We've been up and down this road many times in regards to acoustic strings- coated/not coated, brand wars, gauge afficionados, the whole nine yards. I've heard far less about electric guitar strings. Thoughts? Recommendations? Brands, gauges, alloys, whatever. I'd love to hear your take on this. Historically (which is how I have to look at it after 43 plus years playing) I've been much less finicky about electric strings than acoustic. Maybe I'm wrong. The floor is yours. Take the ceiling, too. thanks tom

Tom,

I don't know what type of music you typically play, so base my comments on the fact that I play primarily blues and blues-inspired rock. Thus, the strings I play may not be as well suited to other genres as well as they are for these.

I just recently completed a trial of string brands/models/gauges that has taken just over two years and evaluated strings for every guitar I own - acoustic and electric, optimized for each instrument. No, it was not a scientifically-designed, double-blind study (so let's not venture down that road). It was - I believe - a fair assessment of which strings best suit my ears, fingers, playing style, and guitars after nearly 30 years of playing.

I won't go through the entire catalog of strings I tried, but suffice to say that most all well-known players were represented as well as several off the beaten path. I tried ultra-traditional formulations as well as the most modern coated versions. In the end, the brand that clearly rose to the top for me were Snake Oil Brand strings.

These are old-style strings wound with pure nickel in their original formulation and a nickel-iron alloy in their rock formula. They sound very organic and feel great to the fingers (soft and almost silky, if one can describe strings in such a manner). They are extremely gentle on frets. They hold tune very well and bend superbly. What's odd is that - though they are very traditional in their design and composition - I find that they last significantly longer than any of the other strings I've tried - coated ones included. I use the original formula on my Grosh Retro Classic S and the Rock formula on my 290, and I couldn't be happier with them.

Currently, I believe they sell only direct. Their web site is www.sobstrings.net. The site itself has a link to articles written by the owner, Dean, that will teach you more about the history and evolution of strings that you thought possible. I give them my highest recommendation for strings.

Incidentally, while I know this thread concerns electric strings, Snake Oil makes some phenomenal acoustic strings as well. Taking into consideration purely sound and feel, my favorite acoustic strings are John Pearse phosphor bronze. Trouble is, I find they last about 3 days. Snake Oil's phosphor bronze are 98-99% the feel and sound of the JP's, but last (i.e. stay fresh) quite a bit longer. Check them out.

My I-35 arrived from a distributor far, far away with D'Addario Nickel Wound 10's on it (I'll do the right thing and leave it at that)and it sounded like kermit the frogs' banjo. I put D'Addario Nickel Wound 11's on it and it sounded much better.

So my experience so far is the D'Addario 11's...Yes, I know they're stock but they sound OK. I'd like to try and find something a little warmer, or smoother, or something else intangible, so this should be a pretty interesting thread, I hope. I'm already checking out sobstrings.net.

Bottom line - in my experience D'Addario 10's are no bueno on an I-35.

- greg.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: austex,

I wish, fervently, I still have my I-35, but that ain't happening. So, poor me, I have to survive with a Grosh Retro Classic, the best strat style guitar I've ever played. Style: blue first and foremost, but also rock and country rock, so I need bendability for those blue notes, and for the two and three note Nashville faux pedal bends. Nickel sounds right to me from your description, and I sure did like the stock 11's that came with the 35. On the Grosh, probably 10-42 or 10-48. I'm intrigued by the Snake Oil saga. I've not heard of them, immersed as I am in the acoustic world, mostly. I, too, am a Pearse phosphor bronze guy, but I get at least a couple weeks out of mine- my body chemistry seems to be string friendly. Trust me, genetics exacts its toll in other areas. Should I google Snake Oil and hope for the best? thanks tom p.s. duh, I just saw the direct sale link. Lemme check it out. thanks t

I use nickel-wound tens on my Teles and Strat, 11's on my LP Special. I put a set of DR Pure Blues nickel tens on the Tom Anderson, having never tried 'em before, and I like them a lot. I've also used (pure nickel) Ernie Balls and Fender Bullets with good results. Since I have a couple more sets of the DR's I'm gonna stick with them awhile and see if they continue to please.

I read some of the voluminous articles on the Snake Oil site- very informative. Makes me tend toward the pure nickel, old school tone they're talking about. But once you've made that assumption- you want, say 10-48 in pure nickel, does the brand matter? I've heard stories about how one factory makes strings for multi brands, sticks 'em in different packaging, and it's all the same stuff. Not what I'm after. I don't like malls, either. It sounds as if the low magnetism and the nickel content of old strings (pre-1970) were part of what made those pickups sound they way they did- and the Grosh is a throwback in the same way. So- brand loyalty, or what? tom

quote:

Originally posted by sonoman:
But once you've made that assumption- you want, say 10-48 in pure nickel, does the brand matter?

In this case, absolutely! Dean makes SOB strings differently than other companies. He has access to some magic that he won't discuss. They last longer, sound better, and (I think) even feel better. I've been using them exclusively for years and I'll NEVER switch. The first thing I do when I get a new elec gtr is swap out those D'Ads or Elixirs that they typically come with.

Simply put, the SOB strings are different, and I've tried other nickel strings by other manufacturers. Dean's processes are proprietary and they result in strings that just don't feel and play like other strings available (this is a good thing). The good news is that they're not terribly expensive compared to other premium sets, and they seem to last forever. You simply must try them to experience what I and other SOB devotees are talking about.

Well, I did ask!! Thanks. Now, there's an opinion, not a dissembling series of "if clauses". Now, I gotta get me some. Simple as that. Y'all have been very educational, and I do appreciate it. tom

Hey, elambo: can you get a box/bulk rate for, say, ten sets, or is it eight fifty a pop regardless? I'm used to getting a rate on the Pearse boxes I buy, but if it's the only game in town I guess I'll play. On electric, four sets would probably last me a year. I'm about 80% acoustic, maybe more. thanks tom

Dean may swing you a deal for a bulk order but I doubt it. If you play elec so infrequently then 4 sets probably will be enough for the year.

Do you have a phone number for the dude? He's in Florida, yeah? I emailed him a couple times. Hot to trot I am. It's that way, isn't it? the band with which I play lead electric has been on hiatus, but we've got a bunch of shows coming up late July though September, and I'd really like to hook up with those strings and get to know 'em intimately before we crank up. I'd order four sets today if I could get his attention. Can't afford guitars (the CJ varnish is mostly paid for), but I can sure swing strings. thanks for your help. I'm a ready teddy. tom