best strings for les paul classic rock tone?

[kt66]

I swear the last few sets of D'Addario strings I've used on my Les Paul sounded twangy, so I decided to experiment with other brands. I've already tried GHS boomers (they were just ok) and DR Tite Fits (hated the sound and feel!). I guess I am hoping to find a bright yet fat sounding string with clarity. Any advice?

 

[TBR623]

Pure Nickel. I used to use DR "Pure Blues" but now Pyramids 10-46

 

[Classic]

I recently switched to Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys and they are it for me.

 

[roadrunner]

I swear the last few sets of D'Addario strings I've used on my Les Paul sounded twangy, so I decided to experiment with other brands. I've already tried GHS boomers (they were just ok) and DR Tite Fits (hated the sound and feel!). I guess I am hoping to find a bright yet fat sounding string with clarity. Any advice?

Mmmmm... "twangy"... good!:3zone Me like twangy.:dude:

Been using Ernie Ball's for about a hundred years or so, or D'Addario. Whatever's on sale.

 

[smoking guns]

D'Addario 9.5's

does it for me

 

[GlassSnuff]

I like GHS Nickle Rockers.

 

[sickboy79]

Everly B-52s. I know a lot of folks like the pure nickel strings on this board. I personally don't care for them. To "warm" for me - not enough punch. I like brighter strings in general. The Everly's are the best I've tried.

 

[Garampingat]

EBs for me too.
or GHS Boomers if EBs are out of stock on the store.

 

[nevizzzy]

I like the D'addario pure nickle.

 

[Henk]

Rotosound PN10s pure nickel, but i wear down nickel strings very fast allthough i prefer their sound, going to try their PNE10 coated ones, maybe they will be better protected against my corrosive sweat. Also use Maxima 10's gold plated (high quality)steel strings for long lasting strings, which sound way better then elixers IMHO. Maximas are always on the guitars i dont use often, they even sound allright after a couple of years storage, ideal when you have a guitar which you play rarely but want to keep it ready to play.

 

[Zepnut]

I like the D'addario pure nickle.

+1. Since I've been using these, I haven't found anything else that sounds better on my guitar, and I've since tried a half dozen or so other string sets in the ongoing tone quest, mainly from recommendations on this forum. Going back to the regular D'Addario XL110 sounded like poo after my ears got used to the pure nickels. Yup they are warmer than regular strings and that puts off some players, but that warmth really balances out the cut of my 50 watt plexi clone and sounds just right. I think the pure nickels, at least with my particular R8, seem to add a fatness and nice quack in the high end with great overall clarity.
Strings are like pickups and you have to find the set that sounds best in your guitar. No one set will do it for everybody, but these do it for me.

 

[kt66]

thanks for all of the suggestions. do you find the nickel strings are too warm for the neck pickup tone?

 

[Pearly Grapes]

Another vote for DR Pure Blues.
PG

 

[slammintone]

DR Pure Blues 11s give muy '03 R7 Goldtop with ThroBak SLE-101 Ltds a spanking Paul Kossoff tone. Very sultry and soulful. Otherwise I go with regular EB Slinkies for their balanced crunch and reliability. In 30+yrs I've never, ever had a bad batch.

 

[LSGoCards7]

EB Slinky 9's

 

[Monroe]

DR Pure Blues, 10's or 11's

 

[robert c]

Thomastik-Infeld Sliders SL110 Round Wound Nickel

 

[Red Baron]

Another vote for Thomastik-Infeld Blues Sliders... best vintage sounding strings I've used and they last forever.

 

[MapleFlame]

Try everything, every guitar sounds different with all kinds of strings. We can mention anything but it may not work with your setup. I use different strings for all my guitars.

 

[Drawrein]

EB Super Slinkys, I'd rather start with brighter strings since it seems to take them longer to go dull, I tried the coated EBs and they start out warmer than nickels IMO

D