The Only 3 Strings Brands Worth Buying In 2026 (And One To NEVER Buy)

Comments · 156

• SI

  @sil.K.1467 · 4 days ago (edited)

  I’m an Ernie Ball guy, multiple times I have use other brands but always return to EB 10-46 for my Strats, Telecasters, and LPs.

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• JI

  @JillandKevin · 2 days ago

  There is an omission in this video. Stringjoy, a newer string maker ALSO makes their strings in house in Nashville, and they offer more than D&apos;Addario. They will, for the same price, make a CUSTOM set, and send it out in short order.<br>We (Jill &amp; Kevin) use Elixirs on our flattops, but I use Stringjoy Broadway Pure Nickel Wrap strings on my Archtops and semi hollows, and they make up sets that D&apos;Addario can&apos;t/won&apos;t make.

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• BO

  @boboplex · 3 days ago

  Rotosound is my go to..Made in England since 1958.

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• PH

  @philotomybaar · 3 days ago

  I’m a professional guitarist in my 50s and I don’t really care which brand. I can tell a slight difference but I acclimate to it within a few minutes. I don’t like the sound or feel of elixirs (especially as that coating starts to wear) but otherwise I’ll use anything of the proper gauge. And I don’t sweat a lot so I don’t change often- maybe once a month on acoustics I play a lot. <br><br>For flat wounds I use thomastik and change them every ten years whether they need it or not.

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• HE

  @HerberRolandoValenciaHigueros · 5 days ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfKabPqEqqU&amp;t=1120">18:40</a> Summary

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• MU

  @murpsman · 5 days ago

  Curt Mangan make 700 different strings in their own plant in Cortez, CO. &nbsp; They show a video of on their website.

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• MA

  @MarbsMusic · 1 day ago

  Been using D&apos;Addario since 1984... I do pick up some EBs for certain guitars but don&apos;t see myself changing anytime soon. They sent me sets of the NYXL to test before release, how they found me as it had been years since I submitted boxes for t-shirts and stuff, I don&apos;t know but I was very honored to get to try them out and have been using those as my primary strings since release. They last forever and simply stay in tune better than anything else IMHO. Great video!

• JA

  @JamesFord-g5e · 5 days ago

  i only use ernie ball i went from slinky 9 s to &nbsp;extra slinky 8 s. now i found not knowing &nbsp;hyper slinky 8s to 46 &nbsp;and i recommend them highly &amp; playing over 50 yrs there&apos;s no other brand that holds up &amp; lasts yes they got a little bit more costly but every bit worth it for tone &amp; reliability

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• CH

  @Chiller01 · 4 days ago

  This video opened a rabbit hole for me. So steel string (not nylon or classical string) guitar strings are made of two main components, the core wire and the wrap wire (used on the low E, A, and D strings of the standard 6 string guitars). &nbsp;The D’Addario company as it turns out draws its own core wire from specialty rods at its own mill. It imports those rods from steel foundries in the US, Sweden and Japan. Before 2007 D’Addario and Ernie Ball had the same source for drawn core wire. In 2007 D’Addario acquired that source thus advertising itself as vertically integrated but they do import the raw steel from US and foreign foundries. Ernie Ball presumably had to source core wire from somewhere else after D’Addario acquired its previous source in 2007. Companies like Ernie Ball treat the sources for both their core and wrap wire as trade secrets, however. Mapes Piano String and Wire Company from Tennessee is perhaps the most prominent American specialty core and wrap wire producer. Ernie Ball and Elixir likely source their wire from Mapes or &nbsp;company like it. In addition the alloys used for specialty wrap wire are sourced from industrial metals distributors across the US Midwest and California. D’Addario likely use similar distributors for its wrap wire.

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• GL

  @Glicksman1 · 4 days ago (edited)

  You can add Thomistic-Infeld and Pyramid to the plus list. They don&apos;t draw their own wire, but they do machine premium steel into the best guitar strings available.

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• RE

  @resonatinglove9421 · 4 days ago

  This is tedious to watch, whatever AI wrote this, edit this stuff before you post. Repetitive and redundant and way too long with info that’s pointless

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• RI

  @rickh8380 · 4 days ago

  I&apos;ve been using Ernie Ball strings since the 70&apos;s.

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