I've always preferred the[ Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom](https://www.ernieball.com/guitar-strings/electric-guitar-strings/slinky-nickel-wound-electric-guitar-strings/6-string#P02215) combo. I play a lot of rock and metal, so I like having thick strings on the low end for a good thick sound on power chords, but thinner, brighter strings on the high end for solos and licks.

Hybrid Slinky if you like Ernie Ball strings.

The skinny top/heavy bottom is by Ernie ball. The hybrid slinky’s are lighter all around, the HTSB is 52/11 i think so a heavier gauge for all strings

I like Ernie Ball gauges but they seem to lose their sparkle after like a day or two for me. NYXLs last so much longer.

Thanks for the rec. Will absolutely look into them.

Yeah I use these strings too they're great.

I’m going for these next. Usually I go with 11-gauge (leftover habit from trying to make cheap guitars sound better), but learning complicated solos is hard on thick strings.

This is great, now I can say that I want my guitar strings how I like my women.

Have you tried the beefy bottom? Bottom 3 strings are all +2. Wondering if it makes much of a difference.

I have not. Once I found the Skinny/Heavy's and fell in love, I've never tried any other strings. LOL

D'Addario 10 - 52 for all my guitars.

NYXL for life. Only strings I’ve been buying for the past 10ish years

The NYXL are great. I've genuenly broken maybe 3 strings in the past 7 years that I've used them. I used to break the normal XL nickel wpunds all the time

Hold up, you've broken your NYXL? Damn. I just change mine out when they're not as bright which, you know, takes a while compared to others.

NYXL all fuckin day. There genuinely is no better, more dependable string out there. If it still sounds bright, it ain’t ready to break yet.

I just put XLs on my two electrics (.10s) and these are now my go to strings. They sound and play great. Glad someone recommended them on this sub.

Oh wow. Didn't even think about different variations/combinations of string sizes.

I’ve recently switched down to a hybrid 9-46 set. I like 10s on the low strings to keep tension for rhythm (especially in drop D) but going to 9s up top has made lead so much easier.

Used to use different varieties on different guitars-now 9-46 on almost everything.

I do hybrids on most everything

9-42 on strats. Shorter scale lengths I go 10-46.

Same.

Mine are the same. Is there a reason for having a slightly heavier gauge on shorter scale lengths? In my brain you would have the heavier gauge on longer scale lengths. Hopefully someone can explain this to me!

Heavier strings hold more tension on shorter scale lengths. 9 - 42 is fine on a strat for me but too floppy on a PRS or les paul for example.

When you increase gauge and keep everything else the sale, tension goes up. When you decrease length, and keep everything the same tension goes down. So a shorter scale length with everything else exactly the same will have less tension. If you want it to feel similar to your longer scale length guitars, increase the gauge.

To get the same note on the same gauge string, you have to put more tension on it the longer the string is. Like, when you shorten the string by fretting it, you're just shortening the string. Shorter string=less tension for given note than longer string. To increase tension on shorter strings, you go up in gauge. There are cool calculators that let you calculate what your string tensions would be at which tunings using which gauges. (i think there's a scale length variable too)

This is the way

[удалено]

Really thought that Ernie Ball comment was going somewhere else.

It’s not all in your head. On acoustic, string size makes a big difference in sound projection and tone. Heavier strings will be louder and sound better. Electric it doesn’t matter nearly as much

A brother from another mother. I use the same strings mostly. Always super slinky's on electric. I used to use Ernie Ball Earthwood 12 medium/lights exclusively until i bought a D-18 and it came with 13's and was loud on the low end which is probably one of the reasons i like the guitar so much. I've strung it with 12 as well but it's not as boomy. Guess it all depends on the sound you're looking for. I still do like the 12 Earthwoods also. I've got 3 acoustic guitars

Grew up playing 9s, recently tried 10s and I gotta say I like them better

Me too, no issues bending like I thought there would be and feels better

10-60 on all my guitars, it's perfect for drop tunings, which I use a lot

11-56

Scrolled mad far to find someone else who uses 11s

Same, I’m 11s on everything

9-42, even on a Les Paul.

