Quality Electric strings

ifconfig

I've dusted out my ES-135 Gibson.
I need to change the strings.
I cannot recall what I originally had on it.
However, I started using Elixir strings on my Ovation acoustic in recent years and discovered the difference a good quality string can make.

For the electric what are considered premium strings ? brand, etc ?

I'm tending to move up gauge on strings also.
I used to religiously use gauge-9 (1rst-E) strings but really now prefer a heavier gauge to do rhythm and lead with a better resonance and solid feel on the fingers.

Interested in recommendations on strings.
I'd pay 20Euro on a set if they really excelled....

Alanstrainor

I swear by elixirs, i have a set of 10's on my strats and they are brilliant. They outlast any other sets i've tried by months. Some people find that they are too "bright" sounding, but i quite like that quality in strings so it's win win for me.

ifconfig

Alan -- many thanks for that recommendation.

I checked out your youtube channel.
Nice playing and I like the tone you get with the strat.
In that Lenny Blues vid you get a nice Robert Cray/Stevie Ray Vaughan
sound (I like the out-of-phase strat sound).

Just curious on your setup.
What vintage strat is that ? Where did you purchase ?
What amps or electronics do you use ?

I reckon the brightness of the Elixirs probably marry up well with the strat.
I'm wondering if the Gibson semi solid might go better with a more mellow sounding string. Certainly I like the Elixirs on my acoustic.

Finally.. where do you purchase strings? Online ? or in a bricks/mortar Music store in Dublin etc ?

Alanstrainor

Cheers, the strat is a Bacchus g-player, do a search on this forum...they have a bit of a following on here! I bought mine on ebay, they're not as easy to come by these days, i often search ebay for another, but they're either too expensive or not what im after.
The amp is a fender blues deluxe, and i only really use a TS9 for drive, i doubt it was even on in the video, if it was it was set pretty low. I have a fulltone OCD v4.0 now, which i use more...and because i've made a mess of my ts9:mad:
You could be right about the elixirs sounding better on a strat, i've only got them on my strats at the minute so can't comment on what they're like on gibson style semi hollow guitar.

BSOM

ifconfig wrote: »

I've dusted out my ES-135 Gibson.
I need to change the strings.
I cannot recall what I originally had on it.
However, I started using Elixir strings on my Ovation acoustic in recent years and discovered the difference a good quality string can make.

For the electric what are considered premium strings ? brand, etc ?

I'm tending to move up gauge on strings also.
I used to religiously use gauge-9 (1rst-E) strings but really now prefer a heavier gauge to do rhythm and lead with a better resonance and solid feel on the fingers.

Interested in recommendations on strings.
I'd pay 20Euro on a set if they really excelled....

+1 on Elixir, you'll get a set in a shop from €14.30 - €17.99 (Depending on where you buy). Dean Markley have just set out a new string called Helix HD. The are an oval string which gives a tighter packed wrap. They will be around €10.00 or so but are definatly worth looking at !

J

Demeyes

I've got elixirs on one of my main players at the moment, it's my first time trying them out on one of my own guitars. They seem nice, they don't impress me much more than normal strings but if they keep their life as long as some people say then I'll probably try them again. Usually I just get a set of D'addario or Ernie balls and they have done me well for years.
Other than coated strings there doesn't really seem to be a premium string, most people just use the usual stuff.

BSOM

D'Addarrio have also released a new prodcut called EXLXP (i think) which are another coated string. The coating is a bit sighter which means that the strings are rounded off more. They should be around €10 - €12 aswell.

Quattroste

+1 on the Elixirs but buy them in from the US or UK in sets of 3. This makes them much more cost effective. I usually get about 9 sets for less than €100 including shipping.

stephenshields2

This is a bit different to the other posts here, but my personal opinion is to stay away from those Elixers! Twice ive had strings break, whilst or within minutes of stringing the guitar. Not what I expect from 15 quid strings!!

Ernie Ball and Dean Markley are both excellent strings, thats a known fact, not my personal opinion! The Ernie Balls will outlast most others, and the Markleys will dull slightly quicker, but constantly feel great! You can get Ernie Balls in 9-42, 10-46 and my personal fave, 9-46! And they can be got for between 6 and 10 Euro, depending on where you buy em.

Now, people will jeer me for this... :rolleyes:
Do you know a great make of strings, tried and tested??
Music-Store's own brand, 2.50 Euro a pack, and you get spare high E and B strings!!

I put Ernies/Markleys on my USA guitars (and some imports that I really love) and everything else gets good old Music Store strings! They dont last as long as other strings, but for 2.50, do you really care??? :P

Give em a try lads, Ill bet you'll be surprised!!

Demeyes

stephenshields2 wrote: »

Now, people will jeer me for this... :rolleyes:
Do you know a great make of strings, tried and tested??
Music-Store's own brand, 2.50 Euro a pack, and you get spare high E and B strings!!

I put Ernies/Markleys on my USA guitars (and some imports that I really love) and everything else gets good old Music Store strings! They dont last as long as other strings, but for 2.50, do you really care??? :P

Give em a try lads, Ill bet you'll be surprised!!

I put some of the value strings from Thomann on a few beater guitars I have lying around that hadn't been strung in ages and they actually hold up ok. They aren't as good as brand strings but at the end ofthe day they do the job better I expected them to, much better than the crummy old strings I had on them and I wasn't wasting money on restringing them for a few strums every odd week.

stephenshields2

Demeyes wrote: »

I put some of the value strings from Thomann on a few beater guitars I have lying around that hadn't been strung in ages and they actually hold up ok. They aren't as good as brand strings but at the end ofthe day they do the job better I expected them to, much better than the crummy old strings I had on them and I wasn't wasting money on restringing them for a few strums every odd week.

Couldnt comment on Thomann brand ones, never had them!

And I dont use the Music Store strings on beat up old guitars, I use them on my RG2570 Prestige, Dean Razorback, Mex Strat, and others, and they sound killer!!

And they withstand Floyd abuse too, no problems there!!

Gaspode

Having played the same electric guitar for nearly 25 years, I've probably tried every string going, and I've finally settled on Ernie Ball 2221 strings over the last few years.
Cheap as chips and the just suit the guitar perfectly. you might find you need to try a few different brands before you find the one that suits best.

I have recently moved over to Elixirs on the acoustic and the jury is still out on them. I'm not sure I like the slightly tacky feel of the strings, I hope that goes away soon!!

jimmy99

Give Jim Dunlop strings a go.Much better than Ernie ball or daddario.Elixir strings have a different feel which may not be to every ones taste.