I've loved the NYXL strings, they're nearly indestructible...however, I've not liked the missing "brightness" of the harmonics on the strings that came with my guitar. I have no idea what they were. They seemed more balanced and stayed in tune a little better too. I don't think they were reinforced because they didn't last long, I think I broke one too...but what I want is that tone, playbility, and something that is long lasting...if that's possible.

So what I'm looking at right now is GHS Burnished Nickel Rockers.

I always liked GHS strings for the harmonics, and used the Zakk Wylde set on some of my guitars in the past and loved them. On the Wolfgang, I used D'Addario EXL140s, I'm not sure I want to go to those again because they wear out fast esp that high E.

But they have these EXL 111s now that are supposed to be balanced and really great, but I just don't know. Sounds like the same thing with bigger strings in the middle, which would be nice, but will always breaking that .10 guage string as always.

There's the Dean Markley Helix, sounds like the same kinda thing, but is also a signature set, and those are great in my experience. Just never liked Dean Markley strings since I first started playing.

DR Neon strings got my attention, but maybe that's just because it might be fun to record a video in blacklight or something, I dunno.

Cobalt strings...seem like a gamble I will regret.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS USE? ARE YOU HAPPY WITH CHANGING STRINGS A LOT OR THINK IT'S WORTH TRYING ALL THE NEW FANGLED STRINGS IN HOPES THEY'LL BE EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER WANTED?

I have tried GHS Boomers, DR, DM Blue Steel, Ernie Ball, and Fender but I always come back to my mainstay which is regular d'Addarios (EXL 110s). They are inexpensive, sound great, and break less often, for me anyways.

I haven't tried the NYXL strings yet..

First of all: I don't sweat much so I can use a non-coated set of strings for at least 2 months before they lose tone.
Having said that, I recently tried different brands of strings (09-46 gauge) with the same goals as you (tone, playability, durability):

• NYXL: I like them and I find them bright (no problems with harmonics), but I don't know if they're durable because i have them for less than a month. Time will tell.
• Ernie Ball Slinky: the non-coated strings that i like the best. These strings sound warm but not dull and they're not too heavy on my wrist.
• D'Addario XL: I use them sometimes but I don't like 'em much. These are the only strings that don't last me more than 2 or 3 weeks.
• GHS Boomers: a little dull sounding.
• Elixir: durable, but I found them a little lacking in bass frequencies and too round in the highs. A little too hard for my wrist.
• Cleartone: I like them! Very durable (for me more than 6 months), lot of volume, nice sound, string tension similar to non-coated strings.
• DR Neon: stay away from them! High e breaks easily, low strings sound like rubber band in less than a week. worst purchase ever.

The quest is not over, though!

I use Ernie Ball, it was recommanded by my guitar brand and I got used to them. I never broke one. I don't change them a lot.

Sounds like I might try the new EXL or the Cleartone.

I liked the EXL140s so much with my Wolfgang that I got a five pack.

I loved the Slinkies a long time ago for the tone, but they seemed to never stay in tune (cheaper guitar back then but there was definitely a problem).

I still want to say that the NYXL strings are excellent and my son swears by them, they're very balanced and playable and can take a beating. Just want a little more bite back in my tone but with that kind of strength.

I use the EXL's, NYXL's, and Elixir's.

Electric: Ernie Ball Cobalt 9s

Acoustic: Cleartone 10s

Ok, lock the thread

Okay, the EXL111's have been changed to be called the same as the 110s, with the BT added for balanced tension, and the lower number is the higher gauge now. Confusing.

So, like this:
EXL120BT Nickel Wound, Balanced Tension Super Light, 09-40
EXL110BT Nickel Wound, Balanced Tension Regular Light, 10-46
EXL115BT Nickel Wound, Balanced Tension Medium, 11-50

The EXL110BT ought to do it for now, I always wanted to make a set with less beef on the low strings but I will be trying others if I don't feel they are everything they're supposed to be.

Here's a quick review of the D'Addario EXL110BT Balanced Tension Lite Electric Guitar Strings:

Color coded ball ends like the NYXLs (I don't need to clip them off for my Yamaha Pacifica 1221MS, so still very helpful). They're wrapped together in twos, I don't know if this was better or worse, but I'm used to individually wrapped ones. On the lower strings it helped things go faster by doing both at once, I dunno.

They were quick to tune up...here's where I noticed something significant. After I stretched them a bit and locked everything down. Everything stayed in perfect tuning. No matter how much I bent them or played.

The lower strings are definitely something you'll want to feel for yourself. They're so easy to play on. Felt like I had a different guitar or some new string technology happening. VERY comfortable. More comfortable than any strings of any gauge I've ever played (I've even played with 8.5s).

