Dig it! Master Guitar FAQ #7 - Strings!

baimun said:
On my electrics I use D'Addario EXL14o sets. They're Nickle Wound gauge .010, .013, .017, .030, .042, .052

The extra beef on the low strings makes more sense than any other set. I've never understood the 12 and 13 sets that still have the flabby bottom strings. What the hell... all that does is make the high strings tougher to bend and the low strings flubby.
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Yes, this set seems more balanced than most.
If I were to go with off the shelf, I'd probably pick this set....
 
I used to custom make my sets from individual strings and it got crazy expensive. Once I returned to standard tuning, I standardized on those two sets and it made my life a whole lot easier.
 
If you're looking for a better balanced set this will help. For a 10 set just substitute a 13.5 for the B and a 49 for the low E. For an 11 set a 10.5 for the high E and a 52 for the low E works great.

http://hikkyz.net/misc/stringassembler/

For my personal use Dunlop 11-50 in standard tuning work well on Gibson/PRS scale, 10-46 on Fender. Yes they kinda sound "dull" acoustically unplugged. But plugged in they sound full and stay in tune. Anything else that ships out or gets worked on gets 10-46 Daddario (brighter string acoustically)

Problem with most string gauge sets is that they always increase the other gauges along with the floppy low E and B. So if you want a tighter low E you now have an A and D that have about 5 pounds more tension on each string....
 
I used to use "Ya'll install Ernie Ball" yea it used to say that in the ad's and package years ago...lol! However, they would gunk up and rust. A buddy of mine turned me on to the owners of DR strings and they really talked tome about strings and answered a ton of questions. They really liked me and my music and began helping me out.

So not trying to be a schill, I am trying to be honest in my experience with DR strings. I use the coated Silver Star strings on all of my acoustics and electrics, I do really like the nickel strings for a blues strat too. However, i thought I would test a set right off as soon as I got my strings. I instantly installed a set of .009 on my Les Paul and wanted to see how long they would last without losing tone, going dead, or rusting, etc. They were on there 1 1/2 years and the only reason that I had to change them is because I broke the small "E" string really bending it and digging in. My fault, not the fault of the string. They looked and sounded as good as the day I installed them.

Now on to the acoustics.....WOW! I will help out my neighbor lady with her acoustics once in a while, she will buy some off brand guitar that needs truss rod adjustment, bridge work, cleaning, set-up work, etc. normally the string are dead as the dead sea. I install the DR silver star coated acoustic .010's and you would not believe how it brings a guitar to life. Even on my mid and early 90's Taylors, they had crappy strings, even thought they looked new they just didn't sound good. Install DR's and it is an entirely different sound (for the better). I have used everything from .99 a pack Darco Funky's to Elixers that fray apart, the DR strings will NOT do that.

Buy a set and try them, I think you will find it is worth it.
 
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