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Post by prowler on May 12, 2006 10:05:53 GMT -7
I've been a DR Tite-Fit user for years but I just ordered some Snake Oil brand strings for a change. Anyone here using them or used them in the past? If not what strings do you use?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2006 11:00:42 GMT -7
I have been using the D'addario EXL115 .011 to .049 set for the past 8-9 years. I have also used their flat wounds on my jazz boxes and have used the .012 guage set occasionally. I would like to try the DR or the Snake Oils, I have always been curious of these, I guess more 'boutique' brand strings. Are they the 'boutique' equivalent for strings?
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Post by billyguitar on May 12, 2006 11:14:04 GMT -7
It's funny, I don't care what brand string I use so long as the guages are correct. I'm much pickier about my picks.
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Post by BW on May 12, 2006 11:23:04 GMT -7
Amen on the EXL115's Arun, They do their job well. Once in a while I'll go to EXL110's on a tele, but I always go back.
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Post by Paul (TRANE) on May 12, 2006 11:24:05 GMT -7
I use the Snake Oil Original Nickel Sets (11-50). Best string I have found so far. I was using DAddario, GHS, EB, and such before that. The Snake Oils are just so much richer than anything else I have tried.
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Post by Curt on May 12, 2006 11:28:31 GMT -7
D'Addario .010-.046.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2006 11:33:03 GMT -7
Hi BW, yeah I have never been enticed to switch. I might very occasionally get a bad set or something, but they are very consistent(I go through a lot of strings). More importantly I like the way they sound.
Billyguitar I hear ya on the picks man. I bought 100 of those D'Andrea Ultra-Plec 2mm picks a while ago. I believe they stopped making them, but to me they were the best sounding pick I have ever heard. I think they were designed to have the structure and sound of wood. They just have a very round attack rather than a plincky attack plastic picks can have. I really like them a lot. I also use the Black Dunlop tortex 2mm if I don't have those lying around.
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Post by Curt on May 12, 2006 12:06:26 GMT -7
+1 on the Black Dunlops....three in my pocket 24/7 for ....longer than I can 'member !!
And I hold 'em kinda sideways and use the rough grippy part on the strangs...adds grit to the tone IMO.
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Post by Hohn on May 12, 2006 13:12:25 GMT -7
String are an ironic topic, because I think amateurs like me try everything on the market, and the pros just use whatever. Seriously, it seems like they use whatever they can get cheaply or for free. They must not need the help I do to sound good:(
I've tried everything from 8s to 12s, nickel wound to flatwound to stainless, round core to hex core, etc. I've tried every major brand (and some really minor ones) too-- D'addario, Pearse, Fender, Gibson, DR, GHS, Ernie Ball, etc.
I always end up coming back to the DRs in the "Pure Blues" line-- usually 10s or 11s for my Tele. When I started playing the dark-toned amp I have know, I experimented with TiteFits and Hi Beams, and ended up coming back to the Pure Blues.
My strat is not as hot and bright, so I use the DR tite Fits. Maybe I'll experiment with some hi-beams.
The just have a really good feel to them that's not something I could ever describe. I'm not even sure there's much of a tonal difference as far as SOUND goes, but they make me feel like I'm playing better.
For all I know, it could just be Dumbo's Feather and totally all in my head. Whatever it takes, I guess.
More remarkable than the DR electric strings are their acoustic and bass strings. String up your favorite acoustic with the DR "pre-alloy" (AKA All American Alloy) in a heavyish gauge. Unbelievably sweet tone, with phenomenal string to string balance. But they tend not to last too long, as the sweet tone comes at the cost of being more sensitive to corrosion. Compared to a typical Martin SP(80/20 iirc), the tone is a thousand times richer to me.
I use the Dunlop Gels (purple or green) and the Clayton Tortoise (.60)
JH
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 12, 2006 13:35:25 GMT -7
I been using SIT's here - 10-46 - for a long time. I have to change the B and E every night, but they come with a spare B and E, so that works out. When I saw Carl Verheyen at a clinic here in Renton last year, he recommended Thomastik-Infeld Strings ( www.thomastik-infeld.net/) but no one has them around here. I discovered they have them at Musician's Friend and ordered up a few sets. They definitely lasted twice as long, and definitely cost twice as much, so I couldn't see the point of putting all my string purchases on my Visa - all it saves me is a few string changes, but no money, and if your Visa is like mine, you don't want your strings on there! ;D Guess I'll stick to the SIT's...