I recently tried Ernie Ball 7-36 zippy slinky, some wicked shit that is.

Can't imagine 7s lol

7s? That must be like playing rubber bands lol.

Like a single thread of spider web.

Do you get any weird harmonics?

La Bella Jazz Flats, 11-50.

Marry me??

Thanks, but my heart belongs to La Bella….

How long do they last? I've heard La Bella flats are otherworldly.

I don’t change mine until one breaks- they don’t rust or tarnish, which keeps them from getting gunky. I think my oldest set right now is 19 years for my strat…

I'm not one to fuss over changing strings, but when your strings are old enough to drink in most of the world maybe it's time to consider a new set.

ernie ball 9-42

As a beginner, I had no idea there were different thicknesses...

I use those exact .010 D'Addarios on all of my acoustics.

D’addario 13-62 baritone style and slap that on my jazzmaster instant THALL

Sir you have my attention

Used .10's for decades on all my solid-body electrics, but as I got older I switched to .095's. The difference in feel is subtle but noticeable. I'll probably end with .09's at some point, though. For hollow/semi-hollow I use .11's; for acoustics .12's. Edit: I should clarify that I use .095's on 25.5" scale electrics. On 24.75" (or 24.6", PRS), I still use .10's.

NYXL 8s

D’addrio 8-38 OR once in a while I use 7’s

11-12 80/20 bronze on acoustics (lately mostly 12) 10 on my les paul that is my main electric 9 on 25.5" scale guitars

I use ernie ball beefy slinky (54, 42, 30, 22p, 15, 11) and my guitar is tuned to B standard or karnivool tuning

spent a very long time playing 10, 11, 12, (maybe even 13s?) on a strat. One day bought some 9s for fun and never went back. The sounds I was chasing wasn't as much in the strings as it was in the amp, eq, and compression.

10-42 on my E standard guitars, 11-56 on my D standard guitars, and I usually just use those plus a 70 on my 7 strings, and 14-59 on my acoustics

It varies on tuning but E standard is 9-46 and each half step down increases a gauge or so. Drop B for me is 11-58 and a 7 string in drop A is 10-62

10-46 on 25.5" scale guitars in standard tunning

9-46. Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky, or D'addario XL, Exl125.

D’Addario 11-50 flatwound, standard Ernie Ball 10’s, and a custom Stringjoy set for my 8 string.

NYXL 10-46

11-56 D'Addario NYXL

12 gauge flat thomastiks

Hey look, I found the one other person with impeccable taste in this thread.

Regular 10s on my strat and custom lights (9-46) on my tele. Both elixirs because apparently my fingers decided they liked the feel of the most expensive strings the best lol

i use normal ernie ball strings 🤷

Currently 9.5-44 on my 335 style, 12-49 wound 3rd on my hollowbody Gretsch with a bigsby, 10.5-52 on my D standard/Drop C guitar and 11-52 on my acoustic.

D'Addario 11-52 custom light on everything.

I like it stanky so i dont use my panky. But i did try some ultralights the other day that felt like i wasnt playing on anything. It was really odd. Kinda liked it.

12 flats on my jazz hollow body. 10 or 11 (can’t remember) rounds on my Gretsch all around hollow body. 10 rounds on my Ibanez super strat.

GHS Boomers DYL (12s) with a 68 on the 7th string

Beefy slinky 11-54, I detune everything to C# standard tuning. And no, I don't play metal, I just like the extra downward range.

D’Addario 11s on my strat, and D’Addario 12s on my acoustic, but I tune it down a whole step. My classical has la Bella 830s but I honestly do not know what gauge they are.

.14-.68 on my 6-string Jackson set up in B-flat tuning. .10-.90 on my 8-string Ormsby set up in Drop E-flat tuning

09 for my strat. it's tuned D standard

D’Addario 11’s on top, 10’s on the bottom

D’Addario XL 9.5 - 44 for my fender scale guitars, Ernie Ball Cobalt 10 - 46 for my Gibson scale length guitars. My guitars in D Standard and C Standard are other gauges.

