Best 7 String Guitar Strings For Metal (2024 Update)

My Mitchell MS450 (single cutaway LP style guitar) came with D'Add's, which sounded decent. When I switched them out, I went with the GHS 10's on a hunch based on things I've heard. Great move! Nice, brilliant tone, rings out for eternity if you let them! I have heard that the GHS 9's are really good on Strat style guitars, so GHS might be my go to on my Squier Strat Classic Vibe next string change.Joe

I used 11's from D'Addario for years and I would break a string consistently for every show that I played. I do not know why I kept with D'Addario for so long. I figured I needed to have a heavier string gauge for durability and better tone. Searched around and came across these strings in the heavy gauge, and I could not be happier with them. These strings have great sustain, are durable, do not corrode as quickly as other brands I have used in my professional career playing music, and, despite their heaviness, are easy to play in standard tuning. Along with playing well with a pick and fingers, these strings also sound terrific when playing slide. You can get the same great tones out of these strings that Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks have with their lighter gauges, as well as channeling the fat tones that you hear from Duane Allman from the Fillmore East show. Great Garcia tones can come from these strings as well. Basically what I am saying is that you can still get those classic guitar sounds on these heavy strings without feeling like your losing tone or playing opportunities utilized by the players that inspire you who may use lighter string gauges. These strings also (as far as I know) have a round core instead of a hex core. I think that might be a reason why these strings have so much sustain, especially when you have some distortion or overdrive keeping them warm while playing lead. If you are on the fence about getting these, I recommend you give them a try just see how they work for you. They are no that expensive and its worth it to figure out what works for you as a player. Feeling confidence in the gear you use is so essential to being comfortable on stage. Buy a pack and see what happens. You might find yourself just what you've been looking for.JFromJUNCO

I used to use Boomers for about 10 years, on all my electrics (9s). Until arthritis started creeping in. Switched to EB slinky 8s, and playing became much easier. Everything still had a huge sound, but previous order added a test set of the Boomer 8.5s for my Gibson Les Paul goldtop with P90s. Took a while to get used to the rougher feel compared with the EB 8s. But will probably order another set for the goldtop, and a set for my ES295.Joe S.

Great strings for the price! I put them recently, but they seem to be very good for corrosion. My house is very humid, so everything corrodes very soon. I need coated strings to last long, at least few months.sashbagdasaro-0

Ive gone through lots of strings over the years and these are by far the best, most durable strings i have ever played!! Strung these up on my prs se svn in G standard and man do they feel and play amazing!! Cryatal clear tone and mean asf!!!aletribuche-0

Overall: I've never been one to write reviews however my few purchases at zZounds compels me to. They have enabled me to get top shelf medicinal music gear that I cud never afford without their payment plan. I have 4 deployments to war zones and am retired early now however my credit not to Shiney from a previous relationship. Their no credit check really is a blessing for people like me that have the integrity but not the credit score. Too my point. I never knew strings made such a difference. These elixirs are a little slick but wonderful once you get used to it in about an hour. Every note is very defined and the highs dont hurt your ears and lows and miss are great. I find these strings extremely good if you have ceramic pickups. Just some magic about them. I gave a shot and they improved my sound technique and overall experience with a guitar. I thought I found the magic when I got some Erie ball cobalts. The feel is similar but the sound of the elixirs optiweb are much better. Harmonics come through much better as well. I will definitely be using elixirs for a while until I may find something better in my tone search.Tigger

I usually use 10-46 but bending them requires a bit of effort. I've since changed to the 10/46 Optiweb from the Nanoweb Elixir's and they are so much better. However, I needed a set for a 25.5" scale guitar I'm keeping in E Standard, so opted for the 9/42 to try out. They feel amazing, play beautifully and are very bright sounding. Standard tuning, these are my go-to string from now on.Wayne G

