Gearwire

Choosing Electric Guitar Strings

October 25, 2006
When selecting strings for your electric guitar, it all comes down to the type of guitar you play and the sound that you are looking for. You can choose flat-polished strings if you want a very smooth playing feel. They are easier on your fingers than standard steel strings. Or you can choose flat-wound strings for more comfort and a smoother tone when amplified. Flat-wounds are preferred by many jazz guitarists.

At the moment, the diversity of electric guitar strings is fairly minimal. The string you choose for your axe is not so much technical choice, but it depends on your playing style and gear. Stevie Ray Vaughn used string gauges that were a like piano strings. His style was heavy, and he was physically able to play with a vibrato style on strings that heavy.

Popular brands include Ernie Ball and D'Addario. For the gauge (thickness) of the strings, start with .009 for the 1st string, and .042 for the 6th string. With sets in this range, usually the gauges are very close from brand to brand.

Selecting the right set of strings for your guitar is a decision involving personal taste. After trying different sets, you will know which ones are the right strings for you. In the short run, the brand you use for an electric guitar is not so important. Pick the brand and string gauge that feels right for you, and allows you to jam for as long as you want.
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The right strings for my new Ibanez Scofield electric guitar

By: Peter Gutierrez
I just purchased an Ibanez Scofield that is on route to me and i asked the dealer to put 10-46 D'addario strings on it ...the same gauge I use on my Strat Ultra ...and ( color me a worry wart ) I read some reader reviews that suggested # 10's were too light that the guitar was designed for Scofield's heavier gauge # 13's. So, here is my question. Do you think I can go up to 11's without having the neck or intonation adjusted? I am willing to sacrifice a bit of tone for a lighter gauge that I am used to. Could I stick with the # 10's? How light could I go without putting the wrong tension on the neck or whatever?? Thanks, Peter
Thu, 2007-06-14 00:15

Professor String

By: Mike Fitzgerald
I recently found this website: http://www.professorstring.com and it gives some of the best unbiased insight about buying guitar and bass strings. Hope that helps! Regards Mike
Wed, 2007-09-26 14:23

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