what strings brand for strat

[NewWave]

to give woody tone 'unplugged'? I currently use elixir nano 11's and when I noodle with it unplugged, it sounds so bad like 'tenk' and the scale length makes it worse. when plugged I can get enough wood (thanks to the tone knob). I want to get "uung" like sound again unplugged. uncoated strings is alright I slap in some elixirs because I don't use the strat much..

[Robbiedbee]

I find Fender Super Bullets tend to give me the best uplugged tone, particularly when it's a big fat Callaham tremolo block that's resting on the body wood. Certainly a lot less "tenk", and a lot more "uung".

[JeffB]

On my current strat, I prefer EB RnRs, and GHS boomers. The last strat really liked EB slinkys.

Every guitar is different...I usualy hate regular slinkies on my HB guitars, but on my 335 they are perfect. I generally hate coated strings, but my Tele really likes the Dad EXPs.

Experiment a bit. In general I find coated strings to reduce dynamics, some more drastically than others. Pure nickel wrap does too, but not in the same way..they sound mellow, not neutered.

[NewWave]

Hmm.. fender.. never tried them. What gauge do you use? I'll definitely give a pack a go

[thespricket]

There is little to no difference between most string brands. Daddario, Ernie Ball, GHS are all going to sound and feel the same. I've been using coated strings for about two years now. I've tried elixirs, daddario, EB, and GHS and they all sound and play similar if not the same. They're all made the same, steel wrapped in nickel. There are some that are all nickel and they have their own sound too, less bright.

There are some makers who do things a little different. DR's are supposed to wound a little differently, but I would guess that they don't feel our sound entirely different. Dunlop strings are cool, they're wound to tension so they take practically no time to stretch which ultimately makes them last longer.

I work at GC and for a long time I worked behind the Accessories counter selling LOTS of guitar strings. What it comes down to is blind brand loyalty. Or something like that...

[Robbiedbee]

Hmm.. fender.. never tried them. What gauge do you use? I'll definitely give a pack a go

I've used 9-46, 10-46, and 11-52. I use 9-46 these days, but 10-46 would be better for an uplugged "uung".

[JeffB]

There is little to no difference between most string brands. Daddario, Ernie Ball, GHS are all going to sound and feel the same

LOL.

Nope, no difference at all. All sound the same. All feel the same. Okey dokey.

[Jay 77]

There is little to no difference between most string brands. Daddario, Ernie Ball, GHS are all going to sound and feel the same. I've been using coated strings for about two years now. I've tried elixirs, daddario, EB, and GHS and they all sound and play similar if not the same. They're all made the same, steel wrapped in nickel. There are some that are all nickel and they have their own sound too, less bright.

There are some makers who do things a little different. DR's are supposed to wound a little differently, but I would guess that they don't feel our sound entirely different. Dunlop strings are cool, they're wound to tension so they take practically no time to stretch which ultimately makes them last longer.

I work at GC and for a long time I worked behind the Accessories counter selling LOTS of guitar strings. What it comes down to is blind brand loyalty. Or something like that...

Yikes.

[loversmoon]

daddario

[LesStrat]

Sprickster, when I switched to DR there most certainly was a difference. We can debate whether that was good, but the difference was apparent.

[Farkus]

Recently I've been experimenting with different strings. To be honest, I have enough guitars that I'm tired of changing strings as often so I decided to try the coated ones. I liked the elixirs and the Ernie Ball Titanium stings, but I've really been enjoying the Cleartone stings. They sound and feel very natural. I've been using them for about 3 months now. I'll try a few more sets before I totally switch over all my guitars. BTW I've used Ernie Ball slinky strings since about 1993 and was happy with their tone and feel overall, but am changing due to sting longevity. I really dug Fender nickel strings tone wise as well, but they just didn't last for me.

[Ayrton]

There is little to no difference between most string brands. Daddario, Ernie Ball, GHS are all going to sound and feel the same.

I wish this were the case, but no...

The best thing I can suggest to the OP is to buy several different brands and compare. I did the string "walkabout" a few years ago, and stuck with D'Addario.

[loversmoon]

Exactly what aryton just said. Ive played many brands and come back to daddario. go thru a few diff brands. see what works for you and what feels and sounds best to you.

[Rockstar216]

Ima DR 10-46 man myself but daddario are good too. One brand ive really been wanting to give a try is the Cleartone strings they say they are suppose to last a very long time and keep their tone. I didn't really care for Dunlop strings they didn't feel great to me or just might of been a bad set. But you can't go wrong with a pair of DRs. Where I live their a lil more expensive then the other brands but I love the feel and tone of them.

[JohnZAH]

I always read the string threads out of curiosity but I've tried them all and for me d'addario is the best by far. Everyone is different though...

[Andrew Lamprecht]

I like the feel on Ernie Balls but I don't know what it is, they die in a week for me. Daddarios I buy the most of. DRs are good but hard to come by around here so I don't get them often. I recently bought a pack of Dunlop strings and like them a lot. They have a much tighter tension so my 10s feel closer to 11s. Nice though. I've thought about going and trying a bunch of different sizes. I hate it because my hands adjust to the size, so if I use 9s I immediately get used to the "looseness" and 13s which are on my brothers strat are a little harder to play but I get used to them really quick.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

The only D'Addario's I really like are the ProSteels...lotsa power in those
The rest is kinda to rubbery, but these days I have little choice but to use EB and D'Addario....since Fender decided to go B stringsgrade, that D'Addario makes for them(not that D'Addario's are B grade, just those 250's and Bullets), the 250's and Bullets have been a sad excuse for a string....
I also use the EB Cobalts...strange feel on the touch....good power too, but the set I use now squacks alittle on my CS Tele...kinda funny sound, I'll try a few more sets just be sure that it is a single incident.

Strings reacts differently, try a few different ones.

[JeffB]

I like the feel on Ernie Balls but I don't know what it is, they die in a week for me.

Been my experience in the past too. I get up one day and they sound fuzzy and dull. Recently starting using the Dunlop string cleaner/conditioner, and they zing right up and sound fresh again for another week. Then another clean for another week. After about 3.5 weeks they get to feeling like bridge cables and lose any bounce they once had, and I change strings. Slinkies are cheap anyway, but the cleaner got me triple life out of a pack of strings. I wish I had started using the stuff 7 years ago when I bought it (came in a cleaning kit I bought).

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Stringcleaners are good stuff
This one is nice too!
http://www.planetwaves.com/pwProduct...ricant_Cleaner

[Rockstar216]

Stringcleaners are good stuff
This one is nice too!
http://www.planetwaves.com/pwProduct...ricant_Cleaner

Or just take a face rag or cloth or old T-shirt and wipe real good. Preferably white so you can see the dirt