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8's

1 (2.3%)

9's

6 (14%)

10's

18 (41.9%)

11's

13 (30.2%)

12's

5 (11.6%)

Total Members Voted: 22

[Mr. Mojo]

Everyone has certain strings they like the most, personally, i like 10's.

[imapiratearg]

I've only played 9's and 10's, but I liked the 10's better.  They feel just right.

EDIT - Come to think of it, I think there was a huge discussion about this sort of thing in the Guitar Topic.

[Catacombs]

I can't believe someone started this topic today, i was just thinking of doing it.  I got a brand new acoustic a little while ago (it's a Taylor, my Epiphone died in a car accident) and i was wondering what kind of strings to get.  Personally, i think i like 10's the best, i just don't know the best brand.  FYI: I don't really like the strings with coating or whatever it is on them.

edited for stupid typo

[imapiratearg]

Me either.  All the hollowbodies I have played had them.  They felt really clumsy.  Especially since I have a tendency for my fingers to slip off the strings when I'm bending notes.

[jeph]

Man didn't we have a long cockmeasuring contest debate about this in the guitar thread?

For electrics, I prefer 10s, although if you're gonna downtune significantly, 11s or 12s hold tune better and sound tighter. I don't play enough acoustic to have a worthwhile opinion, but from what I've read it seems like anywhere from 11 to 13 is ideal. On basses, the heavier the better.

[jeph]

If you play 8s you are either a preteen girl or a fucking pussy

[Caspian]

11's are where it's at, although I don't mind 10-52s. I spend most of time on guitar either droning or playing thrash riffs; I don't use the top strings a lot. 11's feel good when picked fast, and If I want to temporarily drop my guitar tuning it does a good job.

I agree with Jeph re: 8's, too, but I'd extend the preteen girl/pussy thing to 9's, as well.

[greenMonkey]

I'm getting 11s for the first time when my guitar is done getting fixed, and I'm excited to see how they play.  I've played 9s, 10s, and I actually threw some 13s on it at one point and dropped it to C standard...that was fun.

[WriterofAllWrongs]

8s and 9s are okay if you like that weird scrapey noise every time you hit a chord too hard, or like to flutter around on the neck via tapping.  I'm personally a fan of 10s.  They seem almost custom-made for my fingers.

[Caspian]

That's another thing: the picks I use are somewhere around 1.3 mm, I think. They don't go to well with thin strings, but are perfect for chunky ones.

It's funny though, when I'm playing bass I like a relatively thin E strings but a chunky D & G string.

[sean]

You play with 1.3 picks? Holy shit dude. I play bass and I usually like my picks at one, maybe at 1.5. Usually just one though.

[Caspian]

Chunky picks are terrible at strumming, I guess, but I think I've strummed chords on my guitar maybe.. twice? At the most? For fast and tight playing, I think the chunkier the better. Well, to an extent. I bought a 3 mm pick once out of curiousity and that really wasn't all that great, although it looked cool.

[Catacombs]

Chunky picks are terrible at strumming, I guess, but I think I've strummed chords on my guitar maybe.. twice? At the most? For fast and tight playing, I think the chunkier the better. Well, to an extent. I bought a 3 mm pick once out of curiousity and that really wasn't all that great, although it looked cool.

I've played with a 1.72 before.  It was more or less like playing with a manhole cover.

[Ioden]

I'd like someone to explain to me how you can use picks that are so thick that you can't bend them at all. I mean, maybe if you're using it to hold open an elevator or scoop up ice cream at a Dairy Queen, but to strum a guitar? How?

[Catacombs]

To clarify, i mostly use the tortex .86.  I also like using brain pick 1.  They've got cool little grips on them.

[imapiratearg]

I can't stand heavier picks.  They feel really weird and I don't like the attack.  I stick to medium gauge picks (.6-ish?).

[jeph]

This is going to sound like bullshit but I swear on my life it is true: the biggest single improvement in my technique in the past couple of years came when I forced myself to switch from the regular-size Dunlop Tortex picks to the tiny, super-stiff black Jazz III picks all the shred guys use.

They seem fucking IMPOSSIBLE at first but oh my god, after a week of using them nonstop I was 1000% faster, more accurate, and more versatile with my picking technique. Now the full-sized picks just seem slow and clumsy.

Learning to play with these picks is like guitar boot camp- it's difficult and painful but once you're used to it you have become a chiseled killing machine.

[Tehz]

I like 10's, sometimes 9's.

And for a bit of commentary on the pick conversation, I can't use large picks too well, but small ones bug the shit out of me also. Medium-gauge FTW.

