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Can anyone recomend some good strings for my Strat?

~Maxx

~Maxx

I AM the Dark Side...
Hi folks. I figured I'd get some opinions if anyone has them to offer. I'm upgrading the nut on my Strat Plus from the Wilkinson/Fender roller to the newer LSR nut. Problem is I use extra light acoustic strings with a 20g wound G. The LSR nut will not accommodate this. So I'm thinking a set of 10's with a nice fat 18g (unwound) G would be a good compromise. I'm curious about the GHS strings in particular (maybe the Eric Johnson or Carlos Santana signature sets), but don't have my heart set on anything specific. GHS seems to get high marks for tone, but has a reputation for "rugged" playability. I can deal with rugged to a certain extent. Bloody fingertips don't bother me, but when the bones start showing through the tips of my fingers I have to draw the line. :D

Anyway... If anyone has any wisdom about GHS, or any other recommendations I'd be all ears. After using these acoustic strings for 15 years I'm ready to experiment. This will be for blues and rock 'n roll, by the way. So obviously tone would be ranked above all other factors.

Thanks in advance!
 
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As with most things, this is only my opinion, albeit the opinion of a 25+ year guitar player. Take it for what it's worth...

Don't care for GHS strings. I find them lacking in tone, and although they do seem to last reasonably well, they just don't produce a sound I find pleasing.

Ernie Balls last pretty well, but again aren't the most toneful strings out there. Shredders seem to like them, but they're not for me.

Some like Elixir strings for durability, and ease of play, but they sound dull as butter to me. They might as well be dipped in wax as that covering they have on them. Blech.

After all these years of playing, I prefer John Pearse strings (although D'Addarios aren't bad) on my acoustics, and Dean Markleys on my electric guitars. I run a bluegrass gauge on the boxes (heavy bottom - light top) and 10's or 11's on my Fenders. They give great tone, and last as well as any.

Hope that helps.
 
I like the DR Pure Blues series. I use .011s on my G&L and .010s with heavier bass strings on my Strat. I find the pure nickel wrap on the bass strings gives a depth to the tone that nickel plated strings don't have. D'Addarios, for example. Great strings, nice bright tone but not a lot of depth to the tone IMO.
 
I use D'Addario .011 with an unwound G on all my electrics. With a Strat I recommend going as heavy as you can stand.
 
Ironically, fotno, I started out using Markleys on my first guitar in '90 or '91. I think they were 9's, and my uncle/teacher recommended them because they were "...inexpensive, but not cheap". I'll definitely give them a shot again. Thanks!

As far as gauge goes I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking with 10's. I don't play much these days - just a weekly jam session with a couple of friends. But back when I was rehearsing every weeknight and gigging every weekend I tried upgrading to 11's. After 3 days the drummer in our rock band (who was - thankfully - a massage therapist) had to rub my left fore-arm down halfway through practice just so I could fret power chords and trip my way through the rest of the night. I tore 'em off the next day and didn't look back. I couldn't handle 11's then, and I'm quite sure they'd have me in a sling if I tried them these days.

The strings I use now are gauged 10, 14, 20(w), 28, 40, & 50. I dig the wound G because it tames the stark difference in brightness between the lower and higher strings. Especially when you do a lot of open blues riffs in A that incorporate the octave constantly. Anyway... One of the things that caught my eye about the Eric Johnson signature strings from GHS was that they are gauged 10, 13, 18, 26, 38, & 50. Not a far cry from what I'm using now. Though I would have to question weather or not those fat bottom strings will fit through the rollers on the LSR nut. Only one way to find out I guess.

I will give all of these suggestions a try and post back with my thoughts in the coming weeks/months. Your opinions are much appreciated!

Anyone else?
 
As an aside, I tried a wound G for a little while on my strat. My Strat has staggered magnet pickups, originally designed for wound G strings with a very high pole piece in that position. With a plain G there's more volume imbalance than I'd like... the G is noticeably louder than the other strings. I liked the sound of the wound G but I bend strings a lot and pretty aggressively. The wound string didn't hold up and I was also afraid of fret wear.
 
Shot in the Dark??????

Howdy, ~Maxx...I used to like Fender Super Bullets on my Strat..........This was Many Moons ago......don't even know if they're still around, or declasse' , or what........

They just seemed to work well, and last awhile.........I was into 10-46 sets at the time.......they put out, too...I dunno anymore.........willhowl:scratch2:
 
willhowl said:
Howdy, ~Maxx...I used to like Fender Super Bullets on my Strat..........This was Many Moons ago......don't even know if they're still around, or declasse' , or what........
Click to expand...

