Worst strings...

[stevo]

A lot of threads have come out asking about favorite or best strings. I generally use D'Addario XLs or DR Pure Blues, but every once in awhile, I venture out.

Here's a thread about strings you've not liked. What strings have you not liked?

Here goes:

- Just tried DR Veritas: Absolute worst strings I've ever put on my Gretsch. After two days, they haven't settled into steady pitch. The tension is lower than normal and I had to raise my action. The trebles have this funky coating that feels terrible. The tone is okay, but they have all these transients that sound terrible at initial attack. I don't know what DR was thinking with these strings.

- Ernie Ball Cobalt: They sounded okay and stayed in tune relatively well. But the wound strings feel grainy and dry under your fingers. Won't use these again.

Next up: May try the M-Steel from Ernie Ball

 

[Bertotti]

I absolutely hated some strings that had some sort of coating. I think they were nanowebs. Just couldn't stand them, had some flatwounds, can't remember the brand, that didn't do anything for me as well. Ernie Ball strings I find ok but I always loved D'Addario Xls that is until I tried the NYXL now they sound flat when I try them next to the NYXL. SO worst nanowebs best NYXL.

 

[slimwilson]

Anything Ernie Ball.

 

[cielski]

I'm not a fan of Ernie Ball strings either.

The worst, though? Anyone remember Black Diamonds?

 

[audept]

I'm not a fan of Ernie Ball strings either.

The worst, though? Anyone remember Black Diamonds?

Fencing wire in guitar string packets?

 

[cielski]

Baling wire. It doesn't have the barbs, but it rusts faster.

 

[Mr. Lumbergh]

It's threads like this that keep me just buying D'Addario.

 

[Tony65x55]

I'm not a fan of Ernie Ball strings either.

The worst, though? Anyone remember Black Diamonds?

OMG, they were really bad!

 

[Tony65x55]

I absolutely hated some strings that had some sort of coating. I think they were nanowebs. Just couldn't stand them, had some flatwounds, can't remember the brand, that didn't do anything for me as well. Ernie Ball strings I find ok but I always loved D'Addario Xls that is until I tried the NYXL now they sound flat when I try them next to the NYXL. SO worst nanowebs best NYXL.

I won a five pack of NYXLs at the Gretsch Round Up. Kept two sets on two guitars for two days and cut them off. Gave the rest away. I hated them but they weren't badly made.

Anything Ernie Ball.

Super Slinkys work nicely on a Strat or a Tele. Wretched on a Gretsched.

 

[Tony65x55]

It's threads like this that keep me just buying D'Addario.

If someone makes me take some I'll mail them to you.

 

[tartanphantom]

I have also had poor experiences with DR strings, several years ago. Never again.

Still have a rather large cache of these... got some of them through past roundups, and bought some in bulk when MF was blowing them out a couple of years ago. I love all the flavors-- have different sets on different guitars depending on the axe and my personal taste. Rumor is that they were made by D'Addario, but I cannot confirm this.
Pity they don't make them anymore. the 11-49 set is probably my favorite, but the flatwounds are quite nice too.

But when it comes to Acoustic, This is far and away my favorite set for Flat-top acoustics... I've used them for over 20 years. Have tried others, always come back to the old reliable EJ19's.

 

[Gretschman2]

I'm not a fan of Ernie Ball strings either.

The worst, though? Anyone remember Black Diamonds?

Yes, I remember those. Wasn't impressed.

 

[Bertotti]

I won a five pack of NYXLs at the Gretsch Round Up. Kept two sets on two guitars for two days and cut them off. Gave the rest away. I hated them but they weren't badly made.


Super Slinkys work nicely on a Strat or a Tele. Wretched on a Gretsched.

I must confess the first day I founf them harsh but decided to beat the crap out of them a couple days. And glad I did because after a day and a half they settled in nicely. I think I need to do a better job of stretching when I put a new set of these on.

 

[Mr. Lumbergh]

If someone makes me take some I'll mail them to you.

And I'll happily take you up on that.

 

[Ricochet]

Harley Benton strings. Regular and coated. IIRC they were €2 and €2.50 a pack respectively... Maybe my ears are tuned to D'Addarios, but it felt like they wouldn't intonate.

 

[cielski]

The only good thing about Black Diamond strings is that you could find them most anywhere.

They're the reason for the remark, "played till your fingers bled".

 

[heinzman]

For me, Ernie Ball Slinkys please ! D`Addario XLs do eat the skin from my fingers ! =8-O

 

[thunder58]

I'm not a fan of Ernie Ball strings either.

The worst, though? Anyone remember Black Diamonds?

Don't remember them but does anyone remember " Nashville Straight " ?

 

[englishman]

I remember breaking the high E on my first guitar in 1973 and going to the music store and asking for the 'thinnest string'. Back then, this music store was kind of highbrow and the sales guy was clearly perturbed to have to dig me out that Black Diamond .10. Only one of those I ever used. I switched to RotoSound because they came in those way cool round colored plastic containers that unscrewed.

On my current 'dislike' list is the Elixer Nanoweb. Not because they are expensive or sound or play poorly, it's because they don't hold up to multiple tensioning and detensioning. When setting up a new build I often have to tighten and slacken the strings several times. My usual Super Slinkies have no problem with this (within reason) but the nanowebs just fell apart after just a few times. It's for a customer build so I've got to use them

 

[Robbie]

I'm not a fan of Ernie Ball strings either.

The worst, though? Anyone remember Black Diamonds?

I'd forgot about Black Diamonds...horrid things