Best strings for strat?

Lebarque

I've used GHS Burnished Nickels on my strat for a while, since they give a nice warm, vintage tone (roundwound, pure nickel). However, I'm currently playing a couple of songs which need a surfy sound, so i need something with a bit more clang on the wound strings. I tried some GHS Boomers recently, but they seemed savagely bright. Any tips?

Voxman

Ghs boomers are the ones I'd have suggested. They are nice and twangy and perhaps a smidgeon brighter than eg D'addarios but isn't that exactly what you want for surf sound?  Other than Boomers, then I'd suggest D'addarios.  

axisus

Strings are strings. A touch of the Eric Johnsons here.

Lebarque

@Voxman So you rate Boomers higher than D'addario? Why so?

Voxman

Lebarque said:

@Voxman So you rate Boomers higher than D'addario? Why so?

No, I usually use Dadds EXL120's (9-42) on all my electric guitars but I do like ghs boomers on my 69 strat as they seem to bring out a little extra something from the 69 pups. Boomers are a little brighter and janglier and stay so for a bit longer, so good for surf, shadows, U2 tones etc with a strat or tele. 

Richardj

I have D'addario 9-46s on all of mine.  Works just fine.

bbill335

If you're changing strings for the purpose of sounding surfier, you've got to go heavy on the wound strings. 

pintspiller

Stay away from nylon strings. They sound better on a classical guitar.

Fretwired

D'Addario are great for Strats ..

olafgarten

Go for a heavy gauge and try Pure Nickel strings, maybe even with a Wound G. 

Voxman

bbill335 said:

If you're changing strings for the purpose of sounding surfier, you've got to go heavy on the wound strings. 

I concur, you really need thicker gauge wound strings for that true 'Surf' twang & for true 'Surf' tones flat wound are favoured as the strings to go for because they are mellower and reduce 'slide' noise when moving around the fretboard.  

The Beach boys are arguably the most famous 'surf sound' but Brian Wilson often used Baritone guitars in their arrangements so regardless of string gauge you'll struggle to get that tone without a baritone guitar.  The Fender Jazzmaster and the shorter scale Jaguar (which is twangier) are arguably the best known guitars for Surf sound, although standard single-coil Strats are OK. There were other famous surf groups that used some lesser known guitars - IIRC I think the Ventures used Mosrite guitars?

Effects wise, you do of course need that big Fender Reverb sound for surf - and using the right reverb is arguably way more important than your string gauge!

ICBM

http://static1.bigstockphoto.com/thumbs/1/5/3/large2/35195690.jpg

Sassafras

For that true 'surf sound' accept no substitute:

gordiji

I know it's not a gauge question but i got some ghs nickel rockers 9.5- 48 and love 'em. I wanted easier bending on the highs
& by mistake ordered the set the set with 048 bottom E instead of 046. Anyway i like the fatness of the bottom end & bendy ness of the top. I do have twang orientations. They're good.
Master of surf himself 'Dickie D' was brutal with his strumming hand and went as far as 18's for top E so god knows what cables he was using on the bottom. (so i read) His tone on the jools holland show playing miserlou is however epic.

Lebarque

axisus said:

Strings are strings. A touch of the Eric Johnsons here.

You haven't got the hang of this place yet, have you? :0)

Lebarque

Thanks all for the responses. I'll give D'addario a try again i guess. Anyone tried Curt Mangan?

JCA2550

Lebarque said:

Thanks all for the responses. I'll give D'addario a try again i guess. Anyone tried Curt Mangan?

I very much like Curt Mangans followed by D'addarios

ESBlonde

It's a personal choice but I like fender strings on my strat. Not so keen on them for some guitars but I like to suit guitars to brands and gauges. 

Voxman

ESBlonde said:

It's a personal choice but I like fender strings on my strat. Not so keen on them for some guitars but I like to suit guitars to brands and gauges. 

I tried Fender Bullets on my 69 Strat over 35 yrs ago. Bought 3 sets...a B broke at the bullet end with one set and same place on the E on the other set...within 4 days!!  After that never used Fender strings ever again and switched to Picato strings that came in a nice plastic tub! 

mgaw

+1 for Curt Mangans but i dont have a strat so usual irrelevance from me