Does Anybody REALLY consider their strings?

littlegreenman

I have a nickel allergy so over the years I've tried Stainless Steel, Chromes, even Maxima Golds. Been using Elixir Nanoweb for over 10 years now and they do the job nicely (longevity isn't an issue as I never break strings!).

Although I was chatting about them with the guy on the Ernie Ball stall at the Liverpool Guitar Show today, he'd said "play any of the guitars you like" and when I explained why I couldn't he said "wait there a minute". Came back a couple of minutes later and gave me a set of Elixir Optiweb, for free! So I will be trying them next re-string day.

skullfunkerry

Pfff, what a bunch of wimps! 11s? 12s? I make my own strings from throttle cables and fence wire, like a *real* man  

skullfunkerry

In all seriousness though, D'addario 10s for me. I used to use EBs, but when I tried D'addario I preferred the feel and I've never found anything to change my mind. Plus (and I admit, I haven't really got a solid reason for this, it's just a feeling), I like the way D'addario do business...

Haych

Usually use D'addario XL, 10-46 on most things but 11-52 on anything with a Gibson scale.

I recently tried D'addario NYXL and I find them horrible.  They were bloody expensive too but he wound strings feel incredibly coarse to me, like playing the edge of a file!

I've also used Fender bullets before too and always liked them.  By all accounts they're made by D'addario so no surprise that I liked them really.

stephen.wood125

I Used to use the GHS Nickel Rockers in 11-58 but had a lot corroded out of the packet, I've currently started trialing NYXL's in 12-60. Quite fancy trying Rotosound again after what I read here. I've got some D'Addario 11 -somethingorothers on my Telecaster.

Mark1960

Ernie Ball - Cobalt slinky for me.  9-42 on a Strat. Sound great, stay in tune and good intonation. And last around 10 - 12 weeks, compared to std slinkys which lasted me around 4 weeks before going dull. Tried Rotosound before but did not get on with them.

ESBlonde

Haych said:

I've also used Fender bullets before too and always liked them.  By all accounts they're made by D'addario so no surprise that I liked them really.

Hmm. Fender used to make thier own strings, they bought the squier brand name because it was a string maker not a guitar maker. Of course all that before the CBS cash out and the total rebuild of Fender USA and the adoption of squier as an offshore/lower grade guitar maker in Japan.

Aha, went off and found this, seems a reasonable resume of the situation and makes a decent read.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/history-of-fender-brand-strings.1157207/#post-17433571

thegummy

Haych said:

Usually use D'addario XL, 10-46 on most things but 11-52 on anything with a Gibson scale.

I recently tried D'addario NYXL and I find them horrible.  They were bloody expensive too but he wound strings feel incredibly coarse to me, like playing the edge of a file!

I've also used Fender bullets before too and always liked them.  By all accounts they're made by D'addario so no surprise that I liked them really.

Is it just that Fender Bullets are made in the same factory as D'Addario or are the strings themselves actually the same as D'Addarios but with the differently shaped ball end?

If the latter I'd definitely get them for my Strat if I'd be getting the same strings as now but that will work better with the trem.