In the past, I've used several non-coated strings (D'Addario XL/XT/NYXL, GHS Boomers, custom brands, Ernie Ball Slinky/Cobalt/M-Steel). Though some were better than others, even the nicer ones like NYXL or M-Steel didn't last as long as I'd like for the price, and the cheaper ones either started with not great tone/feel or got that way too quickly, requiring too often string changes. I had used Elixir strings before (Poly and Nano). Though the Nano were better than the Poly, and had good tone and lasted long, they still felt coated and I didn't love the feel. When these Optiwebs came out, I tried them out. I totally love the feel of them, as they don't even feel coated. They still have the solid Elixir tone and I can leave them on for 3-4 months without losing any tone or tuning stability. Thus, they are now my go-to string, and it's a nice feeling to know my quest for the right string is over. Give them a shot.Chris in Big D

Overall: I've never been one to write reviews however my few purchases at zZounds compels me to. They have enabled me to get top shelf medicinal music gear that I cud never afford without their payment plan. I have 4 deployments to war zones and am retired early now however my credit not to Shiney from a previous relationship. Their no credit check really is a blessing for people like me that have the integrity but not the credit score. Too my point. I never knew strings made such a difference. These elixirs are a little slick but wonderful once you get used to it in about an hour. Every note is very defined and the highs dont hurt your ears and lows and miss are great. I find these strings extremely good if you have ceramic pickups. Just some magic about them. I gave a shot and they improved my sound technique and overall experience with a guitar. I thought I found the magic when I got some Erie ball cobalts. The feel is similar but the sound of the elixirs optiweb are much better. Harmonics come through much better as well. I will definitely be using elixirs for a while until I may find something better in my tone search.Tigger

I usually use 10-46 but bending them requires a bit of effort. I've since changed to the 10/46 Optiweb from the Nanoweb Elixir's and they are so much better. However, I needed a set for a 25.5" scale guitar I'm keeping in E Standard, so opted for the 9/42 to try out. They feel amazing, play beautifully and are very bright sounding. Standard tuning, these are my go-to string from now on.Wayne G

In the past, I've used several non-coated strings (D'Addario XL/XT/NYXL, GHS Boomers, custom brands, Ernie Ball Slinky/Cobalt/M-Steel). Though some were better than others, even the nicer ones like NYXL or M-Steel didn't last as long as I'd like for the price, and the cheaper ones either started with not great tone/feel or got that way too quickly, requiring too often string changes. I had used Elixir strings before (Poly and Nano). Though the Nano were better than the Poly, and had good tone and lasted long, they still felt coated and I didn't love the feel. When these Optiwebs came out, I tried them out. I totally love the feel of them, as they don't even feel coated. They still have the solid Elixir tone and I can leave them on for 3-4 months without losing any tone or tuning stability. Thus, they are now my go-to string, and it's a nice feeling to know my quest for the right string is over. Give them a shot.Chris in Big D

Overall: I've never been one to write reviews however my few purchases at zZounds compels me to. They have enabled me to get top shelf medicinal music gear that I cud never afford without their payment plan. I have 4 deployments to war zones and am retired early now however my credit not to Shiney from a previous relationship. Their no credit check really is a blessing for people like me that have the integrity but not the credit score. Too my point. I never knew strings made such a difference. These elixirs are a little slick but wonderful once you get used to it in about an hour. Every note is very defined and the highs dont hurt your ears and lows and miss are great. I find these strings extremely good if you have ceramic pickups. Just some magic about them. I gave a shot and they improved my sound technique and overall experience with a guitar. I thought I found the magic when I got some Erie ball cobalts. The feel is similar but the sound of the elixirs optiweb are much better. Harmonics come through much better as well. I will definitely be using elixirs for a while until I may find something better in my tone search.Tigger

I usually use 10-46 but bending them requires a bit of effort. I've since changed to the 10/46 Optiweb from the Nanoweb Elixir's and they are so much better. However, I needed a set for a 25.5" scale guitar I'm keeping in E Standard, so opted for the 9/42 to try out. They feel amazing, play beautifully and are very bright sounding. Standard tuning, these are my go-to string from now on.Wayne G

