[Jongpil Yun]

I went down to the local GC last week and picked up a bunch of strings, and I guess I'll be trying them all out over the next few weeks, on my Fender Stratocaster. My normal set is D'addario .011s and .010s, depending on how I feel, for reference.

I started off with GHS Boomers Low Tuned Set.

e - .011
B - .015
G - .019
D - DY .033
A - DY .043
E - DY .053

I don't actually tune all that low (Eb, Drop Db occasionally), but whatever. These strings were pretty nice sounding, and had a pretty good feel. I much prefer the D'addario packaging to everything else I've seen (environmentally friendly, colored ball ends, nice and small), but it's not a very big detail.

Tone wise I'd say they were above average. They didn't really blow me away, but I was impressed at how good they sounded.

Lifetime - Lasted about 9 days before I felt they needed to be changed. After about the 8th day the noticeably lost brightness and all the things that make new strings better than old grimy ones.

Overall: 7/10. Above average sound, average lifetime. 5/10 is dead average, of course.

Dean Markley Blue Steel Med

e - .011
B - .013
G - .020w/.018p
D - .030
A - .042
E - .052

The first thing I noticed when I unpacked these strings was that they include two G strings -- one wound, one plain. Nice touch. Also entirely unnecessary. I'd actually prefer they just sold one set with a wound 3rd and one with a plain 3rd, but whatever.

Also, they're more expensive then other sets, but it's not too bad, I guess.

Tone? Strange. They don't sound half bad on a clean channel (actually, quite a bit above average), but when distorted, the lower strings have an odd kind of blurry, woofy characteristic. The treble strings are unusually biting as well (which I like).

For another set of .011s, the tension is quite a bit less than what I expected, even with the wound 3rd.

I would not recommend them, unless you play through a Fender Twin Reverb or Roland Jazz Chorus all the time, in which case they beat out the GHS Boomers in terms of tone by a significant margin.

Lasted about 2 weeks.

Final verdict? They do last longer, sound great clean, but I hate what they do to the bass strings. Sound odd. Thumbs up for clean, thumbs down for distortion.

Overall (clean): 8/10
Overall (distorted): 3/10

DR Tite-Fit EH-11

e - .011
B - .014
G - .018p
D - .028
A - .038
E - .050

First thing I noticed was that the gauges were bad. They don't increase in size fast enough to get a nice even tension. Overall they were a bit looser than I wanted.

Standard packaging and pricing, which I don't like. Individual paper packs are a waste.

Tone was pretty nice. The low strings had a nice metallic pop sound that I haven't really heard before (nothing to do with the tension, I checked) and really like, but it might not be for everyone. High strings sounded nice, if generic.

They lasted about the same amount of time as the GHS strings; average there. They lost their best feature (the aforementioned metallic pop sound) after only about 3 days though. If you're a gigging musician and change strings every show it's not a big deal.

Overall: 6/10 - Great metallic pop sound initially, brought down by weird tension and the fact that the "pop" leaves after a few days.

Ernie Ball Power Slinky, or as many of us know them, "the purple ones"

Super standard. Above average sound, nice tension I guess, somewhat strange given the slowly increasing gauge, but whatever. To be continued.

NOT EVEN SLINKIES:

Don't like 'em. Tension is crap.

Anyways, at this point I'll say the Malmsteen .008-.046 set is my favorite.

[kanamvar32]

nice. we need more string reviews. ive been trying out a new pack of strings on my strat every time i need a change just to find the one i like the best.

so far snake oil brand is winning.

[ohio_eric]

Originally Posted by kanamvar32

so far snake oil brand is winning.

I've heard good things about those. But, the price is high enough to keep me away. He also needs to makes some seven string sets.

[kanamvar32]

the price wasnt all that bad. i think it was $20 for 2 packs and shipping. its less than elixers and they last just as long. I think he does make 7 string sets, just need to ask him about it. I might order some for my carvin after the elixers on it die out (which will be a while haha).

[Jongpil Yun]

Originally Posted by kanamvar32

nice. we need more string reviews. ive been trying out a new pack of strings on my strat every time i need a change just to find the one i like the best.

so far snake oil brand is winning.

Feel free to post your own

[The Dark Wolf]

Great idea. I stickied it, so, people want to, feel free to post their own reviews. I'll post some of mine tomorrow.

Nice job, Jongpil!

[zimbloth]

I just threw a set of JustStrings.com house brand strings on my ESP SC607B. These are definitely not D'Addarios, because that's what were on the guitar already, and those sound 10x better than these. I have to say these are really mediocre, comparitively dull sounding, and they don't feel very nice either. I don't know what strings these really are, but I don't recommend them. They feel and sound pretty cheap.

[The Dark Wolf]

I messed around with those for awhile, Nick, and they seem pretty hit-or-miss. (I had some good ones, I had some bad ones.)

[Ivan]

Good idea!

I'll post reviews of GHS Zakk Wylde signature boomers and D'addario 10-59 as soon as the time permits.

[eaeolian]

I've been using the WebStrings electric and acoustic sets for about a year and a half.

Reviews:

"Memphis Electric" nickel-wound 6 and 7 string sets, 10-46 and 10-56:

I swear, D'Addario makes these for them. The windings and overall "feel" are virtually identical. Tonally, they're just like D'Addarios, as well - they don't have the greatest initial "brand new" bright tone, but they're very consisten for a long time. I haven't had much issue with breakage, either.

"Portland Acoustic" Phosphor Bronze:

Deep, sweet and dark, just like you'd suspect. Sound just like the D'Addario PB strings. Good life, too.

"San Diego Acoustic" 80/20 Bronze:

I haven't used the D'Addario version of this string, but these are very chimey and bright, and project like a mofo. I played a 3 hour gig on them two weeks ago and they still sound brand new.

Overall, I've been really impressed with everything I've tried from WebStrings, especially given the ridiculously low price. They ship fast and generally have what you want in stock. They messed up and sent me four sets of 11s once, and they sent out the correct 10s the day I emailed them, and had me keep the mistake!