THE STRINGS OF LIFE!

Are guitar strings important? Well, take them off and answer the question! You get where I'm coming from. No strings, no sound. Fair enough but getting more to the point, yes, strings are important as touching them creates the sound of the guitar, and that is your sound. When it comes to strings there has never been more choice than there is today and over the last 70 years, any numerous guitar gods that have come and gone, string technology is at the top of it's game with great value to be found in multipacks and fancy high end super-strings that are coated in metals such as cobalt and nickel. Back in the 60s there was only steel strings, Jimi Hendrix didn't seem to mind or Queen's Brian May, both cutting edge players that innovated with what they had. Technology has moved on and now the selection is mind boggling. Strings are the most important part of the guitar in my mind and if they're worn out the sound will be crap. They are made for temporary use and should be changed whenever they sound dull or bad. There's nothing like the chime and ring of new strings, and the rule is, the more you play the sooner they die. If you have sweaty hands this rots them and clogs the wound ones. Luckily I don't have this problem and as I have more than enough axes I can get away with not changing for long periods of time. I have been using 10s since 1992, I used to use 9s before that but found them to be a little too thin. D'Addario XL was my preferred type in the 90s but then about ten years ago I started using Ernie Ball Regular Slinky. Lately I'm in between EBs and D'Addario but now I'd like to try some different brands. I popped a set of Rotosound Yellows on a Tele recently and was quite impressed, they hold tuning well and the treble is smooth and warm with the twang a Tele's famous for. 

I will write a review for each brand type, and add fair pros and cons when I feel the need to. Strings are personal and what one player likes, the next will probably hate.

D'Addario Nickel Wound, these have 6 different coloured ball ends.

A good all rounder with nice bite and clarity. The quality is good from this US made product and they are good value in three packs. They can be a little brittle, but I no longer use a pick so I won't be breaking them while playing!

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky are one of the most popular stings today.

This is another 'go-to' set for me and I do like them, for value and quality but I do find they stretch and requiring a little extra retuning compared to other brands I've used. Again a great all rounder but the shine does not last too long.

Rotosound Yellows are a good all rounder that offer a free first string,

the one that breaks the easiest. I'm impressed with these and find they hold tuning very well and feel slightly more tense than the other two brands. The sparkle is not as pronounced but the high end is smooth and twangy. They don't seem as shrill and that's good with a Tele or a Strat.

Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt, the high tech, high output string.

I put these on a Les Paul style guitar and they sounded a little harsh, metallic and gravelly. These are almost twice the price of normal strings. They lasted a long time but when I eventually changed them with Regular Slinky's I realised home much I didn't like them. Even the feel was a little hard. Not for me but know I know!