In the past, I've used several non-coated strings (D'Addario XL/XT/NYXL, GHS Boomers, custom brands, Ernie Ball Slinky/Cobalt/M-Steel). Though some were better than others, even the nicer ones like NYXL or M-Steel didn't last as long as I'd like for the price, and the cheaper ones either started with not great tone/feel or got that way too quickly, requiring too often string changes. I had used Elixir strings before (Poly and Nano). Though the Nano were better than the Poly, and had good tone and lasted long, they still felt coated and I didn't love the feel. When these Optiwebs came out, I tried them out. I totally love the feel of them, as they don't even feel coated. They still have the solid Elixir tone and I can leave them on for 3-4 months without losing any tone or tuning stability. Thus, they are now my go-to string, and it's a nice feeling to know my quest for the right string is over. Give them a shot.Chris in Big D

Once I switched to seven strings I was looking for strings that would give me good tension for drop A, a tuning commonly used on seven strings. However, many stock strings only go up to about 56-ish and consider that a "ultra heavy gauge." Considering I used 10-52 on my six string in drop C#, this wouldn't be nearly enough. Thankfully I found these strings and got them. They have the perfect tension for tuning below standard on the low string(s) without being to heavy on the higher-pitched strings. Don't expect to be able to pull off drop F# without issues, but try these out if you want a good metal sound with fantastic tension.Brian Dice

I use this pack on a six string (drop the 10) when tuning a regular scale guitar to C. They drop in perfectly, and the tension is great tuned as such. I find that they stay "tighter" and don't flop around as much as every other brand of string I have used. The sound is full and rich, without being too muddy. I use them on an Explorer and a Flying V, with both passive and active pickups, and they kick ass OUT LOUD!Chris

Perfect tension for D standard (A on 7th) on a 25.5" scale. Finally I don't have to mix and match string sets to get the gauge I need. I also have the La Bella 10-64 set and those should be great for Eb tuning. So far tuning stability is great on my Jackson dinky pro 7, no issues with setting up the floyd rose. Sounds huge and tight. The .070 string is even tapered at the end to fit tuning keys without drilling them out. Definitely will buy again.shredmonster76

La Bella, who pioneered the double ball system, and affordable nylon strings, has taken the lead in properly gauged sets for 7 & 8 string instruments. I have installed them in every manufactured extended range guitars,(Ibanez, ESP, LTD, Jackson, B.C.Rich, Schecter, Music Man, and Agile). All of my clientele made the switch to the HRS set.madaledel

There are a few "good" brands of electric guitar strings, and I have always chosen Ernie Ball as my goto set. They cost less, and last just as long as anything else that I have tried so that right there is enough for me. The new Cobalt, and Paradigm series strings are even better in my opinion, and it is the Paradigm that I use on my personal guitars now but for every guitar that I sell (several every month) it is always Cobalt series strings. I live on the Florida coast so anything made of metal is short lived especially guitar strings but the Cobalts do the trick, and last a couple of months for me.zombie415.2009

These strings need no credability having already been used and endorsed by the likes of Eric Clapton and Steve Vai and many more guitar giants. I only recently tried these cobalts and will probably never go back to the standard nickel strings. The big difference you notice right away is the feel of the strings when pressed and played, almost giving the feel of having a scalloped neck. The strings have a sort of elasticity to them, making for easy bending. Just a great feel. The next difference you'll notice is the higher output they give, while in my case actually making each note more distinct and clear at higher gains. I play mostly rock and metal, but I recommend these all day long no matter what style you play. -Leslie Ripplktogo-us

Overall: Use these exclusively on my 7 string. Perfect gauge sizing for down tuning; I love tuning to GDGCFAD. As far as "output" I can't really discern any advantage over other strings, but these of course have that great bouncy Ernie ball sound to them. I feel like they last a tad longer than plain Ernie balls but it could be a placebo effect. The gauge is perfect for what I do, anything else with these is just a plus. My main motivator to choosing strings are the available gauges, and these are a perfect fit. If you're looking in this range, you won't be disappointed.Brad

My Mitchell MS450 (single cutaway LP style guitar) came with D'Add's, which sounded decent. When I switched them out, I went with the GHS 10's on a hunch based on things I've heard. Great move! Nice, brilliant tone, rings out for eternity if you let them! I have heard that the GHS 9's are really good on Strat style guitars, so GHS might be my go to on my Squier Strat Classic Vibe next string change.Joe

