9.5 Gauge Electric Guitar Strings For Sale (2024 Update)

When S.I.T. (Stay In Tune) strings first came out years ago, they came shipped straight, not coiled up. That was their thing. I tried some 9's back when I used 9's and they were better than D'Addarios which always broke. I recently tried a new coiled up set and just be warned… They went on nicely, then got really stiff before slowly breaking in. They're just like that. I've tried worse. Okay if you don't bend a lot.guysbasement

Please checkout the review of these strings on you tube. I bought these strings because they seemed to have a pure sound, less contribution to the sound from what the string is made out of. The metals and construction of a string can effect the sound of the string.markb1539

Compares to my usual brand for a little less money. Intonation good, tone good. Stays in tune but I don't usually have a problem anyway.Mat

With the purchase of a new PRS guitar you just cannot be without a backup. Although I have not used these strings yet they are in my case when they are needed.Bob

Absolutely love these strings. A very unique gauge that just sound and feel great. Hate putting anything else on my guitars.David

I've been playing/collecting new and vintage guitars for 26 years, and regularly try new strings. I noticed that if these strings contact the bridge when re-stringing, the color will chip off immediately. Secondly, they feel like dull plastic. This feels like your fingers are dragging, and seems "cheap". Thirdly, I had to adjust all the pickup heights on the low-E, as the heavier strings sound completely dull and lifeless. I also received a damaged string, and contacted DR customer service. I haven't even received a response in two weeks, which demonstrates how unimportant we are. In this day and age, where online retail is more important then ever, this is unacceptable. This is NOT a reflection on Guitar Center, which always takes good care of me. Ultimately, these strings are a cheesy gimmick that will hopefully fade out. If you want quality coated-strings, try Elixir.DS

I decided to pick up guitar after a 15 year break and found Rocksmith to be a pretty useful tool. I put these on my guitar to help with getting familiar with the fretboard and neck. Because it's been awhile. The first couple of days, the strings sounded great with no issues, but a couple of weeks in, some of the strings sound muted a little bit and are just not as crisp as non-coated strings. i'll probably take these off sooner than later. I would recommend these for RockSmith but if you're looking to just dress up your guitar, I would caution against them.Citiznkain

I'm a beginner and I never learned to read music. I bought these strings specifically to play along with the game Rocksmith 2014. For those who are just starting out, these strings make it easier to learn to play because of the individual colors of each string. I have bought multiple packs of these strings. I've recently bought a electric guitar, acoustic/electric, and a bass. I have put these strings on all three. Love them. As an added bonus, these strings really light up underneath a black light.Mark just starting out

Overall: These DRs are a pleasure to play, very nice sound whether his or lows. And their price is very competitive and that is what makes them special. Buy a pair to see what the bragging is all about. I don't know how long they'll last but my first set are well over a month old and still sounding super. Way to go!!!Glenn

I had dead strings on a guitar I bought new! I had tried the drop tuning strings from Dr and liked them. So I thought I would give these a try! Only thing I don't like is how the strings are packaged! Wish they were separate, not mixed with other sizes in the same envelope! But overall these sound great!Spike

If you have an electric guitar or a 12 string acoustic, you will want to have a package of .009 extra light loose strings in your drawer. The can break occasionally and with some loose strings available, you can replace the broken .009's with a spare. These are good quality. Don't get caught without spares!gnm109

These strings really made a big difference ( In my opinion) in the sound of my Epiphone ES335, very pleased with the results.oldriv58

I love the feel of these strings. The tone is exactly how I like. My sound is more dynamic than before. Contrary to other reviews, they DO stay in tune (check your intonation and guitar setup in general) and they DO last a long time. I'm not a fan of strings that have windings that work against you. These strings have just the right amount of smoothness and brightness. Bright, but not annoying.JDub

