Guitar Strings - Which Are Best For My Instrument?

There are many technical factors which can influence your guitar string selection. The properties of the sound and response of a given string can have a strong impact on both the player and the instrument. The relative hardness of the string's component materials in conjunction with an array of treatments the strings undergo during the manufacturing process can combine to create different degrees of sustain, timbre (warmth vs brightness), playability and longevity.

Historically, strings were made of wound gut materials with the lower bass strings wound with various metals. There are several manufacturers still making strings in the historic methods today as well as many synthetic strings designed to replicate the sound and feel of traditional gut strings.

Today, there are three primary guitar string categories: classical guitar strings (nylon, fluorocarbon and other synthetics with bass strings wound with various metals), acoustic guitar strings (steel, bronze, phosphor bronze, nickel, etc.) and electric guitar strings (steel, nickel and other metals chosen for electromagnetic properties). Here at Strings By Mail, we strive to have the best selection of guitar strings at the best possible prices. That's why we are your online music store!