https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:06:34 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-348119 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:40:41 +0000
First off, I was going down from 11's to 10's and new there would need to be some quick measuring and adjusting to get it set perfect. I remembered doing so going from 10's to 11's, so makes sense.

It all started as I was putting them on the guitar. They kept wanting to crimp on me. Finally got them on there, tuned, and of course, heard the evidence that I was out of adjustment due to string guage decrease. I measured, adjusted, retuned and still got a good bit of string slap and some very annoying string vibration on a few. Especially the D. btw, the D string did NOT want to be brought into tune. Nothing stuck....it just would not do it for the longest time.

So, guitar in adjustment, but playing like crud. The heck with it. I took off the offending strings one by one and put another brand of 10's on it. Tuned, clipped, tuned, measured (no adjustments needed) and played away. No slapping and no vibration.

On the bright side of things, I now have the same brand, type and name of strings on two Epi LPs, but with different guages. One is 10's and one is 11's. I'll let these break in and do a test of playability on each and see how much difference I feel.]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance rparker https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-348119 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-348105 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:25:31 +0000
Acoustic wise i like Extra light elixer strings (Dont know what gauge they are) because i hammer a lot of suspended chords and dont want bloody fingers all over my frets.

Electric wise i like the super slinky's. Can't beat them IMO, but i do wanna try Elixer 11's on my tele to see what they are like.

But like everyone has said, each to their own!]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance Wattsiepoops https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-348105 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347544 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:00:29 +0000
definitely work up to that though...start with 10s for a while, then 11s, then up to .12s and .13s. it's worth it.]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance U2Bono269 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347544 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347148 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:14:47 +0000
For the next couple of years, every time you buy strings, get a different kind (in the same gauge, so you don't have setup issues). Write down what kind, how much they cost, and the date you changed them. Jot down what you think about the sound - is it too bright? muddy? whatever - just record your impressions.

3 days later, jot down your impressions again. As strings settle in the sound will change a bit.

After you've tried a dozen or so kinds you'll know what you like. Then you can stop putting down your impressions - but still keep track of when you change them. Over the years, I've found that some strings I really liked had quality issues... I found I was changing them more and more often. If I didn't have records to see that they really weren't as good as they used to be, I would have kept buying them - because I was able to tell that something was amiss at the factory, I changed brands.]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347148 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347135 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:44:40 +0000 determine which gauge you have. then determine if you like that.
most guitars off the store shelf come with 9's. ( that number determines the rest of the set, so you'll hear folks talk about 9's, 10s , 11's etc.
if you want a heavier feel move from 9 to 10. many players use 10-46.
GHS is a common brand. I use them when I break one string and need a quick replacement.
Ernie Ball makes some fine strings that are affordable. I like the Super Slinky. they have nickel; and I like that for electrics.

get two packs, at least, when you decide. that way you alweays have a back up and won't ruin a session of playing.

there are many brands. I used Fender bullets once, because I have a Fender and that's what I was told.
bad idea. expensive and I didn't care for them.]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance dogbite https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347135 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347120 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:13:52 +0000 And some stores have a "store brand" which is usually quite affordable, despite being made by one of the big manufacturers.
I've bought from both categories and haven't had any horrible experiences.

AFAIK, you could probably count actual string manufacturers on your fingers, even though there are hundreds of brand names.]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance kent_eh https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347120 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347043 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:24:55 +0000 Guitar Repair and Maintenance Ricochet https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347043 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347036 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:02:47 +0000
Strings are pretty personal, and no two people like exactly the same thing, as the previous poster mentioned. Over time you'll work out what you're into.

I'd probably take your guitar to the local music store, the first time. Even though you might as well change the strings yourself, they can probably have a look and tell you what gauge you're set up for.
For now, and for a while, I'd buy a different kind each time you change strings, and see what you like.

Alternatively, buy D'Addario tens. :-) (As we said, everybody has their fave- those are mine.)


Best,
Ande]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance Ande https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347036 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347031 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:05:51 +0000 Guitar Repair and Maintenance Cerbreus https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347031 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347030 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:14:58 +0000
Start with something inexpensive as you're just starting out, and your guitar will probably be set up for 10 or 11 gauge strings (the thickness of the top E or thinnest string in the set) so get either of those. You can start experimenting with different brands and setups later.


A :-)]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance Alan Green https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/how-do-i-know-what-strings-to-buy/#post-347030