String recommendations for Stratocaster and Ibanez AS73.

[GuitarStudent]

Acoustic guitarist, 20 years experience, jazz dabbler seeks string recommendations.

Until now, I’ve played almost exclusively steel-string acoustics.

i want to try electric guitar for “easier action” and tone.
I have a Peevey Classic 30 tube amp.
I own a Fender Stratocaster and an Ibenez Artcore AS-73.
i seek string recommendations.
i understand the recommendations might differ for the Stratand Artcore.

At one point I put flat-wound strings on the Stratocaster. I hated them.

so, I don’t seek a fancy, perfect string(s) - just a generally-liked string for my intents andxeeuipnent: to play notes, scales, finger-picking pieces, and comp easy Real Book charts for a singer.

I have strong fingers and callouses, etc.
choosing strings for these 2 guitars has not come easy to me.

[geogio]

When I was playing stratocasters, which really was up until about 10 years ago. I was playing out, and rehearsing quite a bit so I would go through a set of strings in 2 weeks tops. With string change out so frequently I didn't feel the need to really purchase high-dollar strings so I tried a set of nickel coated Fender bullets in .009.

The bullet fits into the trem block as designed, creating more mass in the trem block and therefore rounding out the sound according to theory. What I found was that the bullets lasted and sounded just fine, were very affordable yet the stock saddles were still irritating the string which necessitated a shift to graphtech saddles, which necessitated a shift to graphtech nut because rubbing pencil lead into the nut slots was an old school but an inadequate method of lubricating and facilitating string dumps (aka divebombs).

...(back on subject)... there are a couple of different ways to increase string mass at the bridge but the bullets were out of the package ready to go and they fit absolutely perfectly into the Stratocaster trem block.

I hope that helps

[GuitarStudent]

Forgive me (and thank you) Georgio. Your suggestion is WAY beyond my level. I know zero about Stratocasters. I barely even know what a block is. I’m just getting started.

im going to the guitar store. I’m seeking a brand/gage suggestion for each of my 3 electric guitars. Three months from now, I’ll know more and ask again, for another suggestion.

but thank you

[WILSON 1]

Acoustic guitarist, 20 years experience, jazz dabbler seeks string recommendations.


I have strong fingers and callouses, etc.
choosing strings for these 2 guitars has not come easy to me.

OK, only posting here because you seem to be at a place I am also but for different reasons.

You mentioned jazz so I can comfortably say that I have been a bit of a guitar "snob" when it came to this choice of genre and instruments.

I only played a Gibson L-4 for 20 years. Now the action and string weight required on my vintage instrument is getting to me; hand and wrist pain etc, lets say
some poor playing position and AGE over time.

I picked up some Johnson stratocaster knockoff for only a few bucks but have made progress with a little uTube help.

I've been all over the place with string weight but have settled on a mixed set, 11's for strings 6-3 and .17 and .13 for 2-1 respectively.

Some pickup and bridge height adjustments and it's more satisfying then I ever expected.

That's my 2cents, mixed string sets, and it took me a long time to figure out.

[John A.]

Acoustic guitarist, 20 years experience, jazz dabbler seeks string recommendations.

Until now, I’ve played almost exclusively steel-string acoustics.

i want to try electric guitar for “easier action” and tone.
I have a Peevey Classic 30 tube amp.
I own a Fender Stratocaster and an Ibenez Artcore AS-73.
i seek string recommendations.
i understand the recommendations might differ for the Stratand Artcore.

At one point I put flat-wound strings on the Stratocaster. I hated them.

so, I don’t seek a fancy, perfect string(s) - just a generally-liked string for my intents andxeeuipnent: to play notes, scales, finger-picking pieces, and comp easy Real Book charts for a singer.

I have strong fingers and callouses, etc.
choosing strings for these 2 guitars has not come easy to me.

I have a Strat and D'Angelico semi-hollow (similar to your AS73). I string them both with regular old D'Addario XL110, gauge .010's. [I use heavier strings on my archtop]. They're available everywhere and are relatively cheap. I would recommend starting with those Over time you can maybe try others (brands, gauges, metals) just to see if you detect a difference. Don't be surprised if they all seem basically the same to you (except for gauges). It's not you; they are all basically the same.

