Hey guys.
Haven't been able to keep up with the boards, but here's my belated input:
D'Addario Nickel Round Wound (not the pure nickel, which I'd really like to try). I REALLY stocked up on XL 120s back in the 80s & early 90s--there was a shop about an hour from here that sold them for $2.99 a set into the early 90s--I bought as many as I could afford every time I was in that town--I'm just a set or two away from being down to my last 10-pack. I like the sound (sometimes a little bright, but nothing a tone knob can't fix), I like the feel, & I get a LOT of life out of them. I like them better after they've gone dead for rhythm (which is the bulk of music anyway)--it worked out pretty well changing strings in rotation (barring a break, I could get 9 months to a year out of a set with 6 guitars). Now I don't play nearly as much as I'd like (& there are more guitars).
.009-.042 on Floyd-equipped guitars, F scales that can't take any heavier, & the Urchin U-70 (which is a hair longer)
As heavy as the others can take (usually .012s, but one has a made-up set with a .016 top)
I only have 1 electric with a scale shorter than F scale--Kramer Al-neck (25"). No G scales. I haven't found one I really liked that I could afford.
D'Addario Flat Wound Chromes Jazz Light .011-.050 on the PE-180 (I think about going heavier, but the I was conservative with the first set I put on it, they worked out perfectly, & I don't want to mess around with it)
D'Addario Bronze .013-.056 on acoustic (the new ones seem brighter, which I'm not crazy about). Any ideas? Anybody ever put Gypsy Jazz on a flat-top?
D'Addario ??? on the bass (they're pretty light, & they have brass pre-"green" color-coded balls)
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Just to note:
I didn't like F_____ or G_____ strings when I was learning to play--they seemed stiff & dull (they were both made by the same company back then). Haven't tried them since.
GHS strings seemed stiffer & were much harder on frets (15+ years ago)--at least on electric.
Back then, Ernie Ball & Dean Markley electric strings seemed to break way too easily.
I didn't keep up with the "string explosion" because I was already well-stocked & I'm a C.B.