Corrections/Additions: - The right guitar at 15:35 is strung with Elixir Optiweb, instead of the labeled Nanoweb. My dearest apologies! - We concluded that 4/5 strings in the semi's where coated. But neither the Rotosound Roto Yellows, nor the D'addario NYXL's are coated which makes it 3 out of 5.
Well, they sounded like Nano's so you'll have to do it all again :) But I have still not seen the final and if the Roto's win, the nano/opti does not matter. I use nano's but, regardless of the result here, next strings I buy will be Rotosound, there is something pleasant extra in the sound they help create. Great video, must have been a ton of work and I appreciate that a lot. Millions of us guitar nerds get answers to questions we have asked ourselves for years :)
Shout out to the person changing the strings for you. An absolute legend in my books! I really despise changing strings but to think they had to keep swapping out the strings and then keeping track of which were which etc... what an incredible job!
Honestly, I've never played your strings, but after this video, I'll be buy a few sets for sure! The coated sounded fantastic to me. Thanks for making budget strings that still sound great!
I played ernie ball slinkies for so long, but when I tried the NYXLs I just fell in love. Many times I find myself just playing unplugged when they're new since they sound great even by themselves
I play the NYXLs too, even though it's hard to find the light top/heavy bottom gauge sometimes. I even liked how they sounded better than the others in this video!
I was so happy to see my precious NYXLs make the semis, only to be taken out by their slightly more expensive brother from d’Adarrio. If they were to lose, that’s how I would’ve wanted it 😂 though I might have to check out the XSs next time I feel like doing a setup 😅
I used to play EB's and then went to NYXL's and loved them, then I tried the XT because I was told that the coating is very minimal and they're my new standard. They feel just like regular strings, just a TINY bit more slick. And they seem to last a very long time before they get dull or start to peel or anything. I've had some on one of my guitars for a year or more without any sign of corrosion.
I stand firm with my choice of strings, NYXL’s are some of my favorite strings out there and I use D’Addario for both my electric and acoustic guitar. They’re a bit more expensive, but I change my strings maybe twice a year and they’ve never given me a problem. In the end, they’re super durable and great quality. They actually save you money since you don’t have to change them often if you don’t want to.
This video is insane… SUPER useful, especially for someone like me that has a very basic untrained ear/just a casual with guitar. Major props to you and your team on all the strings swapping and planning that went into this! I’d love to see an acoustic version sometime in the future as well
@@nirhershkovitz2416 Because he’s describing different qualities to the sounds from each string, which is great ear training for me. At the current moment I can tell if I like or don’t like a sound, but it’s hard for me to pinpoint why - with his descriptions I’m learning a bit more about what makes up the sounds I enjoy in reference to guitar (and their strings) Also, the vid is just useful in general as a mini encyclopedia of different guitar string sounds
Every guitarist watching this is gonna be massively grateful to you! Would take some of us years to reach these kind of conclusions. Never heard the XS before and soon as I heard them in this video thought they'd win, but the rotos do sound fuller with really nice low end
Interesting that the low budget Harley Benton strings did not get kicked out straight away. They did a great job for that price point. In the end the winner is also very affordable. You could also repeat that shoot out in a mixing context, how the strings help to cut through the mix and sit well :-)
I've never understood how something that's not so good, but is considered great for a low price, is a good thing? That just reconfirms the fact that cheap stuff sucks.
@@SpaceCatttttthis is the dumbest thing ive ever read, the 3,90€ strings, holded up, and in this case he liked them better than the Gibson 10€ ones, so for 4 €, are really good for their price, they can charge you more for the strings if you want but, this shows you that cheap things arent always trash, in this case, the cheap ones holded up very well and won against more expensive ones, so, some "expensive shit" ones, were trashier than the "cheaper shit" ones, telling you, that cheaper, does not mean worse.
@@SpaceCatttttGood enough is good enough. I don't play concerts, I don't hear the difference myself all that well, I'm just plucking away in the privacy of my own room. So why pay 10x as much when there's no perceived difference?
Was pleased to see my two brands (D'Addario and Elixir) fared very well. Also surprised to see how well the Harley Benton strings performed at such a low price. Great video my friend!
Low prices = China. That's all I need to hear. When is the guitar community going to wake up and reject the idea of supporting the CCP? They hate us and want to destroy us - what else do you need to know?
@@78tag Attempting to parse my purchases into what's built where is something I have neither the time nor the inclination to do. I seriously doubt that the Chinese are attempting take over the world via budget guitar strings. Lol. Have a great day!
Thanks Paul for validating me being a Rotosound yellow guy for years :) They last long as well. I used to use them in a hard rock band and they also work great today for my post-rock/space rock project I'm in.
My main strings are the Roto Ultramags, 10-46 on some guitar and 9-42 on others. They are super bright and stay bright for a long time which makes them perfect for the music I play (60's and 70's rock eg. Rush, The Who, Iron Butterfly).
I switched to DR strings a couple years ago, and I love how they sound and how they age. More presence without being too harsh. Brings out overtones in the guitars and inspires my playing. Especially in acoustic. I'll have to try the roto strings
I’ve been running elixir strings for over 15 years now on my electric and acoustic guitars. Although they may not sound the best out of the box, they really just last forever and the sound quality after weeks or months is still fantastic (to me). I tried buying cheaper non-coated strings many times with hopes of finding something better, but always am let down when I find myself changing strings in less than a month (I live close to the beach). Very cool video!
Elixir Strings come in 2 very different flavors. d'addarios or GHS Boomers. No way to know which ones you have. I worked at the company and later the plant when these were developed and manufactured (17 years). Yes, this is 100% fact!
I second that … They do last extremely well. Usefully Elixir sell three different levels of ‘brightness’; Nanoewb, Polyweb and Optiweb. If you have a particularly bright guitar you can calm it down with the duller strings and visa versa.
I was going to comment the same. My tech always dogs elixirs and initially his impressions are mine but he is constantly setting up rigs so all he hears and feels are those first couple of days. They always sound good. NYXL's are great but over time Elixir's just get it done.
Same. I had an es-335 with a naturally mellow, warm sound and wanted that in my other guitars. I added them to a goldtop p90 and it sounded incredible. Now they are my go-to strings.
DR have an impressive ‘squish’ so you can hit them hard but they don’t feel stiff. The magnetic core of the nickel wound string is round not hexagon shape. Fat sounding.
These have been my go-to for years. The winding is pure Nickel instead of nickel plating. I feel it makes them more springy, also more heavy, and they don't corrode as quickly as Nickel-plated strings IME.
@@Stephenmichaelsguitar I haven't tried the Blues - I had some quality control issues with DR Tite Fits a few years ago, but the recent sets I've had have been great. For the money the Tite-Fits are very good IMO but they are darker so I generally use them with single-coils.
@@Stephenmichaelsguitar +1 on that. I used them for years on my Strat. I loved the sound and the way they felt, but they were unreliable and let me down too many times in a live situation. That's been 20 years ago, and I hear that things have improved. Watching this has tempted me to pick up another set, but once bitten twice shy. I'm currently playing NYXLs but I'm going to try the Roto-Yellows.
Great video! Very pleased to see Rotosound the winner… I’ve always recognised these strings as my favourite. They really bring out the ‘woodiness’ of my Strat. Though, I have to say, I only get one or two gigs out of them before they sound quite dull. I’ve always steered away from coated strings too… but this video has encouraged me to try some out.🎸🔥
That was really fun! I agreed with every very tough decision along the way. Keeping in mind, that there is no ‘correct answer’ and yes a lot depends on one’s guitar and personal taste. You do have an excellent ear. Cheers.
I use the Rotos and can say they are great strings! Used them back in the 70's for a bit until they became too hard to get! I have picked them back up again and love them! They feel good and last a fairly long time!
The guitar with the "X" wins A LOT of the time. I wonder if it's just the nicer sounding guitar? I know they're identical production models, but there are differences in weight, resonance and sustain between factory examples
What I could hear is that, at the end, doesn't matter that much which strings you are using if you are good enough at guitar...which is definitely your case! great video btw!! keep going!
