Favorite Strings, Favorite Picks

[E-string]

I asked this over in the old forum, so I thought I might try this one again. :D

What are your favorite guitar strings, and what kind of picks?... or if you're a fingerpicker instead, note that...

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I have GHS Boomers on my guitar (11-50 gauge), and I'm happy with that, although I think I run a little heavier than most of my friends who like the 9's ... (I mostly like playing fusion stuff, personally, and what I use suits me just fine.)

I've got more picks hanging around than I know what to do with. I buy in bulk 'cause I have a bad tendency to just lay them down somewhere and lose them (like I do my car keys and ink pens)...

Anyway, these days, I've really taken to nylon (Dunlop), and I bounce back and forth between .73 to 1 mm, depending on whatever...

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So, gang, what about all of you? :)

[SteelSlider]

Hi E-String.

I have several guitars, each for it's own style of songs.

My only electirc is a Gibson SG.
I use Ernie Ball Slinkys on it, the Ultras, Supers, Hybrids and Powers. The only reason I switch is to give my fingers something more, or less, to push around.

My Acoustics.
My Gibson J30 E. I use this one primarly for country, and some folk. I use Martin SP Custom Lights, Bronze in it. I like the sound.
I also use Martin extra lights, bronze on it too, same reason.

My Yamaha APX9NC uses Nylons.
My Lyle Classical uses Nylons, and on both I use D'Addario Pro Arte' EJ45C, Silver plated wound.

The guitar I slide on I just restrung today with the EADG strings from one kind, and the EB high strings of another.
It's a Dean Preformer cutaway, and I raised action by making a new bone saddle. I use any EB high string laying around, usually a used one from one of my other guitars.
The four wound strings are the cheapest Black Diamond strings I can find.
I play slide on it and try to mimic the raspy sounds of days gone by as I hammer and pull off, vibrato or bump. I gots to remember, the guys/gals back in the twentys and thirtys used strings of lesser quality that the cheapist BlackDiamond today.

I steer clear of generics, I don't like the tones from them and prefer to change my strings once every two months, not weekly.

[ESP_Viper]

I use D'adarrio (spelling?) .010-.046's on my ESP (standard and down a half step tuning).
I also use dean markley .013-.053 on my epiphone for tuning as low as B.
Then I use the trashy sam ash strings .009-.042 on my other 2 guitars I never play.

For picks I use dunlop 2.0mm gator grips. BIG picks, I like 0 flex in my picks.

[SteelSlider]

Oh, Yeah, Picks.
How easy it is to forget those.

I grow my own picks.
Thumb and first three fingers. I also take herbs, horsetail, to strengthen them.
Only use a Pick on my SG.
Some songs require a flimsey pick, for a slappin' sound, so I use thin really bendable ones.
Was just looking through my box of picks, most are heavies.
71mm up to 88mm. I bought a box of no-name picks some time ago, the must be 95s or 99s. I use them too. I switch picks during gigs. Depending on the tone I want.

A tip for some of you who are learning lead, about picks.
Learn the up and down picking method. If ya learn just picking down, your holding your self way back.
I don't shred, but raking is pretty close, and I do that, and this probably holds true for shredding.
Hold the pick at a 45 degree angle to the strings. Use just the tip, the rounded edge will move with less resistence over the strings and you speed will increase. Practice slow, and pick up your speed at the same rate that the clear notes are heard. When you can't tell the notes apart, it's time to slow down. Your speed will increase.

If anyone has any flaming pick methods, I'd like to hear them, and try them.

[Elmo45]

I like Ernie Balls and D'Addario's (.09's) Whatever is on sale.
As far as picks, I like the Dunlop Gator Grip picks(.71mm).

[steve]

My favorite strings are Martin strings for acoustic and Ernie ball for electric (gauge sizes are about 0.10 - 0.13) My favorite pick sizes are 0.6 mm and dunlop tortex.

[Elmo45]

I've read that "most" of the electric and acoustic strings are made by like three companies.
There are very few brands that are made by thier own company?

