Guitar Strings Poll

[EL34]

Please vote up above this post


I am now stocking The Electro Harmonix brand of Nickel wound electric guitar strings.
Here is the link to my catalog page for the strings
http://www.hoffmanamps.com/MyStore/catalog/parts13.htm

Please vote up top for the gauge you like to use on your electric guitar
You can vote for more than one gauge in case you use different gauges on different guitars
The voting percentages helps me to figure out the ratio I need to keep in stock for each of the 3 sets

Presently EH only has the 3 gauges shown below
Here's the string info from EH


Our new EH Strings allow you to capture every nuance of your playing style with lightning fast playability.
Made of a pure nickel wrap with a specially-selected stainless steel, these sweet-sounding round wounds are truly like no other strings you've played.
Not only do they last longer and stay in tune longer, but we think they're the best sounding strings ever made.
Available in 9s, 10s and 11s.

  9's  - Set (.009 to .042) - .009p - .011p - .016p - .024w - .032w - .042w
10's  - Set (.010 to .046) - .010p - .013p - .017p - .026w - .036w - .046w
11's  - Set (.011 to .048) - .011p - .014p - .018p - .028w - .038w - .048w

[jjasilli]

Maybe 11's for slide.  For finger style I prefer 10's for both Fender & Gibson length necks. 

[thelonious]

Agreed on the 10s for normal electric---just enough thickness, just enough bendability 

[EL34]

I would be stocking all 3 gauges
I just need to know the ratio I need to have on hand

I only use 11's, but many people use 10's, so I may need to keep 10 times more 10's in stock than 11's

So the stocking ratio may be somthing like

9's = 10%
10's = 80%
11's = 10%

[Ed_Chambley]

I would give a set a try, but I use pyramids.  I use 10's mostly, but have been known to use 11's.  It would be difficult for me to change from pyramids.  I have been order from Just Strings.com for a while now.

[P Batty]

I've tried to play 11's, they definitely sound better, but i keep going back to 10's.  I buy about 5 or 6 sets a year. Those look good.

[Frankenamp]

Probably 9's (fingers lost callus due to lack of playtime)

I don't see a vote for 9's at the top of this post?

[bigsbybender]

I use .10's on Fender sized 25.5 scale" guitars and .11's on Gibson style 24.75" scales.

[EL34]

Make sure you are voting at the top of this post

[Fresh_Start]

Having strings available to add to an order is a great idea.

Chip

[EL34]

Having strings available to add to an order is a great idea.

Chip

Thanks, that's what I was thinking also

[John]

I play 10's. (voted) After trying many different brands, I coughed up the money for Gibson LP Vintage Reissues. I like the tone the best, and while they're more expensive to buy, they seem to last much longer and keep their tone longer than other brands I've tried. I generally don't replace a set until I break a string.

That said, I'd try a set of EH's.

[tubenit]

I would use 10's about 75% and 11's about 25% of the time.

Tubenit

[HotBluePlates]

I used to play 11's a while back, but had switched to 10's when trying to work on the spanky Tele stuff.

However, I've played mostly an acoustic with 13's for the past year or so. When I switched back to electric recently, I felt like I'll rip 10's right off the fretboard. I guess it's back to 11's for me.

Dunno if Ernie Ball is making srings for EH, but D'Addario and DR definitely make sets of 11's. They're who I typically got mine from in the past.

[G._Hoffman]

The vast majority of strings are made by either GHS or D'Addario, even for many brands that claim to make their own strings.  The few exceptions are strings to be avoided, not because the are all bad, but because they are no better, and their percentage of duds is usually much higher than the big manufacturers. 

On electric, I mostly use 0.010's or 0.011's, and on my acoustics I use 0.012"s.  I always use D'Addario, since their quality is great and I have never heard a difference between brands (materials/gauges, yes, but not brands).

Of course, my string preference isn't very important, since I get my wholesale from D'Addario through the shop.


Gabriel

[EL34]

Of course, my string preference isn't very important, since I get my wholesale from D'Addario through the shop.

It doesn't matter where people get their strings
I am just trying to figure out the percentages of each gauge that I need to stock

so if I ordered 100 sets I would use the percentages shown in the voting up above as my guide

[G._Hoffman]

Of course, my string preference isn't very important, since I get my wholesale from D'Addario through the shop.

It doesn't matter where people get their strings
I am just trying to figure out the percentages of each gauge that I need to stock

so if I ordered 100 sets I would use the percentages shown in the voting up above as my guide

That's pretty much in line with what I sell these days.  20 years ago, there would have been a LOT more .009's, and even 10 years ago they were more common than they are today.  The trend has definitely been towards heavier strings, though.


Gabriel

[RicharD]

>The vast majority of strings are made by either GHS or D'Addario, even for many brands that claim to make their own strings.

So who makes the EH strings?

>I always use D'Addario, since their quality is great

+1.  I swear by them.  I am probably one of the most heavy-handed (ie. bad) players here and I almost never break a string.  I change em when they're black.

[firemedic]

How about coated strings like elixir? they're worth every penny. Other companies make them too....

[EL34]

So who makes the EH strings

It's got to be one of the big manufactuers
Gary at New Sensor said he would tell me after I tried a set
He's pretty much a vintage guitar head and was a die hard D'Addario user for 20 years
He said he switched to these strings and has not switched back cause they sound good

How about coated strings like elixir

New sensor only sells the Nickel strings so far

I ordered 100 sets yeaterday in these QTY's
10 - 9's
62 - 10's
28 -11's

should have them early next week

[jojokeo]

That's pretty much in line with what I sell these days.  20 years ago, there would have been a LOT more .009's, and even 10 years ago they were more common than they are today.  The trend has definitely been towards heavier strings, though.