Still around, I believe. My '09 american strat had those as stock strings. I actually need to change my strings as well, since a couple are rusting or corroding, terrible feel. On my first guitar, a newer silvertone SG knock-off, I swapped with ernie ball super slinkys, as noted, good strings, and "shredders" perfer them, the set I have is pretty good, but I haven't experimented much:scratch2:.
 
It's a touch light on the G but you might try the Zakk Wylde GHS set:

Gauges: 010; 013; 017; DY36; DY52; DY60

Nice fat tone from those heavy bottom strings
 
GOYA said:
It's a touch light on the G but you might try the Zakk Wylde GHS set:

Gauges: 010; 013; 017; DY36; DY52; DY60

Nice fat tone from those heavy bottom strings
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Yeah - I'm really trying for that 18 gauge G. But my God those have a fat bottom end! I've confirmed that the LSR nuts work with a 10-46 gauge set (even though that's over the limit stated in the official specs). I'd be very surprised if the bottom strings on this set would fit through the rollers. But you never know! After I get the nut I'll check it with some acoustic strings and see if they'll go. If so I'll give 'em a shot. Thanks!

dr*audio said:
I use Diaddario XL Nickel strings on my Epiphone Sheraton. I use the 11 gauge, but they make 10's with a wound G. I love the tone and they last a long time.
I can't find them in any store so I order them here:
http://www.stringsbymail.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8_9_34_290
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The nickel strings have really intrigued me as a matter of fact. I'm eager to try them out. This set, however, seems to have a 22 gauge wound G (for the 10's). I'm afraid that's a bit much for me even if it would fit the new LSR nut I'm getting. I can't see myself getting along with anything bigger than a 20 on the G. That's a good site though. I've bookmarked it. Thanks!
 
I see that site has the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz BeBop Series Round Wound strings. Finest strings I've ever tried, but not cheap. $15 on that site. I think they were over $20 where I bought them around 10 or 15 years ago.
 
Ive been playing seriously since 1977, I used Ernie Ball super slinky and regular slinky, but in the 90's I changed to DR and have used them ever since. Sometimes I use D'Addario XL110's when I'm doing lots of shows and chewing through strings quickly and to be honest theres not a lot in it.
If Im feeling nostalgic I might grab some Ernie Balls.
No wound G strings, couldnt Imagine playing with them to be honest.
I have a telecaster deluxe (American not mexican), a G&L ASAT, A Les Paul custom (Jimmy Page Custom JPC 481) and a couple of Les Paul 2003 standards and I use the same strings on all of them.
D'Addarios are the best value for money, I tried GHS and didnt like them, tone and they went dead fairly quickly as I remember.
Hope this is of some use..........
Oh yeah my gauge used to 009 to 042, but I swapped about 10years ago to 010 to 046...............
Fairly light if you play Jazz however...
 
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I play and rehearse a lot so I usually buy whats on sale, but technically I favor Daddario 11's on my electrics, and Martin SP's Phosphor 11's on my acoustic
 
GHS strings have been my favorites for years. I use 9 gauge Boomers and haven't noticed them cutting up my fingers. I like that they keep their tone and don't break very often.
 
fotno said:
As with most things, this is only my opinion, albeit the opinion of a 25+ year guitar player. Take it for what it's worth...

After all these years of playing, I prefer John Pearse strings (although D'Addarios aren't bad) on my acoustics, and Dean Markleys on my electric guitars. I run a bluegrass gauge on the boxes (heavy bottom - light top) and 10's or 11's on my Fenders. They give great tone, and last as well as any.

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

What he said. Sometimes Dean Markley's LTHB on the electrics, too.

je
 
Thomastik are my faves and they make some great bass strings as well.Some cheap strings I really like{buy 10 sets @ time} are Tone Rockets available @stringdog.net,these come with extra e and b strings.
 
I never really had good luck with GHS, I've always been kinda a D'Addario fan. But I tried something new the other day. GHS David Gilmour Custom 10's. Excellent set. Really enjoy the sound. If you want a rich tone on a strat, I would have a try at these.
 
D'addario, Dean Markley
Pearse DR
The comments are right on about the DR's having more tonal depth. A vintagey sound.
They are very good on my Gretsch.
Never tried the Pearse but I'll bet they are good.
The GHS Ernie Balls and Labella type strings do not float my boat, but they might be easier on your fingers.
I think this has to do with the ratio of core to windings, and maybe the lack of hex core.
The ones I like seem to ( 'cept maybe for the DR's which are their own thing)
have smaller cores and larger windings, making for a more "piano" like tone, which I like.
The ones I don't like seem to have larger cores and smaller windings which can make them easier on your fingers, but to me, they don't sound as good.
On Electrics I was addicted to Dean Markleys, but then D'addario started selling
3 sets for $10 and deals like that and they are almost as good. ( maybe even the same)
 
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