All about electric guitar strings.
- Matt Dunham
- Feb 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 2
Guitar strings are the unsung heroes of our journey as guitarists. While we may spend countless hours and dollars searching for the perfect instrument, amplifier, or effects, strings often remain an afterthought - something that we settle into a habit of buying and using without much particular care - sometimes buying whatever is cheapest or what is available. After all, strings are disposable and aren't as visible or easily romanticized as the guitar itself. If we stop to think about it though, the guitar string, not the guitar, is what is making the sound. The guitar is there to manipulate and amplify the string so we can make music, but the string is as much a musical instrument as the guitar itself, if not more. It it well worth taking the time to experiment with different guitar string brands and types. The choice can be overwhelming, especially if you are a newer player. We pride ourselves on carrying a wide variety of guitar strings at Central Ohio Music so you can find something that will work for you and your guitar. Here's a breakdown of some of the types of strings we have and what might work for you:
Nickel-Plated Steel Roundwounds
These are by far the most popular type of electric guitar string on the market. They are made by wrapping round nickel-plated steel wire over a steel core. These strings are moderately bright, with good sustain, which makes them a good fit for all genres of music. They are also usually priced very affordably for most brands. D'Addario XL and La Bella HRS are popular choices with all around balanced playability. GHS Boomers have slightly more tension and are an excellent choice for downtuning. For a easier bending and a lighter touch, La Bella Benders and Ernie Ball Slinkys are worth a try.
Pure Nickel Roundwounds
These are made by wrapping the steel core wire with a pure nickel wrap wire. This type of string pre-dates nickel-plated steel and would have been the standard strings on most electric guitars in the 1950's. Compared to nickel-plated steel, pure nickel strings have a slightly mellower tone and a different texture under the fingers. They are especially popular with blues players, but work well for all genres of music. They are also usually a little more expensive due to the higher nickel content. La Bella Pure Vintage are a reproduction of the strings La Bella was making in the 50's that were standard on many guitar brands from the factory - a great choice if you are looking for authentic tone from that era of music. DR Pure Blues and GHS Nickel Rockers are also great choices.
Nickel-Iron Roundwounds
Made with a wrap wire of solid nickel-iron, sometimes called Alloy 52, these are a somewhat uncommon type of guitar string. These are bright, articulate, and balanced sounding strings with more amplified output than nickel-plated strings. They are also fairly resistant to tarnishing and physical wear, which means they last a long time. GHS Progressives are one of the few nickel-iron strings available on the market. They are great for getting more clarity and volume out of weak or muddy pickups, or for any player who is looking for a little more out of their guitar strings. These are particularly popular with progressive and metal guitar players but are also great for country or any genre where the guitar needs to stand out in the mix.
Flat Wounds
Flatwound strings are made by wrapping the core wire with a flat steel ribbon, rather than a round wire. The ribbon material is typically stainless steel. This process creates a string that is totally smooth to the touch, without the ridges found on roundwound strings. Since flatwound strings are smooth, they have little to no finger noise, which makes them great for recording or playing styles that require frequent position shifts. Tonally, they are darker sounding than roundwound strings with less sustain and a pronounced "thump" in the low end. With more emphasis on the fundamental and less overtones, flatwound strings lend clarity to complex chords and can add heft to single note passages and basslines. They will also have higher string tension than a similarly sized set of roundwounds. Flatwound strings are most popular among jazz guitarists, but were commonly used in all genres in the 40's through the 60's. They are an excellent choice for recreating vintage guitar sounds, such as surf, early rock and roll, R&B, and vintage country. They also work well with heavily effected guitars, making them a solid choice for ambient players. The increased string tension means that flatwounds downtune very well. Although they are expensive, sometimes double or triple the cost of roundwound strings, flatwound strings last a long time and also minimize fret wear on the guitar, resulting in less cost associated with replacing strings and maintaining frets. La Bella Jazz Flats are a premium choice in flatwound strings, with extra thin ribbon polished totally smooth. Due to their particular construction, they only fit on archtop guitars and solid body electric guitars with ample string length behind the bridge, such as Jazzmasters and Bigsby equipped guitars. GHS Precision Flatwound strings provide a universal fit for all guitars, with a somewhat darker tone and a satin polish - they are great strings.
Ground-Wound Strings
Ground-wound, or "half-rounds" are made by taking a roundwound string and grinding the ridges down until it is smooth or semi-smooth. The string may be further polished depending on the finish desired by the manufacturer. These strings have reduced finger noise, which like flatwound strings, makes them a great choice for recording. They are also easy on frets. Since they started out as roundwounds, ground-wound strings retain a lot of roundwound traits - they are fairly flexible, with good sustain and overtones, although a little darker sounding overall. They are generally more expensive than round wound strings, but more affordable than flat wound strings. GHS Brite Flats are a solid choice in groundwound strings. There are minimal ridges between the wraps and the nickel-iron wire gives them extra brightness and great durability. La Bella Super Polished are another excellent choice, with a stainless steel wrap wire ground down and then polished fully smooth.
Coated Strings
Coated strings are guitar strings that have had a protective coating (typically some type of plastic) applied to them. This extends the life of the string by preventing corrosion and buildup of dirt and gunk between the wraps of the string. Most coated strings are nickel-plated steel roundwounds. Coating materials and methods vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and can significantly effect the tone and feel of the string. Players who find themselves going through strings quickly, especially where the strings are exposed to excessive sweat, may wish to switch to a coated string. Coated strings may also appeal to players looking for a smoother, slicker feeling string than a standard roundwound or who may prefer the tonal effects of the coating. DR Dragon Skin+ strings are the best made coated strings on the market. They have a tone and feel virtually indistinguishable from uncoated strings, and the coating does not flake or peel. Like all of DR's strings, they are made to a very high standard. D'Addario XS strings are another great choice. Compared to the Dragon Skins, the D'Addarios have a more noticeable coating, which gives them a slick feel under the fingers - they are comparable to Elixir strings in sound and feel, but the application of the coating material is much better, and they are less prone to peeling. For those looking for a more aggressive tone in a coated string, GHS Coated Boomers give the same big sound of GHS Boomers with life-extending coating applied to the string.
While this is just scratching the surface of electric guitar string options (we haven't even discussed different string gauges), I hope this helps give insight into some of the choices that are available. Trying new strings is an inexpensive way to explore new tones on the guitar, which in turn will inspire new ideas and new music, bust you out of a creative rut, or simply make playing easier.
Matt Dunham
Central Ohio Music
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