November 19, 2020
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.
— Easier to bend and play, so ideal for beginner guitar players with uncalloused hands
— Ideal for vintage electric guitars
— Even projection with bright sound
— 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Sign up to get the latest on events, sales, new releases and more…
© 2022 Martel Music Store.
Powered by Shopify