[Caspian]

This is going to sound like bullshit but I swear on my life it is true: the biggest single improvement in my technique in the past couple of years came when I forced myself to switch from the regular-size Dunlop Tortex picks to the tiny, super-stiff black Jazz III picks all the shred guys use.

They seem fucking IMPOSSIBLE at first but oh my god, after a week of using them nonstop I was 1000% faster, more accurate, and more versatile with my picking technique. Now the full-sized picks just seem slow and clumsy.

Learning to play with these picks is like guitar boot camp- it's difficult and painful but once you're used to it you have become a chiseled killing machine.

That's exactly what I did, albeit my technique still isn't much to crow about.

[tomselleck69]

Heck I cannot stand light picks. A pick that bends noticeably just seems... wrong to me. Feels like I am playing with a piece of paper. A piece of paper that makes that little clicky-snappy noise when you strum a chord UGH I hate them. Stubby 1.0s represent, although maybe it is time I invest in some of those Jazz IIIs

Oh and stringwise, Elixir 11s, tuned down a whole step, best acoustic sound ever


edit: representing 1.0s not 2.0s. this is important I guess.

[Spluff]

I use 11s, more tone, better for downtuning etc.

I usually use 1.5 mm picks, but at the moment I'm using 0.73 (because somebody bought me two bags of them). The thick picks are better, you can play faster without the bend of the pick slowing you down. The thin picks give a kind of sloppy tone.

[voidSkipper]

D'addario XL Light Jazz, bitchesss.

I don't even know what's on my bass. They're delicious and comfy, though, so I don't wanna change them.

Furthermore, Dunlop .88s.

[MadassAlex]

.10 to .52 for me. I love having a bit more thickness on the bass strings.

As for picks, I use Dunlop 1mm. They are fantastic.

[Mars]

I use .010-.048 Chromes on my electrics and .012-.053 phosphor bronze on my acoustics, D'Addario is my brand of choice. Picks vary from .48 to .75 or so.

I tried a 1.0mm pick once but it felt clumsy and insular, like trying to play with mittens on.

[Mr. Mojo]

If you play 8s you are either a preteen girl or a fucking pussy

Tony Iommi played 8s. lulz.

[Mars]

If you play 8s you are either a preteen girl or a fucking pussy

Tony Iommi played 8s. lulz.

He also lost the tips of two fingers. When you're playing on stumps, you will also be excused for using light gauge strings.

[Lummer]

I prefer a light top/heavy bottom setup myself.

For E on a 24,75" scale, I use 10-52.

For my 7-string, i use a 10-52 set, plus a .65 bass string. Works perfectly for me.

On my Gibson, I use a 11-52 set, for tuning down a half step.

As for picks, I go for stiff, hard picks of regular size. I tried the whole Jazz III trip for a while, but I decided to get my chops up with the regular-sized ones instead. I found that my attack soundend weaker with the smaller picks, even though I was undeniably more precise. Currently, I'm rockin' the green Dunlop Tortex .88 picks.

[Mr. Mojo]

I'm sloppy when i play, i just use medium regular picks. And on occasions i'll steal a few brain picks from my friend. they're ridiculously expensive.

[orangepeas]

Strings: Elixir .012 to .053
Picks: Jim Dunlop .73mm

I have tiny hands!

[sean]

Since we're kinda talking about picks as well as strings I'm hijacking this thread.

Has anyone ever played with Jellifish picks? I've always wondered if they actually do what they claim to do.

[Mr. Mojo]

Since we're kinda talking about picks as well as strings I'm hijacking this thread.

Has anyone ever played with Jellifish picks? I've always wondered if they actually do what they claim to do.

How about strings/picks? Don't get a Jellyfish pick, biggest waste of money I've ever had the displeasure of wasting.

[voidSkipper]

Since we're kinda talking about picks as well as strings I'm hijacking this thread.

Has anyone ever played with Jellifish picks? I've always wondered if they actually do what they claim to do.

I finally get Sanitarium out of my head, and someone rips it off in their demonstrations section. Thankyou very much.

Speaking of demonstration sections, the sound they get doesn't sound that unique..

[Mr. Mojo]

Also, lulz at nobody voting for 8s XD.

[BaneAtvar]

I had fun playing 8's.

It's all about what sound you want to get out of the axe in question. But I digress.

I play 010 on my Funky Strat, and 011 on my "OhMyGodIt'sMyHeavierRiffs" Strat.

I was using light top/heavy bottom sets, but DR doesn't make mixed sets of 010-050 so I gave up on that. DR strings are boss.

[Mr. Mojo]

I like using either DRs or Rotosounds on my Ric Bass. For guitar i honestly prefer Elixirs. 10s or 9s will do it.

[BaneAtvar]

I like using either DRs or Rotosounds on my Ric Bass. For guitar i honestly prefer Elixirs. 10s or 9s will do it.

