JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Guitars and Guitarist Forum What guitar strings do you use? Acoustic and Electric

I like the D'Addario EJ18's on my Gibson jumbo
http://www.firstqualitymusic.com/sf_48-1836-1680/c_5/p_EJ18.aspx
Very heavy strings, but I tune a half step down, so the tension is near mediums tuned standard. It growls

On my Yamaha beater, I use Darco D2300's, tuned a half step down.
http://www.firstqualitymusic.com/c_48/p_D2300.aspx

I just recently got 2 electric guitars, both Squire Classic Vibe strats, and the shop gave me a set of DR Pure Blues to try. (pure nickel, round core) I asked for 11's because I like the double drop D tuning and needed some beefy E strings that wouldn't flop around. I put them on my 50's CV and I love them. I did have to steal 2 springs off my 60's trem though to handle the extra tension. The trem is stiffer, but the guitar stays in tune now. I went back today and got a set of them for the 60's CV. And 4 springs lol.

Players who bend a lot won't like 11's probably, but I'm one of those nut cases that will sacrifice playability for tone any day. Within reason of course. I won't max out a truss rod for the sake of using the heaviest strings possible. Actually, my 50's CV had too little relief with the 9's on it, and had some minor fret buzz. The 11's fixed all that. The relief is now about where I'd put it anyway. The 11's have been on it a week now, and the neck seems stable. Now I can go ahead and tweak the saddle height and intonation.

So yes, Phosphor Bronze on the acoustics and vintage style pure nickel/round core on the electrics.

btw, if anyone tries a set of the DR's, don't stretch the strings before you tune it up. Vintage round core strings don't need it.