I think that's because 10 and 20 years ago the metal heads weren't around and playing the music like they do today, and playing drop tunings means heavier strings needed.

+1 on D'addario - best value for tone, durability, & lifespan. Have been trying EB's Cobalts and Skinny top/Heavy bottoms lately too. Never had much "long term" success with coated strings.

[G._Hoffman]

I think that's because 10 and 20 years ago the metal heads weren't around and playing the music like they do today, and playing drop tunings means heavier strings needed.

The change in the metal scene is only part of it.  (They WERE around back then, but they were playing very different stuff that lead to them playing .008's and such, by the way.)  The other part of it is guys have come to a greater understanding of the relationship between heavier strings and tone, and so they are using heavier strings.

As for coated strings, I HATE coated string.  Violently.  I so dislike the sound, that I don't WANT them to last longer, and I sure as hell don't want to pay twice as much for strings I don't like.  That being said, I do sell a fair number of Elixirs and D'Addario EXP strings, so SOMEONE must like them.


Gabriel

[EL34]

I have a Strat parts guitar with a locked down bridge/5 springs that I use for background parts on recordings

The string gauges are .060 - .048 - .038 - .028 - .018 - .014 (Dick Dale territory)

But the .060 is tuned down to B
So it's B - E - A - D - G - B
I guess it's like a 7 string minus one string

Someone on the forum called it "Heavy Strat"
It sounds really cool

All I did was use one of the sets of 11's, throw out the .011 and add a .060

[Fresh_Start]

How about coated strings like elixir? they're worth every penny. Other companies make them too....

Funny, I feel like Gabriel when it comes to coated strings for an electric guitar but ALWAYS put Elixir Nanoweb "light" or "light medium" strings on my Taylor acoustic.

Doug - if you're going to carry electric guitar strings, you might as well have 1 or 2 choices of acoustic strings on hand too.  I'll bet that more than 70% of electric guitar players have an acoustic guitar that they play sometime.

Cheers,

Chip

[EL34]

New sensor only carries the 3 sets of Nickel strings shown at the top of the post
These are their EH brand strings

[tubeswell]

10-46 roundwounds on my strat and alternate between 11-49 rounds and 11-50 flats on my Jazzie (which sounds a lot better with flats). I also have an epiphone SG which sounds good with 9-44 rounds and is helluva easier to play, but almost too easy

[Fresh_Start]

New sensor only carries the 3 sets of Nickel strings shown at the top of the post
These are their EH brand strings

Gotcha.

[oldhippy]

I usually buy 6 to 10 sets at a time and I'd try some 10's when you get them. respectfully, old hippy

[EL34]

Cool, thanks
They should be here early next week

I may do a forum special/introductory offer
How does $3.50 a set sound?

[Willabe]

How does $3.50 a set sound?

Sounds like 10, 15 years ago.       


                         Brad       

[EL34]

Ok, I have the strings in stock now
See the first first post for pictures and a link to my catalog page

If you are ordering parts and add a note to your order, I will do a forum member price of $3.50
Just add a note saying
Forum member string discount

[EL34]

yesterday, I restrung one of my guitars with a set of the 11's and they sound great!!

They have a real nice nickel ring to them, if that is a proper description.

I am real happy so far after several hours of playing time.

Anyone else ready to give them a test spin?

[loogie]

Does 'Forum Member Miscellaneous Parts Discount'  work too?  That would be cool.

I'm gonna buy some of your elevens. 

[EL34]

Just add forum member discount so I know to discount the srings

[John]

Wait a minute. There's a forum member discount???

I feel like a senior citizen that's lost their AARP card! 

[EL34]

Yes, Strings $3.50 if you want them

[EL34]

How about this for a forum member string promotion discount sale jamboree

Order $30 worth of parts and get a set of strings free?

Just add the string set of your choice to your parts order and add this note to the order
Forum member string deal

Your order must be $30 worth of parts without the strings or shipping
So make sure your shopping cart is at least $30 before adding the string set

Just had to make that clear

[Jim Coash]

Having been born and raised in Kalamazoo I tend to favor Gibson and Heritage guitars.  I buy GHS medium sets most of the time.  I do like D'Addario strings and when I see a set that looks interesting I do try them.  I have been told that nearly all strings come from the same few places and that GHS is the largest by far.  For most of my life great guitars, amps, strings, cables and other gear came from Gibson, Fender, Ampeg, Martin and some good English companies.  I have never liked Fender instruments but I prefer their amps over any other.  I have never liked Gibson amps but I have owned several great Gibson guitars.  I have also owned a Framus, a Harmony, an Ovation (not long), a Martin (I sure wish I had that one back), an Epiphone and a Rickenbacker.  My 1956 Gibson still plays as well as any I have ever played.  My favorites these days are Heritage instruments, an H-550, H-555 and the last Heritage bass ever made, a one of a kind prototype.  Being a regular visitor at 225 Parsons Street was an amazing experience.  I became friends with some very special people there and also ran into some rather well known stars.  The people that worked there needed A/V advice and equipment and I was happy to be paid in trade.  Jim

[Toxophilite]

I use 12-52 with a wound G. always have
Put them on a Gretsch Tennesean nd a double Anniversary, sound great for everything
D'addrai seems to have the best balanced set in this range
However I'm in Canada so with shipping etc I wouldn't be the best demographic

[rake]

I've played custom lights for years 09 - 46
The 09 plain strings bend nice for me and the 
10 wound strings give a rounder, fuller bottom.

And we all know the advantages to a rounder, fuller bottom!