Can't get used to the slimy feel of Elixir's. I like Pure Nickel. And that's it.

[Mr. Mojo]

I like using either DRs or Rotosounds on my Ric Bass. For guitar i honestly prefer Elixirs. 10s or 9s will do it.

Can't get used to the slimy feel of Elixir's. I like Pure Nickel. And that's it.

Pure Nickel gets better tone in my opinion but i hate changing strings. Elixirs happen to have a ridiculously long life.
On occasions I'll go back to old ernie Balls though =D

[jeph]

oh my god stop saying "lulz"

[BaneAtvar]

I change every couple weeks If i'm playing a lot.

Problem is, no DR dealership here, so I have to import loads from FUCKING GERMANY.

It gets pricey, so sometimes, my babies are stuck with ernie ball. I hate ernie ball. I really only like DR.

[Mr. Mojo]

Sorry Jeph  . Eh i change them every week or two. Every three days is completely ridiculous. If i had a guitar tech to do it for me though, that would be another story.

[Mr. Mojo]

Well he also tours Europe for 3 months with a large number of gigs every summer. I take lessons from him. Rudy linka; check him out on itunes/youtube etc, he founded a jazz trio. Even so, every 3 days?? that is just a huge pain and for the improvement in sound quality he must get and even the price it is just a waste. Every week would be the max if I was touring constantly.

Some musicians are insane and very picky about how they want their shit set up.

[sean]

You know, when I asked about the Jellifish, I was kinda hoping for an intelligent answer not "lol they suck"

[Caspian]

I break a string every two weeks or so, and I replace the entire set when I do. So, every two weeks for string changes.

[Catacombs]

I got D'Addario phosphor bronze 10s for my acoustic and restrung it today.  They sound nice compared to the elixirs that were on there from the store, plus, who knows how long the elixirs sat on there before it bought it?  I'm happy, but the next time i restring i'm going for either 11's or maybe even 12's.  The 10s are a little too light.

And as for the elixirs, ANYTHING coated tends to sound shitty.  I like the fact that they last longer, but the coating takes away from the tone too much to make up for it.  Besides, they feel weird.


OH and about the jellifish picks, they look cool in adds, but i saw them in a store once and i didn't know they were the same size as a regular pick.  I don't know much about them though, or what they're supposed to do

[jeph]

Elixirs sound and feel fine to me, but I've always had a lot of breakage problems with them so I stick with Ernie Balls or D'Addarios depending on which I happen to buy.

I hate pure-nickel strings because they rust crazy fast in MA's summer humidity. I buy all-stainless whenever possible.

[diablo_man]

dont know what is wrong with your guys guitar, i almost never break strings, and i rarely replace them either. my pick attack is also very heavy.
personally, i have to use 9s on my ibanez with the floating trem, at least until i go all out and adjust the neck and springs to compensate. on my "heavier" guitar i am using heavy 10s(like with 56 on the E i think), but it sucks once i downtune even so. so i will be moving that one the an 11.
on acoustic, i like doing more than just strmming chords, so i keep it a bit lighter with 11s.
i really love the sound of the elixirs on my acoustic, but not on the electrics. feelwise, i love the sliding capabilities of the elixirs on acoustic.

pick wise i love the cheap pink and purple jim dunlop ones(25cents) preferably like 1.1-1.25

[jeph]

It's not as simple as pick attack- it also depends on where you hit the strings, what angle you hold your pick at, what STYLE you pick in, what kind of bridge you have, the guitar's setup...

[diablo_man]

yeah, thats what i was getting at. if your strings are breaking that often, you should probably check your guitar out for burrs and such. cause given my strings being even months old(sacrilege! i live more than an hour away from a guitar store, and i keep them clean) with my heavy attack, with hard picks, at a angle(so it cuts across the strings) and frequent whammy bar abuse and dive bombing, i never break em.

[Mars]

I'm apparently going against the grain in leaving my strings on for 3-6 months. I like a super warm tone and there's sort of a sweet spot with my strings in terms of age. The Chromes are nice that way because they age more slowly and stay in 'the zone' longer. That's important when your strings require a break-in period in order to get the sound you want.

Plus I hate string squeak. Flat wounds are so very nice.

[FireAarro]

I agree with Mars on leaving strings on for ages, but I like the tone of oldish roundwounds too (but not too old). I tried flats once (they were Fenders) on my Jaguar and they sounded great, but I don't know if I preferred them over rounds and D'Addario XLs are about half the price of any other string here so I always use them.

.010 or .011 for me. Definitely at least .011 on my Jag (short scale), I'm considering trying them on my Jazzmaster too but haven't got around to changing the strings yet.