Guitarists and Guitar Strings

[Swerve]

Bear in mind that this is a bit of an echo chamber. Most bass players don't obsess over strings either and play whatever was on their bass. At least guitar players change their strings regularly!

This has been my experience. Any time I ask a bassist what strings they use they either can't remember or it's D'Addario XL's or EB Slinky's.

I was the same way for about the first 15 years of my playing. Just grabbed whatever NPS that was available in standard gauge at the music store.

 

[mdlewis]

Guitarists that I have known usually change their strings much more frequently than bass players and those strings are a lot less costly than a good set of bass strings.

My friend/colleague in question here changes his strings before every show.

 

[mdlewis]

Keep in mind that changing guitar strings is, in comparison to bass, a raging pain in the ass, plus the eternal struggle to get the G string properly intonated. And that’s assuming the guitarist involved knows of or bothers with intonation.

My friend is faster than I with changing strings. He has locking tuners on all his instruments - changing strings with those is quite fast, which is important for him I guess, since he changes them before every show.

 

[MrAB4003]

In the electric guitar world, many guitarists are more focused on string gauge va string materials/construction. You’ll hear guitarists posting about 9, 10, or 11s, referring to the gauge of the high E string and factors like sustain, tension and ease of bending strings. Many guitarists are somewhat protective of their preferred gauge. Trying to convince someone on 9s to try 10s or vice versa is tantamount to asking to them to give up their first born.

I was a hardcore 10s player but have moved back to 9s in recent years.

Type of guitar, fixed bridge, floating bridge or locked bridge is part of the equation. A Strat player may want to use 10s to improve sustain and reduce tuning challenges on a Strat tremolo bridge.

This! I play D'Addario NYXLs (11-56 gauge) on guitar because I tune to D Standard (DGCFAD). Those strings have been very good to me since I acquired my first guitar last year. I can't say that I'm protective over my preferred gauge. But I'm more protective over my preferred tuning (on guitar and bass).

As a guitarist and a bassist, I say play what works for you, but don't get defensive about it.

Keep in mind that changing guitar strings is, in comparison to bass, a raging pain in the ass, plus the eternal struggle to get the G string properly intonated. And that’s assuming the guitarist involved knows of or bothers with intonation.

My F string (G string tuned down a whole step) is annoying to keep intonated. Intonation is in the front of my mind when I play guitar because bass is my first instrument. The struggle is real!

 

[Michedelic]

My F string (G string tuned down a whole step) is annoying to keep intonated. Intonation is in the front of my mind when I play guitar because bass is my first instrument. The struggle is real!

There’s just something about the physics of a guitar “G” string(the length or guage?)that makes it pesky.

 

[Hawk620]

Others have covered this pretty well so all I can do is to confirm that the type of strings I play on a guitar have very little to do with the "voice" of the instrument. Even the gauges of strings we play are chosen primarily for comfort and playability not so much tonality. Bass strings however to play a major role in the tonality of that bass and there are more string types and materials used in their production than guitar strings.

I've settled pretty much on a single gauge of guitar string that I use on all of my guitar varying only between nickel wound and pure nickel. Over the years I've experimented more with various bass strings but there again I've settled on just two or three that work well on all of my basses. I've been playing long enough to know pretty much what to expect from the various types and various producers of them.

 

[wompwomp]

30-year guitarist here, I would say acoustic players are probably fussier about strings but electric players certainly are aware of gauge and type (flats vs rounds etc)... also wound vs unwound can be a major consideration, i wonder if most bassists are even aware of unwound strings?

generally guitarists change their strings a lot more often than bassists, I suspect most buy in bulk once they find their set. at one point I was probably changing sets twice a week.

I recently acquired an early 50s ES-125, my plan is to use 11 rounds except for a 10-equivalent wound g. yeah I would say guitarists care about strings.

I would also point out that bassists are for the most part playing the string whereas a guitarist is more like playing the top or perhaps the amp but it's a completely different conception of an instrument

 

[oldcatfish]

Strings make just as much of a difference on guitar. Yet, guitarists aren't anywhere near as interested in strings as bassists are. No, it doesn't make sense. Do your thing and don't worry about it.

No they don’t. Not usually anyway, not on electric guitar, because there’s so much external tone modification going on that any difference in strings can be adjusted. Most electric guitar players don’t go straight into an amp….there’s pedals involved.

Acoustic guitar is a different situation….the strings definitely make a huge difference there.

 

[HelpImaRock]

There’s just something about the physics of a guitar “G” string(the length or guage?)that makes it pesky.