Got these just sampling a few string sets and stuck them on my 2005 Tele Deluxe, they have a fairly decent tone & output compared to my Slinkies and seem to be good quality but my major complaint is the G B and E to me are under much more tension tuned at 440, kinda mixed feelings since some of my guitars are strung with 10's so for me these are 10 feeling 9's ! Strings are the easiest swap for tone chasers so just try a set, you just might like them 🎼Dr.LaRrY

I took a chance with these strings and was Not let down. I wish I would have bought more packs of Darco strings instead of trying other popular brands.string buyer

I took a chance with these strings and was Not let down. I wish I would have bought more packs of Darco strings instead of trying other popular brands.string buyer

Fantastic set! Took my standard scale six-string to new lows! It’s a bit loose but useable in G but about perfect for G# on my SE archtop Rich Bich. And better than the 72 gauge EB string I had tried previously. Immediately fell into a reasonable tone and with a little EQ-ing! Been an Ernie Ball guy for years. Stringjoy has a new fan!Andrew M

I like the strings, but the over advertising on emails is really annoying. I’m not sure who is your marketing manager, but your time would be well spent at NAAM, Local guitar dealers, online advertising, etc. Maybe even getting a contract to put your strings on specialty guitars from the manufacturer, along with specs that only you meet. Such a great product, but it’s really not out there and non-stop emails are annoying to every person. Good luck as a company, hope the honest feed back helps.John L

I had been reading about these strings in forums etc and was intrigued. Decided to try a set or two and see what was up. I bought the 10-52 Signatures. Well, I have been using them for a month and a half and all I can say is, believe the hype. The feel great, nice on the fingers, and it seems like the difference in quality of the metal is noticeable. I mean, it feels that way. Maybe it's something else. I don't know but they feel good, hold tune very well and settle in easy right after they're strung up. In six weeks of home playing they have not diminished in tone or tuning stability at all. I am already subscribing for three sets every two months as well. Love my stringjoys.Brian H

I am a drummer. My son needed strings. He took a few lessons years ago, and recently decided to try again. Guitar needed strings. I put on a full set and tuned it up. Seem to be functional. Fairly flexible. I didn't want really heavy strings. I know they would wreak havoc on un-callused fingertips!Scott W.

First time using these. I really like them. I immediately noticed how much smoother they feel compared to the previous brand I started out using. They feel so much better on your fingers and they dont feel ridged on the thicker strings. String bends are much better. I think I am going to switch to Ernie Ball from here on out. These seem like a much better quality and better value.hillbillyonlineshopper

Strats, ES, Les Pauls, hollow body Gretschs, PRS, my absolute go to strings. Every electric guitar I own gets set up with em. I absolutely buy in bulk. Great life for frequent use. Haven't broken a string in years. Properly stretched you shouldn't have any tuning issues.Charlie

I've been playing for 38 years. I wasn't aware of generic strings in the old days so I've used all the big names, Ernie Ball, GHS, D'addario and to me these are pretty good strings. I've been using them for 8 or 9 years now. The main thing I will say about them is that they mellow out quickly, in other words the new string brightness goes away pretty fast. For me, this is good. I do not like that jangle brightness of new strings. Other than that I can't hear or feel a difference from the major brands. I have recommended them to friends who also liked them. We were in a cover band together and had to restring many guitars fairly often because they would get sweat all over and not wiped down. So these were economical.Quinn

I bought a whole bunch of these in different sizes as it is a good way to experiment with using different sized strings. Some strings last a while but many pop almost immediately right at the ball. Once I had three in a row pop, each one the first time I struck the string with the pick. Enough of the strings work well enough to allow me to accomplish what i wanted but it is frustrating and I will be glad when they run out. But whatever at this price I don't really care.b

I ordered a huge bulk back in 2010, the 10 thru 46 guages set. They hold tune well and have good tone. After each time I practice or gig, I wipe down the strings with 3 in 1 oil and they last. Some people complain that the ball ends break off. But I only use these strings on my Floyd Rose equiped guitars, so I use the ball end wrapped through the posts of my tuning keys, then lock the clamp down. I use stainless steel picks and stacatto pick ( like Yngwie Malmsteen), bend 2 whole steps and pull up hard on the tremolo bar …..and they stay in perfect tune. I'm due for another huge order and will post another review.A.J.

