Choosing Electric Guitar Strings For Sale (2024 Update)

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

(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

I've used probably every kind of stings out there and always came back to these. And not just any les paul strings, the signatures. They are extra light on the treble end for bending and thicker on the bass side for more volume. Les picked these himself and they will make any cheap guitar sound good. They are so smooth you will be amazed. Many strings I play with feel like sandpaper compared to these. And the best part is they come vacuum sealed so they have an indefinate shelf life, so stock up! I live in Key West and the humidity kills everything except these. I will never play another guitar without these. Stock up!! You wont be sorryThaddeus-PGMWh

Red silk stockings? Not the wrong review, stay here. These strings have a wound ball end dressed in red silk, just for show? NO they help anchor the string, they help to prevent slippage of the windings and they look fantastic. These strings are not cheap but you do get what you pay for. They sound great and have a high degree of corrosion resistance – I have never broken one. Apart from my Strats and my Tele I use these strings on all other guitars. If you have a guitar costing hundreds if not thousands of pounds why would you put cheap strings on it? They are getting very rare so buy a set now and try them.cerieds1957

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

Well built strings in my opinion. There smooth and able to hold there tone pretty well I think that these strings will prove to be at least satisfactory for any type of musician They can take the heat and they look pretty good too.TC

Bought these on a recommendation from a guy on YouTube and have not had any issues at all. I used Dean Markley Blue Steels for nearly 20 years, but due to lack of availability, was looking for an alternative. The individual who recommended them is a touring professional guitarist. I see why he uses them.Jason

I've tried many string brands out there and have come back to Ernie Ball in the last couple of years. They sound and feel great, stay in tune (assuming you have a guitar that stays in tune), and are durable (no strings last forever). You can simply depend on them.Frank

Getting back into guitar after a few years off, decided I don't really have anything to prove to anyone and dropped down from 12's to these 10's. Negligible sound difference, if any at all really. But wow are my fingers so much happier. Less pain = more practice. Get you some!ZACH

I have used Ernie Ball Slinkys since I started playing guitar (time that can be measured in decades, that's all I say). I have been through other top brands, and just don't like them. I have gotten to know EB strings to the point where I can nearly predict when they'll break. That's good in my book. The lively tone and intonation stays for a LONG time. And they're good enough to scrape clean and, in the word of Billy Idol, Start Again. Well, that beats boiling them (RIP EVH). What's even better is all these new, attractive hybrid sets, allowing you to easily find your groove without having to get two packs for your ideal set! EB just keeps getting better.Guy lll

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

I have been using Stingjoy string on my 3 Ibanez electric guitars and a 5 string Fender Jazz bass bass for a couple years now. I really cannot comment on the bass strings- I just do not change them often enough. The electric guitars on the other hand I change quite frequently. I have found that the Strinjoy strings make more and a broader sound 'acoustically'- that is with the guitar unplugged, and as I use low to medium output PUPS that 'acoustic' sound translates when plugged in. Over the years I have managed to get a handle on Floyd Rose double locking systems which can offer really solid tuning stability once you do learn how to manage them. With the Stringjoy strings the tuning stability on my FR guitars went from very good to ridiculously solid. Once the a new set of strings are settled in, If I stick to whole tone bends or < and nothing environmental intervenes, I can play 6 plus hours a day and be not need to tune, or if I do it is just to sharpen the high E and perhaps B string occasionally. The tuning stability coupled with the great sound and extended time the strings sound good has made Stringjoy strings my electric guitar strings of choice.Shaun F

This FiveStar review is really more of a projected rating. At the time I ordered the super balanced set, I also ordered a set of Broadways. They are beautiful strings – amazing tone and vibracy. Plus they’ve lasted 3 months- a LONG for all the bending I do. This may be partly because I also decided to use the StringJoy string conditioner, a product Ive always stayed away from. Stringjoys formula is awesome and most importantly safe for the guitar wood and finish (I ran a test on a couple beaters). I’m looking forward to trying the Balanced set- I’ve pieced sets together to get that combination- perfect for taming the loud G string on my Strat. It’s handy that StringJoy makes it so easy to customize your sets. I’ve also tried both of their acoustic strings, in various guages and they’ve all been top notch! Thanks StringJoy! If you’re on the fence about buying these strings, go for it! They are worth the few extra bucks- a nice sonic treat. One of my customers brought a set over to put on his guitar after a set up and Im glad he did- my favorite strings hands down! And I love supporting a local Nashville business.Noah G

These strings have been game-changers for me. They sound awesome on my electrics and acoustics; the custom sizing options make it easy for me to get the exact combo I want; they never break; and I really appreciate the individual packaging—no more fiddling around separating strings before you put them on. I cannot recommend these highly enough.James P

I build guitars and buy these for setups period. I have tried to use these on one occasion just for kicks but found the tension all wrong. Not so much on the wound strings as the unwound upper strings. I found the tension and feel really poor. They seemed to be ridiculous to bend and if you managed that they felt like they were about ready to snap. I did not like the brittle tone either. The feel of these is just all wrong but they are cheap and fine to use for building but my guitars would never go out with these!Thump54

