Restringing An Electric Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

SAMS THE GREATEST YEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAWWWWWWWWW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE DEEP PURPLE YAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ********************* ************************************* ***************************** IM A HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ********************************************* &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& ***************************************** ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ************************************************MICHAEL

I've used many strings over the yrs as most guitarists do. But I always go back to Ernie Ball. They are just simply the best quality and tone wise. I'm mad it took me so long to try these though. I love the slightly heavier bottom while still having the mid gauge on the highs that you normally get from the regular slinky set. They work great for standard tuning but work even better if you tune a half step down (my main tuning). Don't hesitate and get your pack or packs today. You won't be disappointed.Vince, T

Tried this string more for helping out with a slight string buzz on the low E. Thought a heavier low E would help out, which it did. That said, awesome sounds for thumping rhythm playing while leaving a standard 10s on the high end for note bending. Great balance when comparing 9-46 hybrid sets, which seemed more out of whack for me. Can't say yet for longevity but assume similar for Regular Slinky which benefit from a string cleaning after each use.Axel

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 tried these strings on copy of an ES-335 style guitar. The pickups are not as alive as I would like. The strings appeared to add energy to the pickup and resonate well. I enjoyed the new sounds and power when playing. I was able to bend the strings to my heart's content and pretend that I was a blues master. Do not be afraid to give these strings a go.Ed

The best sounding and feeling strings I have ever used. Most of my guitars have vintage powered pickups and these strings are extremely clear sounding. They sound great on my Strats and Teles. They sound fantastic on my '61 RI SG and LTD PB 500 (Duncan Alnico II pickups). They still have the "slinky" feel of regular Ernie Ball strings. They seem to last a little longer too. If you are a bedroom player, you will like them. If you are a gigging player you will love them. I have always used EB strings, these are now the only strings I use.ShaneC

These are great strings. The feel like Slinkys to me, but are a little more slippery. Sustain is fantastic. I wore out a set of DR DDT (11 bottom) so, I put them on my Ibanez GRG121. This guitar has dinky weak humbuckers, but a pinch holds way longer with the strings…to the point that it feels more like upgrading the pickups. Maybe it's placebo, but I could swear they have a tighter swing too. I went thinner than the DDTs (obviously) putting these on and some of the first moment fret butt I got above fret 15 went away. Maybe it's just bc their thinner, but watching them I think they swing less. Try these strings… *Note: They leave a nasty bitter on your fingers.Steve

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 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

Love these strings. Clean, bright, ringing tone and easy to bend. I like the Hybrid gauge for the lighter top end, but sometimes 9's tend to unravel at the ball. The end wrap eliminates this problem, and I haven't lost one since switching to the RPS type. I use these mainly for blues. On a short scale guitar, like an SG or a 335, (I use them on a custom, 24.75", short scale Strat and a '64 Hagstrom H2 with a 24.375" scale), I suggest replacing the 16p "G" string with an Ernie Ball 18w. The heavier gauge wound string compensates for the lower tension of the short scale, and makes for a fuller mid range. If they made this set with a wound "G", it would be perfect. IMHO.Steve

If I had to use one set of strings, I would go with this one. Besides being incredibly reliable and consistent (no disparity between packs) these strings have served well under different weather conditions and on long hauls. I always keep these in reserve when going on the road as the gauges in the pack can work as substitutes for other strings and brands. Meaning, you can mix and match should you break a string on a guitar that's tuned to D. I've always had loyalty to the brand, though I do use a variety of strings for the other instruments I play. The strings make a good pair with the (IMO) amazing Ernie Ball Music Man guitars.Boyan P.

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

These are the best strings I've ever used. GORE has been trying to discontinue and keeps pushing the Nanoweb version: but the difference is huge! No match at all! The Elixir Polyweb maintain their tone, brightness and tension over 10 times what a Nanoweb does and probably twice that number over un-coated strings. I play every day and I've had guitars with over 6-7-8 months using the same set of strings with no issues. The're that good! BTW, my main guitars are Gibson Les Paul (TonePros Nashville and Tune-O-Matic Locking Bridge, Tusq Nut) and PRS Custom 24 (Tremolo version with Bronze Saddles and a Tusq Nut). These strings feel so good… no such thing as a strange feel because they're coated. You actually feel like playing with a very familiar and comfy feel. These Elixir Polyweb keep outperforming their competitors easily: D'Addario EXP, DR Extra, Fender DuraTone, Dean Markley Blue Steel, Earnie Ball Coated Slinky or the latest Earnie Ball Cobalt. Again: by far! In over 30 years playing and recording, I've never encountered a product of such quality in what comes to strings… and trust me: I've tried them all! Kudos for GORE Industries on producing them. Never let these go. Highly recommended. Cheers!checouma