A plain G can take a while to mellow out. A wound G might have too thin a core and break easily. And pickups with staggered polepieces can make a plain G too present.

It all comes down to guitarists having no idea what the right set of strings is for a guitar, or why they should use something different.
Add in a poorly set up vibrato and bad stringing technique and there you are.

 

[HelpImaRock]

No they don’t. Not usually anyway, not on electric guitar, because there’s so much external tone modification going on that any difference in strings can be adjusted. Most electric guitar players don’t go straight into an amp….there’s pedals involved.

Acoustic guitar is a different situation….the strings definitely make a huge difference there.

At a guitarist of 35 years, I disagree. But then, I actually put thought into the strings I use and pairing the strings to the instrument.

 

[RicheyLather]

I am on a EB Turbo Slinky kick these days (9.5-44). I change my strings every month or so. Don’t see a reason to indulge in expensive guitar strings. Bass is a different story. Being relatively new (again, in the 70’s-80’s it was always Rotosounds for bass) I’m having fun experimenting- flats, DR Sunbeams, who knows what’s next, but it will be a couple months.

 

[bass player 53]

I have a small collection of acoustic
guitars and have noticed in the blogs that acoustic guitarists take strings
rather seriously.

 

[MrAB4003]

i wonder if most bassists are even aware of unwound strings?

I am because I used to play piccolo bass before switching to guitar. The D'Addario regular XL piccolo strings that I used to play came with an unwound 20 gauge highest string. But not all bassists play or have played piccolo bass.

I switched to guitar because I needed more higher range and because it hurt to play power chords on a narrow Jazz Bass neck. That's all I had for my piccolo bass.

 

[thrashingbass]

Some bass players stick forever to "their strings" as well, loving what has worked for them for years.

But indeed strings matter a lot more to many bass players, as most often bass is played either clean or blended in with distortion, to retain bottom end, as a general rule. The "pure" string tone is both more important and more noticeable to the bassist.

I am not a pro guitarist even though I played classical as a teenager, but I do prefer Ernie Ball Hyper or Primo Slinky depending on guitar scale to whatever other string is out there. I started with that hybrid 8-42 gauge, and love it. I do not think that if you play bass, then you also need thicker guitar strings-you alter your playing to match the instruments. On the contrary, I find the "heavy" strings harder to play on guitar, and prefer a looser feel. But I also do not do "heavy" tunings.

For 4 string bass, Hyper Slinky (just the old 40-100 gauge) translates well, but I love it way more on guitar. I am willing to experiment and love other strings on bass, from flatwounds, tapewounds, to all roundwounds. Though generally, my favorite roundwounds are in the Rotosound family, from all that I have played. So yes, even I am more adventurous with bass strings vs guitar strings, for which I only prefer the lighter, "Slinky" type (and are also readily available *in store* where I live.)

 

[toastw]

I'll bite on this one. With my guitar, I'm really looking for consistency, predictability from the instrument. Like I don't fiddle with my tone knob on my guitar, I dime it and leave it alone. When I want to change my tone, I have an assortment of stomp boxes at my disposal.

Strings for me, it's probably about equal parts feel and tone. Swapping strings, different ones bend funny or maybe they decided to change the gauge on a couple strings to make it more "country" or more "rock." And then, they also age a lot quicker than bass strings. So I need to flip 'em out a lot more frequently. But not because I want the smoother feel of a flat versus round; because they're getting crunchy from use.

DR Pure Blues Mediums, please and thank you!

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I recently restrung my ES-339 and I went with Elixers 12-52. I care more about longevity and a heavy enough gauge for the ability to play those teenie, thin strings without bending chords out of tune.

I hate stringing my guitar. Unlike my basses where the end of the string goes down into the tuning peg hole, on guitar the hole is exposed so the string sticks out and gets cut off. This last time I poked my fingers with the needle like end a couple of times. Bloody guitar strings. Literally.

 

[ElectricBass72]

On guitar.... I like Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (10's) in the green pack. They make them for 7-string too with .056 Low B. I use them on a Carvin DC747, Fender MIM Strat and Hamer double cutaway (PRS copy).

 

[GIBrat51]

Just got to thinking about this today after ordering my first set of Olintos and wondered what other's experience might be. My very long time guitar associate friend is obsessive about body styles, neck shapes, pickups, tuners, amps and pedals but uses the same strings on all his guitars that he has used for probably four decades or more. My experience with bass is that strings matter a lot and so I'm finding his lack of interest in strings interesting. Do they make less of a difference for guitar, or are guitarists generally not as interested in strings as bass players are, or is my case just unique?

