Electric Guitar strings .
Discussion
I've been using Ernie Ball 9-42 for the last 40 years. I've tried many others but always come back to what I've always used. I gave NYXLs a go last year after loads of Nashville session players were raving about them. They felt a bit dead compared to Ernie Balls and I suspected Nashville YouTubers rave about them because they're paid to do so.
I moved to D’Addario XLs from Slinky’s, mainly because of the bulk buy price, plus there are so many fake Slinky’s on the market now. I can’t tell the difference.
Haven’t tried NYXLs though.
Tried Rotosound’s a few times, they were dead within a week, every time. The last Roto’s I bought was over thirty five years ago, there is a chance they might be better now.
Haven’t tried NYXLs though.
Tried Rotosound’s a few times, they were dead within a week, every time. The last Roto’s I bought was over thirty five years ago, there is a chance they might be better now.
I use Ernie Ball hybrid slinkys - 9-46 (orange packet) for all my electrics now. A bit lazy admittedly but they have the best balance of tone, playability and durability.
Other than that D'Addarios are good, as are Elixirs - which are pricy but last a long time. I don't know what the secret to tone is: some of it is in the fingers, some in the guitar and setup, some in the strings, and some in the amp. Some also in your pedal set up - a good overdrive can transform your sound. LPs can sound a bit muddy sometimes. Strings need to be changed often though because of oxidation - especially if you are playing a lot.
Other than that D'Addarios are good, as are Elixirs - which are pricy but last a long time. I don't know what the secret to tone is: some of it is in the fingers, some in the guitar and setup, some in the strings, and some in the amp. Some also in your pedal set up - a good overdrive can transform your sound. LPs can sound a bit muddy sometimes. Strings need to be changed often though because of oxidation - especially if you are playing a lot.
used ernie ball for years. nothing comes close for me.... but my god you guys have some thin gauges!! i'm on mammoth slinkys 12-62 on a gibson les paul.... that has been my go to guitar/string combination over all others since the mid 90s
- *always and only ernie ball strings i should say since the mid 90s but only got gradually thicker on the strings as i've down tuned lower and lower over the years from standard E to drop D, to drop C# and eventually drop B... that's my sweet spot and sounds way bigger than my 7 string.. my 8 string is ridiculous... so low it loses all it's bite. les paul in drop B is where i'm happiest
Edited by tuscaneer on Tuesday 7th October 16:03
Yahonza said:
I use Ernie Ball hybrid slinkys - 9-46 (orange packet) for all my electrics now. A bit lazy admittedly but they have the best balance of tone, playability and durability..
Ive just fitted a set of these to try them...Liking them so far, seem a tad brighter than the usual Green slinkys, but thats likely just new string syndrome.
tuscaneer said:
used ernie ball for years. nothing comes close for me.... but my god you guys have some thin gauges!! i'm on mammoth slinkys 12-62 on a gibson les paul.... that has been my go to guitar/string combination over all others since the mid 90s
Well yes. I use 12s on my Les Paul in B as well, with a Seymour Duncan Blackout in the bridge.- *always and only ernie ball strings i should say since the mid 90s but only got gradually thicker on the strings as i've down tuned lower and lower over the years from standard E to drop D, to drop C# and eventually drop B... that's my sweet spot and sounds way bigger than my 7 string.. my 8 string is ridiculous... so low it loses all it's bite. les paul in drop B is where i'm happiest
interesting! i honestly can't fault the stock pickups so mine is completely original.. i've got a large headstock '74 usa strat right handed that i restrung left handed which really (for my playing style) i only use for clean two-hands-on-the-fretboard playing. i did replace the bridge pickup with a dimarzio humbucker years ago (smalller single coil size so i didn't have to cut into the guitar at all) but the strat was woeful when it came to trying to get a heavier tone...
I always used EB Slinkies but I was finding that my sweaty hands would make them rust really quickly...like before the end of a rehearsal or gig even if fitted that day. Never bothered me at home and they'd seem to last a fair while.
Anyway a friend put me onto Elixir coated strings, so I've slowly changed over all my guitars to them in 9-42 for Fenders or 10-46 for Gibson scale length. The ones I play less often last over a year provided I wipe them down afterwards and the ones I gig/rehearse with still last a couple of months (or at least 2 gigs and 2 rehearsals, plus practice in between).
I tried heavier gauges, especially on my short scale Jaguar, but I'm happy with 10s on that and my Mustang which some would fit 11s, 12s or maybe 13s to. I'm sure plenty fit lighter gauges than I do, so there's no need for a macho contest about using a gauge heavier than you're happy with.
Anyway a friend put me onto Elixir coated strings, so I've slowly changed over all my guitars to them in 9-42 for Fenders or 10-46 for Gibson scale length. The ones I play less often last over a year provided I wipe them down afterwards and the ones I gig/rehearse with still last a couple of months (or at least 2 gigs and 2 rehearsals, plus practice in between).
I tried heavier gauges, especially on my short scale Jaguar, but I'm happy with 10s on that and my Mustang which some would fit 11s, 12s or maybe 13s to. I'm sure plenty fit lighter gauges than I do, so there's no need for a macho contest about using a gauge heavier than you're happy with.

oh right, ok... no macho contest at all apologies if it's read like that, i happen to like playing on strings that feel like girders as i tune really low and employ a lot of unusual chord structures in a very heavy style... playing lighter strings feels like elastic bands to me... not a pissing contest, just what works for me!
Chubbyross said:
I've been using Ernie Ball 9-42 for the last 40 years. I've tried many others but always come back to what I've always used. I gave NYXLs a go last year after loads of Nashville session players were raving about them. They felt a bit dead compared to Ernie Balls and I suspected Nashville YouTubers rave about them because they're paid to do so.
I made the jump to 9-42 EB's a few years ago (from EB 10-46 ) Never looked back, great strings.
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