I don't know what hurt my fingers more.... just watching you totally own the guitar as you play it, or thinking about all of the different strings and how they feel to fingertips, or... the pain of making that many string changes! Fantastic comparison, and one of the very few times that anyone just lets us listen to the tone of what they are playing long enough to feel it! GLORIOUS!!!
Thanks for putting in all the work. The way you talked about the different strings was really helpful because in the end it was all about how they played.
Well this was interesting, Paul. A lot of time went into this production, no doubt. This is a really unique comparison, I'd never have thought anyone would be able to pick up the difference between guitar strings. Very eye opening, well done!
Interesting. I have used many strings over the years and have always returned to D’Addario. I prefer the tones they produce and their durability. Currently using D’Addario XL strings (EXL 115-3D to be exact) and love the sound. I use heavier gauge (11-14-18-28-38-49) strings for comfort. I was finding that 10 and lower would sometimes slice into my callouses. I could relieve this with less pressure on the neck, but it’s they way I play.😁
I have also had good luck with D'Addario as far as durability goes, but I wish that they would step up the gauge on the G string in these sets. Always seems one step too light to me.
@@vincent8736 I’ve been using D’Addario strings since 1985, very few problems. I’ve kept sets of these and the NYXL strings on for five plus years without issue. I just change them out when they sound dull. I haven’t broken a string (even with aggressive bending and trem bar dives) in over 20 years.
@Vincent probably because the longer scale of Tele then. Now I just buy the first string separately and that's enough for practice and also I can save the money to buy more pedals. Did you change all the strings when you broke your first string?
Actually never thought the difference would be this big and I can see how you’d choose different strings depending on the session at hand. Thank you for taking the time.
I'll always remember that one I used a set of Roto Yellows on a guitar for 4 years straight, 1 single set, never broke any of the strings and ok the sound did change but... 4 years... that alone makes Rotosound an absolute winner to me, I gotta find more of these here in FL definitely
I’ve been using Ernie Ball strings forever, and the last time I broke one was 1993 and those were 8’s. I switched to EB 9 Colbalts 15 years ago. Love the Ernie Ball strings and the Colbalts seem to last longer. ✌️😎🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶
Ok, that was pretty awesome! I just ordered the three that made it in the top three, plus the DR Pure Blues. Thank you for doing that! I’ve been watching your channel for a few years and the content you have here is absolutely fantastic. Thanks from all of us poor souls in search of good information from someone trustworthy on the internet 👍
I've been using Rotosound Hybrids (Orange) for years. They sound great, don't cost a fortune and you also get a spare high E, which is always appreciated!
Seriously? Wish I had known they give an extra high E. My Tele was breaking high e's every few days a little while back. Turns out the set of five single 10s I got from D'addario must have been bad. If I used a normal set of 10s, high E lasted forever. As soon as I put one of the singles on, it'd break in 3 days tops. They sent me 10 free .010 strings as a replacement. 👌 No questions asked except for me to send a picture of the packaging.
@jon carley I've always stretched them in when new and had no problems at all with tuning after that. I use the hybrids on my 3 electrics and they play really well. I recently tried their acoustic strings as well, and I like those. I've not come across the tuning issue, but maybe you got some duff strings. I've used quite a few sets over the years and all have been fine.
I've actually been using the rotos for about a year and a half now after a store clerk said that I should try them. In fact I like them the most when they're a bit worn in. I used to change elixir coated ones on every gig (and sometimes practice) when I was gigging regularly. Now I just record mainly and somehow old rotos give me the most joy and bring something nice out of my guitars.
I’ve been using NYXL 11’s for a few years now. I was expecting to find something I liked far more but they held up really well. Fantastic shootout, Paul!
Exactly my take. Using the 9.5s 7string though. The scream he didn’t like in them is part of why I love them and has become part of my sound. Total taste issue
Yeah..I love them. I was playing the Elixers on my Malcolm Young sig in my AC/DC band and I would break the D string with regularity...odd, I know. But when I switched to the NYXL's, I've never broken a string no matter how hard I smash the strings, and they sound great.
Okay so you have blown my mind with this, you went through so many strings that I have been trying out and my favourites did well. What I can't believe is that the UK Rotosounds won! They are the chosen strings by my luthier. He doesn't put anything else on guitars. They are great too. Enjoy the festive period and keep up with the awesome content.
I’ve been using the XS’s on both my electrics and acoustics for a while and I absolutely love them. The best part is they actually last a lot longer than uncoated strings. Would love to see an acoustic video!
Quite interesting, thanks for putting the time in for this! I’ve always loved NYXLs since I first tried them, I wasn’t as into the XS but for the exact opposite reason you picked the XS over the NYXL. I’ve also always liked the sound of Rotosound strings, but found they just don’t last me very long, whereas I also found NYXLs last me an absolute age! Nice to hear it in a test like this where I still preferred them! Super surprised by the Elixirs sounding this good though, I found I didn’t particularly like the electric versions but I love the acoustic ones
Fantastic video! Can't imagine how much time and labor went into this one. Such fun results. I love hearing how much a set of strings can affect a tone - and now I can gravitate towards the ones that gave me a tone I liked!
This was very interesting. I’ve tried most of the strings you tested. Not back to back like this. But the NYXL have been my favorite. I got a bunch of the EB Cobalts for Xmas from my nephew. So that’ll be my next trial.
@@bmoneybby wasn’t really a big fan actually. Hard to explain why. But they just didn’t really feel good. Almost like they’re heavier and higher tension than the same .010 gauge NYXLs.
I have never ever heard of the winning strings, yet they were (to my great surprise) the clear favorite from the get go. Just found myself new strings to try, great video, thank you!
I have switched to Rotosound pinks 42-9 . They are reasonably priced, and they are incredibly durable, plus they stay in tune. I also put Rotosounds on my 7 String. Very happy with them. They are the best strings I have used.
I've tried almost every brand you have there in the last 25 years. D'Addario .010 Heavy Bottom/Skinny Top was my preferred brand for most of those years. Until 3 years ago, I switched to String Joy's Balance Light 10/60. Best strings for my 6 and 7 stringers hands down. I play every day and they hold up amazingly. Granted I change strings once a month to do maintenance to fretboard and keep my Mayones nice and shiny. Excellent vid as per usual! Happy Holidays!
of course youd want those, theyre made for thrash and metal, but not for what Paul plays. they are throwaway strings, so changign themmonthly like you do makes sense.
@@uncledeadhead3674 Stringjoys are throwaway? I play blues and love them, and I haven't changed a couple of my daily players for over a year and they still sound and feel phenomenal. I use fast fret on them also, mineral oil basically, which keeps them lasting long.
@@sketchstuffs if you havent changed your strings in ayearm you need to learn more about guitars and guitar strings, they corrode after a month or two.
Great comparison, this must have been exhausting Paul. Pure Blues DR are a very musical string with great feel and I’d like to try some of the other top picks. We have it so good as guitar players, such an easy upgrade!
Finally.. there's someone actually put lots of effort to create content like this. Lovin' it..and I've been using roto sound strings as well, never let me down...Thanks
I've been using Elixir for a few years now just because I just need a set that lasts longer (and they do). It's a bit expensive but at least I don't buy them as often as other non-coated strings. I'm glad to see the brand go up to the semi's in this test. 🤩
Yeah..they sound great and last quite nicely. I always play a gig with a new set and with sweat and more aggressive picking...they're pretty wasted. But reheasing and practicing? They last and last....which is really where they shine...since most strings are toast after a gig.
@@ponzo1967 I don't have that guitar, but I just re-strung 7 of my guitars. I don't care how "easy" it is, it's still not exactly fun to restring 7 guitars. haha.
Always used Elixirs because any uncoated string just rusty out within a week with my hand sweat even if I clean the strings after playing. Elixirs last like 6-7 months before they even start rusting bad with my playing routine. They’re more expensive outright but they save me so much money in the long run because I’d be spending £5 every couple weeks on strings if I used uncoated.
Really interesting idea. I’ve used Daddario NYXL for many years, always was perfect for me. But now I’m really interested to try Roto. thanks for the video!