This was a great price on my favorite strings. Shipping was very fast too. Unfortunately, "new" does not mean the same as"fresh" and I have now learned the difference. These do seem to be genuine Elixers, but a few problems which led to broken strings may indicate that these were either sitting on a shelf for a very long time or else exposed to moisture. Normally, brand new strings will be very springy when you first take them out of the sleeve. They generally will uncoil into a straight line, but every single one of these maintained a strong curl or twist in it. But that alone was not a problem for me. The strings installed normally and tuned well, but the tonal quality seemed a little sub-par compared to what I was used too. Still, it's possible I was just imagining that. The strings were fine for a month. Held there notes as well as any, and the tone was at least decent, though I still felt it was missing something. But after one month I had the B string break. I usually keep Elixer strings for 6 months before they finally lose their great tone and I replace them, and because I wind plenty of extra string around the posts, I haven't had a string break on me in over 8 years. Breaking one now pretty much confirmed my earlier suspicions. I went ahead and replaced all 6 strings with the next set, but 2 weeks later and the high E string broke on me. For now I'm borrowing the high E from the final set, but the first chance I get I will be replacing every string with a new, fresh set from a local music store. I don't think I'll buy strings online again because of this apparent problem of freshness.jaredlang85

Long lasting, great sound. I went to my girlfriends sisters home for Xmas and a few guys got a some guitars out and we played some rock, country and bluegrass on Elixers strung on acoustic instruments. They claimed the strings were three years old. They sounded quite good for their age. After seeing a John Paul Jones interview where he said Elixers were all he used. I already used them but his opinion completely sold me. I even bought an Elixer tee shirt. I use them on all my guitars and mandolins. I won't settle for anything else. I just bought a FX5 that had Addario's on it. No pause, I replaced them with Elixers. Great sound. Long lasting. Stay good looking too. Buy multiple set bundles and save money.easymedicine1

I was surprised to fine this heavy of a guage of strings. I didn't know they existed. The thing about heavy strings is that you have much more ability to play with dynamic resonance – something you can't really get with light guage strings. With these strings, you can play as softly as you wish but when you really want it to "come out" they don't disappoint. I also only play with the fleshy tip of my fingers which melds into the subtle nuances of chord and solo performance.garycgrieve

The package is for C standard, not Drop C as some people mistakenly think…well, I guess you could use them for Drop C if you like veeeery stiff strings. If you want strings for Drop C, I'd suggest a skinny top/heavy bottom set of strings with an 11 up top and a 54 or so on the bottom so the bottom E tuned to C doesn't get floppy and knocked out of tune easily. Anyway, I've been using these for a long time on my USA core line PRS Custom 24 in C standard. They seem fine for going down a half step to B standard and feel fine even up half a step to C# standard. That's as high as I'd tune these strings up, though. I couldn't recommend these strings more!Josh

I have these strings on my schecter c-1 SLS blackjack tuned all the way down to drop A#, and let me tell you, despite being labeled as optimized for drop C, I don't recommend them for that tuning. 11-52s, 12-54s and 11-56s are better for Drop C, but for Drop B and Drop A#, you will not find a better gauge than these on a 25.5 scale length guitar or a 26.5 baritone. The tension is absolutely perfect! It feels like a 10-52 set in E standard with the E string tuned to D! Like with all D'addarios, they are bright, long lasting, they feel smooth and they absolutely love locking tremolos. I can yank my floyd rose all I want and it still will not go out of tune. Since D'addarios are bright as I stated before, they also remain clear under high gain, which I use my marshall JVM on the red channel with a maxon OD as a boost and a peavey 5150. Between the tuning stability, the tension, the reliability, the playability and the string life, you cannot go wrong with these for baritone tunings!Daniel

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

Love these strings. Clean, bright, ringing tone and easy to bend. I like the Hybrid gauge for the lighter top end, but sometimes 9's tend to unravel at the ball. The end wrap eliminates this problem, and I haven't lost one since switching to the RPS type. I use these mainly for blues. On a short scale guitar, like an SG or a 335, (I use them on a custom, 24.75", short scale Strat and a '64 Hagstrom H2 with a 24.375" scale), I suggest replacing the 16p "G" string with an Ernie Ball 18w. The heavier gauge wound string compensates for the lower tension of the short scale, and makes for a fuller mid range. If they made this set with a wound "G", it would be perfect. IMHO.Steve

If I had to use one set of strings, I would go with this one. Besides being incredibly reliable and consistent (no disparity between packs) these strings have served well under different weather conditions and on long hauls. I always keep these in reserve when going on the road as the gauges in the pack can work as substitutes for other strings and brands. Meaning, you can mix and match should you break a string on a guitar that's tuned to D. I've always had loyalty to the brand, though I do use a variety of strings for the other instruments I play. The strings make a good pair with the (IMO) amazing Ernie Ball Music Man guitars.Boyan P.

