Picky about strings?

[Brooks]

On 4/23/2021 at 11:11 PM, Jeff R said:

Some people's acids and sweats eat some string maker's alloys faster. What's good for me might not be good for you and vice versa, and it's your body chemistry as much as it is your guitar, amp, effects, whatever.

This is why I use Elixirs, non coated strings go dead way too fast w/ my sweaty mitts. I am trying 2 sets of NYXLs this week, we will see how long they last.

[Jeff R]

Be sure to try these D'Addario XTs to which I referred, Brooks. You would not know they are coated if the packaging didn't tell you, they sound and feel nude. They are my favorite string for humbuckers, no question.

[LucSulla]

These too!

 

[mudshark]

Elixir Polyweb for guitar
D'addario flatwound for bass
GHS for lap steel ... same set works for the two tunings I use G (GBDGBD) and Open D

[Hamerica]

"The moral is don't put a lotta weight into what you read, especially on message boards and social media. Try everything to find what's best for you tonally, what's best for you life-span wise, and what's the best middle ground."   - Jeff R.

^^^^^

"Church" - Skinny Pete

[Biz Prof]

On 4/25/2021 at 9:03 PM, Biz Prof said:

Anyone here ever tried Daddario balanced tension sets?  If so, what's your experience with them?

Quoting myself here since I answered my own question and figured some of you might be curious.  Ordered two sets of D'addario XL 120BT to try out on some of my Floyd equipped guitars.

The verdict: they do feel different...in a good way.  I'm not even an amateur physicist, but to my fingers, the effect of a locking bridge and locking nut makes string bending harder than it would be on a non-locking setup.  And Floyds, to me, seem hypersensitive to string tension variances.  The balanced tension set instantly felt better and stays in tune regardless of how much I do two step bends or dive bombs. I figured the concept would be mere hype or snake oil, but I was wrong. I like them. 

[kizanski]

I'm picky about strings, but I'm also stringy about picks!

 

ok, I'll see myself out.

[richardt4520]

I'm picky about them for a different reason. Still trying to pull off those Paul Gilbert RacerX licks 30 years later and my hands are just giving up on me. lol So I've had to resort to detuning a half step, using .008s and pure nickel strings on 25 1/2 scale guitars. I can still get away with .009s on PRS or Gibson scales (25" and 24 3/4"). I actually came across pure nickel when I bought a PRS that they were on and noticed they were softer and seemed to have a less tense feel to them than the DM Blue Steels I was torturing myself with. That may just be in my head FAIK but they do have a softer tone with less string rattle, to my ears. I originally was using PRS pure nickels but I don't think they make .008s so I had to switch to Ernie Ball. They have a similar tone and feel to me anyway.