What do you use and why you like them?

Usually I like the cheapest ones I can find. Because they're cheap! I regard strings as pretty much a generic commodity, like gasoline.

I do make an exception for my Tricone, on which I use C.F. Martin Bluegrass Resonator Guitar strings. They're .016-.056", perfect for sliding in Open D or G with a heavy brass slide, they last darn near forever with the nickel-wound heavy strings and silver-plated plain ones, and they're still
CHEAP. Get 'em from http://juststrings.com/

I use Ernie Ball Power Slinky's 11 thru 48. I find they retain their tone longer than other brands. 11's take quite a bit of adjustment getting used to, especially on bends, but they have a much, much fuller sound than any of the 9's or 10's. My guitars are also set up with a very high action (about 7/64's at the twelfth fret on the high E string) and this further makes bending more difficult, but it really does produce greater sustain and vastly improved tone and I am willing to sacrifice playability for the increased tone & sustain.

I used to use the cheapest I could find until one day I used a set of D'Addirios (how to you pronounce that?) and never looked back. They last longer and play and sound better.

Personally, I'm not sure what the difference is between one string and the other but I've found something that works and I'm sticking with it. Goddamed brand loyaly, I'm just a tool of the capitalist moneymakers.

I use regular Elixir's for my ES335 and Telecaster because of their smooth sound and non-occidation and flat wound Elixir's for my Silvertone. They're pretty expensive (in dollars I think it's round 20/package), but they last minimum twice as long as regular strings.
For my acoustic guitar I use d'Addario's because of their great price-quality rate.

Greetz
Serge

One of my friends has a string deal with Dean Markley so that is what I'm using because he gives them to me for free. But, I was using Fender 250's with the high E being a 10. Now the Dean Markley's are 11's so I have had to get used to the higher guage and tougher bends. But, they're free so I'm not going to complain.

May the blues be with ya'
Crystal

Hi,
But once you get used to them, they'll have better sustain, fatter tone, especially when playing rhythm, and will last longer

They're easier to slide on, too. (Did a lot of sliding for about 2 months on .008" strings. Had to develop a really light touch!)

I like Ernie Balls 9's on my Strat -- I find they work well with the vibrato once you keep it in good working order, and give it some TLC once a week or so.

For Acoustic guitar I like 13's -- most known quality brands.

For slide guitar on the electric I reckon the heavier the string the better with high action:).

D

GHS Nickel wrap true medium set TM1500 13-56 tuned down a whole tone. I could tune them to concert, but tuned down they give a great combination of brightness (the nickel) and fatness. They are also semi-flatwound so they are easier on the fingers and less noisy (i don;t use stompboxes most of the time and like to use a wide dynamic range so noisy strings really bother me.

[at a recording session Rompin Ronnie Hawkins told the guitarist to redo the acoustic part becasue he didn;'t like the squeek of his finger on the strring. The guitarist said "Even Segovia makes those squeeks". Hawkins looked at hima nd said. "that's why he's not doing this session".]


I use the same strings on my strat, by ibanezPL1700, and my danelectro (which I use for slid since the lack of a truss rod makes the intonation impossible).

On my acoustic, I use a medium set of Gibson acoustics which I got for a dollar a set at a music store garage sale. I bought 20 sets. They're very sweet strings with a nice balance of brightness and fatness.

This post has been edited by whiteboy_slim: Jan 1 2006, 02:34 PM

D'Addario 10s for my main electrics. D'Addario 11s for my Slide Electrics. Whatever brands I can get my hands on at 12/13 guage for my acoustic. Also use a fairly high action on all guitars except the acoustic, which is probably fairly normal I guess in height.

12 guage flatwounds on my ES175..
Ernie Ball 10's on my solid bodies..
Martin Bronze 11's on my Dobro..
Augustine Blacks for my Ramirez..

See Ya,
Tal..
http://www.soundclick.com/rollandharrison

DR 11s here.Good god this place is a ghost town.last post 2006