• From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Topic: Tried some new Strings

I have used Ernie Ball since I started 10 years ago.  I've tried GHS, Gibson Brand, Fender Brand, and various other but other then the GHS haven't been impressed with anything I've tried.  Welp I bought a set of DR Pure Blues set of string the other day and tried those out.  WOW I was was impressed by like first chord I played on it.  I play Stratocasters mostly and My Les Paul for heavy things.  These Strings are wrapped with pure nickel which I've always heard makes a darker tone but the Erine Ball rock in roll strings never did anything for me.  These strings have a round core instead of the Hex core that I'm used to.  So their Claim was that these strings have a compression fit to them that they discribe like this.  A .042 guage string starts off as a .043 with their math formula but because these string are not Hex they wind tighter then the standard strings.  So they claim that you get more metal for the same size string.  I did notice that the strings where harder to snip off with cutters then Ernie Ball's or those other strings I've tired.  I really thought that my American Series Stratocaster came to life with them.  Its a bright guitar with a maple fretboard and ash body, the pickups are GFS (which are great pickups for as cheap as they are) I tend to turn my mids up all the way and cut the bass and treble back about halfway on my amp to get the Strat to sound darker then it really is, but with these Strings I was able a heck of a lot more midrange response and while I left my settings alone on the amp and don't plan of changing the way I set the amp I do believe its giving my Stratocaster a litttle more punch in the solos.  Have any of you guys tried these strings?

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Tried some new Strings

Yeah, new strings can really be great!
    Not as big a changes as a different guitar or anything. But, lots of little aspects are involved that can really make you feel more comfortable with your sound and how the whole experience of playing feels.
    The tension of the strings, to the tone, to how well they intonate and stay true to their tuning.

    DRs are definately a good string. They have a few different lines, too. I think the fact that they have less tension to them, is a big part of their warm tones, also.
    I use DRs every once in awhile, for a change of pace.

    My strings that I have always preferred overall, are D'Addarios. They always seem to hold a great tuning, and they have a consistent, bright but full sound. Plus, they recycle their packaging with "Players Points" that allow me to get T-Shirts and other cool accessories for my students.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • RamiLP
  • Silver Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-11-15
  • Posts: 63

Re: Tried some new Strings

i am currently using DR pure nickle strings on my les paul, i usually use .009" gauge strings, but with the DR's and the round core, they are much slinkier feeling than the ernie balls, but they sound alot better, ive had the last set for like a month in my guitar so far, and they still sound great, ernie ball strings last me a week before they sound really dead.

the only thing i dont like about DR's is that they seem to have dead strings in the pack every once in a while alot more often than any other brand that i have tried. you get a string that will never intonate and sound terrible right out the box. but i still like the way they sound.

its all a matter of principle...