Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings 13-56

I got these to try on a Taylor acoustic guitar. I hadn't played in many years, and really don't like the stiffness of bronze strings. I thought I'd try some heavier electric nickel strings as a compromise so maybe I'd actually play it. If I lost a ton of tone, who'd care, since I'd just be playing around the house at this point in life. If the sound was horrible, I'd just replace them. Well, I was surprised at the remaining full lows and bright highs. I'm not recording classical music, so they're great for my purposes by sounding okay and playing easier than acoustic strings. As heavy strings, they're still pretty stiff, but they play considerably more easily than bronze. Next string change, I might go to an even lighter set.... maybe 10s. Overall, it was worth trying, and I'd say a success.

I recently down-tuned my LTD MH-1000NT to a BEADF#B tuning and needed heavier strings. For reference the guitar is a 25.5" scale. Also, if your thinking about down-tuning a regular guitar then make sure you know what your doing. It's not as simple as just throwing a new set of heavier strings on. You need to file out the nut slots, adjust the truss rod, adjust the pickup height, and adjust your bridge. If you don't know what your doing you could really mess up your instrument. Anyway... I initially started with the Ernie Ball "Not Even Slinky" 56-12 set. I did not care for the gauges they chose for this set (12p-16p-24p-32w-44w-56w). I felt that the tensions per string were very uneven so the feel was always unsettling; plus the plain 3rd or D string sounded just terrible. It was just too tick to be a plain string. It gave a sound like a rusty wind chime. So I bought the Dunlop DEN1356 Xtra Heavy 13-56 set. The gauges chosen are perfect (13p-17p-26w-36w-46w-56w). All the string tensions seem well more thought out and balanced. As you can see their are 4 wound strings and two plain. Much better sounding that a 3 plain set. At this scale the tension and attack with this set is perfect. The Dunlop 13-56 set will be my new standard for this tuning.

Great sounding strings, I recommend for heavy riffs.

I use these on my 25.5 inch scale guitars, tuned down to C# tuning. They last long, sound good and stay in tune. No complaints about the strings, but this new packaging could be better. The strings are all wrapped up in a single bunch instead of individually as they used to. The colored ball ends helps to distinguish between them, so that's something. The sealed plastic package is nice though, especially if you buy some sets to keep on hand. No need to worry about corrosion.

I use these on a '52 Reissue MIJ Fender Telecaster tuned down a whole-step to D standard tuning. The thicker gauge has a higher string tension which helps combat the lowered tension on the neck that would normally result from the lower tuning. Nice beefy tone as a result, without really having to adjust the neck tension of the guitar to maintain string height and intonation. (Good thing too, because its a PITA on my particular tele model.) If you are using these on a guitar in standard tuning I would definitely recommend having the guitar set up for this gauge of strings, but if you do, you won't regret the change.

Quick shipping, product as described

Although the gauge is larger than I normally play (I use 9s), these strings do not feel overly cumbersome and are a solid, quality product. I have been a fan of Dunlop Electric Guitar Strings for about 2 years now, when I came over from less reliable brands (here's lookin' at you Ernie Ball!) and I haven't been disappointed yet. If you are trying to decide whether or not to buy these, don't let quality or reliability concern you. It's really going to come down to the sound you want, and how comfortable you are with this particular gauge. You will eventually get used to whatever you play with.

Good quality product sounds high quality