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Original message:921 days 10 hours 16 minutes ago

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Member: Hellraiser555666

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What type of strings are you using?
Lately I've been using Ernie Ball 9-42 but I usually use DR's. I'm just curious to see what everyone else is using.

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Reply:921 days 10 hours 11 minutes ago
Member: Archer

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I use D'Addario or Elixir strings....depends on the instrument. I like 10-46 guage for Gibson scale length instruments and 9.5-44 or 9-46 guage on Fender scale guitars.

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Reply:919 days 52 minutes ago
Member: Dr. Boogie

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I use .10-.52 for my Fender Strat and my Gibson SG. I really like heavy strings. It gives more punch when ur playing. But some bends are impossible to play. like 2 tones bends.

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Reply:921 days 10 hours 10 minutes ago
Member: Zombre

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9-46 for the most part... D'addarios or Ernie Balls.

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http://www.myspace.com/scottkerrguitar

Reply:921 days 7 hours 5 minutes ago
Member: Captain Fantastic

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Likewise...9 thru 46

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I enjoy skinny skiing, heckling figure skaters, flamenco guitar, the blue stuff you put your combs in, good drummers, focaccia bread and coffee out of a french press

Reply:921 days 8 hours ago
Member: Adam Dunn

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D'addario 10-46, best out there.

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Reply:921 days 4 hours 14 minutes ago
Member: ibzRG

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DR 9-42

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Visit me on:

Reply:920 days 20 hours 59 minutes ago
Member: humstrat1

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Snake Oil Brand 10- 46 on most of my guitars, the Original Nickels. SOB 9-42 on my guitar with a Floyd, which is what I've been playing the most lately. I'm guessing that's what it came with, the strings were pretty light.

The reason I'm using 9-42 on it is because this is my first guitar with a Floyd and I don't want to mess with the setup right now. Also it has very small frets, so it's easier to bend 9's on it than heavier strings.

Reply:920 days 20 hours 14 minutes ago
Member: Fernando Gargantini

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Elixir 0.10, pocket wise! I really enjoy Ernie Balls, but Elixirs last longer and have a really honest sound.

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Reply:920 days 16 hours 6 minutes ago
Member: Ruge

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D'addario 10-46 for this guy, but can't honestly say I've ever tried to notice a difference in using any other strings.........

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Reply:920 days 3 hours 7 minutes ago
Member:

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What's everyones say on Thicker strings?
I'm talking .10-.11 gauge.
I know alot of jazz players use thicker strings. I believe for the tone that they get...
Any thoughts?

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Reply:919 days 21 hours 25 minutes ago
Member: humstrat1

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"What's everyones say on Thicker strings?
I'm talking .10-.11 gauge.
I know alot of jazz players use thicker strings. I believe for the tone that they get...
Any thoughts?"

I use 10's on my archtop, that's the only guitar I won't go down to 9's on. I don't really like heavier strings, they're too difficult to bend and press down on, even though they're supposed to have better tone.

Jazz players use heavier strings because they don't bend very much, if at all. They also play clean mostly, unless it's fusion, then you're going off into the rock area. They're trying to get as much tone as possible from their hollowbody guitars, and bigger strings benefit that. And since they play clean, more often than not they're using flatwound strings, to cut down on string squeaks when they slide from one note to another.

Reply:374 days 18 hours 47 minutes ago
Member: NegativeGhostRider

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"even though they're supposed to have better tone".

That's the people with the magic tone measuring device that claim that ;).

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"Negative, Ghost Rider...the pattern is full..."

Reply:351 days 6 hours 33 minutes ago
Member: this dying soul

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NGR is right.

The tone isn't necessarily better and not necessarily more of it. Just different

The tone has more bottom end to it because there is more material to vibrate and tends to sound warmer as a result. Thinner strings tend to give a brighter sound and more highs.

Jazzers tend to favour the warmer tones of thicker gauge strings, and yes, your are right about them not usually bending much, so the thicker gauges don't hinder their playing much in that respect and as for flat wounds...less string squeak on the slides but also this aspect of the construction also adds to the warmer tone.

Blues and rock/metal guitarists tend to use lighter gauges because of the ability to bend easier... also, ever try pinch harmonics on a set of 13's... possible, but not easy. Also, and correct me if I'm wrong on this but it is definatly the case for myself... most blues and rock guitarists tend to favor the brighter tones of smaller gauge strings (smaller gauge being compared to those used by most jazz players)

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Reply:919 days 20 hours 29 minutes ago
Member: Zanary

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I've used Blue Steels since they came out in the 80's, usually 11s. I'm well over 6' tall, and have pretty strong hands. The 11s feel right to me, where 9s and most 10s feel floppy.