BB King famously convinced Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top to switch to lighter strings and Billy never looked back. Tone can be shaped so much by the amp so the primary function of strings is feel and playability. Lighter strings like these mean you can play harder for longer. I also find I'm playing more accurately because my movements needs to be more delicate.Jack C.

You have to try these strings for yourself. No matter what anyone reviews or says, this is a matter of preference. So I say spend the money and try them. I will relate my personal review now. First off Ernie Ball strings are very good strings. I would say that about Curt Magnum, DR, GHS pure Nickels and Fender pure Nickels also. I play pure Nickel strings which are mellow strings btw. I normally use .10s and .11s. This was an experiment for me because I went down a rathole one night on the internet reading about what strings "the stars" use. I read what people said and honestly it is entertainment in itself!!! If you use 10s or heavier, you will have to adjust your neck, action and intonation. These no getting around that. The tension is very different. If you re-adjust your tone settings on your pedals and amplifiers, you'll get a usable tone with these strings. You'll have to play with your pickups also since they respond differently. Don't use these strings if you have a heavy picking hand like SRV. If you have a light hand or can switch it up and play softly, try them. DON'T go out and play a gig if you haven't spent some time with them, especially if you are dropping down from 10s or 11s. If you use 9s, you'll probably be ok. I am all for playing without tiring and playing without hurting my tendons. Maybe I will stick with these OR NOT. I have them on a PRS Custom 22 SE. I use 2mm V-picks. You had better use light picks with these strings. I switched to a Fender medium. So I use 11s when tuned down a half step. 10s up to pitch. If you have tendonitis from playing guitar 3 or 4 hours a day for 50 something years, these will be a refreshing change and you may not have any pain whatsoever. These are certainly the strings to use on a guitar that has a neck issue where the truss rod won't handle 11s or 10s. Nowadays, necks don't seem to be made to handle the medium or heavy gauge strings that I grew up with. Whatever I say doesn't matter. When it comes to strings, you will have to try them yourself and decide if they work for you or not. I purchased four sets to try on numerous guitars. I may get up enough nerve to use them at a gig. These may be strings to put on student guitars so they don't get discouraged.Rick

Ernie Ball has always been a high quality guitar string. Used by beginners, every day pickers, and professional musicians. They provide great sound and a great feel when played on a cheap guitar, or high dollar instrument. Im no professional guitarist , but I do know The Ernie Ball Slinky series string should be your number one choice when looking for a great all around string. There on all my guitars. And let me tell you, they really make my Strat talk like SRV s # 1uskev-xeu3yty9

(Guitar there were placed on is a Tom Murphy Painted and Aged Gibson Custom Shop 1959 Les Paul Standard w/ Brazilian Fretboard) Back in the day, Ernie Ball strings weren't packaged well; they weren't even sealed. If you haven't tried them since their packaging was reinvented, they're definitely worth a look now. Tried D'Addario pure nickel strings, found the wound three to be too low output. I swear the core wire looked like it belonged in acoustic strings. Maybe I got a factory defect, who knows. Gibson strings sound great initially but the 'G' starts to sound dead after a week and the wound strings sound dead and filthy in three weeks. These on the other hand sound marvelous. They sound great out of the package, stay balanced, and sound good for longer than I thought possible.MidnightRiderInTX

I have recently come back to playing the guitar, Sax is my primary instrument but I have had my Gibson RD Standard since 1978. I have since increased my heard of guitars to 10 electric guitars and 3 bass guitars. I have come to favor the Ernie Ball lights and super lights on almost all my guitars. I play the 9's on all of my Stratocaster copies and the super lights on the 3/4 size guitars. I love the feel as far as tone, intonation, flexibility ease of bends and how the strings hold up as a whole. I would definitely recommend to a friend or buy this produce again.Antonio

