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What Kind Of Strings Does Everybody Use?

I was thinking tonight, what's the best lesser-known brand of strings? I'm thinking about ditching Ernie Ball, Rotosound, D'Addario, etc. for some smaller brand like Picato, D'Aquisto, La Bella, etc. and was wondering if anyone could suggest anything.

I was also wondering what kind of strings does everybody else use? I'd like you to leave a reply below saying what kind of strings you use with some info about the strings e.g. brand, model, gauges, metal-type, etc.

GEAR:
  • Washburn T-24 Taurus Bass
  • Gibson EB-3
  • Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro Koa - Limited Edition

For starters I mainly use Ernie Ball Mammoth Slinkys, Nickel-Steel (12-62).

GEAR:
  • Washburn T-24 Taurus Bass
  • Gibson EB-3
  • Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro Koa - Limited Edition

I think we've been over this before you were here.... I use piano strings but for guitar I was ernies for years. Just 10-46 gauge slinkies. Sometimes 11s on gibson scale. Nickel wrap. I also had a GHS burnished nickel period 15 years ago. 10s for fender, 11s for gibson. Then I did the slinky coateds. They were pretty damned good, just like non coated but maybe a touch more slippery when new. Lasted a while. Didn't have to fiddle my touring amp settings.

Oh and one of my bands had a period where I think it was 'trailer trash' strings or something? endorsed us and gave us strings but I honestly didn't use them and didn't have any contact with the owners... they had me on their website but I was using DRs while I sued up a smale case of them I got from DR and then back to ernies at the time. The other guys used them though.

Now I'm using mainly elixir optiweb 10s. I found I prefered the spanky sound and fender-bullet type bend-tension when I got some packs from elixir to review for EB. I like a little fight from ym guitars sometimes. Most times. Wasn't worried about changing my amplification around because I'm not on the road and frankly the extra top is nice to have, you can take away, but its hard to add. No effect or toen control can add what isn't there and they only give the appearance of adding to a frequency range by subtracting elsewhere.... but I digress. Very good string. Feels more like a DR, but without the intonation inconsistencies pack to pack of DR. Frankly I used ernies so long because they were tonally consistent including intonation. When you're rehearsing a record changing strigns daily you notice this stuff. On the road it could be the weather and travel conditions, but when your axes are ina cliamte controlled studio for months, guess what? You find out DR strings are inconsistent pack to pack. Elixir doesn't have this problem but they have that somewhat stiffer tension on their 10s which I like on gibsons a lot. and they last... well, I still have optiweb strings on my primary SG I put on for the review like 2 years ago, shit you not. Mot of my fenders have ernies on them.... but my favorite tele has optiwebs. Anyway there you go...

and on the gretsch I used to have I mainly played a mixed set of d'addario. Flatwound E-D Unwound G-E... I would just mix up gauges a certain way. I sued d'addario ebcause they were cheap and readily available, not ebcause I liked them. When you're putting 2 packs of strigns on 1 guitar you're looking for discounts. Especially when that guitar was very expensive. And acoustic I play 12 or 13 gauge elixir nanoweb or martin 80/20s typically. But I haven't touched my acoustics in about a year.

GEAR:
  • Roland Juno-6
  • Gibson SG Standard
  • Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp

im currently using ernie nickel wound 9-46. got a 3 pack as a birthday gift.

GEAR:
  • Fender Road Worn '60s Stratocaster
  • Fender American Standard Telecaster
  • Blank slot

D'Addario, exclusively, on everything. I've recently switched from 11s to 9s to help with nerve damage. I have 10s on my Tele, since that's what came with it and I've not changed 'em yet.

GEAR:
  • Vox V241 Bulldog
  • Kay KDG 70
  • Lotus/Morris L-400 Falcon Guitar

im currently using ernie nickel wound 9-46. got a 3 pack as a birthday gift.

Same here, but I did not get any strings for my bday.

GEAR:
  • Epiphone ET 275
  • Squier Bullet Mustang HH
  • Electro-Harmonix Nano Clone

I use Ernie ball skinny top heavy bottoms (10-52). I play in Eb, Drop C#, Drop C, Drop B, and Drop A# however they get pretty loose around Drop A# so I'd recommend the not even slinky's or the mammoth slinky's for anything below Drop B. I play rock and metal too so a lot of chugs, harmonics, and a crisp clear tone comes through very well through those. I'm sticking with Ernie Ball personally but good luck man! - Kaiden

I use 9-42 paradigm slinky on my strat (eb) , 10-46 daddario on prs (drop c#), and 11-48 on Ibanez (drop b)

I'm an Ernie Ball guy. I usually go between the regular and super slinky sets. I've been contemplating ordering from Stringjoy. I hear many people saying great things about them. They take very good care of their strings and apparently have really high standards and recycle strings that most companies would send out to people. If I get them, I'll let you know what I think.

GEAR:
  • Reverend Warhawk DAW
  • Gibson Les Paul Standard
  • Friedman BE-OD Deluxe

I need suggestions for string gauges because I use a bunch of different tunings. Can someone please give me gauge suggestions for e, eb, drop d, drop c#, drop b, dadgad, and d standard?

Ernie Ball Mammoth Slinkys (12-62), they don't feel too tight in E Standard and they don't feel too floppy at C or C#.

I got a Les Paul in my lap right now with them.

GEAR:
  • Washburn T-24 Taurus Bass
  • Gibson EB-3
  • Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro Koa - Limited Edition

I don't strings that are too heavy I will save them for my baritone

Suit yourself, in that case I would recommend somthing in a 10-52 or heavier.

GEAR:
  • Washburn T-24 Taurus Bass
  • Gibson EB-3
  • Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro Koa - Limited Edition

1046 for standard, drop d, dadgad. 1052 for eb, drop C#, d standard, 12-56 for drop b

That will depend on the guitar and the tuning, for example, for standard tuning I use 0.10 in strat and 0.11 in Les Paul, that gauge is useful for tuning in D # and drop c #, for tuning in C, increase to 0.11 and 0.12 respectively.

I've been using Ernie Ball for 15 years, before that I used Daddario, and every so often I have tried other brands but I go back to the old and reliable ones. I usually use 0.10 in strat and 0.11 in Les Pauls for standard tuning, this gauge is used for D # and drop c # tuning, for C tuning, increase to 0.11 and 0.12 respectively.

what about a prs?

I use Erie Ball Cobalt 9's on both of My Strats and D'Adderios 12's on the Martin.

Never tried one, maybe an hybrid gauge would be good for those one.

Sorry, it's a rainy Sunday morning here and it just throws Me. I'm a big Gary Moore fan and a bit of an understudy of His technic on Guitar along with David Gilmour. In order for Me to be the best Lead Guitarist I can be, these two are the best in My opinion. I also use a lot of gear. Anyway, I stand corrected, and let's just be friends....