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Type of Strings
I am new to all this and I wanted to get some new strings for my guitar. There are many kinds, does it matter? I have a full-size guitar with steel strings. I looked on Amazon and there are too many to choose from. Please help.
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10 Replies
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in the beginning it does not matter. The first set you buy will start developing your ear as to what sound you want and what sound you don’t. I play D’Addario EJ 16s on many of my guitars. They are inexpensive, and after about 10hours of playing they sound pretty much the way I want to sound. After you try those try the SantaCruz Light strings. They are balanced tension strings and coated. They are expensive but last 3 times longer in my experience. The balanced tension strings may feel better for your fingers? (I’ve been told)…you decide. Then try some Elixirs. They are coated and are too slippery for my liking but others swear by them, again, you get to decide. It would be useful to know what gauge strings are currently on your guitar. To keep the same set up (the way the guitar plays, sting height) the replacements should be the same gauge.
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Thank you. As to what I have on my guitar right now I really do not know.
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Great advice from Jumping Jeff, D’Addario EJ16s are a good place to start.
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I use D’Addario medium lights and really like them.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by Kitman.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by
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Hi @DHeaton When I. First started, I used D’Addarrio medium lights. Since then, I’ve ventured out and experimented with different strings. I really like the Earnie aball Earthwood light. Very easy to play and sounds great. Keep a journal of when you change strings and the brand and type replaced with. You can make notes as to pros and cons, likes and dislikes in the journal or notebook.
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I’d like to second that – I use Ernie Ball Earthwood acoustic strings too but I take it a step further and use the Extra Lights (10 – 50). They sound just fine and are easier on my old hands and fingers. One exception is my Martin D-42 where I stick to mediums. It’s more of a ‘performance’ guitar, not one for practicing.
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+1 on the Santa Cruz Parabolic Strings.I use the Low Tension version on my smaller bodied Guild M-20,and Mid Tension on the larger M-40 Traditional as recommended by the Manufacturer.
They are pricey,but well worth it.Sound and feel great,and do last a long time.
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Thank you all for your suggestions and help. This gives me a good start on what to look for. I appreciate you taking the time to help a new beginner.
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Hello, all–
This is a great thread.
With-OUT “steering” the thread from being about what strings are recommended……. if I may, can I throw out a simple question?…..
When considering and hearing about “how long strings last”, is that in reference to how long they have been on the guitar(?)…….. or how many hours they’ve been PLAYED(?).
I have 4 guitars and don’t play them all, all the time. I have two that I play about a half-hour each pretty much everyday, and two that I maybe play a half-hour a WEEK.
So the first two get a LOT more hours of actual playing- and in a shorter time frame, than the other two.
Which is it– “calendar time”, or actual “playing time”?
Thanks for any thoughts on this- and I REALLY don’t want to steer away from the original thread………
theoldcoach
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I have a strong feeling that the answer is both. The strings will oxidize regardless but if you put dirt salt and sweat on them the oxidize faster. Even strings that are never played will go dead from oxidation. Here is the advantage for coated strings. Less exposure to oxidation and resistant to the agents accelerating oxidation. If I were going to play a certain guitar once a week only (as if) I would use coated strings. I wipe stings down frequently every coupla hours or so. You would be amazed to see the dirt that comes off of strings after 3 hours of playing. I would put my string time for uncoated strings around 80-100 hours.
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