Wow, it must have taken a lot of work to do this video! Thank you for the hard work, it was really useful to hear so many brands compared to each other. Personally I think my favorite were the D'Addario NYXL. To me they had a little extra fullness and brightness that I really liked. And they're reinforced strings too. I personally really don't like the feel of coated strings.
Wow, nice comparison. I've been stuck with roto yellows 10-46 for ages. Since the first time I tried them, noticed they play so well, responsive, they last a really good while for uncoateds and have a good price. I could live with only these. Another nice one is the ones from Dunlop, black package.
Thanks for all the hard work you put into this video! Geesh! One set of strings you didn't test was the Elixir Polyweb strings. These are what I use. I have found that the Elixir Optiweb strings will start having what I call "scratchy bends" after a week or so of playing them. The Polyweb strings do not do that over time. But to have scratchy bends is unacceptable to me so I no longer recommend the Optiweb strings. Thank you again so much for the hard work you put into this. I know I hate changing strings. You changed (or hired someone to change) the strings so many times for this video I realize what kind of work ethic you have. Thanks again.
- I read that D'Addario did something like "domestication of resources" with the NYXL model and they achieved better quality, more control & durability at a lower cost or something like that. And at the time I bought my 1st NYXL set they were "cheaper than Elixir, similarly priced to Ernie Ball Slinky's" etc at the local (non US) guitar shop here a few years ago. To me they last longer than the similarly priced/more expensive Ernie Ball's (and not to mention the more common D'Addario ones) while having a texture that's slightly easier on my fingers. As in the 10-46 NYXL set kinda feels like 9-46 Ernie Ball Slinky Hybrids here but sounds better than the 10-46 ones by both their own regular/olds and also Ernie Ball's 10-46 ones too... - I guess NYXL is the real winner here for most people for as long as they can keep the pricing under control and not let it fluctuate too much towards the higher side. - Btw did I say that they last a lot longer than both regular/classic D'Addarios and also the similarly priced Ernie Ball's? The real competition they may have with is the Elixir and tone-wise I feel like NYXL is the slightly more versatile of the two, for the price anyway (which I don't feel like going any higher than that).
@@ccelik97 Awesome information! Of course I started with Super Slinky’s and went directly to D’Addario XS, but they were entirely too expensive for me at the time. I have been using NYXL’s for years and I’m so glad to see them get the respect they deserve
An interesting comparison! I bought a multi-pack of Rotosounds a while ago and found them to be really decent and very well-priced strings. At the moment I'm trying Nanowebs on several of my guitars after my Yamaha Revstar came fitted with them and I loved the feel. So far they're working well, and I'm erring towards feel in my choice, because I can find the tone I want between the guitar and amp.
Very interesting video! I'm surprised there's not more comments on the Rotosounds. The strings that stuck out to me were the Rotosounds, D'Addario NYXL, Elixir Optiweb, and Harley Benton Coated strings. I've been playing Elixir's exclusively for about 8 years, but the lack of gauges they offer is forcing me to branch out to other brands. This video is a really helpful reference tool. Thanks so much!
I've been playing RotoSound strings for years (reds 0.11 and whites 0.11-0.54). I was just wandering if I should change. They do sound the best to me, but you need to keep them fresh, they loose the tonal spark relatively fast (3-4 weeks), their life span is medium compared to other popular sets I've tried. But this video confirms what I've been thinking for years, definitely the best sounding strings around. Not overpriced and somewhat underrated (most players I talk to are not familiar with them). There's definitely a followup to do here on the 4-5 top sets and how they progress over a month. Thanks for this great comparison!
It's amazing how we get hooked on brand x and never deviate. I've tried several and happy to see some of my best choices in the top 5. My #1 string for my Stratocaster wasn't even in the mix. But I did hear Paul say something- " I want to hear the guitar, not the strings." Excellent vid. Very original and informative. Thank you.
I think we don’t like the feel of the guitar to ever change once we are used to it. But we can adjust to new strings and new necks fairly quickly if they are good fit for us. So it’s worth the initial pain.
I greatly enjoyed this journey. Thank you so much! I need more reviews like this on RUclips in general. Amazing! You are amazing. Lovely and genuinely pleasant.
This is a really great tone comparison Paul! Thanks for making it. I noticed that the terms you used for almost all the tests had some unique words for each set of strings. "Screamy", "heavy transients" etc. I also noticed that I liked some strings you didn't. Will rewatch to choose my next set of strings to experience!
Excellent video Paul, I'm personally a big fan of NY-XL strings as they can really take a lot of bending and punishment while sounding very consistent.
A few years ago i went with nickel-free strings and randomly selected Rotosound British Steels, and as luck would have it, they're great strings. A little different in feel but great tone and very long-lasting.
So well done Paul! Really enjoyed it. I have been using the Gibson Vintage Reissue 8's for as long as I can remember....they sound so good on my Les Paul and my Gretsch. I have always changed strings before every show. IF they're not too dead after, I'll use them for rehearsals but ALWAYS new strings the morning of a show. Keep up the great content!
Obviously there are a lot of variables that this test couldn't account for. But it was worth it just to hear the real differences between the sets, and to see it confirmed that perceived sound quality doesn't simply follow price. Like most amateur players, I have to consider price and longevity as well as sound. I use D'Addario XLs, which are readily available, reasonably priced, very reliable and quite long-lasting. Having heard this comparison, I may experiment with one of their pricier strings. The winning Rotosounds sounded very good, though, and I do wonder whether for me the D'Addario coated strings would last long enough to justify their much higher price.
I was really surprised to hear a difference even on my laptop speakers. I'm wondering if the results would have been different if you played on Humbuckers? I'd love to hear a similar test with a different guitar! Love you're content. You've been a big inspiration to me!
What a blast. Massive amount of work to bring us this totally unbiased blind testing. Does it mean anything? probably not. Like everything to do with music instruments its a subjective choice but nevertheless this is a great exploration into how strings compare taking into account the limitations as you say.
Listen to the album The Who Sell Out, from 1967. They play a bunch of radio and commercial jingles they wrote, and one of them says, "Hold your group together with RotoSound Strings." John Entwhistle used them exclusively. They have been around a long time (made in England), and I have enjoyed using them on both electric and acoustic for quite a few years. Indeed, they are pleasant as you say!
I remember when I first started becoming interested in guitar my uncle was a professional musician with a rotosound endorsement seeing as they sponsor a lot of uk artists. He taught me a few things and then gave me a big old goody bag of rotosound gear for the squier strat I had just gotten while telling me that if I try hard enough I could be a real musician. All the rotosound merch I got is actually a big part of what kept me playing in the early days, now almost 7 years later I’ve just been offered a place at the British Institute for Modern Music and I’ve never stopped using their gear. Thank you rotosound. 👌
I’d be interested in you trying the Ernie Ball Classic (pure nickel), Curt Mangans and Stringjoy. The DR Pure Blues sounded really good and those black packet DR NYXLs surprised me (as did the price!) Think the video also showed that while there’s some small differences in sound, a good player will sound great no matter the string and a bad player can’t be saved by his strings. Feel is probably a big factor for most which is hard/impossible to get across on a video!
Thanks for doing the systematic work for us! Would live to see the same for acoustic strings. I also get lost on deciding between different types of coating materials (long term comparison? )
Paul, thank you for a wonderful video. It was truly pleasant going on this journey with you. My usual strings didn't go so far...lol. So it seems I should get new brands. 😃
I switched to the Harley Benton Coated a few years ago. So far I've seen decent sound output for 2-3 months per set, but it obviously varies with wear and tear. Price was the main factor for me.
The acoustic test would be much more difficult. So many variations in wood and tones it would be nearly impossible to find a clear winner. Rosewood, maple, mahogany and walnut sound different… as does the numerous spruce variations. And let’s not even talk about body shape. 😂
@@IAM_Reedy Test would simply be to find his preferred set of strings for whatever standard acoustic he chose. Would be impossible to actually say what is best but enough to separate good from bad, or identify certain characteristics at least.