The tone has some brightness, but also very full sounding. Exactly what I was looking for.

Now the cons: The top two strings seem a bit stiff. This could be a good thing as I get used to it. But it's definitely noticeable. I almost thought maybe I rearranged the B and E string when I put them on, but nope. This is how they are.

I also just changed some very worn out strings and haven't played much lately, but I think this is an accurate description of what to expect.

I think for me, I will need the balanced tension to help stay in tune and last longer, but it almost feels like I have two sets of strings (now, the G string is great though, it's just those top two that seem like there's too much something).

But they stay in tune a lot like Elixir strings, but much nicer sounding and playable. That's what the top two strings remind me of, trying to play Elixir or maybe Blue Steel strings. They're not laughably hard to play like Elixir strings, but definitely not as easy as the rest of this set, oddly.

I almost want to get a few of the regular EXL strings and try them on the B and E to make the perfect set, but I'm gonna stick this out because overall they COULD be the best strings I've had overall. COULD...

I would definitely gig with them if I was doing gigs and not such a noodler. I can almost guarantee you'll be satisfied for playing live with these without breakage and staying in tune absolutely no problems there even if you just put them on before the show.

This also means less time fooling around getting your intonation set and getting down to recording your tracks. They almost make you play things more like strumming big open chords because there's this nice balance and feel to them. Kinda cool. Sweep picking is almost too easy haha

8/10

After some good sleep, I made coffee this morning and started playing around and I'm REALLY happy with these. Harmonics come out nice and bright and clear. There's this clarity that I like. Very helpful with arpeggiated chords and things.

My neck pickup (Air Norton) is known for squeezing harmonics out of it, but they really come through nicely.

Perhaps the lack of play is helping in a lot of ways, keeping things clear and clean sounding, so I'm able to do a lot of things on the B string like harmonics, vibrato, sustain.

Once you get used to the fact that you don't have to play each string differently, it's actually really nice.

Things sound more "album ready" like I could start laying down some tracks. I really need to do some actual recording songs again.

I have been using Dean Markley Blue Steel 8's and 9's (mostly 8's)since mid 90's
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Blue Steel strings are cryogenically frozen with a blast of liquid nitrogen. But why would we do such a thing? By freezing our strings down to -320ºF, we tighten the molecules, minimizing microscopic gaps. This process removes transient frequencies that produce harsh highs and muddy lows, creating a more consistent string, with true tone and longer life. A method to our madness!

Made of 8% nickel-plated steel outer wrap on tinned Mandolin wire hex-core, Blue Steel strings have been top-sellers for years and are used by pros worldwide. Once you try Blue Steel strings you’ll be hooked. They feel great, ring true, are durable and long-lasting, and they just plain sound good. (from Dean Markley web page)

IMO the best. I've left them on guitars more than 2 years (on ones I don't play much anymore) and they are still like new It is uncommon for me to break one and I do like bending strings;)

D'Addario XL's came on my Variax and I left them on there so far there ok. not sure what gauge they are...
tried the cobalt didn't like them...
got some black colored DL's for my Six Flags Batman guitar and first time I played them the paint started to fall off.
before I started using the blue steel I mostly used extra slinky or slinky Ernie Ball's but broke offten.

I remember liking the Blue Steels, vaguely remember why I switched but seems like some came uncoiled or rubbed off (was playing a lot more back then too). But they sounded great.

back in my touring days i had an endorsement with DR, so that's what i used (9-42). they were good.

over the last few years i started using the cheapest crap available...mostly Ernie ball slinky (pink pack). i find that i can modify mfx pre-eq easy enough that the strings don't matter so much. as long as they feel easy to bend and stay in tune i'm good to go. lol.

Here is some cool info from: http://www.premierguitar.com//articles/String_Myths_Part_1

Some myths are meant to be explored, so let’s look at some of the great players and the gauge strings they used. Starting with Stevie Ray, we find that, according to most available published information, he did indeed play some of the heaviest gauges available, most consistently 13s. He even went thicker, an astounding .018-.072 at one point. However, on the brown ‘63 Strat known as Lenny, SRV switched to lighter strings to get a lighter tone. Some nights when his fingers were thrashed he’d go down as light as 11s—back into mere mortal territory. It was rumored that he went to lighter strings later in his life, but I haven’t been able to substantiate this.