Musicians Gear strings are perfect for any player. If you get your strings for free because of an endorsement deal, you can claim a better value. I don't have that option = I pay for my strings. I change strings about once a month, sometimes more often, because NOTHING sounds as good as a new set of strings. But I can't afford big coins to keep fresh strings on them. These MGs are very affordable, they sound great, they play well, they are consistent, and I am very happy when I play with new strings. The new packaging helps stop rust and corrosion, so I usually buy in boxes of 10, just so I have some on hand.guitarpicker7

I use these strings all the time. Dont believe all the nonsense you read- they sound good, they last well and they are affordable. If you dont need to pay double or triple for hype, buy these strings. The best sounding strings in the world are new strings. Buy a stack of these and change them whenever you need to. The more you play, the more often you will need to change them. Even a cheap guitar will sound good with new strings. And the most expensive guitar will sound bad with old strings. I love them.reynardfoxe

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

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

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

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 have tried a multitude of various strings. These DR strings are great. I have the Multi color; Yellow; Orange; Green and the Black Beauty ones. They perform great on my Gibsons; Epiphones and Ovation guitars. I use them on acoustic; acoustic electric and semi-solid guitars – all with equal positive results.Mr B t

These are excellent strings. I bought them for my son, who loves them. They stay in tune well. He likes their feel, they feel like the Elixir strings he used before. They seem to last well, he's had then on his Schecter about 3 weeks and they feel and look good and hold their tuning well. And did I mention they look really good under black light?Richard

I use these for tuning down to B standard and they are perfect with or without a tremolo. They feel firm enough, but not too tight and make for easy shredding. I wouldn't suggest going lower than B standard, but they would probably still hold the up well in A# or even A standard. I don't tune down lower than B and wouldn't know how well they do going lower. I get a lot of good old school death metal tones with these stings. I've tried a lot of different strings and these are the only ones that really are made for lower tunings. They do their job, sound great and last a very long time. It's very simple really. You put them on, stretch them out a little, tune up and you're in knee deep in metal \m/Foul Phil

I first used DDTs on my 4 string bass. I put this particular set on a Peavy Strat clone and it's sitting in BEADC right now will full string tension. Of note is the need for less extra string on the lower two since the "EAD" (or BEA in my case) are fundamentally light bass strings and you probably won't have enough room for a proper wrap due to the smaller machine heads.Jared

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

Friends this is the future ,DR strings does not compare to ernie ball, daddarios ,fender and gibson strings . this string have the best feel (easy bends),great tone ,tune stability and the most importan long life . this is handmade strings so you will feel the difference. ONE OF THE BEST STRINGS ON EARTH.7elix Ojeda

I've been playing for over fifty years and I'm always looking for a great sounding and playing set or strings. These strings are not coated but have that kind of feel. They are brighter sounding. I have tried so many brands but I believe I have found the set for me. Thanks DR.Rich the Kid

I received a set of these as a gift, have had them installed for about 3 weeks. I'm a lifelong Ernie Ball user and love the brightness of the wound strings that the newer, higher output versions like Cobalts and M-Steels have. These DR's are about equal as far as sound characteristics, but superior to the EB's when it comes to intonation and staying in tune. They come with 3 extra plain strings and the fact that they're less expensive is a plus, but price isn't the deciding factor for me… I'll pay good money for gear as long as it's high quality…Spruce Creeker

I'm glad I tried the Fender ss strings. They feel great and have a consistent tone. Not sure bout the longevity yet, too soon to tell. Great price as well. Bought a few Set to give as presents.RochesterTom

These are great guitar strings and a lot better than the ernie ball. As a leading manufacturer of strings, for decades Fender has delivered a high-quality product. The sound of these stings with a Spanish Cedar Wood pick is crisp.mojogumbo

I used Fender strings a long time ago and they always performed well. I made the change to super slinkys many moons ago but decided to go back to 350L when I changed over to my Nighthawk. The slinkys seemed a little dull, maybe it has something to do with the Nighthawk having a Fender scale length. Great move! Everything is much brighter and present with no sacrifice on bottom definition. I play every day and liked the longevity of the super slinkys so we will have to see how the Fenders compare. Great strings and a great price from MF as usual.Jerzy

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 used to have to buy the Skinny Top Heavy Bottom and Power Slinky set in order to get the low and high strings that I preferred but ever since Ernie Ball came out with this set I don't have to. It's my go to set of strings for standard because I like tight strings that I can chug or shred on. Plus they last forever. Get these!Rollin

The biggest selling point for Super Slinky strings is their magnificent tone. There really aren't any strings that sound better than these for hard rock. But as others have noted, they are sometimes prone to premature breakage of the unwound strings at the ball end. It you use a locking tremolo like a Floyd Rose, then this isn't an issue, as you'll be cutting off the ball ends anyway. But for everyone else, he's a trick that I (and many other players) have been using for Super Slinky's ever since the 80's. Just grab your soldering iron and solder the string down where it's twisted around the ball. Just be sure that the twisted part is nicely coated with solder and you shouldn't have any more problems with early breakage. Don't worry, it won't mess up their tone of anything like that… not if you do it right. Try it and see!Rasterburn

These are really nice! They deliver very warm and round tones when playing clean; however, when using overdrive or distortion, the tone becomes pretty monstrous! Because of their thickness, understand they're not made for easy bends and jazzy licks. Additionally, if your guitar is set-up for 9's, or even 10's, you'll need to make slight adjustments in your action, especially if you're using a trem.Shane S.