As a busy gigging musician, that has what my other musician friends refer to as "Alien Sweat" Once I found Elixir Coated Strings, I never looked back. I can play them now for multiple gigs and not have to change them. Only once they start to get so wore out that the intonation goes out of whack, or I break one, do I have to change them. All other strings I have ever tried, I was changing every gig. And some I would literally kill before the set was over. All of my guitars get Elixir 10-46 strings, always!
Great ear and feel for each of the strings. It shows that ultimately you should choose the strings that work for you, that you like, and that you feel give the best tone and feel, regardless of the label. I'd love to see an acoustic version
A very interesting way of testing strings. I can only imagine that took a lot of time and effort. I hope you have been rewarded for that. It was very informative to see so many strings so close together in a sound test. Thank you!
These tests are SUPER FUN to listen to Paul, the surprise and a little confusion at the end gave me a giggle. I have tried a few different strings on my guitars over the years and always seem to fall back on D'addarios. Hard test to do because there are many many factors that can impede the testing/listening or even the tone with a particular setup and the pickups. A small ohm difference, the length of the wire, the amount of solder can have a change internally which can alter what you hear. Still interesting and fun. Many thanks.
I usually don't like coated strings, I don't like the hand feel of them but my friend recommended me the new Daddario XS. I love their sound so much, I have been using them since then.
This is a great video. Thanks for the demonstration. I got here because Rick Beato d did a video on string guage. Somebody referenced this video in the comments so I checked it out. Hats off to him and you.
That's so funny, Ernie Ball slinky 10 was the first set I would use. Elixir nanoweb 10 are the only strings I use now. I have oily hands and the strings would tarnish after a day and rust after a week, so I love the rust resistance of Elixir strings. But my favorite sounding strings of all time were GHS Boomers. Super bright sounding strings, but they'd only last me a couple weeks.
I am not sweating too much but years ago I had issues with D'Addarios, I loved the sound but yes, they will die for me in a few days. So I switched to elixirs. I think it is combination of me and string materials.
Very interesting. From the first round I thought the Rotos sounded the best. My own choice is Ernie Ball Slinky strings. Interested to see how well the Harley Bentons did for the price too. Fascinating to hear them all like this.
I also use Ernie Ball slinkies or heave bottoms, but I only compared them to D'adarios, and Slinkies seemed to stay bright longer. I never had the chance to try out so many strings. The two two finalists were a pleasant revelation. I might change things up...
I would've been cool if Stringjoy was in this comparison. They are a bit expensive, but I feel like the quality is pretty good. Would be nice to see if that is placebo effect because I paid more!
Over many years I've probably used almost as many different strings as in this test. Most were alright, a few not so good, and very few really excellent. I settled on DR for a while and was well- satisfied. Hearing good things about them, I tried a set of Optimum gold-plated strings and I settled on them for a while. I also use a custom set of Thomastik-Infeld .009 flats on my Rick 12 and recently I've tried light flats on my Strat and Jazzmaster. So far, so good. I like the feel and the tone of flat wound strings. They're not soft sounding as some think. After all, virtually all of the R&R and R&B guitar of the '50s and early '60s was played on guitars strung with flats. Yes, even Duane Eddy and Duane Allman.
What a production! And I dare say, I actually heard some of those differences through my laptop speakers. I think you picked well. Seems, if it's for a recording, you might as well buy a set of Roto Yellows and open them 2 weeks prior. On that guitar at least :)
![10 GUITARISTS SOLO OVER THE SAME TRACK! [2023]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Bt3RYy6Y-Y/mqdefault.jpg)
![10 GUITARISTS SOLO OVER THE SAME TRACK! [2023]](/img/tr.png)
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Corrections/Additions:
- The right guitar at 15:35 is strung with Elixir Optiweb, instead of the labeled Nanoweb. My dearest apologies!
- We concluded that 4/5 strings in the semi's where coated. But neither the Rotosound Roto Yellows, nor the D'addario NYXL's are coated which makes it 3 out of 5.
So you should, how dare you! Now do it all again correctly! 😋😆😎
How about trying a lighter set of the paradigm strings to be closer to the others, I think maybe the added mass altered things a little.
Great stuff Paul.
(Who did all the string changing? Torture)
what do you normally use? were they in the finals?
Well, they sounded like Nano's so you'll have to do it all again :)
But I have still not seen the final and if the Roto's win, the nano/opti does not matter. I use nano's but, regardless of the result here, next strings I buy will be Rotosound, there is something pleasant extra in the sound they help create.
Great video, must have been a ton of work and I appreciate that a lot. Millions of us guitar nerds get answers to questions we have asked ourselves for years :)
Shout out to the person changing the strings for you. An absolute legend in my books! I really despise changing strings but to think they had to keep swapping out the strings and then keeping track of which were which etc... what an incredible job!
I somehow don't think he would've hired someone to change strings for him...
Edit:nevermind, sorry
Its like a 3 minute job .. its so easy..
@@chriswebb383 You’re my hero. 🙄
And pulling curled strings through a string-through strat body no less! Imagine how a big a pain that would be
@@chriswebb383starts crying in Floyd rose
I bet the video took an enormous amount of work. It was fun to watch, and I watched through the end. Thank you.
I was absolutely not expecting the tone differences to be this significant!
me, a bass player:
what? 60 bucks is expensive?
Plus this is just one player. Pick choice, attack also will factor in.
Me niether
@@datutturugang666 How is that a relevant response to what they just said?
@@danielhutt3158 because there are bass strings costing over 150 bucks easy, on average a good set of strings goes for roughly 40 bucks
Wow! Thanks for featuring us!
its incredibely impressive how round and complete your strings sound despite being so cheap, amazing work harley benton!
Whatta great sound!
Honestly, I've never played your strings, but after this video, I'll be buy a few sets for sure! The coated sounded fantastic to me. Thanks for making budget strings that still sound great!
Your coated strings are phenomenal, thank you so much for giving them to us in such insane price. :) Bless you!
I use the cheapest of the 10 gauge from Harley Benton and I love them
Very interesting. Would love to see an acoustic strings test.
Yesssss, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!
yeees 😁
The best I've found -by far- are Martin silk and steel silver plated
ong i need to know what are the best strings for acoustic
I guess D'Adarrio XS vs Elixir Nanoweb will be like France vs Argentina in the Final WC 2022
I played ernie ball slinkies for so long, but when I tried the NYXLs I just fell in love. Many times I find myself just playing unplugged when they're new since they sound great even by themselves
I have been using the super slinkies for um... ever. Watched the video and decided to go on a " comment hunt." you are the winner! Imma give em a try.
I play the NYXLs too, even though it's hard to find the light top/heavy bottom gauge sometimes. I even liked how they sounded better than the others in this video!
I was so happy to see my precious NYXLs make the semis, only to be taken out by their slightly more expensive brother from d’Adarrio. If they were to lose, that’s how I would’ve wanted it 😂 though I might have to check out the XSs next time I feel like doing a setup 😅
I used to play EB's and then went to NYXL's and loved them, then I tried the XT because I was told that the coating is very minimal and they're my new standard. They feel just like regular strings, just a TINY bit more slick. And they seem to last a very long time before they get dull or start to peel or anything. I've had some on one of my guitars for a year or more without any sign of corrosion.
I stand firm with my choice of strings, NYXL’s are some of my favorite strings out there and I use D’Addario for both my electric and acoustic guitar. They’re a bit more expensive, but I change my strings maybe twice a year and they’ve never given me a problem. In the end, they’re super durable and great quality. They actually save you money since you don’t have to change them often if you don’t want to.
This video is insane… SUPER useful, especially for someone like me that has a very basic untrained ear/just a casual with guitar. Major props to you and your team on all the strings swapping and planning that went into this! I’d love to see an acoustic version sometime in the future as well
Why is it useful if you cant tell the difference? Just buy the cheapest strings and change when it doesn’t sound good or breaks.
