In this article, the strings of the most famous brands will be presented, and which ones you like - decide for yourself, but remember that for the successful development of the technique of playing the electric guitar it is important to learn not only the basics of this art, but also clearly determine which specific strings Suitable for you and your tool. Below will be described the main parameters that should guide the choice, as well as the characteristics of the brands of the most famous guitars.
Main criteria
Determining which strings are best for an electric guitar will help you to know the three main parameters that should be followed when choosing them. Here is a simple list of them:
- The material with which they are coated.
- The shape of the string winding.
- Caliber.
Both the sound and the convenience of playing the guitar depend on the above characteristics.
Coating material
The strings for an electric guitar are made of either silver or steel. But the braid is made of different materials. Moreover, there are various techniques for its application, which differ in the form of braiding the core.
But what is worth choosing among today's variety and which strings are better for an electric guitar? Only you choose, and should be repelled first of all from the braid. Here are its options:
- A synthetic nylon coating that makes the strings comfortable for a relaxing guitar music style. Professionals pull them to the limit, and the sound is very clear, but for beginners this technique of the game is not easy.
- Nickel-coated strings are very widely used for the most popular brands of electric guitars. They sound very warm and harmonious, but, alas, very impractical, since nickel is a soft material. But playing them is easy and simple.
- Steel coated strings are not as popular as they are somewhat more expensive than nickel. But such a winding is the best option, since the sound is more clear, voluminous and bright, only frets suffer from such a neighborhood much more.
- Nickel-plated steel strings combine the strengths of both those and others. Therefore, they can be regarded as the best option for which strings for an electric guitar are better to get.
Winding shape
Each of the coating materials is applied to the core of the string in a special way and directly affects sound extraction. Here are four winding circuits:
- The flat shape is the most sparing in relation to the fingerboard. It makes the string very smooth and comfortable to play. And also gives a dull, harmonious sound, devoid of the side effect of moving fingers. They are very fond of jazz musicians.
- The round shape of the winding is classic, as it is very inexpensive and widespread (due to its simplicity). The downside is that the sills wear out an order of magnitude faster. The sound is characterized by a certain whistle from the sliding of the fingers, which many musicians turn from a minus into a plus, as a kind of expression of the main musical thought.
- The semicircular shape of the winding can please fans of something new, since it includes elements of two previous coating schemes. Initially, a round winding is made, which is subjected to pressure at the next stage, which gives a tactile feel to a flat string.
- The hexagonal shape of the winding is also a combination of two styles and wins in terms of beauty of sound thanks to the hexagonal profile. Nevertheless, the sills wear out much faster.
In addition, some string sets are labeled FL, meaning the Floyd Rose tremole system. They are characterized by the absence of special coils attached to the machine. Therefore (even though such strings can be found infrequently) pay attention to such a mark.
Diameter
Often, having gotten into a conversation between two guitarists, one can hear something like: “Oh no, the sound of a nine is not as cool as that of a dozen!” Take it and you won’t lose! ”So what are they discussing? And they say it is about the thickness of the string, that is, about its caliber, and in choosing a kit should be guided primarily by the diameter of the first and sixth, which are designated as 9-42. In inches, this is indicated as 0.009-0.042.
For beginners, thinner strings are suitable, since for unstressed fingers thick strings are difficult to master. But the sound of a thin string fluctuates less intensely, so it is not so juicy and bright. Most musicians use calibers 10-46 or 9-42, but nevertheless it’s worth starting with 8-38. Only for a long time to get involved in the game on the latter is not worth it, because it is more advisable to switch to a caliber thicker and extract more surround sound. To “chop” heavy metal, you can use strings with a diameter of 11 or 12. But in general, the choice should be made on the basis of their own experience and style of play.
What are the calibers
- Thin - from 0.008-0.009, ideal for beginner musicians who learn the basics of the art of playing the guitar. But over time, it’s better to switch to thicker strings in order to improve the sound quality.