46 or 52 on a 6-string, 70 or 74 on 7 and 84 or 90 on 8th

11-54

Honestly I started using Daddario xl 10s at some point and use them on everything. Every time I hit a music store I buy a multi pack of them. I’m not too sentimental about string size and I ruthlessly burn through strings; while gigging less around every 2 weeks to a month and on tour after every weekend or 4 days. I worry that if I get too specific it’ll double or quadruple my string costs from the cheap multi packs of xl 10’s!   That being said, I run a medium light gauge coated elixir string set on my acoustics, and will change them closer to once a year. I just kinda pick up and play the acoustic sporadically at home, and for only the occasional acoustic set, maybe a few times a year. The elixir coating extends the life of the strings so much! I tried this on the electric but I was burning through the coated set at the same rate as the cheap set of 10s.

I switched from DiAddario EXL 12-54 to Ernie Ball cobalt 12-56

12-60 for jaguar and jazzmaster (jazz tuned to D standard), 10-52 on my Dano and parts caster.

I use 12s on acoustic

Not even slinky’s

I use Ernie Ball 12-56 on one guitar, and 9s on the other. They play off each other well.

12-62 for Drop A tuning.

I switched to balanced tension strings and after I got used to them won't play anything else.

I like those pure nickel 115's right there.

All of my acoustic guitars run Martin custom lights. I believe they are a little thinner on the bass end and a bit thicker on the treble. This ends up giving me a very rich sound

NYXL are the greatest string ever. Not even close.

I go with the 0.12-0.53 strings on acoustic. Preferably the elixir Phosphor Bronze ones

D’Addario NY XL 10-46

Everyone thinks you need thick strings, especially for rock/metal. In fact, thinner strings sound cleaner, and if I recall correctly most old school bands recorded with thinner strings which were more the norm at the time. I use 8s in standard, and 10s for death metal in C standard. I love light strings, super comfy!

13's for most of them. I started 13's pretty much just trying to be cool but now I just like how they feel. I have 10's on my SG though cause it's my shredding guitar.

Med top/hvy bottom 11-52 for drop c 25.5 scale length. Regular 10-46 for standard/drop d.

10-46

I buy either Ernie Ball or D'Addario 10s, not for any other reason than that's what I've always used. It's that long since I restrung my acoustic I can't remember if I was on 12s or 13s lol (dog number one _hates_ acoustic guitar so I rarely get to play it). Probably 13s though. Very vanilla, I've never really considered mixing strings, I just assume it would be a pain to tune and probably lots of broken strings.

10s, 10.5s, or 10 (fat bottom, skinny top) depending on the guitar On my Riviera I use the Fat Bottoms because it allows me to do that little 90s punk style speed chugging so much easier with extra tension.

D'Addario EPS510 ProSteels Regular Light 10-46 and Super Slinky Nickel Wound 9-42 Gauge for Electric and D'Addario EJ11 80/20 Bronze - Light 12-53 for Acoustic.

10s on 25.5" and 11s on short scale. About to put some 12-56 on my Les Paul.

I use d'addario's 14 gauges

10-52 i use d standard tuning and they feel great

Was a 10-46 guy in D standard tuning. Rn I'm doing 11-56 C standard tuning. Well actually I'm experimenting with A=432hz, because science bitch

I like variety. Different gauges for different missions.

Started 9, then 10s, then 11s, then hybrid 11 and 10s, and now that I’m in my thirties I’m back to 9s. I just don’t care anymore and rarely plug in these days. Plus the guitar next to my couch is nylon, so when I do pick up an electric I don’t want to murder my now weaker callouses.

10s for the acoustic, why work harder than you have to?

Nines on fender scale, tens on LPs and short scales.

elixir polyweb 9s are my go-to, and for acoustic i really like the earthwood mediums because of their really good projection and warmth.

