Tagged Questions

0
votes
1answer
58 views

What gauge strings should I use for A# tuning on an electric guitar [duplicate]

I play heavy metal songs from bands such as Parkway Drive, Bring me the Horizon, Northlane etc. which play in A# guitar tuning. What gauge strings are appropriate for that?
3
votes
1answer
57 views

How long can I store shrink-wrapped strings?

While cleaning up, I recently found a box (still had 6 packs in it) of shrink-wrapped strings for my electric guitar: D'Addario EXL120 Nickel Wound 9-42. I guess they have been sitting around in my ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views

Tuning new strings on an acoustic guitar

Okay, so a while back I broke one of my guitar strings, so I bought a new set. The problem is with my new strings my guitar sounds awful. Like it doesn't sound new awful it sounds like its completely ...
3
votes
3answers
157 views

Which electric guitar strings have the least (pitch) bend

When playing my electric guitar, the pitch of notes varies depending upon how exactly the strings are fretted; this is particularly a problem with strings that are barred by the first finger, since ...
3
votes
2answers
112 views

How do Tape-Wound strings compare to metal Flatwounds?

I recently discovered that the nylon-coated Tape Flatwound strings, which have long been available for Bass, are available now in guitar sets (with plain b and e). How do these compare in tone, scrape ...
7
votes
1answer
134 views

How do I use string gauge tables?

I have seen that string manufacturers publish tables of string gauges and tensions. For example, this one. How can I use these to choose a set of strings for my instrument?
4
votes
3answers
176 views

Are there any (experimental) guitar strings whose cross-section is not a circle?

The answers to this question have led me to wonder: if you string a guitar with a differently-shaped string, would it have interestingly different sonic properties? And of course, since I can't just ...
3
votes
3answers
378 views

How to keep guitar strings from breaking so quickly?

I have a takamine g350 acoustic-electric guitar (not that it really matters for this quesiton), and my strings tend to break every two or three weeks. I do like to experiment with different tunings, ...
1
vote
1answer
148 views

Why do the quality of the sound of guitar strings decay over time?

Particularly, on classical guitars, strings 4, 5 and 6. At the beginning, the sound is very metallic. After a few weeks, it's like playing on coton.
2
votes
1answer
281 views

What strings can I use to get a high-quality sound out of a travelling guitar?

I've just purchased a Washburn Travel Guitar. I know I'll never get full guitar sound out of it, but I was wondering what strings I could / should get to (perhaps) maximise this little guy.
3
votes
1answer
202 views

How can I prevent loss of tuning when changing strings set from 0.11 to 0.12?

I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom and it's tuned in standard C and my playing style is mostly Desert Rock. I'm using a set of 0.12 strings and considering changing to a 0.11 set to have less tension ...
3
votes
6answers
1k views

Incessant Buzzing on Third String (Classical Guitar)

I've had an ongoing issue with my classical guitar. The third string (nylon) always buzzes on first, second, and third fret. While we're at it, the sixth string (wound metal over nylon core) buzzes on ...
2
votes
3answers
205 views

Is there some type of classical guitar strings that have uniform tone across all six?

Whenever I try to adapt music for classical guitar I actively try to avoid transposing any note to the first string (High E) because it sounds so much more twangy than the other five. I understand ...
3
votes
1answer
108 views

Should I take the weather into account when I replace guitar strings?

I have been told that the strings in a guitar should be replaced at least every six months (I know this can be subjective). I have a classical guitar which has been several years with the same ...
7
votes
6answers
3k views

Is it good/bad to play guitar with low tension string?

When I started playing my acoustic(at an early age) I tuned the guitar just by matching notes. Like, matching the note of 5th fret of 6th string to open fret of 5th string and so on. I didn't used ...
4
votes
4answers
418 views

Which one has more impact on the sound, the string or the body?

Which exactly affects more on the sound of the guitar? is it the guitar body? or the string? How much the sound improves if I use good string on an old guitar? I know it really depends on the ...
7
votes
2answers
13k views

How does string gauge affect a guitar's sound and playability?

Guitar strings are available in a variety of gauges. What effect does my choice of string gauge have on the sound of my guitar? What effect does it have on playability?
0
votes
1answer
115 views

What should be the tension for 0.010 inch strings for guitar

0.009 inch(diameter) strings are tuned as E3, A3, D4, B4, G4, E5. Question is, does 0.010 inch diameter strings should be tuned in this tension? When I try to set these like 0.009 inch ones, the ...
0
votes
0answers
63 views

How can one minimise the percussive strumming sound on acoustic guitar and maximise the notes? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How to prevent the noise my guitar pick makes? When we are rehearsing with the band it seems that the main thing that one can hear of our singer's acoustic guitar is the ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views

Can I play a regular guitar as a Lap Steel by replacing its strings with steel strings?

Is there any significant difference other then strings between "regular acoustic guitar" and an "acoustic lap steel guitar"? Is replacing the strings with steel strings enough?
4
votes
3answers
131 views

Is it possible for the unwound strings wear faster than the wound strings on a Guitar?