- Medium - 0,010, differ in the balance between the sound of the string and its thickness. This caliber is widespread among artists of various genres.
- Thick ones - from 0.011 to 0.013, are favorites for representatives of metal culture, since playing on such strings requires great skill and masterly skills. Sound production is very bright, juicy and expressive.
List of recommended manufacturers
To help you decide on the choice of strings that are right for you, the following is a list of well-known manufacturers, after reading which it will become much clearer to you how to choose strings for an electric guitar based on your own preferences.
- Elixir The company produces high quality strings, which, unfortunately, are not cheap. Of the main advantages, one can single out a deep timbre of sound enveloping each note. On the strings of "Elixir" a polymer winding is applied, quite pleasant to the touch. And it is thanks to her that they do not grease and serve longer. In general, choosing the strings "Elixir", you will not be disappointed. Indeed, based on the foregoing, they are practical and pleasant to hear.
- D addario. They are a real dinosaur of the tool market, as the strings of this manufacturer have established themselves well a century ago. Moreover, "Dadario" is still ubiquitous and loved by the people. Admirers can be found all over the world, which is not surprising, because D addario is time-tested and can be trusted. Moreover, they are more affordable at a price than strings of other manufacturers.
- Ernie Ball. They differ primarily in that they are sealed in a foil package, and not in a plastic bag. The strings are created using the latest developments in this field. The outer coating is made of a special anti-corrosion alloy, which in itself is a huge plus. In addition, Ernie Ball is reinforced with a special titanium wire, which allows you to better keep the system. But they cost much more than their competitors.
- Dunlop. Strings for electric guitars, also characterized by the unusual VCI packaging (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor), which are special envelopes, the manufacturing technology of which allows strings to be kept in the most favorable conditions. They are made in North America and are universal for any styles of performance.
Ibanez
The electric guitar from this Japanese manufacturer is known everywhere, since Ibanez became a pioneer on the way to the US music market. This brand has its own, very difficult story.
Initially, the company was selling Italian-made guitars. But in the light of the tragic events (civil war) that took place in Italy, the workshop for the manufacture of instruments was destroyed, and the Japanese acquired the right to manufacture guitars under their own name, arranging their production.
The Ibanez electric guitar feature is deep-cut horned guitars. With the onset of the 80s of the last century, Roadster Guitar and Roadster Deluxe models gained popularity, the tremolo of which is Floyd Rose, and the coloring is very bright and fashionable.
To date, the Ibanez electric guitar is known everywhere and is quite democratic at a price that varies from $ 200 to $ 1,500. Therefore, you can safely stop your choice on it.
Yamaha
Electric guitars from this Japanese manufacturer have been recognized by a wide range of musicians. They are quite affordable in terms of price, and in terms of quality they can compete for first place among representatives of the most expensive brands. The history of their production began in the 60s, when the acoustic models of the company made a serious sensation among guitarists around the world.
It is noteworthy that, creating the first electric guitar, Yamaha foresaw the increased interest of the people in the new (at that time) type of instrument and were right. Moreover, the affordable price was initially that a kind of marketing move too.
Today, enterprising and practical Japanese have a fairly wide selection of models, and most likely, among them there is “the same option” for you.
Fender
It is the most beloved brand of artists of hard rock and heavy metal. It all started with the fact that in the distant 1946, Leo Fender founded the company for the production of this wonderful tool. Nowadays, the factory produces personalized guitars, which are made individually, following all the wishes of the customer.
In addition, Fender re-releases old models that have become hits for true music lovers. "Stratocaster" and "Telecaster" have long established themselves as excellent tools, becoming the standard of sound.
Now the company has many models, including: Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Mustang, Roscoe Beck Bass and Prodigy. But, in addition to excellent electric guitars, Fender produces various devices, amplifiers and other electronics for cool sound. The price of the instrument varies from $ 800 to $ 3,000.
In general, choosing which strings for an electric guitar are better, trust your hearing, tastes and preferences, and then your heart will tell you.