@@nirhershkovitz2416 Because he’s describing different qualities to the sounds from each string, which is great ear training for me. At the current moment I can tell if I like or don’t like a sound, but it’s hard for me to pinpoint why - with his descriptions I’m learning a bit more about what makes up the sounds I enjoy in reference to guitar (and their strings)
Also, the vid is just useful in general as a mini encyclopedia of different guitar string sounds
Every guitarist watching this is gonna be massively grateful to you! Would take some of us years to reach these kind of conclusions. Never heard the XS before and soon as I heard them in this video thought they'd win, but the rotos do sound fuller with really nice low end
I love the way you performed this test. Not an easy thing to pull off. Thank you!!
Or hammer on.
While not my favorites, I am extremely surprised and impressed about the harley benton coated strings. For the price, they are phenomenal
Yeah, that company seems to be a screaming deal across the board relative to the $$$
Jup, thought the same. I quite like them.
Exactly what I thought as well. Don't know how long they last, but I guess I'm gonna try them out next time I need a new set.
Definitely gonna try those next
Yeah
They way you describe the different strings is so brilliant. True professional.
Yeah brilliant..he should work for a marketing team selling strings 😂
Splurd.
Could you please do this video again but for acoustic strings? Keep up the awesome work Paul!
Oh that'd be great. Im so insecure what strings I should get next (which is probably soon xD).
@@brockmann4815 : Depends on what kind of music you play…
I like D’Addario Phosphor Bronze
and D’Addario Nickel Wound for electric.
@@brockmann4815my two cents, I am a big fan of Martin Retro 12’s and Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze
for acoustic elixir nanowebs last forever
Interesting that the low budget Harley Benton strings did not get kicked out straight away. They did a great job for that price point. In the end the winner is also very affordable. You could also repeat that shoot out in a mixing context, how the strings help to cut through the mix and sit well :-)
I've never understood how something that's not so good, but is considered great for a low price, is a good thing?
That just reconfirms the fact that cheap stuff sucks.
@@SpaceCatttttthis is the dumbest thing ive ever read, the 3,90€ strings, holded up, and in this case he liked them better than the Gibson 10€ ones, so for 4 €, are really good for their price, they can charge you more for the strings if you want but, this shows you that cheap things arent always trash, in this case, the cheap ones holded up very well and won against more expensive ones, so, some "expensive shit" ones, were trashier than the "cheaper shit" ones, telling you, that cheaper, does not mean worse.
I have Harleys on different guitars, and except for the 1€ set, the HQ and coated sets are top notch
@@SpaceCatttttGood enough is good enough. I don't play concerts, I don't hear the difference myself all that well, I'm just plucking away in the privacy of my own room. So why pay 10x as much when there's no perceived difference?
@@paulnieuwkamp8067 If you don't hear or feel the difference, then no, there's no reason why you should buy good strings...
This video was super informative and so much work. Thanks Paul 🌟
Was pleased to see my two brands (D'Addario and Elixir) fared very well. Also surprised to see how well the Harley Benton strings performed at such a low price. Great video my friend!
Low prices = China. That's all I need to hear. When is the guitar community going to wake up and reject the idea of supporting the CCP? They hate us and want to destroy us - what else do you need to know?
@@78tag Attempting to parse my purchases into what's built where is something I have neither the time nor the inclination to do. I seriously doubt that the Chinese are attempting take over the world via budget guitar strings. Lol. Have a great day!
That was interesting. Thank you for taking the time to do all that work! I would love to see this again with humbuckers (particularly on your SG).
Yeah, and compare the overdriven sounds straight into the amp.
Thanks Paul for validating me being a Rotosound yellow guy for years :) They last long as well. I used to use them in a hard rock band and they also work great today for my post-rock/space rock project I'm in.
The Edge uses rotosound
I'm in on the Yellows...great to hear your input on durability. Sold me 👊👍😎
My main strings are the Roto Ultramags, 10-46 on some guitar and 9-42 on others. They are super bright and stay bright for a long time which makes them perfect for the music I play (60's and 70's rock eg. Rush, The Who, Iron Butterfly).
I switched to DR strings a couple years ago, and I love how they sound and how they age. More presence without being too harsh. Brings out overtones in the guitars and inspires my playing. Especially in acoustic. I'll have to try the roto strings
I’ve been running elixir strings for over 15 years now on my electric and acoustic guitars. Although they may not sound the best out of the box, they really just last forever and the sound quality after weeks or months is still fantastic (to me). I tried buying cheaper non-coated strings many times with hopes of finding something better, but always am let down when I find myself changing strings in less than a month (I live close to the beach).
Very cool video!
Elixir Strings come in 2 very different flavors. d'addarios or GHS Boomers. No way to know which ones you have. I worked at the company and later the plant when these were developed and manufactured (17 years). Yes, this is 100% fact!
I second that … They do last extremely well.
Usefully Elixir sell three different levels of ‘brightness’; Nanoewb, Polyweb and Optiweb. If you have a particularly bright guitar you can calm it down with the duller strings and visa versa.
As someone who also lives near the beach, absolutely agree, havent had any strings last as long 👍
So far, I've been lucky. My current acoustic guitar has the same factory strings that it came with late in 2017.
I was going to comment the same. My tech always dogs elixirs and initially his impressions are mine but he is constantly setting up rigs so all he hears and feels are those first couple of days. They always sound good. NYXL's are great but over time Elixir's just get it done.
Been rocking the DR Pure Blues for over 10 years now. I just found what I liked and never looked back.
What is that black tape on his guitar ?
Same. I had an es-335 with a naturally mellow, warm sound and wanted that in my other guitars. I added them to a goldtop p90 and it sounded incredible. Now they are my go-to strings.
I actually loved the wackiness of the DR Pure Blue strings. Might have to try a pair myself
DR have an impressive ‘squish’ so you can hit them hard but they don’t feel stiff. The magnetic core of the nickel wound string is round not hexagon shape. Fat sounding.
DR blues in my case have been very defective. I don’t recommend them at all.
These have been my go-to for years. The winding is pure Nickel instead of nickel plating. I feel it makes them more springy, also more heavy, and they don't corrode as quickly as Nickel-plated strings IME.
@@Stephenmichaelsguitar I haven't tried the Blues - I had some quality control issues with DR Tite Fits a few years ago, but the recent sets I've had have been great. For the money the Tite-Fits are very good IMO but they are darker so I generally use them with single-coils.
@@Stephenmichaelsguitar +1 on that. I used them for years on my Strat. I loved the sound and the way they felt, but they were unreliable and let me down too many times in a live situation. That's been 20 years ago, and I hear that things have improved. Watching this has tempted me to pick up another set, but once bitten twice shy. I'm currently playing NYXLs but I'm going to try the Roto-Yellows.
Great video!
Very pleased to see Rotosound the winner… I’ve always recognised these strings as my favourite. They really bring out the ‘woodiness’ of my Strat. Though, I have to say, I only get one or two gigs out of them before they sound quite dull.
I’ve always steered away from coated strings too… but this video has encouraged me to try some out.🎸🔥
Rotosound Jumbo King for Acoustic Guitar 👌👍💪
They didn't last long on my Jumbo, corroded and Went sticky and ergh! After 10wks with me
@@noname1st139 10 weeks isn't long enough....?
That was really fun! I agreed with every very tough decision along the way. Keeping in mind, that there is no ‘correct answer’ and yes a lot depends on one’s guitar and personal taste. You do have an excellent ear. Cheers.
I use the Rotos and can say they are great strings! Used them back in the 70's for a bit until they became too hard to get! I have picked them back up again and love them! They feel good and last a fairly long time!
Do you picture of roto strings?
@@jessenpanelo1434 it's on the video toward the end
Incredible work! I would love to see also the same thing but for the acoustic guitar! Awesome as always Paul
The guitar with the "X" wins A LOT of the time. I wonder if it's just the nicer sounding guitar? I know they're identical production models, but there are differences in weight, resonance and sustain between factory examples
Guitar X sounds best because it has tone tape on it.
What I could hear is that, at the end, doesn't matter that much which strings you are using if you are good enough at guitar...which is definitely your case! great video btw!! keep going!
