Guitarists, hobbyists to professionals, tend to take one of two views on guitar strings. They are obsessive over them or they don't care and change them biannually. Gearwire did a completely unbalanced and unscientific poll of guitarists about the strings they use and why. The answers were all over the map.

"My staple has been D'Addario's--dunno why, they just are. I use 10 gauges on my more modern guitars like say an Ibanez or Fernandes for more the "shred" type playing and for my more classic guitars like say my Gretsch, Gibsons or Fenders I use 11 gauge, the reason being they sound brighter and louder and they don't go out of tune when you do a lot of bending or heavy strumming," says Howard Melnick of South Florida's Marqui Adora. "Lately, I have been trying DR strings for the different color options they offer. They have the same string line up as the D'Addarios so I don't have to have any of my guitars re-setup."

Geo Swanko of the Albemarle, North Carolina band Fat Cabbage plays Blue Steel.

"Just put a set of Blue Steel 9s on yesterday. Usually I play 10s but I thought I'd try something new, " says Swanko. "I need some new acoustic strings but it's been so long since I've changed them. I don't remember what I used. John Pearce maybe? I like DR strings as well."

Swanko says that he doesn't like the sound of new strings. He likes them after they have been on week or so. While it depends on the sound you are going for this makes a certain amount of sense--especially with acoustics. New strings sound brighter. Not everyone would concur that strings sound better a week or so out.

"I've talked to a tech that worked for Zak Wylde for about 7 years and he had to restring all 18-20 Les Pauls before every show." says Swanko.

David Haught of DC area experimental band Organic Space gives a fairly common reason why he used D'Addario.

"I use D'Addario because they sound good and they're fairly cheap. I use them mainly on my bass, but when I do play a six-string, I use D'Addario also." says Haught.

Brett, whose last name we didn't get, hails from Australia and isn't sure which strings he likes. He bounces around between brands.

"I've only used a few different types over the years, mostly Dean Markley Blue Steels, some Ernie Balls, and most recently Elixirs. I think Elixirs are absolute junk, and I'm currently looking for something better to replace them, hence why i clicked on this bulletin I suppose!" says Brett. "I've had them for months now, and they still feel like new, which is their claim to fame, but they still sound like brand new. You know when you just put a new set of strings on, and they sound hollow and tinny until they start to settle. It just never went away with the Elixirs. I've got another guitar with Ernie Balls on it, worth 1/10th of the guitar with Elixirs on it, and I still find myself playing it more because it sounds so warm."

More on strings soon.