I used 11's from D'Addario for years and I would break a string consistently for every show that I played. I do not know why I kept with D'Addario for so long. I figured I needed to have a heavier string gauge for durability and better tone. Searched around and came across these strings in the heavy gauge, and I could not be happier with them. These strings have great sustain, are durable, do not corrode as quickly as other brands I have used in my professional career playing music, and, despite their heaviness, are easy to play in standard tuning. Along with playing well with a pick and fingers, these strings also sound terrific when playing slide. You can get the same great tones out of these strings that Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks have with their lighter gauges, as well as channeling the fat tones that you hear from Duane Allman from the Fillmore East show. Great Garcia tones can come from these strings as well. Basically what I am saying is that you can still get those classic guitar sounds on these heavy strings without feeling like your losing tone or playing opportunities utilized by the players that inspire you who may use lighter string gauges. These strings also (as far as I know) have a round core instead of a hex core. I think that might be a reason why these strings have so much sustain, especially when you have some distortion or overdrive keeping them warm while playing lead. If you are on the fence about getting these, I recommend you give them a try just see how they work for you. They are no that expensive and its worth it to figure out what works for you as a player. Feeling confidence in the gear you use is so essential to being comfortable on stage. Buy a pack and see what happens. You might find yourself just what you've been looking for.JFromJUNCO

I used to use Boomers for about 10 years, on all my electrics (9s). Until arthritis started creeping in. Switched to EB slinky 8s, and playing became much easier. Everything still had a huge sound, but previous order added a test set of the Boomer 8.5s for my Gibson Les Paul goldtop with P90s. Took a while to get used to the rougher feel compared with the EB 8s. But will probably order another set for the goldtop, and a set for my ES295.Joe S.

These have been my chosen strong for electric guitar for a few years now. I put them on my epiphone les paul as well as my fender strat and they always serve really well. Sound and feel amazing!Harrison W.

Strings that sound great, feel great and don't break? Are you kidding me? No, it's true and they are very real! All I know is the future is now. I just wish they were a little less expensive than they are.latenticons

No cons so far. The sound is bright, clear, and the sustain is great too. What can I say other than I bought them for both my guitars.thefavorab_51

These strings seem to have more bite and attack. Clarity is key here with these things. Very clear on every string. I will buy again for my 7 string guitar. Being tuned low and having the clear voicing come through is pleasant. Thank youMatthew

I was talked into buying these strings about a month ago by a sales associate at the Guitar Center in Jackson, Ms. Said they were the best strings Earnie Ball had to offer. I can now say that I disagree. I love Earnie Ball strings, don't get me wrong, but these are by far the worst I have purchased. I had them on for two weeks and played on them five times. Put my bass in its case after every session. Within a week, I started noticing that they were gaining rust. Dispite the fact that I cleaned them. By the time the second week came, they looked like they had been left in the rain for months. I don't recommend these strings to anyone. The steel and nickel strings, yes, buy those. I love them. But these new cobalt strings are a waste of money. Thankfully my local Guitar Center took care of me and gave me a free pack of strings when I showed them the wear and tear they had gained over a course of two weeks. I'll say again, don't buy these strings. You will be disappointed.Van Lee

I play mostly in a blues band, and like a fat, thick tone with lots of bottom and some midrange punch. I was excited about these strings after hearing about their increased output. However, for my purposes I find that they have too much ring and higher frequency harmonics and overtones, and don't give me that down and dirty sound I'm looking for. Perhaps after using them while they will mellow out and give a more pleasing tone. But for now I would say these would be best for slap and pop, where you want a real strong response in the higher registers. For me right now they don't fit the bill for what I'm looking for.I play mostly in a blues band, and like a fat, thick tone with lots of bottom and some midrange punch. I was excited about these strings after hearing about their increased output. However, for my purposes I find that they have too much ring and higher frequency harmonics and overtones, and don't give me that down and dirty sound I'm looking for. Perhaps after using them while they will mellow out and give a more pleasing tone. But for now I would say these would be best for slap and pop, where you want a real strong response in the higher registers. For me right now they don't fit the bill for what I'm looking for. I play mostly in a blues band, and like a fat, thick tone with lots of bottom and some midrange punch. I was excited about these strings after hearing about their increased output. However, for my purposes I find that they have too much ring and higher frequency harmonics and overtones, and don't give me that down and dirty sound I'm looking for. Perhaps after using them while they will mellow out and give a more pleasing tone. But for now I would say these would be best for slap and pop, where you want a real strong response in the higher registers. For me right now they don't fit the bill for what I'm looking for. I play mostly in a blues band, and like a fat, thick tone with lots of bottom and some midrange punch. I was excited about these strings after hearing about their increased output. However, for my purposes I find that they have too much ring and higher frequency harmonics and overtones, and don't give me that down and dirty sound I'm looking for. Perhaps after using them while they will mellow out and give a more pleasing tone. But for now I would say these would be best for slap and pop, where you want a real strong response in the higher registers. For me right now they don't fit the bill for what I'm looking for.QadS-man the bassman