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Reply:918 days 21 hours 42 minutes ago
Member: h_maiden

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I use Dean Markley 9 - 42

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Reply:918 days 21 hours 23 minutes ago
Member: inablackout

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GHS Boomer .10-.46, .9's feel like spaggetti to me. I absolutley deplore d'addario.

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I wanna ROCK!!!!

Reply:918 days 20 hours 43 minutes ago
Member: Chris

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Elixir Lights - 10-46. Tried them on the acoustic, sounded like Heaven, had to try the electiric. Awesome. Rumor is they dont seem to last as long, but I change often anyway.

Chris

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"Free your mind, and your ass will follow" -- George Clinton

Reply:367 days 21 hours 58 minutes ago
Member: Archer

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Where did you hear that rumor? Elixirs are coated to last longer....and they do.

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Reply:917 days 15 hours 9 minutes ago
Member: Zimo

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D'addario 9-42 for me. They're the greatest!

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Reply:917 days 10 hours 36 minutes ago
Member: Grensley

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EB Super Slinkies 10-42

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Reply:915 days 8 hours 37 minutes ago
Member: Sullivancountychops

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I've been using GHS Boomers 9-42 for twenty years or more.

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Reply:915 days 6 hours 27 minutes ago
Member: Godly Moose

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I'm currently using D'Addario 10-46.

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Reply:915 days 3 hours 47 minutes ago
Member:

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D'Addario 11-49.
EXL115 Nickel Blues/Jazz
These are my favorite strings. They are smoother than all the other strings I've tried (aside from Elixers), and their tone is excellent. They bend well, sound good, and last a good amount of time. They even seal all the strings in a special bag that keeps out harmful gases, so that when you put the strings on, they're just like new. D'addario also uses biodegradable packaging material so you can do your part for the environment with your guitar. Every guitar player should definately try these strings, in the very least.

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Reply:914 days 23 hours 55 minutes ago
Member: Reaper

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I use DR HiBeams (11-50) and DR JH-10 Tite-Fit (10-56) they last longer than most strings I've used and are easy to bend for me plus they sound nice especially if you have an EMG 81 or HZ-H4 pick up with some gainboost I also occasionally use the GHS TNT Boomers only every now and then...

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Reply:914 days 22 hours 8 minutes ago
Member: ToledoBigmike

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D'addario: xl110 (10-46) on the les paul and ej21 (12-52) on the drop tuned ibanez.

Reply:914 days 17 hours 25 minutes ago
Member: bachmirage

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DR's are the shiznit.....been using 'em for many moons now with no complaints whatsoever.

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Reply:914 days 16 hours 57 minutes ago
Member: Zoo Lake

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I know SRV played on 13-58's, apparently at some point he was even playing on 18-74's but he stopped that because his playing suffered.

What are people's opinion on Elixirs? I bought my first pack recently but I'm not sure how I feel about them.

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Reply:913 days 4 hours 44 minutes ago
Member: The Mojo

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GHS Zakk Wyldes right now.

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Reply:906 days 19 hours 14 minutes ago
Member: WJT

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10-46. Usually GSH Boomers, Ernie Ball, or D'Addario. I like them all. Tried Peavey strings once. Ugh!

11-52 on my acoustic. Not too fussy about brand. Usually whatever's cheapest.

I'm curious to try the Zakk Wylde Dunlop. Anyone tried them?

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Reply:896 days 6 hours 17 minutes ago
Member: Nymblz

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GHS Fatties. They're a custom set: 009 - 043

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Reply:896 days 3 hours 9 minutes ago
Member: Ian Spaid

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EB Slinky Top Heavy Bottoms, I think they're .10-.56

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Reply:894 days 16 hours 57 minutes ago
Member: Shredzilla2

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I'm using GHS Boomers Light.

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Reply:841 days 19 hours 21 minutes ago
Member: Joe Chaney

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ernie ball regular slinkys (10-46) nice and twangy! stay away from dean markleys blue steels, worst ones in the world

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Reply:841 days 17 hours 58 minutes ago
Member: Richey

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I use Fender strings on my Tele and Gibson strings on my LP. I figure that is what they were designed to use. Plus it saves me the hassle of having to decide which strings I want. Maybe I am lazy.

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Reply:374 days 21 hours ago
Member: siddp

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Super slinkies right now [ernie ball]

but i usually use D'Addairio (spelling?)