[ESP_Viper]

I believe that D'addarrio (spelling? AAHH!) makes their own strings. But what they say on the box doesn't mean it's true... I can gaurantee that Sam Ash doesn't make their own strings, or those other "store brands" as well. I don't care if they don't make their strings, just as long as the string is nice and the price is decent, I'm happy.

[Sandman_96707]

On my electrics I like Ernie Ball and Fender strings. I forget what I have on my acoustic because it's been so long since I've changed the strings on it.

[Coffee]

I use fender nickel wounds Orig 150. They're a good string and priced very reasonably. .011 to .049 They are heavier than most people I know use but I find the superior tone, of a heavier string is great and feel I have more control over a heavier string. I do lots of bends and finger vibrato, hammers and pulloffs in my jazz playing and the strings respond very well.

For picks I use what some people call 'jazz' picks. They are shaped like a raindrop and are about 2/3 the size of a regular pick. With these picks I always know where the tip is. I find the larger picks for me, tend to move around, actually rotate while playing. The smaller pick eliminates this problem. I also use fairly heavy Tortex ones .88 mills. The thinner the pick the more it flips around at the tip and the less control you have so the slower your picking speed.

I use a Marshall Bluesbreaker stomp box which has a great diversity of range and easily takes me into fast or soulful blues. The boost setting on the same unit is also very clean and colorful.

I do a lot of recording on a Tascam Porta 2 which allows 4 seperate tracks to be recorded. It's an okay unit but I'd prefer a decent digital which I could connect to my p.c., a minimum of 8 tracks if I go digital. I play the guitar through an old Traynor 6400, giving me my reverb, which is essential in anyones books and use the EQ out to allow the onboard EQ. The Tascam does a decent job for basic songwriting and discovery and allows you the opportunity of your own progressions for developing leads.

[fatstrat]

I use really stiff picks. I think it feels really weird using think picks that bend all the time. My favorite strings are probably fender strings. I haven't experimented with very many different brands of strings. Ernie Ball strings will probably be my next ones to try.

-Mark

[the_doors_girl]

HI

I am not to chosey when it comes to the picks I use. I found that any medium or light pick works well on my gibson acoustic. As for strings I am still trying to look around to see what ones are a good equality of there price. So far Dean Markley lights in phos bronze have been a good string to use. Well thats what I like to use as of right now.

Cya

[Towelie]

I only play Ernie Ball Power Slinkies and Jim Dunlop Medium size picks.

[PRS]

D'Adarrio 10's and tortex picks

[Sandman_96707]

My favorites are Elixir Medium Gauge w/ PolyWeb coating. It would be cooler if they made heavy gauge though.

[Problem Child]

Well, the strings: Ernie Ball .009 - .0042
picks: Fender heavy

[fizz]

hi kids,
well, i use Jim Dunlop Big Stubbys, 2-3mm, depending on mood,
and for strings, i have slinkys on at the mo, 9 - 46, on a lovely bc rich warlock (nj) ;)
about the thing you said with solos,
theres only one solo i found ( that i tried playing) that didnt need alternate picking, and that was until it sleeps, by metallica,
not that im disagreeing, youre killing it if you dont alternate pick, youre not going to get anywhere.
If any of you can play any of the solos by Metallica for -
King Nothing,
No Leaf Clover,
can you give me some advice? no useful tabs, and how do i start reading those tabs, the numbers get lost in my head, and i get bored, and play something else.
thanks!:D

[Schecter_dude]

For my Strat, I use Fender Super Bullets (Regular)
For my C-1 and my Jerry Horton sig, I use Dean Markley "Blue Steel" 0.01-0.52
For my Lakland 54-99 Bass, I use "Blue Steel" Nickle plated 0.45-0.128

As for picks, I generally use 1mm Jim Dunlop

[Schecter_dude]

Dammit! Me bass is a 55-94... I always get that mixed up :D

[Gravity]

I only have one pick and it's a broken one that belonged to my grandfather. From what I've heard from my mum, he was great at playing, i never got to meet him though, he died before I was born :(

This may sound stupid but, i like to think that when i use it I pick (no pun intended) up some of his talent. heh

oh well i dont have fave strings coz i'm only just new to this

byebye