I don't know what hurt my fingers more.... just watching you totally own the guitar as you play it, or thinking about all of the different strings and how they feel to fingertips, or... the pain of making that many string changes! Fantastic comparison, and one of the very few times that anyone just lets us listen to the tone of what they are playing long enough to feel it! GLORIOUS!!!
Thanks for putting in all the work. The way you talked about the different strings was really helpful because in the end it was all about how they played.
Well this was interesting, Paul. A lot of time went into this production, no doubt. This is a really unique comparison, I'd never have thought anyone would be able to pick up the difference between guitar strings. Very eye opening, well done!
Well I suggest you try out a few different strings. Feel and sound can be very different. Especially on acoustic.
I think all of us appreciate the huge amount of work this represents. Thanks so much for the dedication to the craft!
Interesting. I have used many strings over the years and have always returned to D’Addario. I prefer the tones they produce and their durability. Currently using D’Addario XL strings (EXL 115-3D to be exact) and love the sound. I use heavier gauge (11-14-18-28-38-49) strings for comfort. I was finding that 10 and lower would sometimes slice into my callouses. I could relieve this with less pressure on the neck, but it’s they way I play.😁
I have also had good luck with D'Addario as far as durability goes, but I wish that they would step up the gauge on the G string in these sets. Always seems one step too light to me.
@@vincent8736 I’ve been using D’Addario strings since 1985, very few problems. I’ve kept sets of these and the NYXL strings on for five plus years without issue. I just change them out when they sound dull. I haven’t broken a string (even with aggressive bending and trem bar dives) in over 20 years.
@@vincent8736 Elixir strings are damn good strings, I just prefer the feel of the D’Addario strings and like supporting a local company.
XL(9) really good, but damm they kinda expensive if you only break the 1st strings and second string only
@Vincent probably because the longer scale of Tele then. Now I just buy the first string separately and that's enough for practice and also I can save the money to buy more pedals. Did you change all the strings when you broke your first string?
Actually never thought the difference would be this big and I can see how you’d choose different strings depending on the session at hand.
Thank you for taking the time.
Love my D'addarios! Glad to see them represent in this shootout with multiple versions!
We feel like Messi felt yesterday 🏆 Cheers for the hard work and scrutiny that you put into the creation of this tournament, Paul.
They sound spicy! Gonna buy some! (hope they last as long as the nyxls.. we'll see! ;)
Congratulations on the big win Rotosound!
England didn't win the football but they won the strings.
My personal favorite bass strings
Rotosound RS66LDN Swing Bass 66 Nickel Roundwound
I'll always remember that one I used a set of Roto Yellows on a guitar for 4 years straight, 1 single set, never broke any of the strings and ok the sound did change but... 4 years... that alone makes Rotosound an absolute winner to me, I gotta find more of these here in FL definitely
I’ve been using Ernie Ball strings forever, and the last time I broke one was 1993 and those were 8’s. I switched to EB 9 Colbalts 15 years ago. Love the Ernie Ball strings and the Colbalts seem to last longer. ✌️😎🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶
Great work and a large undertaking. I really liked the sound of the Rotosound strings as well.
Ok, that was pretty awesome! I just ordered the three that made it in the top three, plus the DR Pure Blues. Thank you for doing that! I’ve been watching your channel for a few years and the content you have here is absolutely fantastic. Thanks from all of us poor souls in search of good information from someone trustworthy on the internet 👍
18:15 you have really captured your essence. I like how all the millions of hours show in your guitar wall. Wow. you're my friend
I've been using Rotosound Hybrids (Orange) for years. They sound great, don't cost a fortune and you also get a spare high E, which is always appreciated!
Seriously? Wish I had known they give an extra high E. My Tele was breaking high e's every few days a little while back. Turns out the set of five single 10s I got from D'addario must have been bad. If I used a normal set of 10s, high E lasted forever. As soon as I put one of the singles on, it'd break in 3 days tops.
They sent me 10 free .010 strings as a replacement. 👌 No questions asked except for me to send a picture of the packaging.
@jon carley I've always stretched them in when new and had no problems at all with tuning after that. I use the hybrids on my 3 electrics and they play really well. I recently tried their acoustic strings as well, and I like those. I've not come across the tuning issue, but maybe you got some duff strings. I've used quite a few sets over the years and all have been fine.
I've actually been using the rotos for about a year and a half now after a store clerk said that I should try them. In fact I like them the most when they're a bit worn in. I used to change elixir coated ones on every gig (and sometimes practice) when I was gigging regularly. Now I just record mainly and somehow old rotos give me the most joy and bring something nice out of my guitars.
I’ve been using NYXL 11’s for a few years now. I was expecting to find something I liked far more but they held up really well. Fantastic shootout, Paul!
Exactly my take. Using the 9.5s 7string though. The scream he didn’t like in them is part of why I love them and has become part of my sound. Total taste issue
Yeah..I love them. I was playing the Elixers on my Malcolm Young sig in my AC/DC band and I would break the D string with regularity...odd, I know. But when I switched to the NYXL's, I've never broken a string no matter how hard I smash the strings, and they sound great.
I love NYXL string, but String Joy strings better.
@@Aaron_Revis Never seen them in a store in California.
@@zublacus- online order only.
Okay so you have blown my mind with this, you went through so many strings that I have been trying out and my favourites did well.
What I can't believe is that the UK Rotosounds won!
They are the chosen strings by my luthier. He doesn't put anything else on guitars.
They are great too.
Enjoy the festive period and keep up with the awesome content.
I was playing Roto Blues, but I liked how those Yellows sounded. I'm going to try some
Bare knuckle sends you a free set for each pickup ordered there. So now I've got a few Yellows sitting somewhere. Should try them on.
I’ve been using the XS’s on both my electrics and acoustics for a while and I absolutely love them. The best part is they actually last a lot longer than uncoated strings. Would love to see an acoustic video!
Quite interesting, thanks for putting the time in for this! I’ve always loved NYXLs since I first tried them, I wasn’t as into the XS but for the exact opposite reason you picked the XS over the NYXL. I’ve also always liked the sound of Rotosound strings, but found they just don’t last me very long, whereas I also found NYXLs last me an absolute age! Nice to hear it in a test like this where I still preferred them! Super surprised by the Elixirs sounding this good though, I found I didn’t particularly like the electric versions but I love the acoustic ones
Fantastic video! Can't imagine how much time and labor went into this one. Such fun results. I love hearing how much a set of strings can affect a tone - and now I can gravitate towards the ones that gave me a tone I liked!
This was very interesting. I’ve tried most of the strings you tested. Not back to back like this. But the NYXL have been my favorite. I got a bunch of the EB Cobalts for Xmas from my nephew. So that’ll be my next trial.
Me too, tho I'm using Elixir optiwounds alot too, but NYXL have been my favorite for a while now.
How did you like the Cobalt's?
@@bmoneybby wasn’t really a big fan actually. Hard to explain why. But they just didn’t really feel good. Almost like they’re heavier and higher tension than the same .010 gauge NYXLs.
I have never ever heard of the winning strings, yet they were (to my great surprise) the clear favorite from the get go. Just found myself new strings to try, great video, thank you!
I have switched to Rotosound pinks 42-9 . They are reasonably priced, and they are incredibly durable, plus they stay in tune. I also put Rotosounds on my 7 String. Very happy with them. They are the best strings I have used.
I think they're also the best sounding strings in this video. I'll have to try em
I've tried almost every brand you have there in the last 25 years. D'Addario .010 Heavy Bottom/Skinny Top was my preferred brand for most of those years. Until 3 years ago, I switched to String Joy's Balance Light 10/60. Best strings for my 6 and 7 stringers hands down. I play every day and they hold up amazingly. Granted I change strings once a month to do maintenance to fretboard and keep my Mayones nice and shiny. Excellent vid as per usual! Happy Holidays!
I agree wholeheartedly! Stringjoys Balanced 10-48 set would probably be the winner in this test (just my opinion...).
I fell in love with stringjoys
of course youd want those, theyre made for thrash and metal, but not for what Paul plays. they are throwaway strings, so changign themmonthly like you do makes sense.
