Harley Benton Valuestrings EL 9-42

Cheap strings usually feel like, well, cheap strings, but as I was ordering from thomann anyway I thought I'd try a couple of sets of their cheap strings.

These 9s went on my telecaster, this guitar is used by my daughter for her music GCSE and so I change the strings fairly regular just for reliability during any school performance she has to do.

When I first string it up with these I was expecting that horrible cheap string feeling, but it wasn't there, they felt like decent guitar strings. The tuned up, stretched in and held tune just fine, and they also sounded as good as branded guitar strings

Like I said usually strings on this guitar get changed fairly regular but I've found these have lasted longer than the EBs I usually put in them, they have kept the zing longer. They still sound alive longer after I'd be swapping out the usual brand of string.

They do everything you want a string to do, they feel right, they sound right, they last very well and they cost very little. I'd suggest anyone add a set of 2 to any thomann order and give them a try, because if like me you find them good you could be saving yourself a lot of money on a guitar you gig regular.

I regularly buy HB strings in bulk because they are so much cheaper than any other brands. I use them on every instrument I own.

The main reason for getting these is obviously the price, and you know what, I feel like these are better quality strings than the price would suggest. I currently use these on all my guitars, and if you secretly replaced all the strings on them with different "big brand" strings, I wouldn't notice.

Now the one thing I noticed about these strings, and thats why I'm deducting a star from my feedback, is that when I put a fresh set of these on my guitars, they are sometimes sticky. Not sticky like jam, more like kinda plasticky. It does go away after about a day of playing though so it's not a big deal, but I still find it strange.

Tuning stability is good IF YOU STRETCH YOUR STRINGS PROPERLY.
Sound quality is also good, as I said earlier, I would not be able to tell these apart from other brands.

Overall, I recommend these strings.

I've purchased and used many sets of these strings down the years and haven't had a set that has let me down yet, be that at home practising or out gigging.
The strings aren't the best strings in the world, but they are also a very long way from being the worst. Upon unravelling them from their individual plastic wrapping, they stay a little curly (unlike big brand strings that straighten out), but once they're on the guitar and up to tension, all is fine. They feel a little funny (especially the unwound strings - they feel like they're coated in something) fresh out of the pack, however, this is nothing a spot of Fast Fret can't rectify. Fresh on, they're nice and bright and stay that way for quite some hours of playing. Under the fingers, they feel fine and in a way, slightly softer (a bit nylon-esque) to the touch than other brands.
All in all, really good 'no-frills' strings at a really good price.

I ordered 10 packs of these budget strings for quite a simple reason.
My daughter plays and goes through strings at an alarming rate. As a (15 year old) teenager with hormones etc. she has developed extremely corrosive sweat which wipe strings out in days, it's like she's on tour every night. Happens even with Elixers and coated strings, I simply cant afford to replace them at the rate she goes through them, so I tended to stick with D'dardios and even that is too expensive for me at the rate needed.
I saw these and the good reviews and at the price thought I'll try a load even if I'm changing them every day at this price it's OK, it's a way forward for her to be able to practice on a regular basis without discommfort.
I hate writing negative things but these are absolute garbage and a total waste of money even at this price.
Just finished a restring and tuning up - ping snap ping snap, giving them a little stretch out like is always need ping snap.
The packaging is fine, but strings are often kinked, they also feel like strings that have already been played a while.
Very very poor, I would avoid and even advise Thomann to stop selling them. This is certainly a case of you get what you pay for. Unfortunately it doesn't matter what I pay for due to her problem and cost, but at least they don't snap on tuning and stretching out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!