D'Addario Guitar Strings - XL Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings - Round Wound - Warm, Bright, Vintage Sound - EPN120 - Super Light, 9-41

My guitar is an ESP with 22 frets. Using a drop C, B, or A tuning can be an extra challenge with a short neck. Ive used this brand of strings before, but not the pure nickel Jazz set. Im using the guitar for metal and grunge. Not sure the pure nickel tone matches up as well in distortion as the normal NXYL sets for drop C.Before, I used a drop C set and mixed and matched to get the string thicknesses you see in this nickel pack. So, when it was time to re string, i found this pure nickel pack had all the string gauges I picked out before but in a jazz nickel set. Why not? It wont rust and the tone will be a bit brighter. Well.......I have a normal NXYL 64 gauge string for the bottom. The tension on these strings for drop B is much tighter than the NXYL series. It almost seemed a bit too tight at drop B on a 22 fret but its not. What it means is that drop A will have more tension than before which is good. Im not sure though, about drop C on this ESP 22 fret. Seems like the tension would be too high. Anyway, the chunkiness of chugging has dropped from the non Pure nickel strings. I can adjust the amp and EQ and knobs and VST's but its clear that the tone of the strings themselves is brighter. This is good for mixing but if you want chug, you have to turn up the gain on the distortion. All in all, im not sure if this is better for me or not. What I know is this set of strings can handle drop A on a 22 fret guitar for SURE. Get a 64 gauge NXYL non nickel string for the bottom though, if you intend to go drop A. For drop B, the 64 single string is tight but good. If you dont intend to go lower than drop C, on a 22 fret, then this set of strings will be a bit too thick for you. Its perfect for B and A. The bends are hard but can give some great tones in distortion. 13's are a bit thick for the top and ESPs with the tunomatic frets can make your thicker tops , murder on the fingers as they slide. But, for metal, on a 22 fret, 6 string, these are the strings you want for anything lower than drop C. Just remember, that bottom E might not be thick enough. For a 22 fret, 6 string, you need at least a 62. My 64 plus this set of strings, covers Drop A and drop B , perfectly. They stay in tune like ive never seen any string before. They drastically change tone depending on the thickness and material of your PICK. This is cool actually. When mixing double rhythm guitars, you could just use different picks and get some layering in. Still, as great as the strings are, I need more time with them to see if the tone ultimately helps my writing or hurts the low end too much. Defiantly lost some low end chug but using a drop tuning below C, may help the guitar level out. I always had to cut a lot of bass and midrange from the guitar using thick strings like this but these brighter nickel strings seems to negate some of the need to EQ the low end. This could be good, or it could end up lacking too much power. Its up to the way you write, the chords you tend to use, and the genre you are going for. For grunge? This is really good. Not too metal, not too bright. For metal? It may be just a bit too bright for drop tunings below C. Or it might be perfect. When I mixed and matched these gauges from non-nickel strings packs, the fret buzz wasnt bad but it wasnt great either. You had to watch how hard you strum while recording to get the tighter mix. These nickel strings though, have much better tension at low tunings and so, the fret buzz is all but gone. I can strum hard and the strings wont vibrate too wide. Will these strings be right for you? Well, if the guitar is in a place where the humidity varies and the strings could rust, you should get pure nickels. If you run 22 frets and want to go drop A, you should run these nickels. If you need a squealing , screaming, top set of strings for your metal solos but need chunky bottoms, this wont fit you. If your solo style is more like Kurt Cobains, than Van Halens, then this set will work for you. I will say this, you wont be breaking or popping these strings. Just keep in mind that ultra chunky chugs, might require some EQ magic on your end, to match up with same gauges you were used too in steel. I use a 64 for the bottom but the tension might be too high for you on drop C or B, and would do better with a 62, perhaps.

Outstanding guitar strings. Warm all nickel tone and holding up nicely with daily play!

I just slapped these badboys on my epiphone hollowbody. I’ve tried all types of D’Addario strings and I love everyone I’ve used.From super thick to flat wound. This is my first time using ultralights and the last time I’m shopping around. These are my top strings of choice. Bright, bendy and bassy. They are just all around sensational!

I have used about every brand of strings made, but none I’ve used offer the versatility that D’Addario offer. I use 8.5s on my chord progression guitar which offers easier fingerings and ability to crank the volume a little more. I use 9s on my lead guitars and 9.5s on my E flat tuned lead guitar. I also use 10s on my finger strengthening guitar. My favorite are the 9s in Pure Nickel because of the nice blues tone.

If you want "pure nickel" strings then there are some things you probably know:0) "Pure nickel" strings sound more "warm" / less "bright".They have more of a mellow sound, closer to old jazz, blues, or rock & roll1) No strings are *pure* nickel. They are maybe 99% or something at best2) Only the winding or wrap on strings are the "pure nickel" we are talking about.The trebles ( 1-e, 2-b, 3-g ) are "steel" like most strings3) The "bass" ( 6-E, 5-A, 4-D ) strings are the "pure nickel" wrapped ones4) The cores of the wrapped strings are still steel, in almost all cases, and are either hex-shaped or round-shaped5) Round cores are often easier to bend and are less common, hex-cores are far more common and might stay in tune a *little* better.These are hex-core, and the gauges are slightly smaller so the tension is closer to the "standard gauges".They play smoothly and sound great to me but sound is subjective.If you want to cut the "treble" or get less "ice-pick" sounds then these are worth a try.

If you play acoustic guitar and like Martin's "Monel" strings -- the Tony Rice alloy, for lack of a better way of describing it... these should please you, and they're a bit less expensive, usually. Good also for an ES-125 that I have and play. These amplify very well with the P90. I've also had fairly good results with an Ibanez GB jazz box, a Super 58, set-in humbucker on that guitar.These are of average life span. Stay in tune well. Intonate very well up the neck.Here's my mnemonic for D'Addario's color-code:Some = silver (1st string)People = purpleGot = greenBig = blackRed = redBalls = brass (6th string)

Ernie Ball guitar sstrings are great strings. However i never received them or got my refund.

I have tried almost every string I could get my hands on over 15 years. They have been for many years and will probably stay as my go to. They are on all the guitars I regularly play. First off the tone is perfect to me and the feel is amazing. They last and hold tune while breaking less than others that claim spend twice and perfect everything. Nope. These are it for me. I even have them on acoustics for a twang that is damn cool also. Heavy versions sound great for slide and still bend with little effort.