Acoustic guitar players...

[jazzkat]

It's such a personal thing isn't it? A bit like choosing a bike - what one person may love, the next will hate!

It really is. I used to use D'Addarios exclusively until I had a spate of snappages on D and A string (bad batch maybe) I then went onto Fender Nickels and now mainly use Ernie Balls. I've tried Rotosounds but I don't like them, they were 9s and felt like fuse wire so that might have been the real problem! This is on electric by the way, not that it makes a difference. I like Phosphor bronze on an acoustic and I use flat wounds on an Archtop, Thomastik are amazing if not a bit pricey!
I'm sure I read somewhere that there are only a few string manufacturers in the world and that a lot of it is just repackaging. I don't know?!

 

[Drago]

Ernie Ball all the way for me. I run them on my Washburn D12 and my mandolin.

 

[raleighnut]

D'Addario here as well, 9s on the Telecaster and mediums on the acoustic (been on that long I cant even find the packet to quote guage )

 

[ScotiaLass]

D'Addario here as well, 9s on the Telecaster and mediums on the acoustic (been on that long I cant even find the packet to quote guage )

Cool - I use 9's on my acoustics and 11's on the Epiphone Les Paul gold top

 

[raleighnut]

I can get the Tele to sound acoustic on the 'clean' channel on my amp (Fender Champion 30) and footswitch to an electric sound on the 'overdrive' (independent volume controls) without any other effect pedals.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I can get the Tele to sound acoustic on the 'clean' channel on my amp (Fender Champion 30) and footswitch to an electric sound on the 'overdrive' (independent volume controls) without any other effect pedals.

Oooh, I haven't got my pedal out since I got my new Marshall amp....this could get time consuming

 

[Saluki]

Ernie Ball's here too. It's what my guitar teacher sells and recommends as he adores them. My Dove and the Yamaha both have Ernie's on them. Not sure about OH's Takamine though.
Not sure what's on the Strat as they were there when I got it and it sounds fab so there might be a bit of trial and error going on when they get changed.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I'm not good enough for the type of strings to make any difference. In fact sometimes I just use actual string.

 

[jazzkat]

Cool - I use 9's on my acoustics and 11's on the Epiphone Les Paul gold top

11s on the Les Paul,
I can't stand wimpy strings. I used to use 11s on my strat, (higher tension on the longer scale length though). Tough bending on the top string, but what a sound.
10's now on my Fenders and 11s on the Les Paul and 13's on the Jazzer.

 

[SteCenturion]

I am not so anal about strings as I am about my guitars themselves, but only choose quality brands.

I run different gauges for different guitars, Strats, Les Paul, PRS, Duesenberg & acoustic (Takamine).

Generally on electric it's a hybrid, skinny top/heavy bottom set from Ernie Ball or D'addario, I have used Martin & Rotosound on the acoustic, medium gauge (phospher bronze).

I usually by string sets in bulk (4 or 5 sets) at a time from trade shows like the Northern Guitar Show at Manchester or Merseyside (Haydock Park & Aintree race courses).

This works out loads cheaper, I have had 5 sets of Ernies or D'adds electric strings for £20 in the past but these days it's more like 4 for £20.

These guitar shows really are great, lots of stalls, lots of gear & live entertainment, then there are luthiers repairing/modding guitars while you wait, amp surgeons, classes etc.

You can find them in Scotland, N.E, Yorkshire etc (run by the same people).


When playing (I am not these days due to time/family/work life) I tend to change strings regularly, to keep that quality tone.

Happy playing everyone.

 

[jazzkat]

These guitar shows really are great, lots of stalls, lots of gear & live entertainment, then there are luthiers repairing/modding guitars while you wait, amp surgeons, classes etc.

I've been to a lot of these shows in my time and I must be honest, like guitar shops on a Saturday afternoon, I can't think of a worse place in the world!
Vive le difference!

 

[SteCenturion]

I've been to a lot of these shows in my time and I must be honest, like guitar shops on a Saturday afternoon, I can't think of a worse place in the world!
Vive le difference!

exactly @jazzkat Vive le Difference, these things are good for me, maybe not everyone.

What I like about the particular ones I go to are the live entertainment & being able to try lots of stuff or pick up a bargain while a skilled luthier sets up my guitar or 2.

So far I have seen The Answer & Bernie Marsden as stand out live stuff there but missed Gary Moor's Les paul displayed along with IIRC Paul Kossof's Les Paul & a couple of others.

I get the point about saturdays in a guitar shop & it can be quite hectic at times, so I slope off for a coffee & a sandwich or chips & take 20 mins out for a breather.

Good if you like to try lots of gear & bargains, not so much if you hate crowded rooms.

There is usually at least 2 or 3 stalls selling cheap & nasty stuff or Copy/fake guitars, but they are normally marked up as Les Paul Copy etc, just something people should be aware of.

 

[andyfraser]

11s on the Les Paul,
I can't stand wimpy strings. I used to use 11s on my strat, (higher tension on the longer scale length though). Tough bending on the top string, but what a sound.
10's now on my Fenders and 11s on the Les Paul and 13's on the Jazzer.

I actually prefer the sound of lighter strings on my electrics so I use 9s. I like how my solos sound, especially on the back pickup through a DS-1. On my Dean ML with a shorter, more Gibson-like scale length I can also easily pull off Zakk Wylde-type vibrato.

I set the Floyd Rose on my BC Rich Warlock up for 9s when I bought it so luckily I still like them otherwise I'd have to go through that set up all over again and I really want to do that.

On an acoustic I want heavier strings for that fuller sound and the volume.

 

[raleighnut]

I actually prefer the sound of lighter strings on my electrics so I use 9s. I like how my solos sound, especially on the back pickup through a DS-1. On my Dean ML with a shorter, more Gibson-like scale length I can also easily pull off Zakk Wylde-type vibrato.

I set the Floyd Rose on my BC Rich Warlock up for 9s when I bought it so luckily I still like them otherwise I'd have to go through that set up all over again and I really want to do that.

On an acoustic I want heavier strings for that fuller sound and the volume.

With that name you should be playing bass............................................in Free.

 

[andyfraser]

With that name you should be playing bass............................................in Free.

I have played a few gigs on bass and we played All Right Now and Wishing Well. That was a slightly surreal feeling.