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Post by sonicbluepaisley on May 12, 2006 14:38:19 GMT -7
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky
Once I tried them haven't used anything else
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Post by billyguitar on May 12, 2006 18:13:40 GMT -7
Re: Picks I've been buying heavy "Cool" picks. Some kind of white slippery plastic with a blue oval of grippy stuff that says Cool. They last a long time, wear smoothly and don't burr much. Strings: Like I said earlier I like about any brand I've ever tried. I buy a .010 thru .052 set and change the .010 to a .011. Back in the late 80s or early 90s I bought the DR strings but twice I had strings with loose wraps right out of the box. Never tried them again.
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Post by zane on May 12, 2006 18:51:56 GMT -7
been using LaBella 10-46's since I got my 1st Lentz ...that's what Scott puts on his guitars ...I like 'em they seem to stay "freash" sounding for q uite a while
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Post by garyh on May 12, 2006 22:17:08 GMT -7
I've been using D'addarios forever (10 - 46 now). Tried DRs once years ago and sorry, but I hated them. They lasted long before going dead (which is how they marketed them) but they started out sounding half dead too. That was probably 15 years ago (or more) when they first came out. I think Jeff Healy was using them at that time. They may be different now.
For my jazz box, I've been using D'addario 12s but now have a set of flat wound 13s which I'll stick with, I think. This set is Fender - all I could get. I'd like to try Elixers but will go back to D'addarios probably if they get the right gauge in.
I'm extremely picky about picks (no pun intended)! Used to use Dalcam (custom made by a music store up here owned by a great geetar player). They went the way of the Do Do so now I use the little black teardrop Dunlops (2 mm). They're the same shape and size but I tear the hell out of them. They wear quickly. I ordered 100 of them a while back too and that stash is starting to dwindle somewhat. If Dunlop stops making them, my guitar playin' days will be over, I think.
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Post by rcrecelius on May 13, 2006 11:10:23 GMT -7
Another vote for the Daddario XL115's...Ive tried others but always come back to these.
However, Im not as "pick picky"...in my pocket right now is a mixture of Fender Medium and Heavy's.
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Post by LeftyLang on May 13, 2006 17:10:38 GMT -7
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Once I tried them haven't used anything else +1
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maction
Full Member
SRZ for me
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Post by maction on May 15, 2006 10:53:29 GMT -7
I use the Snake Oil Original Nickel Sets (11-50). Best string I have found so far. I was using DAddario, GHS, EB, and such before that. The Snake Oils are just so much richer than anything else I have tried. I'm using Snake Oil Brand Originals too, for three reasons: 1. They sound great. I was using other pure nickle wound strings before (Ernie Ball), and these are just a little bigger sounding. 2. They last forever, meaning that they sound "new" for a long, long time. 3. He'll do custom sets. I have two guitars tuned to open G for slide, but want to be able to fret notes as well. We came up with a custom set for me which is working great! I also have an 11-48 set with a wound 18 for the G on my Les Paul (tuned standard E to E).
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Post by JChance on May 15, 2006 11:11:19 GMT -7
Well, after some great info from a fellow Z-forum member, Rick Fass (dei305), I recently started using Curt Mangan strings (www.curtmangan.com). I'm not really all that peticular about string brands, but the Mangans are cool because they have so many options & custom gauges. I really prefer to use 9.5-44's on Fender-scaled guitars, and Mangan happens to be one of the few companies that offers that gauge, and in different types (nickel, stainless, etc.) Other than that, I've always been just fine with the "standard" types like Balls or D'add's....
J
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Post by guitarman1 on May 17, 2006 13:12:39 GMT -7
I use D'addarios. They generally last for one gig and sound good for the money. I bend and beat my strings so much that I have to change them before every gig or I really increase the chance of popping one mid set. Nothing worse than loosing a string on a tremolo Strat in the middle of a song.