@@uncledeadhead3674 Stringjoys are throwaway? I play blues and love them, and I haven't changed a couple of my daily players for over a year and they still sound and feel phenomenal. I use fast fret on them also, mineral oil basically, which keeps them lasting long.
@@sketchstuffs if you havent changed your strings in ayearm you need to learn more about guitars and guitar strings, they corrode after a month or two.
Great comparison, this must have been exhausting Paul.
Pure Blues DR are a very musical string with great feel and I’d like to try some of the other top picks. We have it so good as guitar players, such an easy upgrade!
Finally.. there's someone actually put lots of effort to create content like this. Lovin' it..and I've been using roto sound strings as well, never let me down...Thanks
I was very impressed with the Harley Benton strings considering the price.
I've been using Elixir for a few years now just because I just need a set that lasts longer (and they do). It's a bit expensive but at least I don't buy them as often as other non-coated strings.
I'm glad to see the brand go up to the semi's in this test. 🤩
Yeah..they sound great and last quite nicely. I always play a gig with a new set and with sweat and more aggressive picking...they're pretty wasted. But reheasing and practicing? They last and last....which is really where they shine...since most strings are toast after a gig.
Cleartone sounds more natural and maintained the tone for a long long time, specially if you clean it with a flannel after playing
Stringing an Ibanez RG 550 with the Edge tremolo so durability is a factor. RG+ rarely needs tuned RG- a bitch to string
@@ponzo1967 I don't have that guitar, but I just re-strung 7 of my guitars. I don't care how "easy" it is, it's still not exactly fun to restring 7 guitars. haha.
Always used Elixirs because any uncoated string just rusty out within a week with my hand sweat even if I clean the strings after playing. Elixirs last like 6-7 months before they even start rusting bad with my playing routine. They’re more expensive outright but they save me so much money in the long run because I’d be spending £5 every couple weeks on strings if I used uncoated.
Really interesting idea. I’ve used Daddario NYXL for many years, always was perfect for me. But now I’m really interested to try Roto. thanks for the video!
All I can say is me too. Definitely will try a set of the Rotos next change.
Wow, it must have taken a lot of work to do this video! Thank you for the hard work, it was really useful to hear so many brands compared to each other. Personally I think my favorite were the D'Addario NYXL. To me they had a little extra fullness and brightness that I really liked. And they're reinforced strings too. I personally really don't like the feel of coated strings.
Check out the Elixir Optiweb's, they feel pretty good, almost like they are not coated. I hate the feel of the nanowebs and polys, way to slippery
A lot of work, sure. Buy I bet Paul had some help with stringing
I've been using the NYXL's for about 2 years now and love them
@@Angellus502 I did try the Elixir Optiweb's once. Still didn't like them. They felt a little stiff to me 🤷♂️
@@nate_ock I've been using NYXL's for a few years as well and I like them a lot.
Wow, nice comparison. I've been stuck with roto yellows 10-46 for ages. Since the first time I tried them, noticed they play so well, responsive, they last a really good while for uncoateds and have a good price. I could live with only these. Another nice one is the ones from Dunlop, black package.
Thanks for all the hard work you put into this video! Geesh! One set of strings you didn't test was the Elixir Polyweb strings. These are what I use. I have found that the Elixir Optiweb strings will start having what I call "scratchy bends" after a week or so of playing them. The Polyweb strings do not do that over time. But to have scratchy bends is unacceptable to me so I no longer recommend the Optiweb strings. Thank you again so much for the hard work you put into this. I know I hate changing strings. You changed (or hired someone to change) the strings so many times for this video I realize what kind of work ethic you have. Thanks again.
Great video Paul! I play the NYXL and honestly they still come out as a winner. But I’m not feeling that bad anymore paying a lot for strings 😂
Sameeee I was sitting here literally cheering them on haha
- I read that D'Addario did something like "domestication of resources" with the NYXL model and they achieved better quality, more control & durability at a lower cost or something like that. And at the time I bought my 1st NYXL set they were "cheaper than Elixir, similarly priced to Ernie Ball Slinky's" etc at the local (non US) guitar shop here a few years ago. To me they last longer than the similarly priced/more expensive Ernie Ball's (and not to mention the more common D'Addario ones) while having a texture that's slightly easier on my fingers. As in the 10-46 NYXL set kinda feels like 9-46 Ernie Ball Slinky Hybrids here but sounds better than the 10-46 ones by both their own regular/olds and also Ernie Ball's 10-46 ones too...
- I guess NYXL is the real winner here for most people for as long as they can keep the pricing under control and not let it fluctuate too much towards the higher side.
- Btw did I say that they last a lot longer than both regular/classic D'Addarios and also the similarly priced Ernie Ball's? The real competition they may have with is the Elixir and tone-wise I feel like NYXL is the slightly more versatile of the two, for the price anyway (which I don't feel like going any higher than that).
@@ccelik97 Awesome information! Of course I started with Super Slinky’s and went directly to D’Addario XS, but they were entirely too expensive for me at the time. I have been using NYXL’s for years and I’m so glad to see them get the respect they deserve
Same here. But they're also coated so they'll last longer.
Man, this was amazing! You should do an acoustic string test next. Thank you for doing these vids!
An interesting comparison! I bought a multi-pack of Rotosounds a while ago and found them to be really decent and very well-priced strings. At the moment I'm trying Nanowebs on several of my guitars after my Yamaha Revstar came fitted with them and I loved the feel. So far they're working well, and I'm erring towards feel in my choice, because I can find the tone I want between the guitar and amp.
I have not tried all brands but have tried, GHS, Fender, Ernie Ball and few others I use D'Addario and I'm quite happy with them.
Very interesting video! I'm surprised there's not more comments on the Rotosounds.
The strings that stuck out to me were the Rotosounds, D'Addario NYXL, Elixir Optiweb, and Harley Benton Coated strings.
I've been playing Elixir's exclusively for about 8 years, but the lack of gauges they offer is forcing me to branch out to other brands. This video is a really helpful reference tool. Thanks so much!
I've been playing RotoSound strings for years (reds 0.11 and whites 0.11-0.54). I was just wandering if I should change. They do sound the best to me, but you need to keep them fresh, they loose the tonal spark relatively fast (3-4 weeks), their life span is medium compared to other popular sets I've tried. But this video confirms what I've been thinking for years, definitely the best sounding strings around. Not overpriced and somewhat underrated (most players I talk to are not familiar with them).
There's definitely a followup to do here on the 4-5 top sets and how they progress over a month. Thanks for this great comparison!
It's amazing how we get hooked on brand x and never deviate. I've tried several and happy to see some of my best choices in the top 5. My #1 string for my Stratocaster wasn't even in the mix. But I did hear Paul say something- " I want to hear the guitar, not the strings." Excellent vid. Very original and informative. Thank you.
Yes. But in reality you only ever hear the strings.
I think we don’t like the feel of the guitar to ever change once we are used to it.
But we can adjust to new strings and new necks fairly quickly if they are good fit for us. So it’s worth the initial pain.
What is your number 1?
@@ImpostorModanica Stringjoy Signatures. Makes your Strat- Stratey and your Les Paul- Les Pauley
@@jeffmartinez6073 lol sounds good. Thank you!
Enjoyed this tournament and just after the World Cup. What timing!! Paul, could you do this with acoustic guitar - stings?
Stock in Roto Yellows, through the roof! Great video, you changed more strings in this single video than I will ever do in my whole life.
I greatly enjoyed this journey. Thank you so much! I need more reviews like this on RUclips in general. Amazing! You are amazing. Lovely and genuinely pleasant.
This is a really great tone comparison Paul! Thanks for making it. I noticed that the terms you used for almost all the tests had some unique words for each set of strings. "Screamy", "heavy transients" etc. I also noticed that I liked some strings you didn't. Will rewatch to choose my next set of strings to experience!
Excellent video Paul, I'm personally a big fan of NY-XL strings as they can really take a lot of bending and punishment while sounding very consistent.
I have never broken a string literally smashing them as "Malcolm" in an AC/DC band.