I have had my guitar for about 7 months or so now (this is my first) and i just learned a few weeks ago that you are supposed to change the strings every so often. well a couple of weeks before that i ...
2
votes
3answers
283 views

Do you ever play a barre chord without you index finger on guitar?

I would think the only finger you'd ever use to play a barre chord is you index finger. is this right? As in the finger you'd use to make the barre.
5
votes
3answers
923 views

Which strings should I use for DADGAD tuning on my acoustic guitar?

I have recently switched to DADGAD tuning, before that I was using light tension strings ( 12 16 24 32 42 53 ). But because of DADGAD, to compensate for the lack of tension on the neck, I wanted to ...
16
votes
10answers
10k views

Why shouldn't I put electric guitar strings on my acoustic guitar?

I've always found even the lightest acoustic (bronze) guitar strings to be a bit too heavy to play comfortably. Electric (nickel) guitar strings tend to be lighter. But nobody uses electric strings on ...
3
votes
5answers
4k views

Can I use nylon with steel string guitar?

I was wondering if it possible to put nylon strings on a steel string guitar. Is it possible? If not why?
8
votes
1answer
935 views

Flat-wound vs round-wound strings

What difference can you expect when playing with flat-wound vs round-wound strings on an electric bass/guitar? I know that they feel different - I am asking explicitly in terms of sound.
14
votes
3answers
1k views

Boiling/washing used guitar/bass strings - is it worthwhile?

I've read that some people boil their strings from time to time to make them sound again like they were new (and save some money). Is this really worthwhile, or are there any disadvantages to this?
6
votes
4answers
983 views

Is grease good or bad for guitar strings?

I was once told that playing a guitar with greasy fingers was actually good for the strings. However, this seems a bit counter-intuitive. Is there any truth behind this claim?
5
votes
4answers
224 views

new strings always relaxing. how do I speed up this process?

every time I replace guitar strings, the strings will always relaxing for a few hours to become stable. how do I speed up this process?
5
votes
5answers
1k views

Will steel strings wear out my nickel frets ?

I have bought some coated strings because I wanted to try that out. After my purchase I noticed that the package says the uncoated strings are stainless steel. Since my frets are made out of nickel ...
18
votes
5answers
1k views

Recycling guitar strings

This one goes out to all my eco-friendly shredder pals. Does anyone know of an organization that takes guitar strings and recycles them? I run through quite a few packs per month on a heavy gigging ...
8
votes
2answers
729 views

Restringing a 12-string guitar with heavier strings - is it possible?

I'm considering using a 12-string guitar I don't play all that much as a testbed: Is it possible to restring an acoustic guitar as a baritone guitar, or even just string it so I can tune it down a few ...
10
votes
7answers
647 views

How do I properly stretch my newly strung strings?

I came across this string stretcher device. It claims to properly and evenly stretch new strings and maintain tuning. I never really made a point to properly stretch newly strung strings. Can anyone ...
5
votes
2answers
411 views

How is string height adjusted for a neck with a compound radius ?

From what I understand, during a guitar setup, the string height is adjusted to follow the fretboard radius. How is string height adjusted for a neck with a compound radius ?
5
votes
4answers
3k views

Why does my Stratocaster guitar sound worse with new strings?

My 4-month-old strings sounded much better than the new set that I just put on. I am using the same brand of strings that I used before. My guitar sounds like crap now. What's wrong? Should I stretch ...
5
votes
1answer
167 views

Should I replace unwound strings on my acoustic guitar as often as the wound ones?

The wound strings wear off quite fast, and start sounding dull even faster, so I replace them quite often. But whenever I do so, I replace the unwound strings as well, even though at that point, they ...
6
votes
1answer
85 views

Strings stick to pickup poles when the tremolo is depressed.

Sometimes, when I depress the tremolo quite far, the strings magnetically stick to the pickup poles... Is this normal? Is there a way I can prevent it, aside from not depressing the tremolo so far? ...
13
votes
7answers
854 views

Coated Strings—Gimmick, or worth the money?

Never used them myself, but I had a friend who used to swear by the plastic-coated strings he bought for his electric to try and help keep them cleaner. While I realize this probably does do ...
20
votes
6answers
2k views

Do guitar strings wear when not used?

Do strings wear because of the pressure applied to them or any other factor, or do they stay in quite the same shape as long as you don't use them?
9
votes
4answers
1k views

How can I effectively secure guitar strings to the tuning pegs?

One of the bigger problems I face when restringing my guitars is properly securing the strings to the pegs. How should I wind the strings around the pegs before tightening them to prevent the string ...
27
votes
15answers
5k views

Changing the strings: one by one, or by taking all strings off at one time?

The title says it all. Should I change strings one by one, or take them all at once? Does this matter at all? If I take all strings off, will it damage my neck in any way, because the pressure is ...
17
votes
2answers
2k views

Does leaving a capo on “hurt” the strings?

On occasion I've accidentally left a capo on (overnight). Does this decrease the life of the strings, staying in tune time, hurt the neck, or anything else that's bad?
29
votes
15answers
1k views

How often should I replace the strings on my guitar?

When and why should you replace your guitar strings?