I have been using the Power Slinkys (11s) for a few years now. I had switched from another brand because the Slinkys made my Strat sound more Straty. After watching a few videos on YouTube about string gauge, I thought I would buy the Regular Slinkys (10s) and see what difference that would make. When I got online to buy I saw that Guitar Center had a sale on 12 packs and since there is a pandemic, I thought it prudent to hoard strings. My logic was that while I may run out of TP, I would never run out of strings for my guitars. Long story short, you cannot go wrong with the tone of 10s. I do like them better than the 11s. They are much clearer in the low end and you get more definition. I have to do less EQing when recording and they just seem to pop better in a mix. The only downside is that they are taking me time to get used to, I play very heavy handed and these are much easier to bend. But I can already see that I have less hand fatigue.Richard

Ive switched from Ernie 9 & 10 to these 9.5 DRs, as the combo of these gauges are perfect (for me). Yes, they cost a few more bucks per set, but all things considered, theyre worth the extra cost. They last long and sound great, so I highly recommend them.scottyspipes

I have been using D'Addario for ages and recently decided to shake things up a bit. I have to say that I am quite impressed. These strings are consistent from set to set, have a good lifespan, feel & sound great. Very good stringsPalagucci

Since I discovered DR, I've been using them for both my 7 and 8 string electric guitars. It's almost as if they were designed for metal players. The tone is nice and bright and beautifully sustained. The strings are also very strong, even on the thinnest gauges. Now all that's left is for DR to make longer strings for extended range guitars, which I'm probably gonna suggest to them in an email.ster-yako

I took a chance with these strings and was Not let down. I wish I would have bought more packs of Darco strings instead of trying other popular brands.string buyer

Overall: Got a couple sets of the extra light (D930) strings put one of the sets on my Gretsch G5425. Easy on, tunes well and after stretching the strings it holds tune very well. The bass is strong and no too overpowering and the treble was bright without being tinny. The middle was a little underwhelming at times, but I'm not sure if it was the strings or the amp I was using. When I changed amps there were no issues. I would definitely use these again. Next up will be trying a set out on my Les Paul, after I burn up the strings on it.Steve

I am glad that I found Pyramid strings. They feel and sound amazing. However, they last twice as long as any other strings that I have tried. DO NOT FORGET TO CRIMP THEM BEFORE CUTTING.Chris

I've used most all of the brands of strings for electric guitar over the years and the Pyramid pure nickel round core variations are by far my favorite for tone, sustain, warmth and longevity…They work equally well with my Les Pauls, Airlines and Rivolta guitars….highly recommended! Rod WellesRod W.

I've been using Dean Markley Blue Steel strings for years but now I'm searching for alternatives because the Blue Steel strings are always out of stock. I ordered Pyramid strings because that's what Wolf Hoffman of Accept uses. However, I ordered the stainless steel strings because I'm allergic to nickel. These strings are great…very nice feel and the tone is very bright which I love. I've tried the strings on my Gibson Les Paul, Gibson Explorer and Jackson Soloist and the results have been great. I tried multiple gauges with good results. In addition, the strings have lasted a long time – took a long time to tarnish and the wound strings kept their tone. I'll definitely continue to use these strings.Stephen

Fantastic set! Took my standard scale six-string to new lows! It’s a bit loose but useable in G but about perfect for G# on my SE archtop Rich Bich. And better than the 72 gauge EB string I had tried previously. Immediately fell into a reasonable tone and with a little EQ-ing! Been an Ernie Ball guy for years. Stringjoy has a new fan!Andrew M

I like the strings, but the over advertising on emails is really annoying. I’m not sure who is your marketing manager, but your time would be well spent at NAAM, Local guitar dealers, online advertising, etc. Maybe even getting a contract to put your strings on specialty guitars from the manufacturer, along with specs that only you meet. Such a great product, but it’s really not out there and non-stop emails are annoying to every person. Good luck as a company, hope the honest feed back helps.John L

