ฺBest string for blues?
- Blackhorse
- Posts: 186
- Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:32 pm
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
I found the guage more important than the brand, particularly on an electric. I used to use 8s when I started, moved to 9s and I've been using 10s for the last few years. Still torn between 9s and 10s on my strat, although I like heavier strings on my archtop (12s). But yeah, I mostly go for D'Addarrio, and Martin for my acoustic.
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
After trying many over the years, I've stuck with Ernie Ball. I found the best for Blues playing to be 'Slinky Top Heavy Bottom'.
BUT BE CAREFUL anyone trying them: your nut needs the bass slots cutting wider, if your guitar has a standard nut designed for 8-10's.
I don't really think the brand comes into it; more personal choice!
BUT BE CAREFUL anyone trying them: your nut needs the bass slots cutting wider, if your guitar has a standard nut designed for 8-10's.
I don't really think the brand comes into it; more personal choice!
"Big Bill Broonzy, a white boy's inspiration" (1963), and the Blues ever since.
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
I just put a set of Ernie Ball power slinky (11-48) on my EC strat, which is currently tuned down one half-step, like SRV/Hendrix. For most of my guitar playing career I have used EB regular slinky (10-42 I think) which receive my highest praise so far. Whether or not I go back to them on the strat remains to be seen, but I still use them on my ES-135. I had a brief flirtation with EB Skinny top heavy bottom strings. I do not care for them.
On my acoustic I use D'addario phosphor bronze with a 12 high E, but I got some free EC martin strings at Crossroads that I am going to try, plus I picked up a set of D'addario flat-top "slide" strings that I will try some time as well.
On my acoustic I use D'addario phosphor bronze with a 12 high E, but I got some free EC martin strings at Crossroads that I am going to try, plus I picked up a set of D'addario flat-top "slide" strings that I will try some time as well.
I used to be tombstoneblues.
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
Flirted with the Ernie Ball and others, but always come back to GHS Boomers in an 11 gauge. All my electrics wear those.
As others have said, the brand name is less important than the string gauge.
As others have said, the brand name is less important than the string gauge.
"Throw yo' big leg over me Mama, I might not feel this good again!"
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
I'm afraid the topic owner is a spammer. Let's see if he reponds. Otherwise:
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
Hmmm, really 12bar, are you sure...12bar wrote:I'm afraid the topic owner is a spammer. Let's see if he reponds. Otherwise:
Just a question what strings everyone likes... also checked the link... pretty good blues playing there in Thailand
Pena
"The blues is a low down achein' chill" Robert Johnson
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
Well - 4 posts, all of them with links to his youtube account...
- HalfBlindLefty
- Admin
- Posts: 2015
- Joined: Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:23 pm
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
I felt the same, just thought let's give it a short period of time and see what happens........12bar wrote:Well - 4 posts, all of them with links to his youtube account...
A long time ago, in the old forum : Registered: Mon, 27 Nov 2006. Wonder were the other old members all went....
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
Spam or not...
On electric guitars:
I don't care what brand I am using. I've used dozens of brands. D'Addario are available the best and cheapest to me, so I now use those mostly.
Also used different kinds of flatwounds, NPS, Pure nickel. all from 9s through to 12s. I don't understand using heavy string anymore, there's more expression available in lighter gauges. Although fat string make a strat sound sound heavier (=middier?), for sure, which is a good thing for blues. 9-46 have been most common on my e-guitars, but I often used 10-52 before.
My tele is sporting : 9-46 D'Addario NPS with 10 on top
My strat is trying out: TI flatwound 10s. They were a tad expensive for my wallet, but, well, something different, and not too heavy like flats usually are. Usually I have regular NPS 009-046's with 10 on top on the strat too, or then just 9-46 if am lazy or out of tens.
My Epiphone Alleykat is wearing: D'Addarion 9-42s. Previously had 10s, but I changed, so it would overdrive less.
Billy Gibbons used heavy texas gauges, until BB King asked him why on earth.
On electric guitars:
I don't care what brand I am using. I've used dozens of brands. D'Addario are available the best and cheapest to me, so I now use those mostly.
Also used different kinds of flatwounds, NPS, Pure nickel. all from 9s through to 12s. I don't understand using heavy string anymore, there's more expression available in lighter gauges. Although fat string make a strat sound sound heavier (=middier?), for sure, which is a good thing for blues. 9-46 have been most common on my e-guitars, but I often used 10-52 before.
My tele is sporting : 9-46 D'Addario NPS with 10 on top
My strat is trying out: TI flatwound 10s. They were a tad expensive for my wallet, but, well, something different, and not too heavy like flats usually are. Usually I have regular NPS 009-046's with 10 on top on the strat too, or then just 9-46 if am lazy or out of tens.
My Epiphone Alleykat is wearing: D'Addarion 9-42s. Previously had 10s, but I changed, so it would overdrive less.
Billy Gibbons used heavy texas gauges, until BB King asked him why on earth.
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
I use elixer 10s. They have very long life because they are coated. I have them on my Epiphone SG and Les Paul.
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
Actually, I usually don't really change strings on electrics that often... at least the Fenders sound spanky enough with 5 month old strings! So I usually change them only when I want another gauge or something. Just this week I took the strings from two guitars and put them on another two, just for the fun of it (one has now lighter, easier to bend, the other has now "more meat")aggiefan wrote:I use elixer 10s. They have very long life because they are coated. I have them on my Epiphone SG and Les Paul.
On acoustic, I like the coated stuff. Elixir PB or D'Addario EXP or whatever they are called. Because usually otherwise I'd need to change them every three weeks, depending on t6he guitar though (some need changing more often).
Re: ฺBest string for blues?
I change strings when I break one, which happens more often when I play more (go figure ). One reason I use .11's, they don't break as easily.weelie wrote:Actually, I usually don't really change strings on electrics that often... at least the Fenders sound spanky enough with 5 month old strings! So I usually change them only when I want another gauge or something.
"Throw yo' big leg over me Mama, I might not feel this good again!"