Honestly? IMO, it depends on the guitar player. Just like it depends on the bass player. There are plenty of bass players here on TB that have the same strings on all their basses, and don't understand why everybody else doesn't do the same. The Strings forum is full of them. Which is perfectly fine, AFAIC; more power to 'em... Personally? I like to mtch the strings to the bass - and what I've decided to play on that bass. So, Yes, I've tried LOTS of strings. But, when I find the "right" string for that bass? I generally stick with them... As for my guitars? Oddly, I just... decide what I want on that guitar, and then I just... put them on. And stick with them...
Other guitar players? Yeah, I know some that stick with one string. I don't know if they experimented first - or, if they did, how much. But, they have one string they like - and that's what they use. OTOH? I have a guitar player friend who experiments constantly. Every time I see him, the conversation quickly turns to his latest string adventures. He mostly plays acoustic guitars, and TBH? I had no idea there was so much difference between acoustic guitar strings. Or, if there actually isn't that much difference, and he just likes to tinker. He does the same thing with his electric guitars, but... not quite so much.
So... it just depends on the guitar player, I suppose...

 

[iiipopes]

Just got to thinking about this today after ordering my first set of Olintos and wondered what other's experience might be. My very long time guitar associate friend is obsessive about body styles, neck shapes, pickups, tuners, amps and pedals but uses the same strings on all his guitars that he has used for probably four decades or more. My experience with bass is that strings matter a lot and so I'm finding his lack of interest in strings interesting. Do they make less of a difference for guitar, or are guitarists generally not as interested in strings as bass players are, or is my case just unique?

I also play guitar. Since 1975. Yes, strings do make a difference. I have spent years tailoring sets to get the optimal tone for the purpose. Here is what I play:

Gibson J-45 - Masterbuilt 80/20 12-53 (old packaging - 10 sets OEM reserve - not the new ones)
Conn Jumbo Acoustic - Martin Monel Retro 13-56, downtuned to Eb
Ibanez 12-string - Martin Monel Retro 12-string set, substituting a 9 for the 10 G-octave string
Washburn Idol
Custom Fanned Fret guitar
Sears & Roebuck from 1975 (my first guitar)
- All three of these guitars - D'A EXL115W 11-49 with wound 3rd
Rickenbacker 360-12 OS Ckbd Binding - custom singles
Epiphone Alley Kat - DR Legends Flats 11- 48, sometimes change the 48 to a 50, great jazz guitar (Sometimes GHS Brite Flats 11's if playing Rockabilly)
Rickenbacker 320 - D'A XL EJ21 12-52 with wound 3rd (short scale) (sometime DR Legend Flats 12's, sometimes a D'A EXL120 if uptuning as a terz guitar)
Ibanez Talman (335 Construction) Curt Mangan 11-50 Monel custom gauges

In addition to strings, I have also tweaked the wiring to get the tones I desire, including pickups, controls, tone caps, push-pulls, etc.

So, yes, even though I don't play guitar as much as I used to, all details, including strings, are important and a player should take time to match the strings to the instrument, player's style, repertoire, etc. Yes, I have a friend who has a huge collection of electric guitars. He plays the same D'A EXL110 10-46 set on all of them, and Elixir 12-53 on all his acoustic guitars. And the bottom line is that it is all in the fingers. For example, I played Roto Swingbass for years on one bass for everything, and at a blues festival a gentleman came up to me, complimented my tone, and asked what brand of flats I use! I had put a fresh set on just before the gig! No, the tone knob was not rolled off. Could I get by if there were only one set available, as there used to be before Ernie Ball essentially invented the after-market strings industry and everybody, including the Beatles, played the strings that the factory supplied to the particular instrument? Yes. Thankfully, I don't have to.

 

[LanEvo]

Winding material makes a huge difference in guitar strings. Pure nickel vs nickel blend vs stainless steel … those are some pretty obvious differences. Even more obvious than string gauges. But the differences among individual brands of each string type are far less noticeable to my ears. A pure nickel set of Ernie Balls will sound pretty much identical to pure nickel DRs or D’Addarios or what have you.

If you think about it, that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. After all, unwound guitar strings are just naked steel wire. And the wound strings are virtually all hex core with (as far as I know) a single wrap layer. How different can two brands of the same string type really be?

In contrast, bass string construction is all over the place. There’s a variety of cores (materials and shapes), wraps (materials, number of layers), coatings, flat wounds, tape wounds, round wounds, ground wounds, etc etc. Many more variables at play.