I had been reading about these strings in forums etc and was intrigued. Decided to try a set or two and see what was up. I bought the 10-52 Signatures. Well, I have been using them for a month and a half and all I can say is, believe the hype. The feel great, nice on the fingers, and it seems like the difference in quality of the metal is noticeable. I mean, it feels that way. Maybe it's something else. I don't know but they feel good, hold tune very well and settle in easy right after they're strung up. In six weeks of home playing they have not diminished in tone or tuning stability at all. I am already subscribing for three sets every two months as well. Love my stringjoys.Brian H

I see a lot of you use these for lower tuning, which is great, but not me! I use them for Eb! I play metal and need my strings to snap back and handle my heavy picking hand. These are massive, fat strings that deliver massive, fat tone!Bargain Bin Hetfield

These strings are perfect for lower tunings. The individual string gauges are well balanced for rhythm and lead playing. I use these strings for "drop C" & "C standard" tunings and they hold up exceptionally well for my style of playing. Excellent value and a quality product.Chuzz

I just got the strings and was very happy to notice that you have included a string winder inside the package! And if im not wrong, it doesn't state anything about a string winder. That really made my evening! Thank you very much! This is my second purchase from you and im sure it wont be the last. Its a pleasure doing business with you guys! Thanks again!justakshay

Overall: These really are the best strings out there. I've used them for… well, a very long time (too many years to count). They're bright, crispy, long-lasting, and nicely priced. I've tried other brands… really expensive strings (don't waste your money) to other strings like Ernie Balls (break really quickly)…. the D'Addario strings are the best. And the EXL120's are a good choice… easy to bend, but still hold tune well and are long-lasting. Obviously, as a gigging guitarist, I change strings every week, but I've had some of these on my practice guitars for several months at a time, and they still deliver. Just good strings.Tim

been playing 42 years and used XL120s for over 30. Tried other strings and ended up using Ernie ball for the last few years and decided i needed to try mid gauge 9.5s and compared these EXL120+ to Ernie Balls 9.5 strings and these strings have better tone and feel to me,so easy decision to go back to D'Addario. Ive really been listening and trying to get better tone from my guitar and accoustically these sound clearer to me and maybe rounder or less sharp then EB strings which seemed to have more fret buzz noise. the EXL120+ are not overly bright, the gauge is perfect because i have floyd rose and 10s were to stiff and i always thought 9s were to floppy,bright and thin sounding. Cant beat these strings! and great price!Todzilla

I've never used a D'Addario strings before so I bought a set to try them out. The strings themselves are fantastic! They have great tone and playability at a very reasonable price. However, I absolutely hated the packaging. The way the bunch and wind all 6 strings together is not my cup of tea. I'm more of an individually wrapped kinda guy. Overall, they're fantastic guitar strings!!VOX Addict

Wow! The bottom 9th is stunning and required a bit of extra work to configure the guitar, but the sound through EMG pick-ups is awesome!jasotyrrel2

Overall: After having a mixed experience with EB strings for years, I decided to give them one last shot and buy some for my new Agile 9. The gauges look perfectly balanced for the tension and feel I wanted, and were affordable to boot, so I decided, why not?The low two were too short to even reach the nut. I dunno what these were designed to string up on but it wasn't a 30" scale or even 28" scale guitar I don't think, as the taper barely even reaches past the second fret on my guitar. These look like they were made for a much shorter instrument, as they seem like the perfect length for my 27" 6 string baritone, but that is entirely the problem. Tone wise, I can't comment make any comment on here due to the fact I tried stringing the lows first and got stopped like I had, and just packed these back up for spares. Honestly, if you're a fellow 9 string player and need strings with these same gauges, I would definitely look for a place to get custom sets done with the right string length instead of trying these. Kalium comes to mind. These ones just plain are not long enough.Gabriel