Members bobc Posted February 1, 2010 Members Share Posted February 1, 2010 I decided to go on a string quest for the past 3 days. After 3 days and about 10 different sets of strings and about 10 setups, I think I found the ultimate set of strings for my American Standard Stratocaster. I tried flat wound 12's, regular 12's, 11's, 10's, 9's, back to 10's, back to 11's, and back to 12's. I tried Elixers, D'Addario, and Ernie Ball. I finally settled on Ernie Ball "Not Even Slinky" 12-16-24p-32-44-56. They sound amazing and I can strum this Strat like an acoustic. I play mostly rhythm, finger style, and a little flat picking. I know some very basic lead patterns, and can still bend as much as I need to for what I do. I have always been an acoustic player until I got this Strat, so I am use to 12's and even 13's. I want to apply my acoustic style to electric guitar. I know that probably sounds weird, but you should hear this thing played through my Fishman SoloAmp (or right into a PA) with some chorus and delay. It sounds awesome. Anyway, if you can handle heavy stings, and want GREAT tone, you should give these a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hecticone Posted February 1, 2010 Members Share Posted February 1, 2010 Ernie balls my least favorite strings of all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members brianeharmonjr Posted February 1, 2010 Members Share Posted February 1, 2010 Glad you've found what works for you, but I'll stick with my 9's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted February 1, 2010 Members Share Posted February 1, 2010 Glad you've found what works for you, but I'll stick with my 9's. Yep, me too. 9-42's work best for me, on a 25.5 scale. On a 24.75 scale, I use 10's. When I want to play acoustic, it's 11's. I like to bend heaps. I could have weak fingers but these work best for me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Snowcow Posted February 1, 2010 Members Share Posted February 1, 2010 Yep, 9-42 D'Addario - EXL120 - on all my strats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WildWill Posted February 1, 2010 Members Share Posted February 1, 2010 Back in the time of the TTM debacle I had chatted with several performing guitarists in town. I had a few lined up to play the "free to me" guitar live and give me their impressions of it... that's a whole nuther story though. The point is, one of them I chatted with played a Gibson LP, a Strat and a Peavey T60 at various shows I saw. I asked him "Hey, I am getting a review guitar that looks really good on paper and I'd like your impressions after playing it live. Are you in?" "Hell yeah, I love new guitars!" "Sweet, what strings do you like?" "All of mine are set up with 12's..." And he's a string-yanking lead player, so yeah, fat strings have their fans. Personally I am a .010, or on my Peavey Strat-o-like .0095's kind of guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Firebrand Posted February 1, 2010 Members Share Posted February 1, 2010 That's great you found the strings that work for you bro! Like billybilly, I use 9s on my longer scale guitars and 10s on the shorter, giving them all a more consistent tension/feel. I got a free set of SIT strings and have been loving those, though I currently load everything else with Coated E.Ball super and regular slinkys. For the longest time my favorite strings were Blue Steel until they changed the packaging in the mid-90s. I have also used and enjoyed Cleartone strings, but the Balls are usually $5 less a pack. I also have a set of Elixir electric strings laying around, but my previous experience with these were less than exciting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frets99 Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Hybrid Slinkys 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Griffin Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 Quick question for anyone: I have D'addario 10-46 on my Strat, but I tune down a half-step for the slinkier feel. I'd like to go back to standard tuning, so which set would be closer to the slinkiness of downtuned 10's: 9.5-44 or 9-42? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members groovetube Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 DR pure blues. Sound is FANTASTIC and they last soooooo long. I use 'em on my strat and on my telecaster. Those are my only guitars. If I had a les paul or anything else like that I'd try something else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bro Blue Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 I like nines, and the sound just fine. I also play nines on my shorter scale guitars. I use the hybrid sets with heavy bottoms sometimes, but nines are where I'll stay. I will say this, though. I have used all types and brands of strings through the years, but EBs are the tops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FUBTAG Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 let us know what you think after a week or a month... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sxyryan Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 I really like that set of Ernie Balls too. I used to play with EB 11s and loved them, then I broke my fretting hand. While I was in the cast I set up my SG with 12s and high action, and played lapsteel style with a slide on my thumb. My hand is free now, and I set the action low again on that SG, but left the 12s on for a while. I can do most of the things I could before, but can't play it for long periods as I lost a lot of endurance on that hand. I string with 9s now... I really miss the tone I got with 11's and 12's, particularly with a slide (which I use a lot more now than before the break) but I need to be able to play for 5 or 6 hours at a time for band rehearsal so I'd take that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members snowaie Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ernie-Ball-2221-Nickel-Regular-Slinky-Lime-Buy-10-Get-2-Free?sku=101772&ZYXSEM=0&src=3AGGWXX2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oldskool Texas Posted February 2, 2010 Members Share Posted February 2, 2010 Congrats on your find. For me, it's D'Addario 11s on my Tele; I'll never use anything else! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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