Electric Guitar String Types

The outer winding process that is most often used for electric guitar strings is called Roundwound, consisting of a round wire that is wrapped around the core wire – producing a bright and loud sound. Favored by many electric guitar players for their low profile and comfortable playing experience, Flatwound electric guitar strings incorporate a winding that is slightly more flat in comparison to roundwound strings. Flatwound strings are a little more gentle on frets and overall fretboard wear, and can also help to eliminate the common finger squeak sound when sliding from note to note. However, flatwound strings are usually a little more expensive in comparison.

Some electric guitar strings can undergo yet another finishing process where they can be further manipulated by grinding down or polishing the outer windings. Half Round electric guitar strings start out as stainless steel roundwound strings, then are precision ground leaving the outer surface smooth and “semi flat”. In our experience this results in a string with similar tone characteristics to flat wound strings, with a smoother feel like flat wound strings, but with a playability and response that is similar to round wound strings.

To help protect the electric guitar strings from oxidation and from the natural oils from players’ fingers, many electric guitar strings are also treated and/or coated. With this added protective layer, treated and coated electric guitar strings also tend to last longer over time. Cryogenically freezing the strings is another recent development in electric guitar string manufacturing, where the strings are frozen at a temperature of -320 degrees in liquid nitrogen, resulting in improved tone and longer life.