I think that they're the best commercially available strings

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Reply:374 days 20 hours 6 minutes ago
Member: frumsapap

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D'Adarrio XL .10-.46, for my electric.
DR Extra Life- .10-.46, for my acoustic electric
D'Addario EXP .11-.52, for my acoustic, I believe.

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Time is a death-lock of the mind, a corporeal, linear insurrection of the spirit.

Reply:374 days 18 hours 11 minutes ago
Member: humstrat1

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I don't use Snake Oil Brand strings anymore, I ordered 5 sets of their 10-38 strings for my Squier and they never sent them. When I emailed them about it they just gave me the runaround and said they'd send them. It never happened, and this was back in April.

The strings themselves are good, but their customer service is snake oil, do not buy from them.

They did turn me on to pure nickel strings tho, and I'm still using pure nickel strings. The Santana Big Core strings are really good, as good as sob strings if not better. They have a very thick and punchy tone that I like. And you can find them anywhere, I think juststrings has the best price on the 9.5-43 gauge strings, which is what I use on my 25.5" scale guitars @ $4.97 a set.

I also use Fender Original !50s, 10-38 gauge on my Squier, for that Jimi vibe :)

I still have 4 sets of Snake Oil Brand 11s that I'm going to use on my 24 3/4" scale archtop, but when those run out, I'll probably switch to Santana Big Core 10.5-48 gauge strings.

Reply:374 days 16 hours 18 minutes ago
Member: frumsapap

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Humstrat, How are those Santana Big Cores? I have been wanting to try them, but I am not usually a big fan of signature series.

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Time is a death-lock of the mind, a corporeal, linear insurrection of the spirit.

Reply:374 days 13 hours 59 minutes ago
Member: Leif

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dean markley blue steels 13 guage or DR 12s

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Reply:374 days 13 hours 26 minutes ago
Member: sallan

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Thomastic infeld flat wound .13's....

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I hate your music and/or band

Reply:374 days 7 hours 6 minutes ago
Member: humstrat1

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"Humstrat, How are those Santana Big Cores? I have been wanting to try them, but I am not usually a big fan of signature series."

I first read a review of them in the May, '08 Guitar Player. I'm glad I ran across that review because I was looking for some new strings to try after the bad experience with sob strings. Everything they said in the review about them was true, that they felt and sounded great, and that their tone lasts for a long time (the reviewer tested his for 6 months of grueling treatment) with no special treatment of them at all, ie: cleaning them after every session, etc.

Like I said above, they have a thick, warm tone. They're also pure nickel, which I think is easier on nickel/silver frets than NPS strings. Though GHS doesn't claim that, I think because it would indict their NPS strings as fret killers.

SOB strings can claim that their strings are easier on frets than NPS strings because all they make are pure nickel strings.

They were developed by GHS and SRV's tech Rene Martinez, and Carlos Santana liked them so much he made them his signature strings. But you can use them to play anything, not just Latin Rock ;)

Despite their "big cores" (that's why their gauges are in half-increments), the 9.5-43 gauge sets feel very flexible to me, like EBs.If you're looking for some new strings to try, you should try these, I recommend them highly. HTH

Reply:373 days 23 hours 58 minutes ago
Member: frumsapap

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Thanks, I believe I will.

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Time is a death-lock of the mind, a corporeal, linear insurrection of the spirit.

Reply:351 days 8 hours 9 minutes ago
Member: mister_poop

202
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d'addario XL chromes .013. they are soooo smooth......

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heaven is a les paul, a pair of emg-81s, and a dimed carvin x-100b half-stack.....

Reply:351 days 7 hours 7 minutes ago
Member: this dying soul

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I just took the Gibson strings that came from the factory off my SG and put D'addario 10's - 46.

I think I'll try something else next time. not even a week and I'm starting to see them go dead already... and 8 years ago when I played 8hrs a day and gigged every Friday and Saturday this was normal... but now I might play 8 hrs a week.

I had Zakk Wylde's GHS set on my old guitar and they seemed pretty good. maybe I'll try them again.

I also liked to use DR's but they got too expensive when I was putting them on 4 or 5 guitars. Since I'm down to only 1 now, maybe I'll give them another try.

I'll never use Ernie Ball Slinky's again though... I find I break them too easily. Don't know how Slash can bend those things until the high E reaches the A or Low E without breaking them. lol

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Reply:131 days 15 hours 50 minutes ago
Member: mister_poop

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d'addario medium gauge chromes. they're flatwound 13s. smooth feel and nice warm bassy tone....

edit: oh snap! didn't realize this was an old thread that i had already answered. lol

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heaven is a les paul, a pair of emg-81s, and a dimed carvin x-100b half-stack.....

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