Which ernie ball strings for metal

They sounded great with distortion, and the super smooth feel translated to incredible speed. When it comes to choosing the best strings for metal these are the factors you should be taking into consideration:. The gauge of guitar strings and the tension they can hold have a direct correlation. Many styles of metal often call for alternative tunings , usually at pitches below standard.

When tuning a guitar lower, the strings are inherently looser. A guitar string that plays well under these conditions typically has a heavier gauge. Heavy gauge strings are stiffer than their lighter counterparts, allowing them to retain tension even in drop tunings.

This keeps them from buzzing, and allows them to retain clarity. Not only are heavier gauge strings better able to retain tension in drop tunings, they are also much harder wearing. Metal being a fairly aggressive genre requires fast and heavy playing. Light gauge strings are certainly more comfortable and tactile, but they are significantly more prone to breakage under these playing conditions. Players looking for a combination of durability and feel can benefit from hybrid strings.

Hybrid strings are pre assembled packs that feature light to medium top end strings with heavy bottom strings. The result is a set that can handle sharper attack and heavy strumming for rhythm playing, but that still retain pliability and feel for solos and lead work on the treble strings. Check out our guide to hybrid strings here for more in depth information.

An alloy is a mixture of metals that has been blended to achieve certain properties. Guitar string manufacturers often experiment with different alloy ratios to customize various elements of their strings, including lifespan, tone, and comfort. The typical go-to when it comes to the best strings for metal is nickel wound steel. This involves having a steel core, with nickel wrap wire on the bass side strings. Nickel is a great choice for metal because of the well rounded sound profile.

They offer a nice balance between beefy lows and punchy mids, while keeping excessively harsh brightness under control. Nickel plated string wraps use other metals, and by process of electrolysis, coat them with a thin layer of nickel. At first they offer a similar tonal profile to pure nickel, but the coating wears away with use, leading to inconsistent sound and dead strings.

Some manufacturers, like Ernie Ball, have had success using experimental alloys like cobalt in their strings. Cobalt offers even more clarity than nickel, which prevents muddiness, they tend to last longer, and feel extremely smooth, giving many of the benefits of a coated string, without the drawbacks of polymer coating.

There are downsides, of course, the biggest of which is the cost. Cobalt being a rarer element, is more expensive to mine and process, which translates to a pricier product. Availability is another drawback; as these are specialist strings, independent local stores may not carry them, which can be problematic if you need a set in a hurry and have no access to a big box store.

Coated strings absolutely have their place in the metal genres. Polymer coating helps to improve string longevity in several ways, which can allow for more aggressive playing.

First, as the coating slows down the corrosion process, strings are less likely to break unexpectedly due to premature ageing. Secondly, the coating allows picks to better glide over the surface of the strings, this has a lubricant effect, which reduces wear and also reduces the chances of breaking strings due to heavy strumming.

Coated strings also allow for faster repositioning around the fretboard. Metal is typically played at fast tempos, so any help you can get to improve the pace of transitions is usually welcomed.

Of course, not everybody likes the slick feeling of coated strings. The tradeoff for the speed on the fingerboard can often be misplaced fingers caused by simply overshooting the mark. Advanced Search. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Last Jump to page: Results 1 to 15 of Thread: Which strings for metal? User Info Menu. Which strings for metal? I also want to buy some new strings for my signature guitar dont ask what it is because i have no idea.

I play in standard tuning and drop D with this guitar, as I have an origonal floyd rose floating trem and locking bolts. At the moment I have the Earnie Ball Super Slinky pack on my guitar, but it just doesnt feel right, so i'll need to know what to buy for this guitar too. Join Date Aug Posts Skinny Top Heavies ftw. I never use anything else. I go down to drop C with them occasionaly aswell as Eb. I'd say the Not Even Slinkies.

I use them in standard C tuning and they're great. Skinny Top Heavy Bottoms might be better if you want some bending freedom on the upper strings, though.

On top of that, Dunlop also offers signature strings for various artists, which includes the Kerry King Icon Series. Their Heavy Core strings are made specifically for drop tunings with tight nickel-wound steel. The latter two are. It goes from. The set is made with carefully chosen wire. This Heavy Core set is not only great for distortion. It also plays beautiful cleans on your combo amp. Stings despite its obvious name is the lesser-known brand.

Nevertheless, their offerings are built for shredders in mind, and the features of this popular set showcase their expertise. These strings have a coated hexagonal core that locks on the nickel-plated steel wrapping wire in place.

That increases stability and maintains tuning for longer. Plus, they have a very long lifespan about a year. The gauge is like so:. They are stable and have a medium thickness on the lows with plenty of fatness on the highs.

Plus, they pack insane neon colors to create a sinister persona on the stage. They are made to resist drop-D tunings, metal riffs, and fast solos. This is a unique set as it includes both nickel wound and steel strings. That makes this a full hybrid set where the high strings are made of metal and the lows are made of nickel. It gives maximum comfort and versatility for any kind of genre. All-hands leading guitar players are going to be very happy with these ultimate performers. They are about offering improved finger dexterity with higher tension, longer sustain, and spot intonation.

The is a nickel-plated hybrid set with a steel core. Like the model below, it offers three nickel wound strings plus three steel wounds, but they are all heavy. Lastly, the set features an enhanced mid-range frequency response that makes it easier for your rock guitar to cut through the mix.

They are made with high precision wound nickel-plated steel with a carbon steel hexagonal core. They are also super heavy. The gauge is. Plus, they are protected with a special RPS micro coating for extra durability. This is a heavy gauge set. Power Slinkys. Buy on Amazon. Lastly, the Skinny Top Heavy Bottom is a hybrid set with the security of heavy lows 0.

Still, their unnamed heavy gauge strings are a perfect choice for those metal players looking for something simple and reliable. This patented coating tech gives strings superb protection against corrosion, dust, rust, skin cells, and similar. It extends the life and their tone longer than any other brand. It makes them long-lasting and premium looking. It also gives the strings a great feel.