What strings should I use?
This is a question that often comes up for new acoustic guitar players. It’s a good one to ask, and there are a few simple answers.
First, you need to figure out your desired sound and feel. Do you have a preference for light or heavy strings? Do you prefer a soft or more pronounced tone? Do you want the strings to last longer than usual? These are all questions to consider when choosing your next string set.
The second thing you need to do is figure out your gauge. Most acoustic guitars come with medium gauge (012-053) installed from the factory. However, if you’re changing your strings yourself, check the current gauged strings to see what’s already been installed. If you don’t see anything written on the string itself, it’s probably medium gauge (012-053).
Generally speaking, light gauge (011-052) strings give you less tension and as such provide less volume and sustain than medium gauge (012-053) or heavy gauge (013-057). However, this doesn’t mean that lighter gauges don’t sound good; they just have a different feel and sound. The feeling of tension on the fingers is much less with light gauges, making
What strings should I use? This is one of the most frequently asked questions by both new and experienced players. With so many different types and sizes of strings, it can be difficult to choose the best ones for your playing style.
With the help of our string experts at the Ernie Ball headquarters in Southern California, we’ve put together a short guide to help you figure out which acoustic guitar strings are right for you.
The first decision you have to make is whether you want coated or uncoated strings. Coated strings have a polymer web along with a thin coating of polyurethane that protect the string from oil and dirt, which extends the life of the string tremendously. The disadvantage of coated strings is that they do not produce as bright a tone as uncoated strings do. Uncoated strings are more traditional and will give you a brighter and more natural sound; however, they may lose their tone slightly faster than coated strings.
So, you’ve just bought your first acoustic guitar, or maybe you have a few guitars and are just looking for some more information on strings. This article is intended to be a quick guide to help you choose the right strings for your acoustic guitar and get the best out of them.
There are many different types of strings available, so hopefully this article will help you decide which ones are right for you. Different string types (materials) will give different tones and feel when playing. In general, nylon strings are softer than steel strings and give a mellower sound when played. The mellow sounds that can be produced by nylon strings make them a great choice for some genres of music including classical, flamenco and some folk styles. Steel strings generally produce brighter sounds with more bite, making them better suited for strumming styles such as country, rock and blues.
There are also coated acoustic strings available which are designed to reduce corrosion from sweat and oil from your hands and fingers. Although they cost more, they can last longer than non-coated sets which makes them good value for money in the long run.
So you’ve got yourself a new acoustic guitar and you’re thinking about putting some new strings on it – or maybe your guitar came with some strings that you’re not happy with. But what strings should you use?
First, let’s talk about the two basic types of string materials. The first is bronze, which is 80% copper and 20% zinc. Bronze strings were originally intended for use on gut-stringed acoustic guitars. They were developed to extend the life of those gut strings by offering greater resistance to wear and tear. When they reached the market, they became popular because of their brightness and volume – in other words, they really cut through the mix if you are playing with a band. However, these same features make them inappropriate for recording purposes. For example, if you play an open G chord with bronze strings and record it in a studio environment, every note that isn’t fretted will ring constantly for as long as you hold down the chord due to their sustain and resonance. This can make it very difficult for an engineer to mix your performance properly if any of those open strings are ringing out over parts played by other people in the band or on other tracks recorded at a later date. It also means that if you are playing fingerstyle or soloing
Choosing the right acoustic guitar strings can often be a challenge. From silk and steel strings for your classical guitar, to phosphor bronze for your acoustic, and 80/20 for your 12 string…the choices are as diverse as the music you play.
This article describes some of my personal experience with acoustic guitar strings, from playing them to selling them. I hope that you will find it helpful when choosing strings for your favorite instrument!
The type of strings you use greatly influences the sound and feel of your guitar. Different types of string materials, sizes, and coatings can make a large difference in the sound, playability, and longevity of your guitar. While many musicians know that the type of strings they use can make a big difference in their guitar tone and playability, most don’t realize that certain strings can also expand the lifetime of your instrument.
For example, using strings with coated wound strings (such as Elixir) will not only help your guitar sound better, but it will also help to protect your guitar from sweat, dirt and grime which can cause rust and corrosion on the frets and fretboard over time. Elixir has several different types of coated wound strings available for acoustic guitars including: 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Strings with POLYWEB Coating (Light), 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Strings with NANOWEB Coating (Light), Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings with POLYWEB Coating (Medium), Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings with NANOWEB Coating (Medium), 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Strings with POLYWEB Coating (Heavy), 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Strings
The world of string making is a universe in itself. Each brand is different, each model too. While finding the right strings for your guitar will depend upon personal taste, there are a few things to consider before buying that box of strings. This guide is designed to help you find the strings that suit you best.
The first thing to decide is what gauge string you want. The gauges are the thickness of the string. The heavier the gauge, the more tension that is put on the guitar neck and fret board. This can cause the neck to bow or bend which can make it hard to properly intonate your guitar (intonation refers to how well your frets are lined up so when you play an open string and press down a 12th fret octave, they vibrate at exactly the same frequency). If you have never changed strings on your guitar before, start with what ever came on it and go from there if you feel it needs changes. Every acoustic guitar is different and every player has different preferences so experiment until you find what works for you and your instrument.
The second thing to consider is material. Some people prefer a pure copper wrap wire around a steel core while others prefer an 80/20 blend of copper and zinc or other brass alloys