Topic: ok Guitarists! what is your favorite brand and weight of string?

[BlindJoe]

elixir polyweb medium's here

[Grnrngr]

John Pearse on my 12-string, and I keep the used ones to use on my Harmony acoustic,
LaBella nylons on my Yamaha acoustic, DR stainless wound on my electric basses and D'Addario phosphor bronze my acoustic/elec bass.  Mostly cuz that's whats easily available locally, but tried a couple different brands on the Yamaha and nothing seems to sound as nice as the LaBellas (mediumweight i think), plus once they're broke in, stay in tune and last forever.  I put DR stainless strings on my Ibanez 4string when the originals wore out, they feel lots different and sound a lot more tinny when playing unplugged but sound good thru the amp. My Ibanez 5string came with them already on, but I like the phosphor bronze on the Fender acoustic bass the best, kinda hard to describe "why" they just feel "right"...

[bucky katt]

i love the DR's too. they have a really nice, smooth feel. they dont seem to corrrode much at all either.

[Retro Rocket]

Just switched from GHS to Dunlop, i use different guages for different guitars. When down tuning i use 60 to 12's and top wrap them on the bridge, on my "normal" tuning i use 52 to 10's but i still tune down a half step....I don't like new strings as i feel they sound better when the initial brightness wears off a bit.

Mick

[bucky katt]

i really prefer the action of the heavier strings (running 10-46 now) but i've not really wanted to use them on my bolt on neck guitars (the danelectro hodad especially) but with the set neck SG i just got, i decided to go for it. i was amazed at how much better the sustain was between the set neck construction and heavier strings. looks like i'm getting a little of the strength back in my hand too.

[westondc]

I originally started with light or extra light strings on my guitars because it was easy on the fingers. i would end up breaking the high e or g strings alot. i also didnt like "the out of tune" sound i would get because the strings were so easy to bend with my fingers. toughened up and went with medium stings. problem solved.

[Retro Rocket]

i really prefer the action of the heavier strings (running 10-46 now) but i've not really wanted to use them on my bolt on neck guitars (the danelectro hodad especially) but with the set neck SG i just got, i decided to go for it. i was amazed at how much better the sustain was between the set neck construction and heavier strings. looks like i'm getting a little of the strength back in my hand too.

Thats why i like heavier strings Bucky, definitely better tone and sustain, if you are worried about string tension on your guitars just tune the whole guitar down a half step and it softens the string feel a bit and reduces the strain on the neck..

Mick

[bucky katt]

this SG is my first set neck guitar and i'm just in love. i hate to say it but i think i like it even better than i do my Danelectro (i feel SO unfaithful  ) i spent a while getting the truss rod and bridge set and it is just amazing now. this one will never ever go anywhere.

[kslrr]

I originally started with light or extra light strings on my guitars because it was easy on the fingers. i would end up breaking the high e or g strings alot. i also didnt like "the out of tune" sound i would get because the strings were so easy to bend with my fingers. toughened up and went with medium stings. problem solved.

I have found that with the Fender Super Bullets Lights in conjunction with an RSL Roller Top Nut, my Strat stays in tune no matter how much I bend the strings or how aggressive I use the Tremolo.

[Inigo Montoya]

I recently got some d'addario strings and they look nice but the sound seems too bright. They are .10 size so pretty standard. I might try the ernie balls though. I had them once and they seemed pretty good.

[bucky katt]

i like the Dean Markley Blue Steels as well. i told the wife i'd love a 10 pack of either the Blue Steels or maybe the DR Tite Fit 10-46's

[Inigo Montoya]

So does anyone here use a bigsby tremelo? Looking at maybe getting an es335 clone and I like the look of the bigsby.

[Retro Rocket]

Bigsby's are very hard to keep in tune, they sure look cool but i wouldn't use one.

Mick

[Inigo Montoya]

I was wondering about just that but then my current gat has a standard trem and while I like the adjustable saddles, the bar itself hangs there and swings around. It gets worse gradually and tuning new strings in a monster pain as I have to redo each string about 10 times at least to provide the right tension against the 3 springs in the body.

[Retro Rocket]

On my strat i have the tremolo set up too sit flush on the body with the strings tentioned and i put a little graphite from a pencil on the nut to help the strings slide easier, it works well and takes about the same amount of time to tune up as my Les Pauls. I really stretch the strings by pulling them away from the fret board before doing a final tune up and i rarely have any trouble with them staying in tune. I use 3 springs as well.

Mick

[Inigo Montoya]

I dont think I can set my trem to sit against the body, not without harder springs but maybe I am missing something. I usually pull on my strings too but I get leery of pulling too much on 1-3.

[bucky katt]

So does anyone here use a bigsby tremelo? Looking at maybe getting an es335 clone and I like the look of the bigsby.

i have one on my Danelectro. way easier to keep in tune than a fender style tremolo. in fact, it's just as easy as a guitar with a hrdtail to keep in tune. when i got the danelectro it had a bigsby STYLED tremolo on it. i got and installed the real thing last year.

[Inigo Montoya]

How does it play compared to other trem, besides stying in tune?

[Retro Rocket]

If you don't use the tremolo you can stick a block of wood behind it to stop it moving, can you screw the spring retainer further into the body to increase spring tension?
I was hoping i had a pic of my springs but i haven't, This strat is a 1981 Tokai made in Japan and better than any Fender i have ever played, evemn these are very collectable and mine is mint, i have been offered 2 grand for this one.


Mick

[bucky katt]

i absolutely love the Japanese made fenders of the 80's i'm lucky in that my strat has a hardtail (no tremolo) the only tremolo i've found that i liked was the bigsby on my Danelectro Hodad

[Inigo Montoya]

I am looking at this one: http://www.amazon.com/Oscar-Schmidt-OE40-Electric-Guitar/dp/B000AN34IM/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1264793773&sr=1-30
It is made by washburn and has grover tuners. My current one has gotoh tuners that work very well.
the cost is great, even compared to an epiphone. I thought about the epiphone but not enough cash for that.

[Retro Rocket]

Sorry for the hijack but guitar porn is all good...
My favourite 3 guitars....



I love my LP's....  The Gold top is my go too guitar followed by the cream custom, the cherry burst has a ebony board with abalone inlays...


Mick

[bucky katt]

Sorry for the hijack but guitar porn is all good...
My favourite 3 guitars....



I love my LP's....  The Gold top is my go too guitar followed by the cream custom, the cherry burst has a ebony board with abalone inlays...


Mick

(in my best homer simpson voice) mmmmmmmmmmmm gold top

no worries about thread hijacking RR,i ought to rename this thread to guitars and the people that love them.

[Retro Rocket]

I'm feeling the love Bucky...

Mick

[Inigo Montoya]

I get torn on LPs. Some I like and some I don't. It mostly has to do with color though. The cherry I really like!
This is what I currently got.  A charvette by charvel. Finish is awesomely durable and good tuners. the humbucker sounds ok but I dont like the singles.
it is actually this color too. It has worked very well and aside from not liking the single coils much, the electrics have been solid. Oh yeah, the thing weighs a freaking TON! I had to get a padded strap for a bass to comfortably sling it.