If you’re reading this article, it’s probably because you’re staring sadly at a broken string on your acoustic, electric, or bass guitar. OR, it's because I have shamelessly plugged you here from one of my other posts!! As you’ve already probably figured out, the strings on a guitar have a huge impact on the sound and play-ability of your instrument. If you’re a new guitar player, you’ve already probably already figured out that there is a lot of variety when it comes to choices for string replacement.
I’ve put this guide together for you, to help guide you toward the best acoustic guitar strings, the best electric guitar strings, and the best bass guitar strings. There are a lot of choices on the market, but with a little help, you’ll have your new strings on your guitar in no time!
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings
In an acoustic guitar, there is no amplifier or pickup to impact the sound, so strings have a somewhat bigger impact on their overall performance and tone. Three things to consider when choosing the best acoustic guitar strings are the composition and gauge of the strings and the guitar’s body type.
Acoustic guitars fall into two categories: classical and flamenco guitars with nylon strings, and steel string acoustic guitars that are suited for folk, rock, and country music. The strings for these two types of guitar are not interchangeable; attempts to install steel strings on a guitar intended for nylon could severely damage or disable the guitar.
Regarding gauge, it is simply important to know that strings are manufactured in a range of thicknesses, measured in thousandths of an inch. Lighter gauge strings are easier to play, produce less volume, break more easily, and create less tension on the neck of the guitar. On the other hand, heavier gauge strings are harder to play, but produce more volume and sustain, or quality of sound tone over time.
Also important to choosing the best acoustic guitar strings are the instrument’s condition and age, the tone you desire, and your unique playing style. Acoustic guitar strings can also be made from a variety of materials, including bronze, phosphor bronze, aluminum bronze, brass, polymer-coated, and silk and steel, which are steel strings wrapped in silk, nylon, or copper wrap wire. Below, we compare two of the top-rated brands of acoustic guitar strings on the market.
D’Addario EJ16-3D Phosphor Bronze Guitar Strings, Light
D'Addario EJ16-3D
The D’Addario EJ16-3D series of acoustic guitar strings are one of the most popular sets of guitar strings on the market.
The strings are reliable and comfortable for all levels of players, and they bring a balanced tone to the guitar, as well as a warm and bright sound. The material is corrosion-resistant, and the strings’ high carbon steel core ensures a long lifespan.
These strings are also available in an EXP Coated version, which offers 3-5 times the lifespan. As the number one best seller on sites like Amazon, these are the best strings for acoustic guitars.
Check out Amazon's Current Price!
D’Addario EJ45 Pro-Arte Nylon Classical Guitar Strings, Normal Tension
D'Addario EJ 45 Pro-Arte
Clearly representing the leading name in acoustic guitar strings, the D’Addario EJ45 Pro-Arte series classical acoustic guitar strings are the best on the market. The normal tension of these strings offers the best balance of volume and resistance, while delivering a consistently warm, projecting tone.
D’Addario combines high quality materials with consistent manufacturing quality to ensure you will always receive the best guitar strings possible. These classical acoustic guitar strings are available four distinct options to allow for a greater lifespan, greater projection, more flexibility and responsiveness, and reduced finger noise.
Check out Amazon's Current Price!
Best Electric Guitar Strings
Electric guitar strings are designated with virtually the same gauges as acoustic strings – the smaller the number, the lighter the string. As with acoustic guitar strings, lighter strings are easier on your fingers but produce a less-robust sound, while heavier strings are hard on your strumming fingers, but produce a rich, warm tone. If your goal as a musician is to play fast, hard rock, then lighter strings are the way to go. On the other hand, blues and classic rock guitarists usually use medium-gauge strings that allow easier fretboard bending and offer a richer, darker tone. Let’s take a look at a few of the best guitar strings on the market in this category.
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Nickel Wound Set, .010 - .046
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky
The Ernie Ball company prides itself on being one of the leaders in the guitar strings industry, and their best-selling product makes it easy to see why they are so proud of them. Priced competitively, the Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Nickel Wound Set has been the electric guitar player’s favorite for some time.
Legendary guitarists Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton have long chosen this set of strings as their go-to pick. They are specifically built to ensure that they maintain a consistent performance over a long lifespan, leaving no doubt that they are among the very best electric guitar strings on the market.
Check out Amazon's Current Price!
Elixir Strings Electric Guitar Strings with NANOWEB Coating, Medium (.011 - .049)
Elixir Electric String With NANOWEB
These medium-gauge strings with Elixir’s patented NANOWEB Coating delivers the “presence, punch, and personality” of traditional electric guitar strings, but with added tone life and consistency of performance. You’ll be free to enjoy more time making music, with less time spent on stringing your guitar. Available in gauges ranging from super-light to heavy, these strings also resist corrosion, leaving you free to rock on.
Wondering whether the coating on the strings makes that big a difference? Reviewers with 30+ years of guitar playing experience say that they’ve tried dozens of brands of strings, including coated strings from other brands, but nothing has held up better than these Elixir electric guitar strings. Without a doubt, if durability and lifespan are high on your priority list, these are the best guitar strings you could choose.
Check out Amazon's current price!
D’Addario EXL230 Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings, Heavy, 55-110, Long Scale
D'Addario EXL230 Bass String
Bass Guitarists are always crying that they get left out of everything... Well not with my my four-sting loving friend! I even have a post bringing new people into the Bass World!
World-renowned as “The Player’s Choice,” the D’Addario EXL230 series of bass guitar strings is a set of heavy strings made for bass players who want their sound to be a bit bulkier and stockier than most. This gives the guitarist a beautiful combination of bright tone and comfortable feel.
They fit long scale bass guitars with a string scale length of up to 36 ¼”, and the nickel-plated steel wrap wire is known for its unique bright tone and delivers a universal appeal for all playing styles.
Check out Amazon's Current Price!
How important is string gauge?
We touched briefly in this guide on the importance of string gauge, but if you’re curious to learn more about what the different gauges mean and when to use them, check out this video we found for you.
Conclusion
This isn’t where your education on guitar strings ends. We also have a few tips for you to consider regarding string maintenance before we send you off to make your first string purchase.
· Keep a clean microfiber cloth in your guitar case or bag and wipe your strings down after every playing session to prolong the life of your strings
· Wash your hands before playing; this will help keep your strings from oxidizing.
· Invest in a string winder. They aren’t expensive and will save you untold time and frustration when stringing your guitar.
One final question you may be asking is, “How do I know when it’s time to change my strings (assuming they haven’t broken)?” Consider the following questions and if you answer “yes” to any of them, then it’s probably safe to assume it’s time to change your strings.
· Is getting in tune and staying there more difficult than usual?
· Are you seeing any discoloration or rust on the strings?
· Are the string wraps unwinding, exposing the inner core?
· Does your tone sound “flat” or “dead?”
· Can you remember the last time you changed your strings?
Well, there you have it. Everything you need to know about choosing the best guitar strings for your acoustic, electric, or bass guitar. While there’s no “standard answer” about when guitar strings should be changed, there are a few factors that can shorten the life of your strings. They include perspiring a lot while you play (sweat is acidic); aggressive playing with a lot of bending and/or hard picking; frequent playing; frequent tuning changes; and playing in smoky rooms or venues. Armed with this knowledge, we have no doubt that you will pick the best guitar strings for your instrument, playing style, and preference in no time!
This is Sam McMurphy sayin' "Hear you strummin' soon!"
Product Images Sourced From Amazon.com
The post A Buyer’s Guide to The Best Guitar Strings appeared first on Blogtrepreneur - For Busy Entrepreneurs.