Guitar Players (electric):What is your string of choice?

D'addario has been my brand for electrics ever since I started playing.

Best bang for the buck.

I've never even broken a string.

 

Ernie Ball - Heavy Bottom.

 

Dean Markley Nickel-Steel Medium Electrics:

.011 .013 .020w/18p .030 .042 .052

I use the plain G string and keep the wound ones for emergencies.

 

Im tryin out some new ones for me..

I have used GHS for ages...but heard good things about the D'Addario Slowounds

So far so good...they have a nice tight sound...and I havent broken my A string yet..

 

Ernie Balls, because they're cheap and they're sweet.

 

On guitar - Ernie Ball Power Slinky Set.

On bass - DR Lo Riders

 

On electric: Ernie Ball .010's
On acoustic: Usually Dean Markley or Martin phosphor bronze .013's
On bass: Ken Smith .80 - .100's

 

Electric: Ernie Ball with the .009 E string (not sure what color pkg)
Acoustic: Martin Phosphor Bronze strings with the .010 E string

 

are you using alternate tunings? do you play extra hard/rough?
the only time i've busted strings is from tuning too much! (turning it too tight)

 

I use Ernie Ball's strings as well. I believe I have used the Dean Markley Nickle-Steel's as well. Hell if I know the difference???

However, I have not changed my latest strings in a long time. Typically, my high E is the one to go first. Sometimes, when using the lock-down tremolo, I will have to loosen up the clap-down to adjust when I'm at a point where I can no longer use the fine-tuners on the bridge to tune(not sure if my terminology is right here?). Occassionally, I will break a string during this process of adjusting string tension while loosening and re-tightening the clamp-down....which again is usually the high E that snaps.

I should probably think about changing my strings...heh. Of course, I don't play professionally so who the f cares anyway. Just wipe the strings down with a little oil or something and their as good as knew...lol.

 

Which brings up the question: how often do you change yours?

On my electric, they can go months because it is just a studio guitar and I'm not playing it live.

On my acoustic, usually no more than 8 weeks unless I'm playing acoustic shows over the course of that time, then more like once a month.

On my bass, if I'm gigging regularly or doing sessions, every month on my fretted and every 8 to 12 weeks on my fretless. If I'm not playing out regualrly or recording, more like 6 months and 9 months respectively.

 

GHS Boomers- Light (.10-.38)

When I used to play out it was the Ultra Light (.09-.38) only I would throw a .10 on in place of the .09.

It's also good to practice playing with 5 strings so when you do break a string while playing live, you feel comfortable.

 

What if you learned how to play a guitar solo all on one string and that string broke? Maybe you could get away with playing it at a lower octave on another string and/or compensating on the fretboard. But, what if you were so focused in playing it only one way and, with that missing string, there was just no way to continue? I suspect you would then be forced to change guitars to a back-up. But, what if you were just beginning a guitar solo. The band is still playing but there's no solo. Start over? Let it pass? LOL.

Which kind of leads me to my question. What's the best way to deal with a broken string when playing live? I would suspect it would depend on what you were playing...chords versus individually fingered notes, how well-practiced or talented you are at playing the music multiple ways on your instrument(versus learning it only one way), and what the song part is. How would it vary between bass and electric guitar? I figure you get away with it playing chords but, on individually fingered notes(e.g. guitar solo), one may be screwed and making that guitar change real fast. But, what if you only had the one guitar? LOL.

 

Solo all on one string? Nirvana?

Learn to play solos in different positions on the fretboard and in different keys. Don't get locked into doing things a certain way.

 

SIT (stay-in-tune) strings: .020, .026, .036, .046, .056, .070
tuned down to BEADGb for some major heavy riffage
http://juststrings.com/sit-meegsrascon.html

D'addario chromes flat wound: .013, .017, .026, .035, .045, .056
tuned down to C# standard for my "non heavy" stuff
http://juststrings.com/dad-ecg26.html

 

My comments were obviously a humorous hypothetical. Like, if I got up and played live and my string broke, then I'm not good enough to play it a different way. So, I would probably start sweating profusely at that point and freak.

I know Alex Lifeson has played one string guitar solos based on interviews with him per your first/second question, Bob.

I've got a lot of work to do. My problem is I like to learn and play cover stuff. I don't like to practice. I should be practicing instead of playing cover stuff...so I'm told. LOL. I like playing along with my favorite tunes.

I'm a flawed blues man who can't play the blues good who needs to attend the "Flawed Blues Men Who Can't Play the Guitar Blues Good But Want To" Academy. Hehe. In other words, I don't just can't get serious on guitar but still like to play as a side hobby.

I guess I need to work on my comedy as well. Oh geez.

 

Surf, learning solos on one string is actually good practice to learn where the notes are. From there it's not too hard to find the same notes on different strings. Thus the same solo on different parts of the fretboard.

Also good practice is while playing along with your favorite bands is to learn to improvise your own solos. Make up your own solos for those Rush songs.

 

Ive been using GHS Boomers light guage for about 7 years on my Electric and they have a great tone on my Gibson SG. For my Larrivee acoustic I prefer Ernie Ball earthwood lights or Elixir light guage. I've never had these break on me under normal playing conditions.