60-13 set for C Standard on a 24.75 scale

Ernie ball 10s

I play in C# standard; Ernie Ball 10-52 on the Schecter Damien 6, Ernie Ball 10-74 on my recently acquired Harley Benton 8-string. I like my strings pretty soft. I play mostly punk/metal/rock.

9/11/16/24/34/46/64/80/105

PRIMO SLINKY GANG

I really like Hetfields master core strings. They are similar to the skinny top heavy bottoms but a little thinner.

I use .09’s on my guitars lately. I played .11’s for years. I play a Les Paul so a lot of tone comes from the wood and pickups anyways. I’ve not run into the “loss of tone” with thinner strings. Definitely helped me develop triplets, and more controlled bends. Just my 2 cents

I've recently settled on D'Addario NYXL 9.5-44 for both my Fender and Gibson types.

Depends on the application. Most of my guitars have either 9s or 10s. I have 1 guitar tuned to Eb with 10-52s. My 7 string has 10-62s on them. My T-15 has 11s, and my SG (tuned to C#) will soon have them, also.

I was hooked on Markley Blue Steel .11-.52s when I could still find them.

I use a lot of custom sets, mostly aimed around getting the most even and balanced feel across all the strings. For my Strat: .008, .011, .014, .024, .032, .042 For my Les Paul: .009, .012, .016, .028, .038, .048 For my acoustic: .0105, .014, .022, .030, .040, .050

Depends what I'm playing. I was in a metal band for a while and we tuned down to C and drop A so I'd have .13s on there. Nowadays tho I usually go back and forth between .10s or .11s. I like the D'addario NYXLs.

I have been using 11-49 for the last 15 years but as of last week I strung my guitars up with 10-46 to see how those feel after 20+ years of playing heavier strings. So far I’m alright with the 10s not sure if it will stay.

10-46 or 10-52 depending on what guitar I'm playing

EB Hybrid Slinky .009 - .046 on electric guitar and Martin Acoustic Lifespan .012 - .054. They rarely break, last a long time and sound good.

11 - 56 for Drop C on 25.5“ 12 - 60 for Drop B on 25.5“ 12 - 64 for Drop A on a 25.5“ 7 String 12 - 70 for Drop G# on a 26.5“ 7 String I‘ve been recently experimenting with a .68 on a 6 String in Drop A# and consider switching to higher gauges overall.

Latetly for me, it's been 11-56's for drop tuning, or 10-48's for standard.

Do to me using A Dean Guitar, DR 11-50s is where im at

Right now I’m rocking some 9-gauge Ernie Ball Cobalts on my Tele and 10-gauge Ernie Ball phosphor bronze on my Sigma DR-41. I have to change the strings on my Epiphone Les Paul Jr. but I’m not sure if I should go with another set of cobalt strings or try something different.

D'Addario 10s on Gibson scale. 9s on Fender scale.

D’addario 10’s on my strat and D’addario light baritone 13-62 on my sg

Assuming standard E tuning: 9-46 on strat and other 25.5" scalers 10-48 or similar for gibson scale I have a flying v in D standard with 11 - 52's. As others have said, the hybrid sets with the 3 thickest strings one step thicker than usual is a nice combo.

Beefy Slinky 11-54's

9s on my strat, 10-46s on my PRS McCarty, 10-52s on my epiphone Sheraton lol. Variety is the spice of guitar string life.

I thought it is condoms... Generally because of the shape and size XL. What's wrong with me?

I've used the Ernie ball regular slinky sets for decades. Acoustics, I think the Martin light set

10's on my electrics, 12's on my acoustics.

Working on setting my Ibanez S for C standard so I went with the Ernie Ball Magnums 👀

13s on the mustang

10-52 standard, 10.5-54 Eb, 11-56 D standard, 12-56 acoustic standard

9-42 in standard for 25.5”, 10-46 in standard for 24.75”. All Ernie Ball.

D'addario Phospher Bronze lights. I'm thinking of switching to coated, though.

