What strings should I try on my 555

[campcookie]

Title says it all I guess......I could just buy about 20 different types of strings but then I though this might be cheaper and easier. I play mostly blues and rock, and I wanna beeennnndddd. I think it has D'Addario 10's on it now (unwound G string)

 

whada like?

[GASguy]

Personally, I like 11's on my 535s and 555.

[Guest HRB853370]

Title says it all I guess......I could just buy about 20 different types of strings but then I though this might be cheaper and easier. I play mostly blues and rock, and I wanna beeennnndddd. I think it has D'Addario 10's on it now (unwound G string)

 

whada like?

 

Get whatever is on sale!

[DC Ron]

Depends on what you like to play and like to hear when you play, but I like D'Addario EHR310 half rounds (.010-.046). For methey provide the right combination of jazz and blues tones.

[Kuz]

All my solid body guitars and Semi-solid guitars (execpt the Tele & Strat) get Curt Mangan Fusion Nickel plated.

 

They sound big rich and full, with out sounding dead or dull.

 

The Tele & Strat get D'addrios, but that might change as well.

 

Try the Curt Mangan's, you will really like them!!!

[DetroitBlues]

Your musical preference is the same as mine, I'd say 10's are perfect. Nickel core, round wounds.

[JeffB]

Havent been able to source them for a while over here but I was really liking R.Cocco's for a while. Trouble is I cant remember why or what I liked about them now.

Im not really fussed what strings I use. Any from any of the leading manufacturers are fine for me.

Think I really liked Dean Markley Blue Steels for a while but Im using Ernie Ball reg slinky's or super slinkeys or something now, though for the next string change I have D'Addario EXL110

One string brand I cant stand on any of my guitars is Elixirs. Serious yuck. I normally dont react to things about guitar really strongly but Elixirs and Bugera would be the two things that I rate as a big "bleh" type reaction.

Others love that stuff so I could be wrong.

[kbp810]

I prefer the ones that make me sound good - I still haven't found them yet

 

If you are asking the question, then you are still seeking - experiement a bit, have fun with it; try different brands and types out and see what feels and sounds the best to you.

 

...and if all else fails, as Slammer said, buy whats on sale

[ridethatbike]

I've been playing 1973 Dean Markley Vintage's with good results thus so far. And they are cheap!

[H]

Heretic that I am, I use Gibson Brite Wire strings on my Heritages.

[tulk1]

I've been playing 1973 Dean Markley Vintage's with good results thus so far. And they are cheap! inexpensive

Thats what I use and what I was going to post. Well, actually I was going to post "I use guitar strings on my guitars". But thought that might be too obvious. There is just something about those DMV 1973s that I really like. Good tone, last a long time and won't break the bank.

[DetroitBlues]

I've been playing 1973 Dean Markley Vintage's with good results thus so far. And they are cheap!

 

I like Dean's, their tone reminds me of a broken in set.

[campcookie]

Thats what I use and what I was going to post. Well, actually I was going to post "I use guitar strings on my guitars". But thought that might be too obvious. There is just something about those DMV 1973s that I really like. Good tone, last a long time and won't break the bank.

 

Hmmmmm... I use Dean Markleys on my accoustic too.....

[byrdland]

Gibson L-5 strings. In 10 Gauge, you get a wound G. I take an unwound .17 and replace the wound .18 in the set. I put these on my Byrdland in 10 gauge and Sweet 16 in 12 gauge. They're less than 1/2 the price of Thomastik Infelds. They have a bigger, rounder sound than the D'Addario's I put on my solid bodies. DR makes good strings also. I'm not really familiar with their electric line. Just Strings and Strings and Beyond have the Gibson L-5's.

[DetroitBlues]

When it comes to brand, I try to play favorites, but realistically, I buy the cheapest Name brand strings I can find. The only exception is I do not use D'addario. I feel they have the shortest lifespan out of any string brand I've used so far.... They have the most endorsed artists out of anybody, but that's easy to do when they get them for free and the artists guitar tech's install fresh strings before every show....

[morg21279]

+1 on Curt Mangan. I used to be a Thomastick snob, but Mangan's quality and sound comes awfully close for less than half the price.

[tulk1]

When it comes to brand, I try to play favorites, but realistically, I buy the cheapest Name brand strings I can find. The only exception is I do not use D'addario. I feel they have the shortest lifespan out of any string brand I've used so far.... They have the most endorsed artists out of anybody, but that's easy to do when they get them for free and the artists guitar tech's install fresh strings before every show....

Yeppers. That is one string brand I just do not like.

[FatFlatwound]

I am a Thomastik "snob" dont care about the price because they last forever.

I might give Curt mangan a try as couple comments say above might be a good alternative. I don't believe in being cheap with strings - people spend thousands for a certain finish, wood but then cheap out on the thing that actually makes the sound?

Strings are the thing.

[JeffB]

I am a Thomastik "snob" dont care about the price because they last forever.

I might give Curt mangan a try as couple comments say above might be a good alternative. I don't believe in being cheap with strings - people spend thousands for a certain finish, wood but then cheap out on the thing that actually makes the sound?

Strings are the thing.

The amount of money Ive invested in strings since 1993 for the new strat I bought in 1993 makes the strat look like a really cheap purchase.

Ive probably spent about 5 times what the guitar cost me on strings.

5.6 if I work on 48 sets a year and adjust to an average the cost of strings from 1993 to now. But there was a couple of years where I couldnt play and the guitar was kept in the case unused so I made assumptions and rounded down and stuff. But then theres tax deductions that apply to both so maybe the guitar cost nothing. But then theres insurance. But thats cheaper than annual string bill and it includes other stuff and its tax deductable.

About all I can say for certain is guitars are cheaper than strings in the long run. Unless, you dont change strings often and buy guitars regularly.

[DetroitBlues]

Heretic that I am, I use Gibson Brite Wire strings on my Heritages.

 

I'm surprised your Heritage doesn't burst into flames when touched by those evil Gibson Strings....

[Kuz]

It is all about application.

 

All of my Heritage archtops only use Thomastic George Benson 12s. I have tried other brands and Thomastic smokes them and is easily wothth the price difference for me.

 

But for solid and semi bodies then Curt Managns are for me.

 

For me it is about tone, not price. but it is nice that the CM are priced reasonable.

[H]

I'm surprised your Heritage doesn't burst into flames when touched by those evil Gibson Strings....

Yup, I do feel a bit guilty about it I've tried lots of other strings but there's something about the Brite Wires that I really like. Fender Bullets on my Fenders though...

[kidsmoke]

All my solid body guitars and Semi-solid guitars (execpt the Tele & Strat) get Curt Mangan Fusion Nickel plated.

 

They sound big rich and full, with out sounding dead or dull.

 

The Tele & Strat get D'addrios, but that might change as well.

 

Try the Curt Mangan's, you will really like them!!!

 

taking your advice on this Kuz. 3 sets of the fusion nickel, 10-50 with a wound G, on the way for the electrics, and one set of 80/20, same dim's, for my koostic.

[campfire]

Have you tried Sadowsky strings? I really like them. They have them in flatwound, roundwound, and polished roundwound. They also have a new alloy set that sounds great! I think 11's are a really versatile gauge for the triple nickel. I like them on my 535...solid feel but bends are very doable. Good luck!

[Wolfi]

I'm a happy user of Elixir Medium strings (0.11 - 0.49).

 

They last forever and have a really big tone. The low E-string of my Strat sounds like a piano string. They sound great on my H 555 as well.

Even the acoustic guitar strings I use (0.12 - 0.53) keep in a good shape for a very long time, compared to "normal" strings.