I tried heavier ones, they felt difficult and I had to down tune a lot. These one can be regular pitch or half down and even one whole step down in tuning and will stay fine. Drop to G for the bottom string will make that string just a bit sloppy however, but not bad. I like to play 10-46, and have done so for years just playing for myself creating new tones and tunes with 6 string ones. But 10-58 (7) sets become too heavy for me and bending hurts my finger joints. On my Ibanez RG7620, I have consistently used this set for 10 years I believe. Other brands have 9-52 7 string sets, but this is just a bit beefier 9-56. That is hard to find. They do not feel much less heavy in sound than 10-56 ones but are definitely easier to play. I got a 7 string that comes with 10-58 with 26.5" scale, I will change that one to 9-54 too. I have experimented and to try to reduce damage to my finger joints and tendons in the arm I may switch to 9's on 6 string guitars too. On 7-string guitars this is the only one that works for me. If you work out and have very strong forearm muscles, then heavier strings will be fine. I am sticking with the 9-54. I have not found another set with a 54 as the bottom string with 9 gauge for the rest. Life of strings: they last long, but not longer than Elixir or DR. They lose a bit of brightness and settle at a nice level and stay at this for months. I wish I could get this set in a coated version also. If you play the same 7 string every day 4 to 5 hours, I estimate with shred playing, change strings in two months (if you alway clean them after playing). I have had mine in for over 6 months now, i use a string cleaner. Every gauge has its own benfits and some cons, try several. They are ALL fun. I highly recommend these.7 string experimenter

As described on the package, these are primarily jazz guitar strings. I play a Benedetto Manhattan Custom 7 that was originally strung with round-wound 12-72 strings. After going through a few sets, I was looking for a slightly lighter feel and mellower sound. The typical 7-string sets with unwound third strings and lowest strings in the 50s felt like rubber bands and did not produce the sound I wanted. D'Addario chrome flat wound strings have the sound I want while allowing a relatively low action without buzzing. The strings start out mellow and hold their tone throughout most of their life. They will eventually sound dull (not necessarily a bad thing – listen to Tal Farlow). When intonation begins to suffer, it's time to replace them. I do not recall breaking a string. The majority of my playing is finger-style in the George Van Eps tradition and these strings are great for that application as well as comping and single-string work. They sound great purely acoustically as well as amplified. If bending notes is a major feature of your style, you probably will not be happy with these strings. If you are fortunate enough to own a seven-string jazz guitar and want a classic jazz sound, these strings will suit your instrument and style of playing quite well. They are practically the only game in town unless you prefer piecing together sets from individual strings.Mike H

These strings have proven to be the best on the market. Flatwounds are the most under-rated string ever, and D'addario chromes are the best of the best. They are very warm, very mellow, so if you play extreme metal like I do, you will have to tweak your pre-eq tone a bit to get the same "bright" sound from roundwound strings, but this is easily achieved with a treble booster or a pre eq with some of the bass turned down a little and some mids and highs turnd up a little. Once you've done that, these strings are RAZOR SHARP and virtually all string chirp is eliminated. They're "tighter" feeling than rounds so they stay put when you're tremolo picking. If you want to do artificial harmonics, they work well on these strings, but you have to be precise. Also, pick slides work well, but they're a bit "softer" sounding than on rounds… The few adjustments you have to make in your tone to compensate is a very small price to pay for a string that lasts forever, cleans up your sound, and eliminates string chirp… I recommend these to every guitar player I know.Manos

