String question

[marty bradbury]

Hi Folks. I know that the type and or gauge of strings can have have different
effects on an acoustic. Is it the same for an electric guitar, being solid body.

Thank you,

[bleedingfingers]

It’s similar to acoustic, but it’s also more complicated since so much else factors into the final tone — meaning you have to also consider pickup type, settings, amp, etc. So it’s not as simple as “80/20 are brighter than PB” and you’re done, to oversimplify how the acoustic world works in comparison

Gauge
Material
Core shape
Coating
Winding type

All things you can vary for both playability and tone

I’m trying flatwounds on my Jazzmaster, for example, and to me they do sound a bit more mellow than the round they replaced (with the rest of the signal chain left untouched), but I’m more intrigued by them because I’m liking the feel

[marty bradbury]

Originally Posted by bleedingfingers

It’s similar to acoustic, but it’s also more complicated since so much else factors into the final tone — meaning you have to also consider pickup type, settings, amp, etc. So it’s not as simple as “80/20 are brighter than PB” and you’re done, to oversimplify how the acoustic world works in comparison

Gauge
Material
Core shape
Coating
Winding type

All things you can vary for both playability and tone

I’m trying flatwounds on my Jazzmaster, for example, and to me they do sound a bit more mellow than the round they replaced (with the rest of the signal chain left untouched), but I’m more intrigued by them because I’m liking the feel

Mine came with Nickle Plated steel, Thanks for the information, time to experiment,

[rmp]

the biggest difference I can recall is the first time I tried Ernie Ball Coblats

Those stood out as noticeably different

I still us D'Addario's XLs most of the time tho..

though the Cobalts do seem to do what they are hyped to do

I will use em from time to time.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by marty bradbury

Mine came with Nickel Plated steel, Thanks for the information, time to experiment,

If your Jag has the original-style single-coil PU's try a set of wound-G flatwound 12's - they'll fatten up/smooth out your tone, improve tuning/intonation (especially if you use the trem a lot), and with the 24" scale bends shouldn't be a problem...

[bleedingfingers]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

If your Jag has the original-style single-coil PU's try a set of wound-G flatwound 12's - they'll fatten up/smooth out your tone, improve tuning/intonation (especially if you use the trem a lot), and with the 24" scale bends shouldn't be a problem...

He has a Squier Contemporary - stock pups on those are SQR Atomic Humbuckers. And solid tail. Not at all traditional though it’s a great guitar (my daughter has one, I test drive it regularly). It does have a coil split to approximate single-coil tone though

[marty bradbury]

I went through "Strings by Mail" and picked up a set of Ernie Ball stings,

[marty bradbury]

Originally Posted by marty bradbury

I went through "Strings by Mail" and picked up a set of Ernie Ball stings,

Strings, excited to see how they work.

[fpuhan]

Of course, I'm late to the party, but the answer to the original question ("type and or gauge of strings") is given by pretty much every string vendor out there. In other words, go to a string vendor's site (D'Addario, Elixir, Ernie Ball, Stringjoy, etc.) and the first thing you'll have to do is choose: Electric or Acoustic.

Why is that, do you think? Here's the primary answer given in an understandable (but less scientific) manner: Electric guitars produce the sound of metallic strings vibrating over a magnetic pickup. Many acoustic guitar strings are made of materials (phosphor/bronze, etc.) that do not provide the needed output the pickup(s) need.

The rest is about playing style. Two-step bends are nearly impossible on an acoustic without sacrificing tonal quality. No problem on an electric with sufficiently light gauge strings, as the pickup does most of the work. Add pedals, and you've got a whole new ball game!