What strings do you like best for Strat? What guage? Why?

Pure Nickel, or Nickel plated?

Roundwound, or flatwound?

~Ace

I'm Batman...No not <I>that</I> Batman. :p

For flatwounds, I am really digging the heavy-guage Pyramid "Gold" brand.

They are nickel, and they are costly (@$25)...but they sound and feel terrific. They seem to be long lasting, but I have only had mine on for @ 4 months now...(I practice 2 or 3 hours each week.)

I use the .013-.053...quite heavy.

You can find them at www.juststrings.com

-dp

Acehaze
Ivan, DP, Thanks very much for replying.
I think I'm gonna have to stick with .11 gauge strings for my particular guitar. Ivan and DP, you both posted .12 gauge, would you choose other brands for .11, or stick with the same?

Ace, I understand about sticking with 11 gauge. I would recommend you slowly work up your way to a heavier gauge, don't do it all at once. Let your fingers strengthen and then move on up. that's the way I've done it. Having started with 9s back in the eighties (that's what everyone was playing back, and I didn't know any better, what can you do), I would move up every six years or so to the next higher gauge.

Anyway, I don't think Gibson makes the same strings in the lighter gauge, only 12-56, but I'm not sure about that. Rotosound definitely makes lighter nickel strings, they are not Purples, but some different color, can't think of it now. I can't vouch for them as I've never tried them, but I suspect they would make a great choice.

I'd HIGHLY recommend getting your strings here: juststrings.com. They're cheap, they've got every brand, and they rule. It'll probably be very difficult finding these strings in a normal shop, and you'll probably end up paying at least two or even three times what you would pay through this website.

Ivan

Ivan
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well what they say

some guidelines

steel v. nickel = mellow v. bite
light v. heavy = thin sound vs. round sound
flatwound v. roundwound = thud v. bright edge

(if anyone has better ways of explaing it, please do!)

somewehere in that equation (sp?) you have to find your own middle ground.

as far as gauges go, flatwounds tend to be a bit stiffer than roundwounds, remeber that when you 'step up'. I found the step from 010 roundwounds to 011 flats quite doable, but I guess it depends on how long you've been playing anyway too. 009's I've never played.

DP, 'only four months" ?????????? heck, I can't keep a set on my guitar for longer than 3 weeks!

on the other hand, true story, about a week ago a friend of mine, bassplayer in one of my foremer bands, asked me about strings to buy for his bass (this is the bass he used in the old band)... me: well, what gauge is on there now? him: huh? dunno. me: well huh? you bought 'em right? him: well they are the srings that were on the bass when I bought it.

He bought that bass when we started that band, let's see, I was 16, that must have been 1989!

WR

Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."

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WR
DP, 'only four months" ?????????? heck, I can't keep a set on my guitar for longer than 3 weeks!

I don't play too often...I'm not in a band, so I only play 8-10 hours each month...that way I can keep up with my lousy guitar playing...

When I am gigging and rehearsing, and recording, and playing like 10-15 hours each week, I do tend to go through strings much faster...about one set every two weeks.

I haven't gigged with the Pyramid Gold's , so I am not sure how they would perform on the road. I do like their feel and sound at the dp homestudio.

Also, I have found them at ebay for about $15.00 a set ...not a bad price.

dp

WR
DP, 'only four months" ?????????? heck, I can't keep a set on my guitar for longer than 3 weeks!

I don't play too often...I'm not in a band, so I only play 8-10 hours each month...that way I can keep up with my lousy guitar playing...

When I am gigging and rehearsing, and recording, and playing like 10-15 hours each week, I do tend to go through strings much faster...about one set every two weeks.

I haven't gigged with the Pyramid Gold's , so I am not sure how they would perform on the road. I do like their feel and sound at the dp homestudio.

Also, I have found them at ebay for about $15.00 a set ...not a bad price.

I'll do 10-15 hours a week on my guitar and keep the same set on for 12 months. I've had the same strings on my white Jag since I got it last June. I can't stand the sound of new strings.

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JakeDobner
I also do not like the feel of new strings.

not brand new no, but after an hour or so, yeah. I hate old strings.
BUT, here's the thing, nickel stay better a lot longer, doesn't react to sweat acid as bad, and, probably because its mellower, keeps its tone longer.
what bothers me more than the sound though is that the strings get rough. I hate the feel of old strings, but again, this applies to steel taher than nickel.

but, all that's not particularly relevant becaus the main issue with me is the strings break. probably a combination of using a strat (not very trempickfriendly design) and hard attack. anyway, the worst thing is one new string in an otherwise old set.

also, I don't tend to maintain my strings/guitar very well. e.g. I never wipe off the strings after playing. know I should, but I just don't. also, I'm not really bothered when my guitar falls over. the joy of playing crapocasters is you don't have to worry about 'em.

oh, as to gauge/brand: I've been using rotosounds 011 and the are probably the best sounding roundwounds I've ever heard. no need to look for another brand if you want to go 011 instead of 012.

they do feel loose though, looser than 011 flats.

try to get one set first to try before you order a bunch.

WR

Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."

https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/

Hey everyone, thanks for taking the time to go through this topic again! You've given some good options and I'm very grateful. I'm gonna try out all the strings you guys listed over the next few sets.

Thanks!

~Ace~

I'm Batman...No not <I>that</I> Batman. :p

What are the chances of Guitar Center having the Gibson L-5's in. I've got a Squire Strat (produced by fender. i'm trying to find a deal on a MIJ Jag-Stang) and I'm plugging into an M-Audio Black Box to simulate the Showman set up until I can afford a real one. I've gotten close to the sound I want, one very similair to Dick Dale's yet a litte distinct, and I would like to change my strings out for something with a fatter sound, I figured I'd give the Gibson L-5's a try. If Guitar Center, a major chain, has 'em, how much you think they'd run?

Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.- Albert Einstein<br>

drpluto
I'm gonna get some of those RotoSound Reds. Almost every guitar forum I go to says they are great. Are they pretty tough for someone who likes to bang on his guitar? .

I've used Rotosound Purples on the guitar and they seemed durable: they were tough as nails...I am of the "Pete Townshend" school of guitar finesse, so I hear ya' when you talk about guitar banging!

I also use Rotosounds on the bass...it's a drag when you are snapping E and A strings during a performance...and that's exactly what was going on with my bass until I switched to Rotosound exclusively.

-dp

ps: i always found ernie balls to be the suckiest strings around when it came to durability and tuning stability...I liked the proce of EB, but they always gave me trouble.