I bought these seven strings for a six string guitar 'cause they were the only ones I could find flat wound and not for a bass. I was concerned that the tone would be flat too, but it's not they sound warm and mellow, perfect for jazz and classic rock and blues. I can finally make the slides in "Blackbird" sound right. I put them on my new semi-hollow body Hagstrom guitar that has this amazing fret board made out of a man made wood composite that is practically friction free. After setting the action to my liking I installed these strings and have the fastest neck you can imagine. I'm so happy with the strings I ordered three more sets.opalguy

These are great for drop A/ G# tuning on a 25 1/2" scale length. The heavy bottom strings are big enough to hold a note well under hard picking, but still have the attack and brightness I like in my metal tone. I would definitely recommend this set to any 7 string player.Tree Stone

One of the only box's of strings you will buy for your 7-string. The keep their tone forever and never mud up like most 7-string boxes!Kingshredder420

Nice tone, fairly easy set-up. Multiple strings per envelope is very slightly confusing but environmentally friendly so OK. If there were an option for ball-less (floyd rose style) that'd be even greener.Beastly

I've been using these for several years now and I'll never use anything else. They sound great, last forever, and hold there tune quite well.I play lead along beside an acoustic with the frontman in my group for small bars and 4 hours of lead work later, and these things sound as good as when I put them on. An absolute best buy.Anonymous

I've been receiving an influx of 7 string guitars for tuning issues, and tension complaints. La Bella's HRS has addressed every nuance of concern for extended range guitars. The large cores keep the same gauging the player is accustomed without rubber band floppiness. Thus solves the tuning issues by fitting the nut as it was originally set up. The .064 imparts a stable foundation (tight B). It also functions well in de-tune situations. It is what you'd expect from La Bella. Their reputation is in tact with strings for any type genre and playing style.madaledel

This is the 4th brand and 6th set of strings I've tried since recently purchasing a 7 string guitar. 1 through 6 always sounds and plays great, but the 7th string is always too floppy for my heavy handed style. Not the case with this set. The low B is wound at 33." The tuning stability is incredible so far, and the stretching process was ridiculously fast. They have a wierd shimmer look to them that I've never noticed before. The sound is so clear. I had to adjust my settings a little as the low end is not as prevalent in these strings. Quick turn of the bass knob and that's fixed. All in all, if you're like me and just cant get over that 7th string floppy mess, give these a try. Whole step down and dropped to G on the 7th string, and I can still rip out fast paced chugs clean and clear. Glad I tried these, I was seriously getting tired of wasting money and strings. And the best part is these are cheap on the wallet.D Rock 84

These strings sound different, in a good way. They are warm sounding with no hint of piercing harmonics and they stay in tune for days. Normally I have to tune every day on the strat but not these. They feel super comfortable on the fingers. I've tried several brands and these will be my choice from now on. Next I'll have to try the acoustics. Usually when I discover a product that I like, they discontinue it. I hope that doesn't happen with the Curt Mangans.NCT

A great alternative to pricier pure nickel brands, these hit above their weight class. Great balance from wound to unwound. They last pretty long as well.Anton

These strings sound about as good as any pure nickel set can, and at a great price for the quality you receive. Most importantly to me, they feel great. The wound strings are not too stiff even though they are larger than a regular 10 gauge set. I've always preferred a wound g string and these manage to have that in a comfortable sized set for me. Some pure nickel sets have trouble lasting but these have lasted me about as long as nyxl have. I highly recommendKaleb

I use NYXL's on every guitar I own. They are my string of choice. Great feel, dependable, Strong, last a long time! You just can't go wrong with them!Cody IX

I used to be Ernie Ball only for years until I found the NYXL strings. These things feel amazing, last FOREVER and sound incredible.(I have no idea what this guy in the other review is talking about) By far the best strings on the market, only con is they're a little pricey. However, these last way longer than any other string I've played so I don't mind paying a little extra.Colorado