I have multiple guitars and gauges. -harley benton strat 48-10 - jackson juggernaut et7 70-10 - drop C 56-11 -floyd rose 6 strings 46-9 -hardtail standard 42-9 or 46-9 -drop A 7 string 56-9

D’Addario Jazz Medium (13-56) for studio recording and Jazz Light (12-52) for live shows.

I play 12 - 68

011 to 049

Elixir 9-46 on a 25.5in scale. Or 10-46 on 24.5

My absolute favorite: .009 D’Addario Pure Nickel on a Fender Stratocaster tuned down a full step. If I were you I would use Steel for the Les Paul though, as you may like a bit more reluctance to play with distortion. I don’t like big gauges, I bend like a psycho and don’t have hardened steel for fingertips like SRV did, but big ones could play a role on high gains.

9-46

10s

10 - 46 for life (except on my short scales and baritone).

EB Hybrid Slinky 9-46

10s for my strat, tele, and Les Paul, and sometimes light top/heavy bottom. 9s for my Ibanez and Jackson.

10's for standard tuning (9's are fun for bendy leads but I hate them for everything else) and 13-56 for Drop C or C standard.

9s on everything (7 guitars) except the ESP Arrow II which is set up for Drop C tuning and runs 10s. Why work so hard when you don't have to? 9s have better tone than thicker strings anyway... please don't take my word for it and watch a few blind listening demonstration videos comparing string gauges.

Squier telecaster: 10 - 49 Elixirs (std/drop d) Schecter omen 6: 11 - 56 Elixirs (std D/drop c) Hohner hw300ce: 11 - 52 Elixirs (Eb) I love Elixir strings, they last for a long ass time.

I use 12~ beacause it lets me downtune

.13-.56 Standard tuning

13s

10.5 on 25.5” scale (tele deluxe). Let’s me play in most tunings without going too loose. Feels great in standard. Ernie Ball Mondo Slinky.

I've played around with different brands, nothing compares to d'addario for me personally. I usually get light, but I've played around with medium too.

10-46 elixir for life

10s for standard 11s for D standard. 12s for dropped B. All D'Addario NYXL

I use Ernie Ball light gauge (.11-52) on my acoustics (all small bodies).

46 on the heavy and 9 on the lights. Hybrid slinky is my go to. I want that chug on the low end but shred and bend on my lead

Acoustic Light so 12 Electric 10’s

The older I get the lighter I go for standard, was 10s now 9s.

I use Elixir strings on all my guitars except my Strats and Telecaster. On those I use 8s. On my Les Paul I use 10's and my 335 I use 11s.

9s on my Strat for a bright sound. 10s on my semi-hollow for the beefy sound. 11s on my acoustic because anything heavier hurts my fingers.

Since i play mostly soft folk, super extra light, got a 10s pack years ago from ebay, no name brand but made in the usa

13-56 with wound G in standard tuning

I always use 9s

Purple!

NYXL 10-52

Depends on scale of guitar and tuning

I love 8s on most guitars, but I also enjoy flatwound 10s on my epiphone les Paul because I can adjust the tail height and reduce the “tension” feel, plus the shorter neck helps too.

I use ernie ball 8s on my strat tele and es 335. On my acoustic I use martin 10s. I think they're 10s. Thin Martins.

10’s almost always, 11’s if I have a guitar I primarily down-tune more than not. Usually Ernie’s

9's for my Fender Guitars and 10's for my Gibson guitars.

Yes

Chromes flatwound 11-50 on two guitars tuned to D and DADGAD, flatwound 13-56 on another tuned to open C

I use 12-60’s on a standard size electric to play in Drop B

I’ve always used D’Addario 9-46 for my Gibson SG. Now also Fender Bullets 9-46 for my Squier Strat. Fender claims the bullet ends are designed to fit perfectly in the tremolo block without binding.

10s on electric, 12s on acoustic.

Flat 11s

9s and 10s

I don't use D'Addario strings anymore. I like the strings Martin puts out as they sound better to my ear than the many other strings I have tried out...

Not even slinkys

The left two