Cheap strings….

JackBootedThug

JackBootedThug

MURDERATOR
Ordered a pile of DR coated silver star strings in various sizes off a reverb seller for dirt cheap. They were priced kinda odd for shipping costs but he had to do it that way for reverb’s policy or something. I’m not sure but it is coming out to around maybe $3/pack. Anyway with shipping costs for $50 bucks I’m getting
 
Coated strings blow in my experience. You can get Slinkys for about $5 a pack. At least you could a few years ago when I bought about 35 packs of them.

D'addario EXL170s are F'ing awesome bass strings. On the Spector anyway. Got about 10 packs of those, but haven't needed more than one. They last a really long time. Especially when you no longer gig.
 
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Using GHS Big Cores 9.5 to .048
 
I use Elixirs. The oils on my hands eat a set of strings in under a week when rehearsing. I can leave Elixirs on for months and they feel and sound the same the entire time.
 
Honestly the NYXL is probably my go to "Super String" last a year or longer, stay clean with cleaning, never kink ever or break but they will eventually lose life like all strings do. They cost like 13-15 bucks a pack but are well worth it. I get then in 9s for the Charvels.

Otherwise Daddario XL are fine and what I use for my strats otherwise in 9s. For the LPs I like the Gibson Brite Wires in 10s.Best bang for the buck are Fender 150 pure nickels for like 5 bucks. Great strings and they don't cost a bunch either and nothing fancy but they just sound good either way.
 
Classic Rock N Roll Ernie Balls used to be a deal and are also Pure Nicel but for the money now may as well get Gibson strings for pure nickel.


In that sense the Fender 150s are a great deal, consistent and pure nickel too. Can get a pack of 12 of those for 55 bucks on Reverb with free shipping which is less than 5 bucks a pack. Cheap price and good quality IME and pure nickel or not just a great and balanced all around string.
 
coated elixirs is all I’ll ever use for now on. I’ve used eb’s all my life and can’t ever go back now. I guess it varies from person to person but I don’t see how people don’t prefer coated not to mention they do tend to last longer
 
Sparkyplays said:
coated elixirs is all I’ll ever use for now on. I’ve used eb’s all my life and can’t ever go back now. I guess it varies from person to person but I don’t see how people don’t prefer coated not to mention they do tend to last longer
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I tried them once. In fact I got a free set when they first came out. I was a beta tester. Hated them. They were piano string clean sounding and after a day or two the coating started flaking off.

If you really want soft on your fingers try flatwounds. :-)
 
That's awesome. I'm always keeping an eye out for strings under $5 a pack and when I see them on sale I'll buy like 10 packs. I don't care about brand or coated although I do lean toward Ernie Ball if price is equal.
 
Oh and I did get lucky once last year when I bought a guitar off Craigslist and the guy threw in a box of 25 strings because he was done with guitar.
 
Floyd Eye said:
I tried them once. In fact I got a free set when they first came out. I was a beta tester. Hated them. They were piano string clean sounding and after a day or two the coating started flaking off.

If you really want soft on your fingers try flatwounds. :-)
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Will take that into consideration I’m always down to try something new.

That has me wondering though if it wasn’t just a flaw from when they came out. I have only been using them for roughly 2 years but haven’t had the first problem out of them.

That’s the reason I swapped from eb’s though is it felt like I was rubbing my fingers down 20 grit sandpaper I much prefer the smooth and slick feel with the coated for my style.
 
Sparkyplays said:
Will take that into consideration I’m always down to try something new.

That has me wondering though if it wasn’t just a flaw from when they came out. I have only been using them for roughly 2 years but haven’t had the first problem out of them.

That’s the reason I swapped from eb’s though is it felt like I was rubbing my fingers down 20 grit sandpaper I much prefer the smooth and slick feel with the coated for my style.
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It was a long ass time ago. I would guess it was a problem for enough people they may have fixed it by now.

By the way, flats are, eh, flat. As in not bright. Kind of a niche thing on guitar. Lots of bass players use flats but guitar players almost never do. Other than RIcs and other Beatle related shit. They do feel nice, but I never bonded with them. Even on bass. I have one set up with them somewhere for certain types of gigs, but they never worked for me tone wise in my main band.
 
stratjacket said:
That's awesome. I'm always keeping an eye out for strings under $5 a pack and when I see them on sale I'll buy like 10 packs. I don't care about brand or coated although I do lean toward Ernie Ball if price is equal.
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Dude I’m just a cheap skate. I’m all about a good deal. Normally I’m a ddadaddadario guy but dr’s are okay. Plus I have toxic fingers and destroy strings. I did have a blast from the past when a buddy gave me a pack of super bullets. I put those on my Sykes and they were just greasy and nasty…fuckin loved them. I keep forgetting about them. Need to get some and see if the new ones are as good as the old ones.
 
JackBootedThug said:
Dude I’m just a cheap skate. I’m all about a good deal. Normally I’m a ddadaddadario guy but dr’s are okay. Plus I have toxic fingers and destroy strings. I did have a blast from the past when a buddy gave me a pack of super bullets. I put those on my Sykes and they were just greasy and nasty…fuckin loved them. I keep forgetting about them. Need to get some and see if the new ones are as good as the old ones.
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watch some of those good deals. You wouldn't believe the amount of counterfeit name brands that are floating around these days, using really cheap materials. The packaging looks good, but the strings are low quality. I won't buy bulk unless it's reputable store at this point.
 
Shop has a five star rating with a ton of reviews…. We shall see. Usually I jump on the dumb deal of the day but they’re always tens. I really hate tens. I like nines….
 
Try some string cleaner too and clean before and after use of guitar if you dont already. Feel this helps keep a longer life along with cleaning board. Clean board when needed but overall cleaning strings helps IME for sweaty hands and such

I like using the Dunlop stuff and it works great.
 
The~Kid said:
Try some string cleaner too and clean before and after use of guitar if you dont already. Feel this helps keep a longer life along with cleaning board. Clean board when needed but overall cleaning strings helps IME for sweaty hands and such

I like using the Dunlop stuff and it works great.
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I used fast fret for years. Learned about it in the 80’s. Doesn’t matter though…I’m toxic to strings….
 
I heard there are counterfeit strings out there; at least for some of the high end brands.

When MF has accessory sales I stock up on EHX sets, around $4 a set or less; I buy enough to get $15% off.

I have a few guitars I use String Joy, like my strat, I ordered a custom set using Hendrix' preferred string gauges:

.010 .013 .015 .026 .032 .038
 
JackBootedThug said:
I used fast fret for years. Learned about it in the 80’s. Doesn’t matter though…I’m toxic to strings….
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Mainly it's an issue where the strings die faster with gunk on them and get dirty IME even tough it can be cleaned off. Not cheap but yeah the NYXL if you haven't tried last forever and save money from that sense too vs restring after restring. Never kink either.

I know I know expensive but never really thought it was worth it until I tried them and I was just a cheap EB and Fender string dude before. Still like cheap strings and mainly use XL now after using NYXL when I can't afford NYXL but yeah they really are great if you haven't tried and worth it IME. Usually last me a year before they die and they have never broken or kinked on me either.

Tried some other super strings like EB Cobalt and Titanium or Elixir and honestly nothings done it like an NYXL. Never been sold on the other or "Super strings" till NYXL. They also don't have that Styrofoam feel like Elixers or others that coat. They also sound pretty damn good IMO I have to say.


If you dig Super Bullets those aren't bad or Fender 150s and those can be had for a song for a pack of 10 or 12 too. Fender strings are my go to cheap strings and I like them better than EBs and you can't go wrong with them especially now that XLs have gone up in price too.
 
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