Changing guitar string brand
Guitar string makers specialise in different styles as any guitar builder would. There are three main string specifications which differ from brand to brand: gauge, material and winding technique. Most big names such as Ernie Ball, D’addario and Elixir cover all bases. But even then, particular groups of guitarists gravitate towards one of the three because of their association with a certain sound or playing style.
This step in your buying decision comes mainly down to preference. You might find some strings react better than others to the sweat from your hands, or that one brand makes their strings out of a material that suits the tone you’re after. You’re only going to find the best ones for you by playing them.
Ernie Ball are no doubt the biggest name in the business. They’re famous for their Slinky series, which are made of a steel core and round wound in nickel. This provides them with an earthy, smooth feel. Ernie Ball also has arguably the widest range of gauges. They’ve attracted hundreds of famous guitarists of all genres, in particular blues and rock players. If you like a bass-heavy thick tone and decent bang for your buck, you can’t go wrong with Ernie Ball.
D’addario are a forward-thinking brand for modern players. Their NYXL strings are the industry standard for metal guitarists, as they sound brighter than Slinkys without changing too much in the way of materials. If you’re finding that your strings don’t feel fresh for as long as you like, you’ll want to check out the XT coated series. They’re covered in a thin treated coating that resist oxidisation longer than the average string. The high carbon steel core and fusion twisted ball ends also allowing them to hold firm tuning stability and are nigh-on unbreakable.
Last but not least are Elixir. They were one of the first to master string coating. These strings come in at a higher price than the previous two manufacturers’ but offer arguably the longest playing freshness. Elixir make three types of electric guitar string variations, all covered in a thin patented substance to keep them feeling great for longer. Hopefully, you won’t be paying for new packs on the regular.
What are the best Guitar Strings?
The best guitar strings will be the ones that feel completely natural to you. They should match in accordance with the tone you’ve dialled into your amp, and stay consistent with your guitar tuning. Once you’ve got those two pointers wrapped up, how you guitar strings feel is all down to you.
Ernie Ball make so many types of strings that you could try out a few from their range alone and they could last you a year or more. But if you want to take a step up in quality, D’addario and Elixir are the way to go. Just make sure you tune and intonate your guitar when you switch between the gauges and you’ll be good to go.