trial and error
I have different strings on all my guitars, I've tried most every kinda I can get my hands on, and I have rounded down the mix to a couple of favorites
Guitar 1: I flip between two types, Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky (12-56) and Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky (11-54) I play those a half step down.
Guitar 2: GHS Fatties (10-47) They are kinda smaller strings than I like, but they play pretty tight so I like them alot. I play those is standard.
Guitar 3: Acoustic Nanoweb Elixers (13-56) I LOVE acoustic elixers! They play fantastic and they sound very very good! My acoustic is in standard.
Guitar 4: Dean Markley "Misfits - SkullBusters" (11-52) I play these in standard tuning. I bought these just to try them, they were a 4 dollars set at Guitar Center and I thought I'd give them a try...they are the best guitar strings I have ever played!!! No joke!!! I figured that they were going to be a stupid set up gimic strings which just happened to be endorsed by a band that I don't care for much at all, but I frickin love these strings! I just bought another guitar this week, and as soon as I get a chance to make a trip to Guitar Center, this new guitar will have them as well. They are cheap as hell and lasted two months before any signs of wear (and I play hard for hours a day!) I usually change my strings every two weeks or so, sometimes upwards of a month, but it has been years since a set has lasted me two months! I recommend that EVERYBODY go out and try a set of these strings!
Now I will list all the strings that I have tried that I didn't like. We'll go in two categories...just didn't care for them, or hated them:
Didn't care for them:
Any Elixer Electric Strings (I liked them at first, but have grown out of that)
Ernie Ball Hybrid Slink & Extra Slinky (WAY too light!!!)
Most Fender Strings (As I remember the heavy super bullets were ok...)
Martin & Co Extra Heavy Acoustic Strings (Extra Heavy and acoustic don't mix)
Any Ernie Ball Acoustic Strings (Stick to electric Ernie Ball...nuff said!)
Hated:
DR Black Beauties (HATED THESE!!! Something about the coating...)
Black Diamond Strings (See above answer...took both sets off the day after)
Gibson Strings (Hated them years ago, haven't tried them again since...)
ALL MUSICIANS FRIEND STRINGS (need I explain?!?!)
A few random sets of D'Addario (can't put my finger on why, just hated 'em)
GHS Boomers & Zakk Wylde Series (so used to fatties, I can't adjust)
This is the list of strings that I still wanna try:
Any of Dean Markley's other strings (Alchemy, Blue Steel, etc...)
Everly Rockers (They put a cute cartoon chic on the front!)
Something DR other than those damn Black Beauties!
Possibly Gibsons Signature Series Les Paul Strings (who knows, vintage might be cool...)
Gretsch Electromatic Strings (I just found out Gretsch made strings...)
Ernie Ball "Power" Strings (I like Ernie Ball...might like these, who knows)
Rogue Strings (Just because I'm sure I'll hate them! haha)
GHS Infinity Steel (They sound cool even though I've hated most coated strings!)
D'Addario Chromes (sounds like a cool idea)
Epiphone and Schector Strings (I doubt I'll like em, but I'll try em)
Electro-Harmonix Strings (Heard the name, but nothing about them...)
Thomastik Infeld Strings (I heard a rumor that they were decent)
Anyhow, this is all I can think of at the moment... Peace out ya'll!
~DJ Snoo~