D'AddarioGuitar Strings - XL Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings - Round Wound - Warm, Bright, Vintage Sound - EPN21 - Jazz Light, 12-51

My guitar is an ESP with 22 frets. Using a drop C, B, or A tuning can be an extra challenge with a short neck. Ive used this brand of strings before, but not the pure nickel Jazz set. Im using the guitar for metal and grunge. Not sure the pure nickel tone matches up as well in distortion as the normal NXYL sets for drop C.Before, I used a drop C set and mixed and matched to get the string thicknesses you see in this nickel pack. So, when it was time to re string, i found this pure nickel pack had all the string gauges I picked out before but in a jazz nickel set. Why not? It wont rust and the tone will be a bit brighter. Well.......I have a normal NXYL 64 gauge string for the bottom. The tension on these strings for drop B is much tighter than the NXYL series. It almost seemed a bit too tight at drop B on a 22 fret but its not. What it means is that drop A will have more tension than before which is good. Im not sure though, about drop C on this ESP 22 fret. Seems like the tension would be too high. Anyway, the chunkiness of chugging has dropped from the non Pure nickel strings. I can adjust the amp and EQ and knobs and VST's but its clear that the tone of the strings themselves is brighter. This is good for mixing but if you want chug, you have to turn up the gain on the distortion. All in all, im not sure if this is better for me or not. What I know is this set of strings can handle drop A on a 22 fret guitar for SURE. Get a 64 gauge NXYL non nickel string for the bottom though, if you intend to go drop A. For drop B, the 64 single string is tight but good. If you dont intend to go lower than drop C, on a 22 fret, then this set of strings will be a bit too thick for you. Its perfect for B and A. The bends are hard but can give some great tones in distortion. 13's are a bit thick for the top and ESPs with the tunomatic frets can make your thicker tops , murder on the fingers as they slide. But, for metal, on a 22 fret, 6 string, these are the strings you want for anything lower than drop C. Just remember, that bottom E might not be thick enough. For a 22 fret, 6 string, you need at least a 62. My 64 plus this set of strings, covers Drop A and drop B , perfectly. They stay in tune like ive never seen any string before. They drastically change tone depending on the thickness and material of your PICK. This is cool actually. When mixing double rhythm guitars, you could just use different picks and get some layering in. Still, as great as the strings are, I need more time with them to see if the tone ultimately helps my writing or hurts the low end too much. Defiantly lost some low end chug but using a drop tuning below C, may help the guitar level out. I always had to cut a lot of bass and midrange from the guitar using thick strings like this but these brighter nickel strings seems to negate some of the need to EQ the low end. This could be good, or it could end up lacking too much power. Its up to the way you write, the chords you tend to use, and the genre you are going for. For grunge? This is really good. Not too metal, not too bright. For metal? It may be just a bit too bright for drop tunings below C. Or it might be perfect. When I mixed and matched these gauges from non-nickel strings packs, the fret buzz wasnt bad but it wasnt great either. You had to watch how hard you strum while recording to get the tighter mix. These nickel strings though, have much better tension at low tunings and so, the fret buzz is all but gone. I can strum hard and the strings wont vibrate too wide. Will these strings be right for you? Well, if the guitar is in a place where the humidity varies and the strings could rust, you should get pure nickels. If you run 22 frets and want to go drop A, you should run these nickels. If you need a squealing , screaming, top set of strings for your metal solos but need chunky bottoms, this wont fit you. If your solo style is more like Kurt Cobains, than Van Halens, then this set will work for you. I will say this, you wont be breaking or popping these strings. Just keep in mind that ultra chunky chugs, might require some EQ magic on your end, to match up with same gauges you were used too in steel. I use a 64 for the bottom but the tension might be too high for you on drop C or B, and would do better with a 62, perhaps.

I mean, it’s Daddario! BEST STRINGS OUT THERE, PERIOD! I’ve been trying out all their offerings and haven’t been disappointed with any of em so far! They have a fan for life in me. This particular line is decent, great sound and have been lasting me for awhile so far. I play everyday, so I go through a lot of strings. I’d say these last longer than Ernie Ball Slinky’s and they play better by far. I know, that may be blasphemous to some. I used to be an Ernie Ball guy, but seriously once you try out Dadarrio, you wont need anything else or want anything else for that matter.

Love the tone and playability!

Outstanding guitar strings. Warm all nickel tone and holding up nicely with daily play!

I usually use these strings but lately I find out Ernie ball more durable. They sound good

I just slapped these badboys on my epiphone hollowbody. I’ve tried all types of D’Addario strings and I love everyone I’ve used.From super thick to flat wound. This is my first time using ultralights and the last time I’m shopping around. These are my top strings of choice. Bright, bendy and bassy. They are just all around sensational!

I was this close to breaking up with my electric guitar and settling down with my trusty steel string and acoustic nylon. It's like choosing between a wild bonfire and a cozy campfire - both have their charms, but the sound of the electric was like a siren song, luring me back with promises of untamed power and a shocking good time.I've got this ginormous Johnson Millennium amp that's basically a behemoth for my tossed clothes. It has its own troubles. It's like the amp and the guitar were having a never-ending battle of "who can sound the most wrong." I put on some new strings and gave them a little tap - oh boy, zero sustain, like a deflated balloon trying to hold a note. Took my guitar to the repair shop to get a relaxing massage in hopes of coaxing it to life. Changed the jack and got a new cord. Wasn't that thrilled with the sound, but hey, I didn't want to ruffle the feathers of Mr. Grumpy Pants the repair guy.Got it home. Weak sound. Went on guitar forums to ask questions about sound. People told me "yeah, you just got a cheap electric guitar." Well, I don't think $900 is cheap but what do I know. And it kinda hurt my feelings. So I decided to buy a new amp, the Spark, because of course that must be the issue, right? Nope. Still weak. Anyway, I decided to blame my 18 year old humbuckers because what is life without blaming others. I dismantled them - like even taking out the magnetic poles. "Oh, get rid of those old humbucks" the forums said. Well, I cleaned them of gunk and contacted the maker, Seymour Duncan. The rep there said they were outstanding humbucks worth a lot of money. With my mouth dry and my mind panicked, I scrambled to put them back in my guitar, shrieking for my cat to stop sniffing my priceless humbucks!I had no strings in the house, so I ordered these after a poster on the forum suggested I buy the XL Pure Nickel, Medium Gauge EPN115. When they arrived, I resentfully put them on my guitar. I was wasting my time with these strings, I was certain, because of course I had tried D'Addario strings before. Oh man! It was like an electric snake going off in my hands. My neighbors were like --- what? Is Jimi in da house??!Maybe it was a combination of cleaning the humbucks, sweat, tears, praying to a God who usually ignores me, and finally putting on these specific strings, but I finally got the sound I wanted.