's on my Epiphone 335 with Vibrola. Guitar feels like it needs a little more tension than the 10's currently on it. Maybe a set of DR Blues or Ernie Ball Rock and Roll?
 
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