These strings are designed for Steinberger Transtrem systems that is why the high e string is shorter than a normal double ball system. These strings do exactly what they are supposed to do. They sound better than any other make for their designed purpose.FranticCity

To FranticCity's comment: I concur that these strings sound terrific. The fact remains that the high E string is too short for headless-guitar players using anything BUT a TransTrem. For those of us who are using other headless-system bridges – Steinberger's S-Trem and R-Trem – as well as the new and superb J-Custom / Headless Research bridges, D'addario has left us hanging. Why not design a string that will work with the many other fine Steinberger and Steinberger-style bridges out there ? Why confine your product so that it's useable only to a small subset of an already small niche of players ( the headless-guitar folks ) ?Midwest Picker

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 played D'addario strings for the first 10 years I played guitar, then about 4 years ago I decided to take a shot at making a custom gauge set specifically for my guitar. Ernie ball strings are easier to find individually so I changed brands. I can't even begin to describe how much of a difference it makes having consistently ascending string tensions across the fretboard on my 7-string (~21 lbs at low end to ~13 lbs at high end) especially for fast players. Sweeps and arpeggios immediately feel more natural. My 7-string is currently tuned to drop G (d,A,F,C,g,D,G). With a 25.5" scale the best gauges are .010,.014,.019,.028,.039,.056, and .074 if you want a good middle ground between tight strings and bendability. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.Cameron

I have a Jackson that has single-coil pickups in the middle/neck position. The guitar is in standard D and I use the 10-52 Ernie Ball set. The 17 gauge G string always sounded a bit weird on the neck pickup. After hours of googling and youtubing I found out that this is rather common on unwound strings (esp. the G). Switching to the wound 18-gauge string was all I needed to cure this problem. It makes it quite a bit harder to bend the string though.Mike

I have used these strings on my guitars for over three years with out any problems with them losing their intonation. And they seem to last for about over two years under daily playingd_rock_e

I played D'addario strings for the first 10 years I played guitar, then about 4 years ago I decided to take a shot at making a custom gauge set specifically for my guitar. Ernie ball strings are easier to find individually so I changed brands. I can't even begin to describe how much of a difference it makes having consistently ascending string tensions across the fretboard on my 7-string (~21 lbs at low end to ~13 lbs at high end) especially for fast players. Sweeps and arpeggios immediately feel more natural. My 7-string is currently tuned to drop G (d,A,F,C,g,D,G). With a 25.5" scale the best gauges are .010,.014,.019,.028,.039,.056, and .074 if you want a good middle ground between tight strings and bendability. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.Cameron

I have a Jackson that has single-coil pickups in the middle/neck position. The guitar is in standard D and I use the 10-52 Ernie Ball set. The 17 gauge G string always sounded a bit weird on the neck pickup. After hours of googling and youtubing I found out that this is rather common on unwound strings (esp. the G). Switching to the wound 18-gauge string was all I needed to cure this problem. It makes it quite a bit harder to bend the string though.Mike

I have used these strings on my guitars for over three years with out any problems with them losing their intonation. And they seem to last for about over two years under daily playingd_rock_e

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

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

pretty good, high quality string. i bought this expecting a pack of 6 and ended up only receiving 1. it was my fault, i should have read more carefully. but maybe it would be helpful to have a picture of the actual product.sonicyouthfan123

I have used these strings on my guitars for over three years with out any problems with them losing their intonation. And they seem to last for about over two years under daily playingd_rock_e

As always Guitar Center backs up everything they sell. I purchased 2 sets of strings for a 12 string guitar and an e string broke while putting in on. I told the people at Guitar Center just in passing and they gave me a replacement string. Typical of Guitar Center.Coach Ed

Recently bought a Tele with an older set of D'Addario's on it. I'd never used them (been an Ernie Ball man since the 80's) and thought I'd give 3 identical sets (I use 9-46 EB's) a try on different guitars (Tele, Strat, LP). I have to admit that decades of EB use must taint my opinion, which is that the D'A's seem less lively sounding dynamically. They do feel more stable somehow when flat-picking… and I like that same sense of 'stability' when finger picking individual chord notes around the first 4 frets. Power chords have a better mid-range tonality perhaps. Glad I tried them, but it takes me months to come to any great conclusion…. will continue to be open minded (while I keep Ernie Ball's on my others).islandtomyself

These are on of the best sets of guitar strings you can buy these days. They are very bright sounding strings and also not squeaky sounding either because they are relatively smooth in comparison to others. I believe that they retain their new sound for longer as well. Only downside for me is that this multipack of strings are NOT individually wrapped in their own packaging so each string has to be separated from the other 5 in the pack when fitting them to your guitar. This may well save on paper packaging but I find this very irritating. I was saying to myself at the time I wish that they were old faithful Ernie Balls which are all individually wrapped. In fairness though, the string ferrules are colour coded so you don't get mixed up as to which string is which.fireball14017

Sam Ash is great because they always have everything that I need. I use D,addario XL. 009 strings and they work for me. They keep everything in stock. Works for me!Chuck