What strings best for your Jackson/Charvel

[creeduk]

On a trip down memory lane I found a packet of strings today which had a little note I wrote almost 20 years ago saying original Charvel strings 9 to 42's replaced with 9 to 46 (hybrid Slinky).
I also found my original setup diagrams and descriptions and how I had to change the original shop trem setup (it was setup right) because I moved to a lightly heavier gauge. It changed trem tilt etc. In the past on my old washburns I switched back and forth depending on the price or what a friend had spare and yes the trem pitch changed a little but they always held tune and intonation was close enough I did not care. But with my Charvel I wanted it right. I always intended to go back to the original gauge it was supplied with 9 - 42 figuring that would be best is Jackson supplied with that but never did, loved the chunk too much.

My question is what if any do you guys feel is the best string on these guitars? Do you think different guitar models respond differently to different brand/gauges or is all just personal choice?


I need to buy some new ones which is what prompted me to go looking for what type I have on...how could I not know/remember...easy I have to confess I have not changed my strings for many years but amazingly (had several seasoned guitarists agree) they still sound great. It sat idol for some years in its case sealed away detuned but I have played it now for well over 6 months hard and still they play...not sure I should take them off.

[Marc Snow]

Ernie Ball 009

[markD]

EB 9s

[broken_fusion]

http://www.arkaystrings.com/html/electric.html

I use these now. used to use EB. I love the extra E and B string they give you.. Thats all i ever break so no more new packs laying around with one string missing.

[Robotechnology]

I use Ernie Ball or D'Addario 10's on my Jackson's (and most of the others too). I just think 10 gauge are the best combination of tone and playability.

[outsider666]

D'Addario 9's for tuning to E, 10's for everything else.

[Bengal65]

I use Ernie Ball or D'Addario 10's on my Jackson's (and most of the others too). I just think 10 gauge are the best combination of tone and playability.

+1 All around good choice.

[Grandturk]

I've been up and down all over, but until recently, always 9's on heavy metal guitars.

My Dave Murray strat came with 10's, and after playing it for 3 weeks straight, when I picked up my Charvel ProMod with 9's - it felt like complete shit. So I strung up some 10's on the ProMod, adjusted the trem, truss rod and intonation - and it feels pretty good.

So I may be a convert to 10's now. Brand - EB, Regular Slinky's 10's.

I still have a bunch of packs of EB RPS 9's for my Kahlered Model 4. And I've got something quite heavy from EB on my SG which is tuned down to Dropped B-Fart or whatever for Slipknot type stuff. Oh, and my Ibanez still has 9's on it.

[Confuse-a-Cat]

I use 9-42 guage on my DK2M. At the moment it's got Rotosounds on, but I think next time I order some strings I'll buy some GHS Boomers.

[Larz]

9/42s here

I use Ernie Ball super slinkys on my Teles.

DR Black Beauties on my two guitars with black hardware and ebony boards.

[Spivonious]

I've always liked the feel of D'Addario 10-46, but as far as what sounds best on Jackson/Charvel....it's really up to the player. They come out of the factory with 9s, so I guess you could argue that the guitars were designed to play best with those.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

strings are a personal preference / body chemistry thing.

1. different peoples sweat reacts to different strings metals differently.
2. string tension varies from brand to brand even in the same gage.
3. tone is in the fingers, but conveyed through the strings. so feel and tone are also a match only found by trial and error by the individual.

some people can rust through certain brands in a day or less. some people prefer a certain tension in select gage. some people like the tone of a certain brand.

you have to find what brand works for your taste and your body chemistry.

size of hands, strength of fingers, amount of sweat or grease, acidity of sweat and/or grease all make a huge difference.

i use GHS boomer 10's on all my guitars. to me they are the perfect balance of tension, tone, and lack of corrosion... for ME.



below is a list of some of MY experiences:

i love the feel of D'adarios within the first 4-6 hours of a restring. after that they FEEL rusty and ruff and are un fun to play... for me.

DR "tite fit" feel amazing but lack balls tonaly... to me.
DR "Hi Beams" sound great but feel awfull... to me.

Dean Markeley's sound Amazing, but feel way to stiff for my small hands.

Ernie Ball's just feel weird and sound weird when I play them.

[MNash87]

FWIW, I've been using SIT's for the past twenty years. I use either 10-46 or 10-52, and we tune down to D standard and some stuff is drop c. I know it's subjective and YMMV, but that's what's worked for me. I never have tuning problems with them. I started using them when I was teaching 6 days a week, and they were the only brand that could stand up to tuning up and down all day long, lol. I never liked the feel of Ernie Ball or D-Addario, they feel old out of the package and within a few hours they're dead.

[Tim_B]

totally personal preference and a good setup
I use Ernie Ball or D'Addario 9-46s

[MartyFriedmanIsMaster]

This guy on Youtube (dmometalguitar) said that EB's were the best for EMG equipped guitars, which Jackson has a few. And I think standard gauge .9's work for me. I just got DR Hot Pinks on mine today, have to go pick it up.