guitar strings!

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Quasimojo
Member Since: Nov 08, 2010

I'm thinking of switching my brand of strings. I use 9's. I've been using GHS Boomers for the last 15-20 years. I break them a lot. I want to stick with 9's. Can someone recomend a brand that will take a lot of abuse? I'm hoping to find something that might last a little longer.

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Sep 07, 2011 12:57 pm

As I understand it, most strings come out of one of 3 or 4 factories...myself, I have always dug Ernie Ball slinkies...I liked 8's, but kept having neck problems on my guitars, so I went up to nines.

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007


Sep 07, 2011 01:10 pm

Have you tried the skinny top heavy bottom string varieties? I used those for a while. Been using nickel plated roundwound or flatwound 11's recently...but the skinny top heavy bottom stuff is good for shredders like you, I've heard.

Member
Since: Apr 26, 2006


Sep 07, 2011 11:11 pm

I figured I would throw this out there in case you can use it. GHS has a Carlos Santana signature series string set and it has a 9 1/2 in the set. I know they are on amazon, can't say that I have seen them on store shelves.

MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Sep 07, 2011 11:19 pm

Ernie Ball, Dean Markley -- I always snapped Boomers also...

Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Sep 08, 2011 01:00 am

I use D/addario and they seem to stand up to alot of abuse

Some of the other brands like Elixir and EHX have those Nano coated ones, and it seems they actually work, ive had some that lasted months and still kept their sound quality, and they were gigged with. They cost a considerable amount more though

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Sep 08, 2011 01:36 am

+1 on D'addario's, they tend to hold their tone longer too for whatever reason.
I use 11/52's

Quasimojo
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2010


Sep 08, 2011 08:36 am

lol @ "shredder"...dunno about that..but I'll take a look at those strings. This time around I beleive I'll buy a few different ones, including the ones recommended here. Thanks for your input!

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Sep 08, 2011 09:21 am

Don't leave out those Dean Markley 'Blue Steel' strings... highly recomended. They hold their tone well, and I've never broken one that wasn't too old to be on the guitar, anyway. lol

Recently, I bought a 10-pack of D'Addarios, and have broken two strings that were practically brand new. Prolly wont get those again.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Sep 08, 2011 12:39 pm

I have been using Boomers for a long time now on my electrics. Never really had a problem with them breaking. I use D'Addario bronze on all my acoustics.

Where do your strings usually break BBM?

Music is everything
Member
Since: Apr 01, 2010


Sep 08, 2011 01:17 pm

I'm partial to GHS because they're just down the street (literally). Have you tried the David Gilmour strings or are those the Boomers you speak of?

I also use Dean Markley strings as Hue.

Member
Since: Apr 26, 2006


Sep 08, 2011 07:27 pm

BBM I like your stuff something tells me your a guy that goes after it, reminds me of a Buddy Guy quote. I'll paraphrase. He said If I find that I go for a period and I'm not breaking strings, I guess I'm getting a bit lax. So keep it up.

Quasimojo
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2010


Sep 08, 2011 10:43 pm

Thanks Bluesdude..Beer, I'm breaking them right at the pick connection area... 9 and12.....I discovered singlestring.com and bought a bunch of em to make up so many partial sets.....Hate to hear about the D'addario..I just ordered a 3 pack of em..I also have some slinkies coming. I stil got about 3 packs of boomers too...so it will take a while to sample the brands. Price is a factor too...naturally...If I can't think of my next lick in time...I just bend the s%#$ out of something. The system has worked for me for years, hard on strings tho. :) Thanks fellas!

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Sep 11, 2011 02:47 pm

Quote:
... If I can't think of my next lick in time...I just bend the s%#$ out of something.


Hahaha! Hell yeah!!!

Gon'na have to give that a whirl at practice today! lol

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Sep 12, 2011 01:00 pm

It may not help this particular issue but it can't hurt either... try some Big Bend Nut Sauce. It usually helps for strings that break at the nut or bridge (saddles) but who knows... maybe it will help you as well.

www.bigbends.com/

Member
Since: Aug 31, 2011


Sep 13, 2011 11:43 pm

Can definitely second the Dean Markley Blue Steel strings. I have used them for 10-15 years and have never changed. Over this time, I have tried other brands and other Dean Markley strings and nothing holds its tone as well or as long and have never had an issue with breakages, even if they're old.

Quasimojo
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2010


Sep 14, 2011 08:33 am

Cool ...thanks for the insight..glad you liked that Hue...how'd it work for ya? I read up on that nut sauce..I'm gonna get some. I'll look into Dean Markley....thanks guys..

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Sep 14, 2011 10:25 am

Worked like a charm, bud! = p

I really dig the 'concept' of those Blue Steels... They're wrapped under cryogenic conditions, so that they can 'fit' more steel within the string. As in, a .10 set of strings have the wraps of, say.11s, worth of metal, giving it the tone of a heavier guage string, with the playability of a lighter set.

Quasimojo
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2010


Sep 19, 2011 12:52 pm

OK...I outfitted the Tele with a set of D'Addario's. 9's like always. We had 3 different gigs this weekend, and I did not break one. At the risk of sounding really dumb here, it felt like the 9 and 12 strings were easier to bend then with the Boomers. Long bends with less effort and fingertip grooving. Is that possible?? Could be my imagination, but it crossed my mind a few times over the weekend..thoughts?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Sep 19, 2011 12:56 pm

I never liked Boomers for bending, they've always been stiffer strings, the bendability is a big part of what I like about Ernie Ball strings, actually.

Quasimojo
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2010


Sep 20, 2011 07:40 am

Cool. I havn't tried the Earnie Balls, but I did just receive 5 packs of them yesterday. Amazon had em for 3.99 and free shipping..Love the price! Thanks!

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007


Oct 25, 2011 09:46 pm

I've done some research on strings now. If you wanna try out something new, Internet lore claims that the Snake Oil line of strings are the cat's pajama's. I didn't get any, but I did just order a pair of DR 10 Blues nickel plated steel core strings for my frankenstein'd guitar. Trying out steel and silk strings on my G100. Hoping it gives it an even warmer jazz sound. extreeeeeme!

Quasimojo
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2010


Oct 27, 2011 10:02 am

lmao...cat's pajamas...can I use that?..Lemme know about DR strings. I'm still using the same set of Daddario strings. I'll change them after this weekend. I must say, its been a really good run with this set of D'adario. They feel good. I'm gonna try the Earnie Balls next.

EBONY AND ACE's
Member
Since: Jan 05, 2009


Oct 27, 2011 12:26 pm

yes try the earnie balls - i play the super slinky for 30 years now.
since they are vacuum sealed they play and bend even better.

i use earnies for the guitar and rotosound for the bass, the bass is sounding absolutely deep and grumbling since i changed to rotosound.

cheers!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 27, 2011 12:27 pm

My name is dB Masters, and I approve the above post ^^^ Ernie Ball rocks.

Tim the Enchanter
Member
Since: Feb 17, 2008


Oct 27, 2011 06:44 pm

I highly endorse DR strings, I use DR 11s. Being handwound, they sound great out of the box, you don't really have to wear them in too much. They keep their sound for a while too.

Quasimojo
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2010


Oct 27, 2011 07:15 pm

Do the DRs come in a 9?

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Oct 27, 2011 07:26 pm

^^ yup! And Neon too - lol

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Oct 31, 2011 03:25 pm

Yep, my buddy put those DR neons on a bass of his... obnoxious looking, but sound, feel, and play quite nicely.

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