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【[First we choose a basic tool! The “Iroha” of guitar choice] How to Choose Electric Guitar Strings Types and Recommended Products

How to Choose Electric Guitar Strings | Types and Recommended Products

Electric guitar strings are a very important item and have a significant effect on playing comfort and sound. It is said that veteran guitarists always have their favorite strings. However, if you are new to guitar, there are so many things you don't know that there are too many types and you don't know what to choose, and you don't know the criteria to choose. The best way to choose a string is to try different strings and find the one you like best, but here I would like to introduce the types of strings, the criteria to select, and the recommended products. Find your favorite strings and get your own sound!

String material

Nickel

This is the most popular string that has been widely used since ancient times. It is easy to process and handle, and if you are not sure about what to get for your electric guitar, first choose a nickel wound string.
In particular, the two major brands, ERNIE BALL and D’ADDARIO, are overwhelmingly popular and are used by many guitarists around the world.

ERNIEBALL / Regular Slinky #2221

Even beginner guitarlist should have seen this colorful packages whose colors vary depending on the gauge (thickness). The bright and soft sound is exactly the world standard and matches any genre. Compared to DADDARIO, it features a slightly softer tension and a smooth texture.
DADDARIO / EXL110 XL Nickel Round Wound Regular Light

The sound is more subdued than ERNIE BALL. It is said that the freshly stringed sound lasts for a relatively long time. It is also nice to see that each of the six ball ends is painted in a different color, making it easy to see which string should be placed to which string. Compared to the ERNIE BALL, it has a moderate catch and is characterized by a firm feel.

Here are the strings recommended by our staff!

La Bella / HRS-R Electric Guitar Strings - Regular 10-46

La Bella's regular gauge string with a commitment to Made In USA materials and products.
They features a bright sound and are good for a variety of genres.
DR / MT-10 TITE-FIT MEDIUM

The TITE-FIT series of electric guitar strings is suitable for a wide range of genres. Nickel plated wire is wrapped around the round core to provide a thick, clear, rich tone.
PLAYTECH / EGS-0942

PLAYTECH electric guitar strings at an amazing price! Standard nickel roundwound strings provide a natural feel and pure sound.

Stainless

It's harder than nickel, more durable and resistant to rust. It produces a sharper, crisp sound.
Guitarists who want to pursue their own sounds should try stainless steel strings.

ERNIE BALL / Regular Slinky Stainless Steel #2246

They feature the brightest ERNIE BALL sound and have a slightly stronger tension.
ROTOSOUND / BS10 BRITISH STEELS Regular

Clear and punchy sound that Jimi Hendrix loved.
DADDARIO / EPS510 XL ProSteels Round Wound Regular Light

A model that uses a proprietary alloy to provide a bright sound and long sustain.

Coated

The string is coated with an extremely thin film. Durability is much higher, but the price also tends to be higher.
Starting with ELIXIR, which sparked the fire, you can maintain the sound and playing comfort you get immediately after stringing for a long time, while tasting the character of each company’s product.

ELIXIR / NANOWEB Light #12052

A classic model with a bright sound like uncoated strings but with the smooth feel unique to coated strings.
ELIXIR / OPTIWEB Light #19052

ELIXIR's new classic model that offers a crisp sound and a touch closer to uncoated strings than the NANOWEB model.
DADDARIO / XTE1046 Regular Light

A model with a unique coating applied to all six strings for longer string life. An ambitious product made by a classic brand with a focus on a sound and touch that is just like uncoated strings.

String type

Roundwound

The winding is rounded and has a rough feel. It excels in sustain and vibrates with rich harmonic sounds. It is the most common type of electric guitar string, and any of the recommended products listed above fall into the category of roundwound strings.

Flat wound

Here, the cross section of the winding is flat and smooth. It is in close contact with the core and has a unique sweet tone with reduced sustain and harmonic content, and is especially preferred by jazz guitar players. Half-rounds are halfway between rounds and flats, but are manufactured differently than traditional round-wound strings. It realizes a supple feel like a flat round without losing the brightness of the round wound.

DADDARIO / ECG24 XL Chromes Flat Wound Jazz Light

A classic flatwound string for many jazz guitarists.
Thomastik-Infeld / JS111 L

Flat-wound strings with smaller windings and lighter touches than competitors' products.
DADDARIO / EHR370 XL Half Rounds Medium

By using bright stainless steel for the material of the half-round string, a well-balanced tone can be obtained.

About string gauge (thickness)

The thickness of a guitar string is called the gauge. Many string packs have gauges with numbers such as "009,011 ~" or "010,013 ~". Gauge combinations have names and there are various types, but generally 09-42 is called light gauge and 10-46 is called regular gauge. You might ask, "Which guitar fits which gauge?" The tendency is that the thinner the string, the lower the tension, the softer the tone of the sound, and the easier it is to hold down the strings, but the easier it is also easier to snap thin strings compared to thick strings. Conversely, the thicker the string, the stronger the tension and the sound becomes crisper, but a little effort is required to hold the string down. Try looking for a gauge that gives you the feel you want, based on the trend.

General gauge

Light gauge: .009、.011、.016、.024.、.032、042
Regular gauge: .010、.013、.017、.026、.036、.046

How to change strings

Even if you purchase a new string, if you do not master how to stretch the string, problems such as “unstable tuning'' and “inability to get the proper vibration of the string'' occur, and the original sound of the string cannot be drawn out. Each person is particular about how they string their guitar, but please refer to the following page for general stringing instructions.

→ Replacing strings-electric guitar

Also, when you re-string, you can work smoothly with wire cutters and a string winder.

Wire cutters

String winder

String maintenance

Electric guitar strings are consumable, but of course there’s nothing better than long-lasting strings. Although they are plated for rust prevention even if they’re not coated strings, there is a limit to preventing rust. Some products claim to "extend the life of the strings", but as a general rule, make it a habit to wipe the strings down with a cloth after playing.

PLAYTECH / PTC30

Super-standard guitar cleaning cloth. It can be used not only for strings but also for wiping the body and neck.
THE STRING CLEANER / The String Cleaner

A handy tool that can be used to clean the strings from above and below.
STRETCHA / The String Stretcha

Convenient goods that can easily and quickly perform the "stretching" work necessary to stabilize the tuning of a freshly strung string.
TONE / FINGER EASE

A standard lubricant that is applied to the strings to smooth out the touch. It also has the effect of preventing string oxidation.
GHS / FAST-FRET

A type of lubricant that is applied directly to the strings instead of being sprayed on. It is also important to use mineral oil that is gentle on the fingerboard (wood).
DR / Stringlife Liquid Polymer

A liquid cleaner that creates a polymer coat on the surface when applied to strings. It is effective when applied when changing strings.