For the Guitar players - a string question

I'm asking for strings for Christmas (among other things) and I'm looking to try some different ones. I currently use Blue Steel 9-42 and I was wondering what folks here use and why?

What about heavier guages? Thanks for helping!

I personally have never been a Dean Markley fan. When I was learning guitar in the 80's I would constantly break DM strings. Maybe they are better made now.

I think you have a good guage currently. I use 9's as well. But then that all depends on what kind of music you play. I play alot of different stuff so I prefer the 9's as they are thick and tough. I have used Fender strings since the early 90's and they have always sounded good on my guitars.



From my cheap Peavy Predator to my former Kramer Baretta and now my economical Ibanex GSA-60, Fender strings have always worked great for me.

I am not a guitarist but I can tell you that everyone I know that has tried the DR Black Beauties really like them. Plus they just look cool on top of that!!!

i use DR bass strings

I tired Blue Steel (With the cool sticker in who doesn't stick on my wall...) they were really good I play really often and they broke after 1 month (Good I think). Before I was using Fender Strings (Exactly the same thing as spectrefate) but they suck. They broke after 2 weeks. Now I'm using Kerly Kues strings...They are suposed to be good. I'll tell you when they'll break ! Next time I'm gonna buy Elixir strings I heard that they were top quality strings...!

Thanks guys! I think I'm gonna go for the potpourri and see what I like the most! I'll try some of everyone's suggestion. It's not my dime! HA!

I use GHS Boomers on my Ibanez (11 guage) I play mostly metal and these strings just sound so great.. Besides they're only 4.99 as well...

Get some G strings!!!!!!

I use Ernie Ball btw

what does a gauge mean in strings? i should know i have a guitar but i only play for fun.

actually i broke the e string but it took me about ten and a half months to do but i have no idea how to change te strings

TheGooch wrote:

what does a gauge mean in strings? i should know i have a guitar but i only play for fun.

actually i broke the e string but it took me about ten and a half months to do but i have no idea how to change te strings

You can bring your guitare to a music stores they will do it for you. You can also ask them to teach you how to change them.

use the heaviest string you can find, preferably at least .14

it give you a much fuller fatter tone rather than a thin jangly one

heavy strings on a les paul and you can't really go wrong

Thanks guys! My list is going to be a little of everything you suggested. That way I won't be guessing...

I like the GHS Boomers as well, good sounding strings that don't cost much.

caniplaywithmadness? wrote:

use the heaviest string you can find, preferably at least .14

it give you a much fuller fatter tone rather than a thin jangly one

heavy strings on a les paul and you can't really go wrong

sweet i just got mine restrung. it sounded like a friggin banjo now the strings are a year old

can anyone tell me how to lower the action on a epi thunderbird bass. or do i need to take it to a music shop

I use Ernie Ball. On my Strat I've got 13's, they hold up really well while playing the blues.
I've got a custom guitar made by a friend of mine, very sleek and fast for metal,rock,etc. and I use 10's on that. For my acoustics I use Martin extra lights.

There are many factors:
What type of guitar?
What style music do you play?
Do you play in standard tuning or de-tune?
etc.

I've been using Ernie Ball Regular Slinky's (.10 is the thinnest string) since around 1995. I usually de-tune (hence my username) to at least "D", but sometimes lower. Regular Slinky's can take the abuse of re-tuning without losing their sound and they very rarely break.

I tried using a heavier gauge at one point but they won't fit through the locking nut on my guitar.

On my "jazz guitar" (cheap 335 copy) I use heavier gauge strings, (.013).

My band tunes down to D and me and my other guitarist both use ernie ball 52-10.
thick top, slinky bottom.

excellent for heavy rhythm work and awesome for solos and lead work.

INVADERS wrote:

My band tunes down to D and me and my other guitarist both use ernie ball 52-10.
thick top, slinky bottom.

excellent for heavy rhythm work and awesome for solos and lead work.

Those are the "hybrid slinky's", right? I tried them, but like I mentioned the thicker low E string won't fit through the nut on my guitar.

I love Ernie Ball strings though, they can take just about any abuse you throw at them.

I use GHS Bass Boomers. I really need to change them.

I am currently using GHS's, I beileve the low e is .52

I'm using "Galli strings" (made in Italy)
not good for bending.

I have no choice, they are the only ones in the algerian market .