Buying Guide: How To Choose Electric Guitar Strings

November 19, 2020

ELECTRIC GUITAR STRING GAUGES

Electric guitar strings, like acoustic guitar or electric bass strings, are manufactured in a range of thicknesses or gauges. The thickness of an electric guitar string has a large influence on the playability and sound in addition to other factors like the string material.

Light Gauge

— Easier to bend and play, so ideal for beginner guitar players with uncalloused hands

— Ideal for vintage electric guitars

— Even projection with bright sound

Heavy Gauge

— Require more finger pressure to fret and bend notes

— Hotter output with punchy tone

— Are preferred for low tunings such as Drop D, Drop A, etc.

— Exert more tension on the guitar neck

ELECTRIC GUITAR STRING MATERIALS

Electric guitar strings are made using various metal alloys which have a significant impact on the strings’ sound. Here are some general tonal characteristics of the most common types of strings:

— Nickel: Balanced brightness and warmth

— Cobalt: Wide dynamic range with increased low end and crisp highs

— M-Steel: Rich and full tone with powerful low end response

— Pure Nickel: Vintage output with a warm tone

— Stainless Steel: Bright, crisp, “edgy” tone with corrosion resistance

ERNIE BALL ELECTRIC GUITAR STRING COMPARISON

Ernie Ball electric guitar strings come in a variety of materials described above including the popular Nickel Wound Slinky’s, M-Steel, and Cobalt electric guitar strings. Below is a quick comparison of the different types of Ernie Ball electric guitar string types. You can also use our useful compare tool on our website to compare any of our electric guitar string products.

Slinky Nickel Wound

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Electric Strings are our top selling set, and are favored by Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Steve Vai and legions of guitar players worldwide. Regular Slinky wound strings are made from nickel plated steel wire wrapped around a hex shaped steel core wire. The plain strings are made of specially tempered tin plated high carbon steel producing a well balanced tone for your guitar.

Slinky Paradigm

Our new state-of-the-art wire drawing process coupled with our patented RPS (reinforced plain string) technology dramatically increases tensile strength by up to 35% and provides up to 70% more fatigue strength than traditional strings. Our Paradigm wrap wire uses an exclusive plasma enhanced process to remove defects and greatly improves corrosion resistance.

Slinky Cobalt

Engineered to maximize output and clarity, Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinky Guitar Strings provide an extended dynamic range, incredible harmonic response, increased low end, and crisp, clear highs. Cobalt provides a stronger magnetic relationship between pickups and strings than any other alloy previously available. Cobalt Slinkys are also soft and silky to the touch, making string bending a breeze.

Slinky M-Steel

Maraging Steel, is a superalloy used in high stress applications for the aerospace and defense industries. These wound strings are comprised of a patented Super Cobalt alloy wrapped around a Maraging steel hex core wire, producing a richer and fuller tone with powerful low end response. A patented winding of steel around the ball end of the plain strings reduces slippage, breakage and stays in tune better than conventional strings.

Slinky Classic Rock N’ Roll Pure Nickel Wrap

Made from pure nickel wire wrapped around tin plated hex shaped steel core wire, these guitar strings produce a warm rich tone with that signature Slinky feel.

Slinky RPS Nickel Wound

Ernie Ball’s RPS wound strings consist of specific gauges and core to wrap ratios for balanced rich harmonics and a signature Slinky feel. Plain strings in RPS sets last longer and stay in tune better than conventional plain strings. A patented winding of brass wire is tightly wrapped around the lock twist of the ball end of the plain strings. String slippage and breakage are minimized at the ball end where these most often occur.

Slinky RPS Coated Titanium

Titanium’s inherent strength prevents string breakage, string slippage, and is proven to keep your guitar strings in tune better than conventional plain strings. Ernie Ball coated Slinky guitar strings maintain the feel and sound of uncoated sets, combining the added protection with the vibrant tone Ernie Ball customers have relied on for over 50 years.

Slinky Stainless Steel Wound

Made from stainless steel wire wrapped around tin plated, hex shaped, steel core wire. Plain strings are tin plated, high carbon steel. These strings provide brighter tone and longer string life.

Light Electric Wound

Widely referred to as a jazz set, Ernie Ball Light Nickel Wound strings feature a wound G string. Unlike their Slinky sibling, these Nickel Wound sets are not limited to jazz musicians and are tailor-made for alternative, rock, and pop.

Half-Gauge Slinky

Primo Slinkys sit neatly between the popular Regular Slinky and Super Slinky strings while providing a balanced, comfortable feel across all six strings. This combination is perfect for players who are looking for added playability with minimal differences in tone and tension. Mega Slinky strings are ideal for players who prefer a thicker sounding set with only a slight difference in tension and feel.

Blended Gauges

We did the math so you don’t have to. The new Burly string set combines our Power and Skinny Top Heavy Bottom gauges, while the Ultra set provides the tone and feel of Regular and Power Slinky’s.