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Post by hiftbso on May 17, 2006 13:49:00 GMT -7
I use D'addario 10s on strats and D'addario 11s on Les Pauls(short scale guitars). I have used D'addario for a least ten years, man I need to cash in some of those players points. Every now and then I'll try something else but end up back with D'addario.
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Post by kruzty on May 17, 2006 14:02:34 GMT -7
I use D'addario 10s on strats and D'addario 11s on Les Pauls(short scale guitars). I have used D'addario for a least ten years, man I need to cash in some of those players points. Every now and then I'll try something else but end up back with D'addario. I use the 10's - their 25 set bulk box is a great value if you change strings often.
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Post by jb on May 18, 2006 13:08:42 GMT -7
Elixar nanowebs are long lasting if you do not like to change strings all the time.
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robt
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Post by robt on May 18, 2006 14:52:30 GMT -7
I've also begun using Curt Mangan--after my repair guy told me that Mangan had worked for Ernie Ball for years and then left to start his own shop. Previously, I used Ernie Balls--well, that's not true, I still use them. If you like EB strings, you'll like Mangans. Very loose feel and nice texture, last as long as most. I used Dadarrios for years but began to feel that they vaired from set to set. I'll still use them though XL110s.
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Post by prowler on May 19, 2006 5:07:30 GMT -7
Got my Snake Oil strings yesterday. Threw the Original Nickel set on the PRS and so far I like what I'm hearing. They have slightly less output than my DR strings but they are much warmer. All in all I like the strings & I never thought changing strings would make that much of a difference but it has.
Looks like I'm one step closer to getting the tone in my head out of my gear. The only thing left is an overdrive pedal.
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Post by kc on May 19, 2006 7:19:10 GMT -7
I'm a long time D'addario EXL115 user. Just stopped at Guitar Center last night to buy some -- got 10 sets for $30, that's the cheapest I've ever paid.
A funny thing - when I arrived at GC, there were two cop cars in the lot. I asked the clerk inside about the cops and he said someone had just tried to steal a Les Paul. I asked him how the thief had tried to steal it (the only way I can imagine is to grab it and run). He said the guy had stuck the LP down his pants and one of the GC clerks chased him outside where the thief took the guitar out of his pants and discarded it on the grass while fleeing. As far as I know, he got away. I thought it was kinda funny ..........
kc
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Post by billyguitar on May 19, 2006 8:37:32 GMT -7
Dude had a real woody! Most thieves are morons! I hates 'em to pieces.
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Post by foxx on May 20, 2006 8:07:36 GMT -7
That guy really wanted a LP. I want one too, but I'll buy mine.
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Post by GuitarZ on May 20, 2006 8:24:55 GMT -7
Speaking of Les Pauls, I use GHS Boomers on my Les Paul (10's) and Fender Super Bullet 10's on my Strat. And ..., I'm really not sure why.
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Post by skydog958 on May 22, 2006 14:16:23 GMT -7
+1 for prowler on the DR Tite-fits. I used to use GHS Boomers Thin/Thicks .10-.52, because I hated the feel of thin bass strings, but when I got my Heritage, I was worried about the different string tensions warping the guitar after a while, so I tried the DRs in .11-.52, and I loved them. They were heavy enough with good tension but they bend like a breeze compared to the Boomers. I use them on every guitar I have. I may go up to .12s someday, or maybe .13s for a half-stepped down tuned guitar (a la Hendrix and SRV). Anything less than .10s to me just doesn't cut it. I have friends who play with .8s, and I think that is simply rediculous.
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Post by teleking36 on May 22, 2006 15:30:41 GMT -7
I've usually been a D'Addario guy (10-46), and dabbled around with EB Slinkies, but since I found out about Snake Oils, it'll be hard to go back to the others.
It's like having a great nickel wound string sound, that lasts as long as Elixirs, without the slippery feel and the over-the-top brightness i hear from those.
Great balance of warmth and feel, and they last longer than any other nickel string I've used.
If I need strings quick, I go with D'Addarios. But i think I'll stick with the Snake Oils as long as I've got a set in my case.
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