A few years ago i went with nickel-free strings and randomly selected Rotosound British Steels, and as luck would have it, they're great strings. A little different in feel but great tone and very long-lasting.
After watching this video, I really enjoyed seeing the difference strings make. And I love this kind of test. I would like to see more of this.
So well done Paul! Really enjoyed it. I have been using the Gibson Vintage Reissue 8's for as long as I can remember....they sound so good on my Les Paul and my Gretsch. I have always changed strings before every show. IF they're not too dead after, I'll use them for rehearsals but ALWAYS new strings the morning of a show. Keep up the great content!
Obviously there are a lot of variables that this test couldn't account for. But it was worth it just to hear the real differences between the sets, and to see it confirmed that perceived sound quality doesn't simply follow price. Like most amateur players, I have to consider price and longevity as well as sound. I use D'Addario XLs, which are readily available, reasonably priced, very reliable and quite long-lasting. Having heard this comparison, I may experiment with one of their pricier strings. The winning Rotosounds sounded very good, though, and I do wonder whether for me the D'Addario coated strings would last long enough to justify their much higher price.
Having used them since they came out, the XS last WAY longer (3-4x). Certainly justifies the price.
I was really surprised to hear a difference even on my laptop speakers. I'm wondering if the results would have been different if you played on Humbuckers? I'd love to hear a similar test with a different guitar! Love you're content. You've been a big inspiration to me!
yes!!! LP humbeckers
What a blast. Massive amount of work to bring us this totally unbiased blind testing. Does it mean anything? probably not. Like everything to do with music instruments its a subjective choice but nevertheless this is a great exploration into how strings compare taking into account the limitations as you say.
Listen to the album The Who Sell Out, from 1967. They play a bunch of radio and commercial jingles they wrote, and one of them says, "Hold your group together with RotoSound Strings." John Entwhistle used them exclusively. They have been around a long time (made in England), and I have enjoyed using them on both electric and acoustic for quite a few years. Indeed, they are pleasant as you say!
I remember when I first started becoming interested in guitar my uncle was a professional musician with a rotosound endorsement seeing as they sponsor a lot of uk artists. He taught me a few things and then gave me a big old goody bag of rotosound gear for the squier strat I had just gotten while telling me that if I try hard enough I could be a real musician. All the rotosound merch I got is actually a big part of what kept me playing in the early days, now almost 7 years later I’ve just been offered a place at the British Institute for Modern Music and I’ve never stopped using their gear. Thank you rotosound. 👌
I’d be interested in you trying the Ernie Ball Classic (pure nickel), Curt Mangans and Stringjoy. The DR Pure Blues sounded really good and those black packet DR NYXLs surprised me (as did the price!)
Think the video also showed that while there’s some small differences in sound, a good player will sound great no matter the string and a bad player can’t be saved by his strings. Feel is probably a big factor for most which is hard/impossible to get across on a video!
Thanks for doing the systematic work for us! Would live to see the same for acoustic strings. I also get lost on deciding between different types of coating materials (long term comparison? )
Great video. Would love to see them tested with an EQ pallet display to get a visual of the tones.
Paul, thank you for a wonderful video. It was truly pleasant going on this journey with you. My usual strings didn't go so far...lol. So it seems I should get new brands. 😃
I switched to the Harley Benton Coated a few years ago. So far I've seen decent sound output for 2-3 months per set, but it obviously varies with wear and tear. Price was the main factor for me.
Would absolutely love the same video but for acoustic strings. Never know what to buy.
The acoustic test would be much more difficult. So many variations in wood and tones it would be nearly impossible to find a clear winner. Rosewood, maple, mahogany and walnut sound different… as does the numerous spruce variations. And let’s not even talk about body shape. 😂
@@IAM_Reedy Test would simply be to find his preferred set of strings for whatever standard acoustic he chose. Would be impossible to actually say what is best but enough to separate good from bad, or identify certain characteristics at least.
As a busy gigging musician, that has what my other musician friends refer to as "Alien Sweat" Once I found Elixir Coated Strings, I never looked back. I can play them now for multiple gigs and not have to change them. Only once they start to get so wore out that the intonation goes out of whack, or I break one, do I have to change them. All other strings I have ever tried, I was changing every gig. And some I would literally kill before the set was over. All of my guitars get Elixir 10-46 strings, always!
100000%. Polyweb 9-42s are my biggest love
Great ear and feel for each of the strings. It shows that ultimately you should choose the strings that work for you, that you like, and that you feel give the best tone and feel, regardless of the label. I'd love to see an acoustic version
A very interesting way of testing strings. I can only imagine that took a lot of time and effort. I hope you have been rewarded for that. It was very informative to see so many strings so close together in a sound test. Thank you!
These tests are SUPER FUN to listen to Paul, the surprise and a little confusion at the end gave me a giggle. I have tried a few different strings on my guitars over the years and always seem to fall back on D'addarios. Hard test to do because there are many many factors that can impede the testing/listening or even the tone with a particular setup and the pickups. A small ohm difference, the length of the wire, the amount of solder can have a change internally which can alter what you hear. Still interesting and fun. Many thanks.
Having gone through many brands over the years, I have settled on Rotosounds. I like the blue packet pure nickel ones.
I usually don't like coated strings, I don't like the hand feel of them but my friend recommended me the new Daddario XS. I love their sound so much, I have been using them since then.
The worst
Very interesting video Paul, thanks for taking the time to make it. I really liked the Rotos myself so I plan to try a set in the near future.
This is a great video. Thanks for the demonstration. I got here because Rick Beato d did a video on string guage. Somebody referenced this video in the comments so I checked it out. Hats off to him and you.
That's so funny, Ernie Ball slinky 10 was the first set I would use. Elixir nanoweb 10 are the only strings I use now. I have oily hands and the strings would tarnish after a day and rust after a week, so I love the rust resistance of Elixir strings. But my favorite sounding strings of all time were GHS Boomers. Super bright sounding strings, but they'd only last me a couple weeks.
I quit using Ernie Balls 20 years ago because my sweaty hands made them rust so darn fast. Give DR strings a try and see what you think.
I find the Ernie Ball Titaniums are a good solution for this too - well, they work for me.
I like Nanowebs too, but after this test I think I'm going to have to try Optiwebs.
I am not sweating too much but years ago I had issues with D'Addarios, I loved the sound but yes, they will die for me in a few days. So I switched to elixirs. I think it is combination of me and string materials.
Very interesting. From the first round I thought the Rotos sounded the best. My own choice is Ernie Ball Slinky strings. Interested to see how well the Harley Bentons did for the price too. Fascinating to hear them all like this.
That's what I'm using on my Tele right now. But these Rotos just blew me away. Gotta check 'em out.
Always loved Rotosound. They last for ages, sound great and they're British
I also use Ernie Ball slinkies or heave bottoms, but I only compared them to D'adarios, and Slinkies seemed to stay bright longer. I never had the chance to try out so many strings. The two two finalists were a pleasant revelation. I might change things up...
I would've been cool if Stringjoy was in this comparison. They are a bit expensive, but I feel like the quality is pretty good. Would be nice to see if that is placebo effect because I paid more!
I've used those Daddarios that made your finals for a few years now and really do love em. So happy to see them make it to the end.
Over many years I've probably used almost as many different strings as in this test. Most were alright, a few not so good, and very few really excellent. I settled on DR for a while and was well- satisfied.
Hearing good things about them, I tried a set of Optimum gold-plated strings and I settled on them for a while. I also use a custom set of Thomastik-Infeld .009 flats on my Rick 12 and recently I've tried light flats on my Strat and Jazzmaster.
So far, so good. I like the feel and the tone of flat wound strings. They're not soft sounding as some think. After all, virtually all of the R&R and R&B guitar of the '50s and early '60s was played on guitars strung with flats. Yes, even Duane Eddy and Duane Allman.
What a production! And I dare say, I actually heard some of those differences through my laptop speakers. I think you picked well. Seems, if it's for a recording, you might as well buy a set of Roto Yellows and open them 2 weeks prior. On that guitar at least :)