PRS brand strings

Froski

Froski

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Joined
Jan 10, 2025
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Baltimore Maryland
I've been a DR10's player for at least the last 25 years. I recently went to the local small guitar shop (not guitar center) to buy some strings and they don't carry DR. According to the owner, DR makes good bass strings but he claimed their guitar strings aren't consistent, a claim that I don't buy for second but whatever. I bought a couple sets of Ernie Balls which seem fine. I noticed on Sweetwater, PRS strings are $5.99/set. Ernie Ball is $6.99 on SW but over $10 in the local shop. $5.99 is super cheap! Anyone have any opinions? I might switch
 
I've never used the PRS strings so I can't give an opinion on them. I've been using DR Pure Blues for the last 20 some odd years. Ironically (maybe but not really) I started using them when I bought my first McCarty. I love them. I have on occasion come across a bum string. A wrapped string that just would not intonate or maybe the wrap at the ball end of a string would come loose while tuning up. DR has always been great when I've had a problem. I buy strings by the box and I had two strings from different sets but the same box unwrap at the ball end when putting on new strings. I contacted them just to let them know that they may have an issue they should look into. They sent replacement strings without me having asked for them.

I went through a period many years ago of trying out many different strings brands and I didn't find any strings that I liked as much as the DR Pure Blues.
 
A few articles, PRS sells with their branding, aren't made by PRS, but on order of PRS.

- All the accessories
- All cases and bags
- tuners (USA production guitars) are made by Gotoh
- Guitar cables are made by VanDamme Cabling in London, UK
- ...
- Strings are made by D'Addario.

In my 33 years of guitar playing, I started with Dean Markley, then I trusted a very long time GHS.
For more than a decade I play D'Addario, a few times I stringed NYXL, but they appeared to be not as enduring as the "average" sets (by my small amount of knowledge from a started, but discontinued construction engineer university studies, carbon ingredients (the more carbon within metal alloys, the higher the sensitivity to crack)).
Recently I owned some Pyramid strings (German company) and Ernie Ball. They play nice, too, and are stable.

That said: You can trust PRS strings. Or buy D'Addario 😉
 
I used Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings back in the 80's and early 90's. They were great right after putting them on. I didn't get much life out of them. By the time I finished one gig I could hear a difference in them. They would lose some top end. I switched to D'Addario EXL110 strings. I have been using them since then. I have had a few sets of PRS strings that are the same gage as the D'Addario strings I typically use. I like them. I have a huge stock of the EXL110 and EXL115 strings. Once I burn through the stock I have I would replenish with PRS strings if the price is the same or less than what I typically buy. I honestly don't really notice a difference in the PRS and D'Addario strings. They may be made exactly the same.
 
I played DR for a long time, and loved them, but I switched to the PRS strings and have liked them even more. If you like Pure Blues, the PRS “Classic” set is very similar in tone, but much cheaper.

The “Signature” set is really nice too, they have more twang and punch on the wound strings, compared to the warmer attack on the Classics. But, $. I find that certain guitars sound best with one set or the other, so I keep some of both on hand.

I’ve heard people say that the Signatures are just repackaged NYXL, and personally I thought they sounded different, the Signatures were more lively. But, who knows, maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me.

I don’t understand why people have such “problems” with DR strings. I used them for years, Pure Blues, Tite Fits, and DDT’s (which I still use), and have never encountered bum strings or tuning problems.
 
I used Ernie Ball, PRS Strings, and D'addario strings on my stable of PRS guitars. Ernie Ball's have more bite on your fingers and sound great initially, but go stale very quickly. Personally, I have had instances of EB strings coming somewhat corroded already in their packages as they aren't vacuum sealed and instead in individual paper holders within the string pack. PRS strings, I have used the signature and classic versions and don't really notice a difference other than price. They feel comparable to D'addario, but not completely there. They are supposed to have extra reinforcement at the ball end to aid in tuning stability for tremolo guitars. Honestly, I have found the reinforced strings to never quite break in all the way. The most consistent strings I have used and all my PRS came with installed are D'addario regular XL nickel wound strings and what I continue to use for over 20 years. I recently switched over to the EXL110+ (48-10.5) strings and have found them to be the best feeling and stable strings for the 25in scale length. My trems seem to love these strings and stay super insanely in tune even with heavy and I mean heavy trem use. But, to end a long response, D'addario is the way.
 
I've used D'Addario almost all of my adult playing life (I'm 53) and never had a bum string in all the decades I've used them. I am a bit 'anal' when it comes to string changes these days and change them more than is probably required - a far cry from the days when I broke 1 string and just changed the broken one (often the high 'e' lol) and when I first started I used Ernie Ball

I would like to try the PRS strings if they are the right price - I usually buy a 3 pack of D'Addario strings - either 9-42 or 10-56 depending on the scale length.
 
StevenZ73 said:
It's not so much brand loyalty as it is product consistency. I have tried many brands over the years and in my experience when it comes to consistency, sound, feel, and quality, D'addario just is the best for me. They are the string brand that I have had the least amount of headaches and problems with.
Click to expand...
I have a very long and very good track record with D'Addario strings. I never break strings and they have given me much longer life than other brands I have tried. I used to buy them in large quantities when gigging regularly. Since I got such good life out of them, I still have a bunch of them on hand.

I haven't had too many issues with them corroding on me due to storing them for a long time. I had a few sets that got put away in a place where I don't typically put strings. They were there for probably at least 15 years. I did have a couple of those sets develop some discoloring in spots but they still worked and sounded fine when I put them on my guitars.
 
StevenZ73 said:
I would like to submit my application for adoption 🤣. I have no problem inheriting your hand me downs when the strings go bad.
Click to expand...
I would like to be on that list too.

@László if you adopt me, I will restring them and keep the setup good on all of them for you. :) You will of course have to put up with me playing them.
 
I found the D strings to be bad on DR’s a number of times. I’ve been through most every brand. I’ve used D’addario NYXLs for the last 5 years and been very happy with how long they last. I do like PRS strings. For me, they don’t last as long as the NYXL’s. The tone is very good.
 
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