Some more:
Jimmy Page: well-known user of 8-gauge strings.
Danny Gatton: played 10s with a wound G, also played 9s.
Jeff Beck: “On my early stuff, I was playing the thinnest strings you could get, .008s,” Beck told Fender.com. “And then the Jimi man came along and told me, ‘You can’t play with those rubber bands. Get those off there.’ So my string gauges have been creeping up ever since. Now I’ve got .011, .013, .017, .028, .038, and .049. I’m trying to get heavier on the top end.”
Billy Gibbons: hipped to light-gauge 8s or 9s by B.B. King. King’s take on it is that it takes a lot less stress and strain to play the light stuff. Gibbons’ custom set from Dunlop has a 7-gauge high E!
Brian Setzer: 10s straight out of the box.
Peter Frampton: 8s back in the Comes Alive days.
Carlos Santana: 9s
Allan Holdsworth: 11s
Eddie Van Halen: well-known for using 9-gauge.
James Hetfield: .009-.042

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From: http://www.guitarworld.com/dear-guitar-h...ffects-and-more

Robin Trower:

Your sound has a huge amount of midrange, and even though you use effects and distortion, it’s almost never mushy. What’s your secret? — Paul Kirkovitz

Good question! These days, I use effects designed for me by Mike Fuller over at Fulltone. He created my signature RTO overdrive that allows me a little more drive without losing the clarity of the note, which is really important to my sound. It allows me to keep what I call the “front end” of the note. There’s no mush. In fact, I use the overdrive all the time, and when I want a cleaner sound I just turn down. That’s one of the great benefits of having a name! [laughs] You can get things made to your specifications.

But I also think using heavier strings is an important key to maintaining a nice clear midrange. About 20 years ago I started tuning down a tone so I could use a heavier .012 on the E string and a .015 on the B string and still do all my bends. And using higher action helps. It’s all about getting those strings to ring acoustically, which translates into a great electric sound. That’s where the sound comes from, and you can’t create it after the fact. An instrument always has to sound good acoustically. If it doesn’t, you lose a lot of musicality.

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looks like the jury is still out on the "lighter or heavier gauge argument" HUH?

cool info out there...

D'Addarios EXL 110's on most of my guitars including my main guitar which is a nearly stock early 90's Gibson SG special (replaced the tuners with Vintage Schallers). On my Road Worn MiM 50's Fender Strat and Tele though I like using Fender Super Bullet Strings - the same strings they got from the factory. Why? I just want my Fender's to sound the way Fender intended and they sound and play great for me.

Interesting stuff, I think maybe with my guitar the strings that didn't work so well on others just might be the right one for this. It was $1600 back in the 90s which is like $3000 these days, so not the starter guitar or "lower models" I'm used to. It really has surprised me. I always hated floating bridges after a while besides the Wolfgang bc of the special D-Tuna bridge. I should have emailed the guy I bought it from to see what was on it, because those were perfect in every way, easy to play, even in regular tuning. Maybe they were Slinkies. I did like the way those played and sounded when I had my first electric guitar (with bad tuners and el cheapo floating bridge).

May not be the right place for this, but here goes anyway for anyone who wants to try cleartone acoustic strings:

https://www.worldmusicsupply.com/martin-...s-10-47-10-sets

Interesting. GREAT DISCOUNT haha

MSRP: $299.90
WMS Discount: -$169.91
Price: $129.99
Sale Price: $34.99

Curt Mangan strings, best I've ever tried. Played D'Addario for 25 years. They were the brightest and cheap but the Mangan's just sound big and are easier to bend. 09-46

I've tried a few brands of coated strings in the last couple of years because I sweat a lot and apparently my sweat is particularly corrosive, so I tend to break strings more often than many.

I haven't liked any of the coated strings I've tried... they all feel, to varying degrees, sort of grabby. So, for me, it was back to Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky - 9 to 46.

I change my strings about every 4-5 nights of playing on my main guitar. My gigging backup gets new strings every month or two, depending on how much it was used. Other guitars get new strings periodically.

Ever try Blue Steele? I would bet they last longer, don't break as easy or rust as quick...

Looked them up and they seem right up my alley. Almost want to switch even though I have fresh new strings.

I can't recall for certain if I've tried Blue Steel, but I don't think so. I may try (if I can find them) Mojah's suggestion of Curt Mangan strings. If it's true they sound warmer, they might be worth trying. Any new strings I use would, by preference, be less bright.

I used to swear by blue steel strings many (many) years ago, but realized that they didn't sound as bright as other strings. So, basically I was buying strings that sounded a bit older than new.

Blue Steel was a good choice. I'm actually really liking my strings through real amps right now, harmonics come out great, nice pick attack and clarity at loud volumes. Nice to have set down the guitar for a week or so and pick it back up and play it without it being out of whack and do all kinds of bar tricks without hassle.