string questions?

Ah, the perennial string question. Ask 20 guitarists, you'll get 30 different answers.

"Ernie Ball" seems to be popular - my local shop has little else.

D'Addario? Don't bother. If their steel strings sound as boring as their classical guitar strings....

Best on the planet by a big margin is Rotosound - played by lots of the big names - I've used them since I can't remember when.

Make sure you get a set, not just individual strings. A 10 or 11 gauge set should be fine on your guitar without affecting the setup. 9s are very light and you lose sustain very quickly.

I use or have used Ernie Ball, DR, Dean Markley, SIT, GHS, D'Addario... No big differences between brands. Somebody discouraged me from D'Addario. Perhaps Ernie Ball and DR could be my favorite. Currently I'm using SIT and they stay in tune nicely.

And as Alan says, try different gauges. They affect the sound but to me mainly how the guitar feels.

Thanks guys. Next question is why when I raise my finger off the string it makes an unwanted tone? If I'm explaining that correctly? Also why does amp humm when when turned up until I touch something metal on guitar such as strings?

String noise - it goes with the territory. What it really means is you're not getting the next sound in quick enough; there's a pause whilst you find the next chord or position and you're getting time to hear that residual string sound.

Amps hum, although it should only be a very quiet hum.

I've just started using Ernie Ball Cobalts on my Strat and love them. Definitely worth a try.

Ernie Ball strings 10-46 works great on my Fender strat,