Educate me on strings. i have a few questions

[TalentlessIdiot]

ok, i used to play guitar a LONG time ago. then as things happen, i took a decade or longer off from the instrument.
one thing i never really considered were strings. from what i remember i think i used to use the EB light top heavy bottom. but i also remember that they rusted really quickly.
since i'm just an apartment-player, i rarely change strings. so i don't really notice a difference... nor do i really remember which brand/style i put on previously. like right now, i don't remember if the strings on my guitars are dadarrio, or DR. i'm pretty sure they aren't elixir or etc etc

anyway
here are some questions
1. do you use different gauge for strat-lenght and LP-length?
2. what brand?
3. coated or uncoated
4. what material?

oh, and if you can give a "why" answer. i've heard that some strings don't intonate as well as others. i've also heard that some strings are stiffer than others. i don't know. honestly? probably it will all be lost on a knucle-dragging ignoramus like me

 

[Dallas Marlow]

1. do you use different gauge for strat-lenght and LP-length?

No, but I probably should I just order in bulk usually so all the same size is fine by me, the LP just feels a lot easier with 10-52's than my strat does, but honestly it doesn't bother me I play acoustic so much with 12-13's its all the same. Supposedly strats were more designed for 9's and LP's for 10's but you'll find people using 13's a half step down on strats sometimes, rarely do I see people go below 10's on LP they just feel to slinky, I can't even stand 9's on a strat let alone a LP.

2. what brand?

"New metal" aka radio rock kind of stuff, I find GHS boomers just have that sound, but generally I use Kurt Mangans and as of late Earnie Ball 10-52 on all brands, the EB seem to last longer, the KM's have a great feel to them but they just all of a sudden DIE, and when they die they sound terrible, admittedly it takes a week or two but the EBMM don't seem to just have that drop off death point. They both feel a lot different, and the GHS sound significantly different, much boomier no kidding. All around EBMM is a great choice, the KMs are fine if you don't mind changing a little more often and love the feel which is amazing, however; I do find the KM's can have intonation issues on the D string for me sometimes.

3. coated or uncoated

Uncoated, I NEVER EVER play coated strings, I think they sound like total and utter shit. But that's just me, if your in your apartment and never want to change your strings I honestly don't think it'll be that big of a deal for you, and Elixers last a long damn time, I just can't stand the coated crap.


4. what material?

Most everything I play these days are nickle wound steel core, the GHS maybe all steel not sure, but I def think nickle is my material of preference, oh and everything I use is round wound, don't really dig the flatwound stuff.

Dallas

 

[Dallas Marlow]

Oh and I forgot to mention everyones body has different chemicals I guess based on genetics and diet, some peoples oils eat through different brands of strings like butter where as others last for ever... DDadarrio go black super fast for me where as other brands seem to never tarnish, so try it out, but I have a few friends whos hands just melt everything, they swear by coated... also don't let other people play your guitars if you corrode easily apparently the combo of different body oils can tank them even faster.

 

[glpg80]

Oh and I forgot to mention everyones body has different chemicals I guess based on genetics and diet, some peoples oils eat through different brands of strings like butter where as others last for ever... DDadarrio go black super fast for me where as other brands seem to never tarnish, so try it out, but I have a few friends whos hands just melt everything, they swear by coated... also don't let other people play your guitars if you corrode easily apparently the combo of different body oils can tank them even faster.

with my oils, and touch, here are my preferences.

GHS feel better to me, sound great new, but their lifespan is extremely short and they are prone to breaking BADLY when they reach that dead point.

Ernie balls have excellent lifespan but i hate the way they sound new - too clangy/acoustic like. once they are worn in they loose that metallic sound. i can honestly say i have never had an ernie ball break on me though.

never liked anything that was steel - steel strings on nickel frets means you'll eat through nickel/copper frets pretty quick. i would only use steel's on stainless steel frets.

 

[Ventura]

I buy strings by the box. Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys and Ernie Ball Beefy Slinkys.

That's it, that's all... Used 'em for years, no need to try anything else, and I string my Suhr Strat, ESP Super Strats and my Lesters and other similar scaled guitars with 'em. Beefy for drop tunings, Regular for, well, regular tunings.

V.

 

[Code001]

1. Depends on the tuning and what I'm going for in that particular guitar.
2. D'Addario because they're reasonably cheap, last a good amount of time for me, sound decent and are easy to obtain.
3. Uncoated because coated don't sound quite as good to me. They're also more expensive.
4. Nickel Round Wound because it's the most neutral. SS sounds a bit too bright and pure nickel is a bit too mellow.

 

[lolzgreg]

1. Like everyone said, tuning and feel matters a lot for the particular axe.

2. D'Addario, because I nor anyone who has recorded with me has broken a string in over 5 years after I have set up a guitar with those strings, and they'll really retain their "new sound" through an entire tracking session.

3. Coated sucks and feels weird.

4. Nickel Round Wound as well.

 

[BeZo]

The string gauge depends on the tuning. If you tune lower, you have to use heavier strings (unless you want to sound floppy, like old Taproot or that bassist from KoRn). Also, if you use fatter strings on higher tunings, you get a fatter tone out of them. That's why people always go light on the high strings for the feel, and heavy on the low strings for BEEF. I, being a bassist, tend to use heavier strings for whatever tuning I'm playing in, but I'm more of a rhythm player anyways (go figure!).

As far as brand and material, that is all personal preference. I gotta +1 for D'Addario strings. They sound great, last long, and don't break like Slinkys do. Everyone I've ever known who has played Slinkys has popped strings left and right. My guitarist got to a point where he broke a string what seemed like every practice for weeks. I've been yelling at him to get off Slinkys for a while now.

Also, LaBella strings are pretty good, though I haven't used them much personally. I met a rep for LaBella and almost got an endorsement, but they didn't make flatwounds for my fretless bass. I hear good things about them.

SIT was another good brand. My old guitarist used to use a custom set for drop C# when we used to play in Blood Runs Dry together. He got a custom gauge set so the 3rd string wasn't wound, and they were light on top and beefy on the low low.