String Venders Poll

[Snowblind56]

I've never had problems with any string brands actually. But I generally use Ernie Ball since they're easy to find just about anywhere.

I'm the same. I generally don't prefer D'Addario or Ernie Ball, but I don't like the way the feel. They aren't bad at all and I will put them on guitars to sell or if I don't have anything else, but my preferred brands are DR and Rotosounds.

I have a light picking stroke, so I don't ever break strings. While QC and the guitar are partially to blame for string breakage, I think most of it lies in the hands of the player.

 

[Ventura]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=98220&hilit=strings

EB for me, typically...

 

[King Crimson]

Any thoughts on these good/bad? I think I would really like (.30, .40, .50).

 

[guitarnerdswe]

Never tried Dunlop, hate Daddario. I really don't get why they are "big" in the string business, pretty much anything else is better IMO.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

Anyone else around these parts play electric guitar besides "Shawn Lutz"?

Thanks Shawn! GHS (Gould, Holcomb and Solko) electric guitar strings never lasted very long for me.

funny, that is exactly why I started using GHS, everything else didn't seem to last for me. I use 10-46 and rarely pop a string.

 

[blackba]

Any thoughts on these good/bad? I think I would really like (.30, .40, .50).

The prosteels are supposed be very bright, notice the description on the package.

 

[TroubledWine]

Been running these since 1981. Dean Markley regular (10's). I can't be certain but I think it's because I read an interview with Molly Hatchet and it's what Dave Hlubek said he used and at the time I liked him, so it was good enough for me. Have never switched.

 

[King Crimson]

The prosteels are supposed be very bright, notice the description on the package.

Then why didn't they throw in a "Duper" to seal the deal?

If your strings are breaking in the middle of the string (where it's not touching anything) that's the string's fault.

First of all, it can never be "MY GUITAR’S" fault, never - Never, Ever, Ever . . .

G, it's been breaking midway from the bridge/saddle to the anchor hole in no man’s land. I think it might have been a bad run or something like that. The D's seem to be holding up for now. One thing I like about the D’s is that they at least take the time to list the tension specs on the rear of the pack. The Dunlop don't even have any f’n info on their f'n site.

 

[metalmaniac93]

GHS Boomers all the way since the early 80s and Ernie Ball as an alternative.

 

[joepete77]

Ernie Ball Reg Slinky for me.....on repair guitars for customers if not specified, it's Daddario.

If your strings are breaking in the middle of the string (where it's not touching anything) that's the string's fault.

If it's somewhere else it is your guitar's fault (unless you are using metal picks and breaking in that area).

Yeah I get what u are saying but what was wierd is that only the wound part of the string was breaking and the core left intact, this was happening mostly on the d string but also the a string and this would happen on each frett from around 3rd to 14th frett. I purchased like 6 packs of Gibson vintage ri strings at same time and same issue happened on my lp custom and lp classic in the exact same way and place so I think I may have gotten a defective batch of strings. Sucks cause I never had an issue with Gibson strings before and like them best.

 

[university81]

Elixirs... but d'addario between those two

 

[21_guitars]

Ernie Ball and Elixir Nanoweb

 

[Greazygeo]

First of all, it can never be "MY GUITAR’S" fault, never - Never, Ever, Ever . . .

G, it's been breaking midway from the bridge/saddle to the anchor hole in no man’s land. I think it might have been a bad run or something like that. The D's seem to be holding up for now. One thing I like about the D’s is that they at least take the time to list the tension specs on the rear of the pack. The Dunlop don't even have any f’n info on their f'n site.

Were all the strings purchased at the same time? Might have been sitting for a long time before purchasing or just been a bad batch.

For as long as I have been playing, it's always the D strings that break. Doesnt matter what guitar, brand / gauge etc....just the way I play. I put the graphite saddles on alot of my guitars which make them last a tiny bit longer....I've just resigned myself to buying a bunch of single .026 strings and swap it when it breaks..

 

[Greazygeo]

Ernie Ball Reg Slinky for me.....on repair guitars for customers if not specified, it's Daddario.

If your strings are breaking in the middle of the string (where it's not touching anything) that's the string's fault.

If it's somewhere else it is your guitar's fault (unless you are using metal picks and breaking in that area).

Yeah I get what u are saying but what was wierd is that only the wound part of the string was breaking and the core left intact, this was happening mostly on the d string but also the a string and this would happen on each frett from around 3rd to 14th frett. I purchased like 6 packs of Gibson vintage ri strings at same time and same issue happened on my lp custom and lp classic in the exact same way and place so I think I may have gotten a defective batch of strings. Sucks cause I never had an issue with Gibson strings before and like them best.

That sounds like either bad strings or some that sat for a long time before being purchased.

Those didnt use to come in any protective packaging....are they still that way?

 

[joepete77]

Ernie Ball Reg Slinky for me.....on repair guitars for customers if not specified, it's Daddario.

If your strings are breaking in the middle of the string (where it's not touching anything) that's the string's fault.

If it's somewhere else it is your guitar's fault (unless you are using metal picks and breaking in that area).

Yeah I get what u are saying but what was wierd is that only the wound part of the string was breaking and the core left intact, this was happening mostly on the d string but also the a string and this would happen on each frett from around 3rd to 14th frett. I purchased like 6 packs of Gibson vintage ri strings at same time and same issue happened on my lp custom and lp classic in the exact same way and place so I think I may have gotten a defective batch of strings. Sucks cause I never had an issue with Gibson strings before and like them best.

That sounds like either bad strings or some that sat for a long time before being purchased.

Those didnt use to come in any protective packaging....are they still that way?

Yeah, they do have a plastic seal.

 

[King Crimson]

For as long as I have been playing, it's always the D strings that break. Doesnt matter what guitar, brand / gauge etc....just the way I play. I put the graphite saddles on alot of my guitars which make them last a tiny bit longer....I've just resigned myself to buying a bunch of single .026 strings and swap it when it breaks..

Yo G, I get all my standard everyday stuff from my local GC. They go through these D'Addario strings like hotcakes. You’re right though, they could have been boxed up somewhere for a long time. It just started driving me bonkers when my precious 1st string became suddenly unreliable. D'Addario strings have been my fave for years - I'm back now . . .

Some n00b at GC the other day heard me explaining my string issue to a salesMAN and told me to keep new packs of strings in the freezer until use. Like my own cryo lab or some $hit.

As far as your "D string" issue, that would drive me f'n nuts and cause me to harm small animals! I'd be calling Dr. Phil over that one.

Those didnt use to come in any protective packaging....are they still that way?

The D'Addario does. They call it "ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY SET - USES 75% LESS PACKAGING" so nothing about freshness, just saving packaging costs.

 

[feraledge]

+1 Curt Mangan

Have not found a better string maker. Most of the people that have bought guitars from me have ended up buying a lot more strings from Curt.

 

[tripstan]

Cleartones! But those Curt Mangans look interesting. I see he has coated strings too. Anybody use those?

 

[Lance-a-not]

-

 

[feraledge]

Cleartones! But those Curt Mangans look interesting. I see he has coated strings too. Anybody use those?

Not on the coated, but a friend used the flatwounds and loved them. Curt worked for years at either D'addario or Ernie Ball, I can't remember, but he's a super friendly dude and fairly often is the one answering the phone when you call. Dude knows what he's doing for sure. I feel like the strings feel a little easier to use for heavy gauges which works well since I tune to drop C and like not struggling with pinch harmonics on all strings.