General Music Chat

I'm not all that particular about strings. For the most part I find all the major brands feel similar enough that I don't freak out if my regulars (D'Addario) aren't in stock. I'll just buy Boomers, or whatever instead. The one exception was way back in the 70's when after reading that Ritchie Blackmore used Piccato (spelling?) strings, I tried a set. These were just plain gross. They had a noticeably oily feel to them and the metal on the windings was soft and lead like. After playing about 10 minutes my fingers were black and greasy, and out came the side cutters. PING...PING...PING...PING...PING...PING!!!!

When I was a teenager, growing up in Byhalia, MS, (about 25 miles out of Memphis) and had started playing electric guitar, the only place to buy strings (without running to Memphis) was a little drug store in town and all they had was Black Diamond Strings. These turned my fingers black and the strings would feel all grungy within a week. Looking back, I wonder if it was poor string quality or the fact that those strings had probably been sitting on the shelf for 100 years before I bought them.
At that time, I was the only guitarist in town except for this old guy (maybe 40 at the time) that played guitar sometimes at our Church. I was self taught, but he tried to show me some stuff, but I was into the Monkees then and he was trying to teach me licks by some guy I had never heard of...Chet Atkins. Still kicking myself for not paying attention.

Time wounds all heels.

I played Black Diamond as a kid for the same reason, the only strings available. Didn't see anything wrong with them, but at 5-10 years old, didn't know any better either. Then along came a bigger town and a real music store...WOW...

I played Dean Markley strings for 30 years, loved them and still like their strings, if I can find the Blue Steels for electric. I'm playing GHS Curt Manghan acoustics these days though. Music store here quit carrying Blue Steels a while back, they got several sets rusted in the package, I can't get them locally any more.

Probably the worst I've seen were some D'Addario acoustics I got years ago- horrible - never touched those again, and the current set of Martins (GHS were temporarily out of stock) aren't impressing me either. That's not the first time I've been unimpressed with Martin strings, I tried them long ago and never bought ano0ther set till a few weeks ago when the GHS strings I normally use were out of stock and decided I'd see of they had improved. Nope...

Dajax thats to funny.ping ping ping.
none of the stores carry the strings I like so I special order 50 or more sets at a time,I've already run in to problems finding picks I like to use. Ping ping ping I like that one.

When I did solo gigs a lot, I changed my acoustic strings weekly. I used Martin med's, but had horrible experiences with their high end Marquis crap. I found that trying to use strings for more than 3 shows was a bad idea, as a rule...

Never liked the Black Diamonds, either.

Living in Michigan, I have always used GHS. I don't necessarily believe they're the best out there but they're cheap and I always support local business. The worst were some off-brand strings that were actually rusty/discolored.

I use GHS Boomers 10-46

15 yrs ago Elixir kept sending me demo strings. These had plastic on them or something. They always sounded dead to me straight out of the box. They sent me about 30 sets over a yr and half period with a card to tell them what I thought. Maybe I should have been nicer and they would have sponsored me or something. I just couldnt stand them.

I'll stick to GHS's.

I'm with you on the Elixirs, JW. The acoustics were just as bad. What good is a string that lasts for months if it sounds dead brand new? My Dean came with them on it, & I had to do the "snip snip" right away! Damn that felt good!

Hey, JimmyDanger. Aren't most strings actually made at the same company in Battlecreek, MI?

1st favorite: Elixir (keep in mind im a bassist)
2nd: Dean Markely
3rd: GHS

The main thing that matters to me on strings are:
Tone quality, then gauge. i love my lights.

4 stringer 100-45 or 95-40
6 stringer (bass still) 130-100-45-32 or 125-100-45-32

I dunno I'm pretty raw still (even after a few years on these here boards I just don't have enough time in the day to do everything I want) but I love DR strings, they give me so much mids and high's and the low end doesn't disappear outta my bass...only flatwound strings I've found in the area are D'addario, they are ok, I can slap 'em and still get a sound out of them...and my accoustic electric fretless I don't even remember what brand they are I just remember looking at the package and hoping they didn't suck (a known brand that I just didn't like stuff from can't really remember though)
I really should buy strings for the guitar I fiddle round on I'm sure I've killed em by now with all the pick scrapes, trill picking and pick bowing I do (cuz I don't know sh|t about guitar and don't have the space to put up the posters of knowledge I have ) oh well

I use GHS Boomers, was very partial to fender super bullets for a while too.

Worst strings I ever tried were "guitar research" brand. Flat, stale, no feel on bends, etc.. just an awful string. I use them as acoustic strings on my crappy $99 acoustic haha.. with action that high, you NEED em lolz.

1st favorite: Elixir (keep in mind im a bassist)
2nd: Dean Markely
3rd: GHS

The main thing that matters to me on strings are:
Tone quality, then gauge. i love my lights.

4 stringer 100-45 or 95-40
6 stringer (bass still) 130-100-45-32 or 125-100-45-32

I was big on RotoSound round wound's on my bass back when I played it.

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"It is what it is"

1st favorite: Elixir (keep in mind im a bassist)
2nd: Dean Markely
3rd: GHS

The main thing that matters to me on strings are:
Tone quality, then gauge. i love my lights.

4 stringer 100-45 or 95-40
6 stringer (bass still) 130-100-45-32 or 125-100-45-32

I was big on RotoSound round wound's on my bass back when I played it.

Does rotosound make lights and ultra lights?