John

[Cunamara]

Start with D'Addario strings- nickel plated- for both. They're inexpensive, consistent, good quality and available everywhere. A lot of other brands are made under contract by D'Addario and repackaged. I'd go with light gauge set starting at .010 for the Strat and a touch heavier (.011) for the AS73- The shorter scale of the Ibanez will make those strings feel lighter compared to the Strat.

[wolflen]

your going to have to learn through experience and what feels good and works for you..

I have played all sorts of fenders gibsons..nylon classical and steel acoustic..and always had to try several brands and guages for each..

my take: try earnie ball brand - light 10-46 guage to start..work with them for a couple of weeks..while you get used to the strat..try as many tone combinations of guitar and amp as you can and play things you know well and see how that works..after that try a lighter guage (09's) and do the same ..compare the two..which do like/sound best/feel etc..if your not sure yet..try a bit heavier guage (11).do the same routine..

if you can record some of your playing with each set and see how it sounds to you..in time you will find what works and what you like..but for now you will need to experiment..all our advice is..well..just that..

one thing .. have fun doing this...

[cosmic gumbo]

On my strat and Ibanez AS I've happily used GHS Boomers 10-13-17-26-36-46 for over 40 years, sometimes I'll throw on a set of Fender
Super 250s, same guage.

[Doublea A]

Acoustic guitarist, 20 years experience, jazz dabbler seeks string recommendations.

Until now, I’ve played almost exclusively steel-string acoustics.

i want to try electric guitar for “easier action” and tone.
I have a Peevey Classic 30 tube amp.
I own a Fender Stratocaster and an Ibenez Artcore AS-73.
i seek string recommendations.
i understand the recommendations might differ for the Stratand Artcore.

At one point I put flat-wound strings on the Stratocaster. I hated them.

so, I don’t seek a fancy, perfect string(s) - just a generally-liked string for my intents andxeeuipnent: to play notes, scales, finger-picking pieces, and comp easy Real Book charts for a singer.

I have strong fingers and callouses, etc.
choosing strings for these 2 guitars has not come easy to me.

I like D’Addario Chromes 11-50.



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[GuitarStudent]

DR Veritas 10-46

i was in the music store with a friend, an electric guitar player I admire. Both friend and the shopkeeper recommended DR Veritas 10-46 strings (for both guitars), so I bought those.
I’ll try them for a while.
Thank you Allen

[John A.]

DR Veritas 10-46

i was in the music store with a friend, an electric guitar player I admire. Both friend and the shopkeeper recommended DR Veritas 10-46 strings (for both guitars), so I bought those.
I’ll try them for a while.
Thank you Allen

Enjoy the long, expensive, confusing journey to the conclusion that it makes no difference and you just buy brand X as a matter of habit.

John

[krusty]

My favourite Strat strings are Infeld by Thomastik. The tension feels great and the string to string volume balance seems perfect. I’ve tried a lot of the higher output strings such as NYXL and EB Cobalt. I prefer the Infeld by far

[Namelyguitar]

Due to Strat bridge/ tremolo design - 9's. For the Ibanez, consider starting with 10's. (Currently- own four Strats, and rotate them for practice regularly.)

Long time favorites:
9's - Ernie Ball # 2223
10's - Ernie Ball # 2221

[pauln]

Similar here to John A; Strat and Ibanez AG75 using D'Addario XL110.

They sound good, last a long time holding their tone, but the main thing (especially for jazz) is that in spite of being round wound rather than flat wound, they are the least "squeaky" sounding round wound strings I've used. If you are used to acoustic guitar (round wounds), these D'Addario strings are the most natural feeling strings that have the least "squeak" as far as I know.

[KirkP]

If you don’t like and don’t use the vibrato on your Strat, consider blocking it. I did that to mine decades ago. Tuning stability will improve. However, the tone and attack/decay may change a bit. It’s easy to do and easily reversible. You should be able to find DIY videos.

I did it by putting all springs in (I had to buy a couple more) and tightened till the bridge was firmly against the top. I think most techs instead fit a small block of wood in the vibrato cavity to prevent the bridge from touching the top. That method might provide yet a different tone, since the bridge vibrations will be transferred to the body via a different path.

You’ll also need to learn to adjust the action and intonation on the Strat-type bridge. There should be DIY videos on that too.

I’d suggest DAddario EXL115 strings, or EXL115W if you prefer the wound 3rd. Most Strats have a high 3rd string pole piece. Leo did that to balance the volume for a wound 3rd.

If you increase gauge a lot, you may need to have the nut slots widened a bit.