String Search

[bombtek]

OK,

I've been using GHS Boomers for so long now that I really do not know what other brands are out there tht are worth while.

I love my Boomers, but what I do notice is that they seem to go ....flat..... I guess is the right word for it..... within a week or so of stringing them up.

I'd like to find a different brand that have the same "ring" as the boomers do when they are new, but hold that feel and sound until it truly is time to put on new strings.

I don't know if I can explain myself any better, I hope that ya'll can convey what I am trying to put into words here. It's just that the boomers seem to lose their liveliness, but still have plenty of life left in them. Y'know what I mean?

Anyways, ..... any suggestions for a different brand of strings?

Thanks,
Bill

[Vass]

I'll pimp DR's again. Big fan. The Hi-Beams start bright & stay bright. May or may not be what you're looking for. Of course, they also have "normal" strings, Tite Fit, too, which I used on one of my guitars with a DiMarzio Super D to keep it from getting TOO bright. They'll last you-both types sound good much longer than other brands I've used.

They also have a line called "Extra Life", which purports to be what it sounds like- Those I haven't tried.

http://www.drstrings.com/

Catalog, with descriptions of each string type :

http://www.drstrings.com/pdf/drstrings_catalog.pdf

Vass

[DonP]

I've been using Boomers forever and they seem to stay good for a long time for me.

[joelayres]

I used GHS for years, but once I tried Ernie Ball's I never looked back.

[Ben...]

DR Extra Life is what I use. They sound really nice, and they take forever to wear out. Plus they look cool. I've used them on my Jackson for about a year now. They cost a lot more but you only have to change strings once every 3-4 months under normal use as apposed to every few weeks with Boomers (I used to use those. They sound good but they do die fast.). Unfortunately the local shop doesn't sell enough so I have to order them.

[Joelski]

I used Boomers a ton, as well as SIT superhooks. I've changed all of my stuff to D'Addario as they have the exact properties you seek. I don't always wipe my strings and fretboard down thoroughly after playing and the D'Addarios forgive that. The stay bright for a long time and don't require alcohol based cleaning solutions to stay bright. I've tried coated strings and just can't get the same liveliness and wear out of them as the EXL's.

[Robert Hendrix]

I've been using Boomers forever and they seem to stay good for a long time for me.

Ditto here. GHS Custom Light Boomers for me 9 - 46 Lite top, heavy bottoms for that extra crunch..

[jdr94]

i have no idea what ghs are like but i like ernie ball hybrids.

[Robert Hendrix]

i have no idea what ghs are like but i like ernie ball hybrids.

For awhile, I couldn't find the custom light boomers, so I used the hybrids. They aren't bad, and I'll still use them if I can't find the boomers. The tuning seems to drift a little more, especially on the lower strings, but they have a great sound.

[rjohnstone]

I'm a GHS fan myself as well. Mine don't have the issue you speak of.
I use D'Addario's (10-46) on my fixed bridge guitars, but Boomers (9-42) on my Floyded guitars.

I HATE Ernie Ball strings with a passion. To sloppy feeling for my taste.

DR's are very nice too, but a little more pricey given how often I change my strings.

[Spivonious]

D'Addario EXL110 are on all of my six-string electrics.

I tried a bunch of different brands when I first started and I always came back to them. DRs feel too tight, Ernie Balls felt great but broke after a few days. Tried EXL120s...not enough balls, EXL115 not enough slack for bending. My friend swears by the EXL140s, but I like having some looseness on the lower strings.

[Cleveland Metal]

Tried about everything and pretty much love the SIT stuff. That, or DR's

[SEEGERMANY]

Just had this convo with "heartfielder."

I use D'Addario .009-.042 on just about all my Gibsons. In some cases, I may use Gibson Historic strings in the same guage. On my Strats, I use D'Addario .010-.046 on all but one and on that guitar, I use GHS Eric Johnson Sigs. .011-.052

[Danno]

I've always went back and forth between Ernie Ball, D'addario and GHS. Right now I use only GHS. I feel all strings, though, seem to vary by pack. I've had great packs of GHS 9-42, then the next pack doesn't seem that great. I've found that to be true with most strings.

[toejam]

I'm a GHS fan myself as well. Mine don't have the issue you speak of.

Same here. GHS 10-46 is what I started with back in the '80s... mainly because I saw a Queensryche ad in Circus Magazine (Rage For Order time period) and that's the gauge that was featured. I've tried a couple other brands on and off through the years, but I still prefer my trusty Boomers and still use them now for E and Eb tuning (and Carvin strings, which are Boomers in Carvin packaging, just less expensive).

For short-scale guitars and some D-tuning, I'll use Ernie Ball Power Slinky 11-48 or the DR Hi-Beams 11-50. Though, I've now been using Boomers Low-Tunes 11-53 for my RR1T tuned in D.

The two new David Gilmour Boomer sets look interesting, too.

http://www.music123.com/GHS-David-Gilmour-Signature-Red-Set-Electric-Guitar-Strings-101948-i1387406.Music123

http://www.music123.com/GHS-David-Gilmour-Signature-Blue-Set-Electric-Guitar-Strings-101949-i1387698.Music123