I’ve been using hybrid guitar string sets almost exclusively for a few years now. In reality we probably all have done this since starting to play. I can remember buying sets of 9’s or 10’s & when a string broke I put on what I had.
For those that don’t know what hybrid guitar strings. It’s not some new technology. It simply combines two sets of different gauge strings. A set of 9’s have 9-11-16-24-32-42 gauge strings & 10’s have 10-13-17-26-36-46 gauges. Hybrid guitar strings take the three high strings from the 9’s & the the three low strings from the 10’s giving you a set that is 9-11-16-26-36-46.
This gives the flexibility of having lighter strings for bending with the heavier lower strings to give more fullness & meat to the lower end.
When I buy strings I get my goto’s & some others to try. Usually 2 sets of each so I can try them on different guitars. I use LP’s (Gibson & Epi) & a Fender Tele blacktop as my main workhorses.
None of the hybrid guitar strings I’ve tried so far are really bad. Of course some feel & sound better to me but, as with anything, it’s up to the individual player to decide. Prices are what I paid per set. I’m not going into material, wound & all that, just my general impressions of the strings.
Hybrid Guitar Strings Review
Ernie Ball Slinky
Playability: Easy to play.
Sound: Nice sound. Nothing really special though
Buy / Use Again: Yes – if my goto’s were not available.
DR Pure Blues*
Playability: Smooth feel.
Sound: Full, warm, bluesy
Buy / Use Again: Yes – this is one my goto’s.
Dean Markley Blue Steel
Playability: Average feel. No WOW factor.
Sound: Ok.
Buy / Use Again: Nothing made me want to get them again or throw them out.
Rotosound Orange
Playability: Kind of stiff feeling. Good on bends but felt it in my fingers after awhile.
Sound: Full, nice.
Buy / Use Again: Yes – Note: A big plus is each set comes w/ an extra high E string. I haven’t broken any & don’t break strings that often but it’s nice to have. I would use them again at that price just for the extra string.
GHS Boomers*
Playability: Easy to play. Smooth bends. I find these to be a good all purpose string.
Sound: When I put them on I noticed the sound, well… boom. Bright. Full.
Buy / Use Again: Yes – Another goto.
D’Addario NYXL
Playability: Great feel. Bend these all night long. I put them on about a month ago & was bending them like Superman bends steel the other night. Stayed in tune.
Sound: Bright, crisp.
Buy / Use Again: Yes
Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt
Playability: Smooth feeling. No problem bending but I feel ‘resistance’. (I’ve only had these on an LP for 2 weeks.)
Sound: Seem louder, good rich tone.
Buy / Use Again: Yes – Not a bad price point for ‘higher end’ strings.
These are the hybrid guitar strings I’ve used so far. As I try others I’ll add updates. There are plenty of sets to choose from so it will take awhile. But I’ll get to them. I would recommend trying hybrid guitar strings to have the best of both worlds.