Choosing Electric Guitar Strings
It is very easy to be overwhelmed in the string section of your favorite guitar shop if you don’t know what you’re looking for. The display wall is stocked full of many different brands in all different colors of attractive packaging, but how do you choose which one is right for you? The best way to avoid being overwhelmed by the shop’s selection is to be well informed about the differences between strings, not necessarily brands, but weights, and having an idea of what styles you are looking to play as well before perusing the assorted brands.
As one can imagine, the thickness of a guitar string has a large effect on its sound. Many players enjoy the thicker, more resonant sound a thicker string makes. One player of note who enjoyed thicker strings was the blues legend, Stevie Ray Vaughan. If you ever marveled at the thickness of Stevie Ray’s legendary tone, marvel no longer. His secret, besides his favorite Fender Stratocaster, was in the fact that he used some of the thickest strings on the market. Of course, when choosing thick strings, you must be confident in your ability to press them successfully to the fretboard at all different positions in order to make a full and stable tone. Not everyone possesses the hand strength of a fantastic player like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but if you desire his tone, thicker strings are the way to go.
Thicker strings, because of their larger surface area, are much more difficult to press to the fretboard, so many beginning players opt for the higher playability of thinner strings, though in trade, they receive a thinner tone as well. The playability, especially when bending strings to higher pitches while soloing can be very expressive and less physically demanding than with their thicker counterparts. Of course with a little manipulation of your favorite equalizer or effects pedal, a player can add more thickness to make up for the thinner tone a thin string creates. But remember, this thinner sound created by a thinner gauge of string is very desirable in many styles of playing such as surf rock and rockabilly, so perhaps this manipulation of tone by effects is not necessary.
In the end, the style of playing, ability and hand strength, as well as desired timbre of sound are all determining factors in string selection. At locally owned shops such as Strait Music Company in Austin, Texas, helpful salespeople have plenty of time and knowledge to help ensure each customer leaves with the perfect strings to fit their particular hands.
About the Author: Clint Strait is a third generation owner and assistant manager of the Strait Music, Austin Music Stores, providing the best selection of electric guitars and sheet music to Austin and the surrounding area for over forty years. For more information please visit www.straitmusic.com.
As one can imagine, the thickness of a guitar string has a large effect on its sound. Many players enjoy the thicker, more resonant sound a thicker string makes. One player of note who enjoyed thicker strings was the blues legend, Stevie Ray Vaughan. If you ever marveled at the thickness of Stevie Ray’s legendary tone, marvel no longer. His secret, besides his favorite Fender Stratocaster, was in the fact that he used some of the thickest strings on the market. Of course, when choosing thick strings, you must be confident in your ability to press them successfully to the fretboard at all different positions in order to make a full and stable tone. Not everyone possesses the hand strength of a fantastic player like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but if you desire his tone, thicker strings are the way to go.
Thicker strings, because of their larger surface area, are much more difficult to press to the fretboard, so many beginning players opt for the higher playability of thinner strings, though in trade, they receive a thinner tone as well. The playability, especially when bending strings to higher pitches while soloing can be very expressive and less physically demanding than with their thicker counterparts. Of course with a little manipulation of your favorite equalizer or effects pedal, a player can add more thickness to make up for the thinner tone a thin string creates. But remember, this thinner sound created by a thinner gauge of string is very desirable in many styles of playing such as surf rock and rockabilly, so perhaps this manipulation of tone by effects is not necessary.
In the end, the style of playing, ability and hand strength, as well as desired timbre of sound are all determining factors in string selection. At locally owned shops such as Strait Music Company in Austin, Texas, helpful salespeople have plenty of time and knowledge to help ensure each customer leaves with the perfect strings to fit their particular hands.
About the Author: Clint Strait is a third generation owner and assistant manager of the Strait Music, Austin Music Stores, providing the best selection of electric guitars and sheet music to Austin and the surrounding area for over forty years. For more information please visit www.straitmusic.com.
Labels: austin electric guitars, austin music stores, Austin TX guitar Stores
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