What Are Your Favorite Electric Guitar Strings?

[MrAB4003]

Mine are the D'Addario NYXLs. So why these strings?

1. I tune to D Standard on guitar (and bass too, of course) and the 11-56 gauge set works very well for my tuning. It says "optimized for D Standard" on the packaging and they're not lying.
2. They last a long time. I ordered a new set for my Schecter SLS C1 Evil Twin this afternoon after 10 months. My current set is sounding dull and it's time to change them.
3. Their bass counterparts are my main roundwounds, so switching to D'Addario last year was an easy choice.
4. They're easy to get in local music stores in my preferred gauges

So what are your favorite electric guitar strings?

 

[Jeff Scott]

I've only ever used D'Daddario XLs (10 - whatever).

 

[zontar]

I’ve used many brands on electric guitar, for the last several years, certainly since before I signed up here, it’s been mostly GHS Boomers. I use different gauges on different guitars. (9-42, 10-46, 10-52, 11-50)
But I have been gradually switching to Rotosounds, mostly because I like them, but partly because they’re easy to find, especially over the last few years when it’s been more difficult to find Boomers. I still like them, but I like Rotosounds too.

 

[Gopherbassist]

I have an orange guitar and I like to put orange DRs on it.

 

[woodyng2]

Long shiny ones.
Tbh, guitar always was an experiment for me, so I probably just played whatever came with the guitar,
and traded/sold it before it needed a string change.

 

[el jeffe bass]

NYXL’s for my electric guitars as well. Thanks for sharing about the info about the 11’s being optimized for D standard

 

[Bob_Ross]

For decades I would always string up my Roland G-303 with Dean Markley mediums, the orange package, with the wound G. Been using those strings on that guitar since 1985.

But the last time I went guitar string shopping, nobody had these anymore! So I don't even remember what I bought!

==========

Same story with flattop acoustic strings: I used Martin Marquis bronze strings since 1972 ...but the last time I went string shopping, guess what?
So I got some Elixers just 'cuz that's what my latest flattop came with when it was new.

==========

On my PRS I use Ernie Ball Slinkys, just 'cuz they're easy to find in stock (crosses fingers). I'll probably use those same strings on my Warmoth Tele build if I can ever finish it.

On my Ibanez archtop I use D'Addario XL Chromes flatwound strings, 12-52 ("Light")

 

[Brandon Shea]

Elixirs are my current favorite, not sure exactly which flavor though (shows how much I care, haha). One guitar has 10s, the other has 9s. Whenever these go dead, I’m going to try some Stringjoy Orbiters to see how I like them.

I previously tried DR’s new Dragon Skin+ strings, and while they sounded good at first, the coating didn’t seem to help them last very long. Elixirs hold up way better.

 

[_Obra_]

Ernie Ball 2221 Regular Slinky

 

[Passinwind]

Mine are the D'Addario NYXLs. So why these strings?

1. I tune to D Standard on guitar (and bass too, of course) and the 11-56 gauge set works very well for my tuning. It says "optimized for D Standard" on the packaging and they're not lying.
2. They last a long time. I ordered a new set for my Schecter SLS C1 Evil Twin this afternoon after 10 months. My current set is sounding dull and it's time to change them.
3. Their bass counterparts are my main roundwounds, so switching to D'Addario last year was an easy choice.
4. They're easy to get in local music stores in my preferred gauges

So what are your favorite electric guitar strings?

Until recently I pretty much always used D'Addario XLs, .010-.046. But my current electric wants something a little heavier, so I'm going with NYXL .011-.049 for the moment. I never tune down on guitar or bass or use D'Addario strings for bass anymore, FWIW.

 

[bassfran]

GHS Boomer Medium. Top is an 11. Because bass player hands. I chainsaw barre chords mostly, no widdly-widdly.

You can find them everywhere and they have been very consistent in quality IME.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

So what are your favorite electric guitar strings?

I like the NYXL 11's too, but I don't think my set is that heavy on the top. I've got them on a couple guitars, most recently on a Taylor T-5S.

[gratuitous pic]

*I checked the package to see... they're 0.011 - 0.049

 

[Passinwind]

I like the NYXL 11's too, but I don't think my set is that heavy on the top. I've got them on a couple guitars, most recently on a Taylor T-5S.

[gratuitous pic]
View attachment 7462805

*I checked the package to see... they're 0.011 - 0.049

View attachment 7462809

I just double checked, that's actually what I'm currently using on electric too. I must have had acoustic strings on the brain...

 

[Michedelic]

I’ve used all the major(and plenty of the obscure)brands throughout the years, there was a time during a retail work situation where I could get GHS at cost, but I presently default to Ernie Ball, the skinny top/heavy bottom my favorite, fluctuating between 9’s and 10’s, but now I split the difference with their 9.5 set.

 

[NoBlackTShirts]

I used D'Addario for decades because why not. They're everywhere, they make everything, why not.

But there were always problems, always something wrong. So I switched to Ernie Ball Pure Nickel, and no more problems.
.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

XL .10 for my Gibsons, just moved to .9 for my Tele for those 70’s bendy moments. They feel good with the longer scale length

 

[EliasA]

GHS Nickel Rockers 11-58, feel nice. They don't last terribly long but that's alright. As Davie504 said, "guitar is weak" or something idk

 

[Snibborwocky]

Ernie Ball 2251 regular 10-46

 

[Micha84]

I love the D'Addario EPN115 for my AmPro II Strat. Perfect match for very smooth clean and edge of breakup sounds!
Otherwise I am fine with some standard Ernie Balls.

 

[singlemalt]

Whatever 10’s are on sale, so mostly D’Addario xl’s. MF regularly has 12 sets for $30. I’m probably set for years.