What are your favorite string brand and why?

[papersoul]

I play classic rock, rock, grunge and modern rock.

I have been in the hunt for new strings. I play all guitars in Eb with some songs drop C#. Right now I love my Ernie Ball Slinky 11-48 sets but I have to order packs of Ernie Ball .50s because my ideal Eb set is the following:
11-14-18-28-38-50.

Next up I want to try Dunlop 11-50.

I tried DR Tite Fit and while they sounded good, they did not intonate well! D'Addario were too harsh. GHS Boomers feel terrible to my hands.
D'Addarios are good for single notes but I much prefer Ernie Ball for rhythm and lead.
I only wish Ernie Ball made an 11-50 set, which would be ideal and save me money.

So, what you like and WHY? Style of music?

[MontyAwesome]

I play progressive rock and some djent (at least as close as I can get with a 6 string...)

I go with D'Addario or Ernie Ball, with a slight preference toward D'Addario, though Ernie Ball has a more available selection outside of standard string sizes when I need them.

I like how bright and present D'Addarios sound, harshness has never been a problem for me.

[the guy who invented fire]

I loved the tone and feel of DR Pure Blues but there are too many QC issues so I use EB R-n-R strings now...the tone and feel is 95% the same but the QC is FAR better...in fact I have yet to open a set of EB R-n-R's that didn't intonate!

[JOLLY]

I'l use just about anything. I'm not really picky when it comes to string brands, but I do seem to use D'Addario mostly.

[Mr. B]

I end up using D'Addario most of the time. Ernie Ball string are a bit brighter if I need it, but they break easier if I'm loosening and tightening the strings multiple times to change pickups etc.. I like the in-between sets, the 9.5 and the 10.5 set. Nines are too slinky, and elevens are too tight.

[ItsaBass]

I buy the packs and change the one string I don't like as well. It is still cheaper than buying all individual strings. I'd say keep doing that if you really like the Ernie's Balls strings. You will have 48's to give to friends. That's what I do with the plain 17's, 18's, and 22's that I replace.

Have you tried an 11-54 (Beefy Slinky) set? Might work for you. They are my main set now after playing 11-52's for a while.

[Diego]

I normally buy Rotosound, since they're pretty good and bring two 1st strings in the pack.

But for my Strat I'm still in the hunt. Think I'll drop Ernie Ball Pure Nickels on it.

It's always 10-46, by the way.

[papersoul]

I loved the tone and feel of DR Pure Blues but there are too many QC issues so I use EB R-n-R strings now...the tone and feel is 95% the same but the QC is FAR better...in fact I have yet to open a set of EB R-n-R's that didn't intonate!

EB rock! I want to try Dunlop though!

[TheLivingDead]

EB's. Used em since I started. They just feel right to me.

[JeffB]

I loved the tone and feel of DR Pure Blues but there are too many QC issues so I use EB R-n-R strings now...the tone and feel is 95% the same but the QC is FAR better...in fact I have yet to open a set of EB R-n-R's that didn't intonate!

+1. Love the tone and feel of the PB, but too many issues. RR classics are my go to pure nickel wrap.


Use EB for single coils...slinkys or classics. Gibson BW or VR for buckers.

[Myaccount876]

Try the GHS coated. They felt silky smooth to me or you could try the new Ernie Ball Cobalts, which I like more than the regular strings.

[misterwhizzy]

Elixirs. Although I'm newly impressed with Cleartones. Whichever's cheaper, I guess.

[papersoul]

I must say in 26 years I have yet to find a string that does it all as well as Ernie Balls. Intonation, feel, consistency and tone. Ernie Ball!

[Bfeeney]

15 years using Ernie Ball 10-46 and not a problem yet. Sh!t, I just jinxed myself!

[STRATDELUXER97]

Blues/classic rock player....D'Addario XL .010s are my absolute favorite...Consistent and best priced strings I've used...If I could only pick one brand,it would be these!

[papersoul]

15 years using Ernie Ball 10-46 and not a problem yet. Sh!t, I just jinxed myself!

Yep, the 10s are great for standard, but the power slinky 11s are better for Eb.

I want to try pure nickel.

[H8Red442]

The Mummers!

Wait I thought you said String Band...

[Jessie's ghost]

GHS. Gibson Vintage Reissues are my favorite strings, but GHS Nickel Rockers are close enough that I'll use them when I can't find the VR's. Plus, I love the Burnished Nickels, the nylon classical strings, and Boomers. So if I had to play one brand the rest of my life, for all my guitars, I'd go GHS, easy.

[some_dude]

I use GHS Nickel Rockers (11-50) on all my guitars except my Explorer, which gets Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (10-46).

[TheProphet]

D'addario XLs for electric. D'addario flat top bronze for acoustic