Full-length ‘long scale’ guitars measure 25.5-inch; in contrast, a small scale guitar neck measures from 22 inches to 24 ¾ inches. The most common spec for the electric guitar string is nickel-wound steel, which offers a little of the warmth of nickel but with a brighter top end. For Fender's slate of electric guitar strings, these things will impact those factors: In this piece, we'll break down everything you need to know to ensure you've got the right strings on your Stratocaster, Telecaster or any other electric guitar. Keep reading to find the strings that best match your electric guitar, music, and playing style. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Fender string gauges can be summed up thusly (from the high E to low E strings): Fender electric guitar strings are made of steel, so they properly transmit the string vibrations to the magnetic pickups. Best Short Scale Electric Guitars & Best Short Scale Electric Guitar Brands A full sized guitar might be difficult to handle especially if you are a beginner or you have small hands. The interesting thing is the … The string design was specifically made for Stratocaster guitars because the Bullet ends fit far more precisely into the tremolo block, closely fitting the circumference of the string channel, adding sustain. Your ears and fingers do the rest - listen to them, and they'll tell you which strings are right for your particular style and feel. That means you can really attack those strings without any of the flab that you might get from tuning down on a regular set. Is it too much to string your electric with gold strings? By gauge we mean the thickness or diameter of the string. For even more fun, stick them under a UV light and they’ll glow, too! As a rule of thumb, if you want to play fast leads and chords, light gauges may be the way to go (metal players with a preference for drop-D tuning would still need a heavy gauge for the lower strings or wound strings). That's all down to their carefully considered construction. The best electric guitar strings if you're looking for options, Price: £5.99/$5.49 | Material: Nickel-wound steel. A couple of things to consider when deciding on a first guitar: 1. "String gauge" refers to the size of the string, as in how thick, measured in thousandths of an inch. A guitar with a shorter scale length (like the Gibson Les Paul) requires less tension to reach concert pitch than a guitar with a longer scale (like the Fender Strat). There’s even a seven-string option. Alembic Stanley Clarke Standard. If you really want your guitar strings to stand out as well as your playing does, then these colourful options from DR are a novel eye-catcher. Tone-wise you are looking at a bright, harmonically dynamic voice. Ultra-high strength steel can be found in the wound and plain strings, plus there is some reinforcement at the ball end, enabling them to lock in tune fast and hold up to aggressive styles without popping. If this doesn’t sound quite your speed, there is, naturally, a 24-carat gold option from Optima. Heavy gauge strings (typically those with a high E gauge of .011 and higher, though some might say .011 is still medium) can feel thick enough to tow a trailer, but they were just the thing for Stevie Ray Vaughan, who appreciated their fat, well pronounced bottom end and authoritative tone. Luckily guitar strings are not expensive – this will be one of the cheapest parts of your rig – so experimenting with as many different sets as you can is a good idea. That's made Power Wounds the strings of choice for power players such as The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, Lamb Of God's Willie Adler and Rammstein's Richard Kruspe. Guitar strings are going two ways right now: one is looking forward to using cobalt, coating strings, new tech, the other is looking at offering players an authentic vintage experience. If they're into rock music, best to go for an electric guitar. A little 24 carat bling for rock’s most regal riffer, Price: £16.99/$22.99 | Material: : 24 carat gold roundwound. As a company at the forefront of the longer-life coated strings market when it was developed in the '90s, Elixir has continued to refine the technology. Strings are such a crucial link in your electric guitar sound chain, that it's not surprising that when they feel and sound great, you can get the best out of your sound. Fender electric guitar strings are made of steel, so they properly transmit the string vibrations to the magnetic pickups. Ibanez GRGM21BKN 3/4 Size Mikro Electric Guitar. If you’re looking for the classic Epiphone sound … Firstly, they sound great. Playing the wrong size guitar is like wearing the wrong size shoes. This is a lot easier to achieve on a shorter scale guitar and using lower gauge strings, because the shorter the scale, the lower the string tension will be at pitch. When the body of a guitar is too large, it forces you to reach around awkwardly to pick or strum the strings, putting your fret hand in an even mor… Squier is Fender’s entry-level guitar … View at Walmart. And now for some pure nickel tone made for your Gibson! Roundwound is the most popular way of string winding, as they are available in the widest selection of gauges and materials. D’Addario Balanced Tension XL strings, 13. They won’t go dull for ages either. Price: £16.99/$14.99 | Material: Coated and treated nickel-wound steel. Here are some things that will tip you off that it's time for a string change: For a proper tutorial on how to change your guitar strings, take a look at the video below. Epiphone Les Paul SL. Get the best deals on Short Scale Bass Guitars. Check Amazon. The difference between a 9 and a 10 is far more pronounced in terms of tension than the difference between a 46 and a 47 or something like that. Claimed to be among the strongest electric guitar strings ever made, D’Addario’s technology offers a high-carbon steel core to resist breakage and refined frequency response to enhance presence and crunch. There was a problem. ", Cyber Monday M1 Macbook Air and MacBook Pro deals we didn't think we'd see, Andrew Huang’s Flip promises to be a fast but feature-packed sample-based music-making app, Re-stringing your acoustic? We’ll start off this list with a real classic, Squier by Fender. All rights reserved. It enhances stability and sustain, but it could well be a time machine, for the pure nickel experience here – with nickel wrapped around a nickel core – makes for a truly rich, warm tone, perfect for blues, country, and jazz. Squier Classic Vibe 50's Stratocaster. The best electric guitar strings you can buy today (Image credit: Ernie Ball) 1. Fender Original Bullet electric guitar strings, 7. Also used by most 8 & 9 string guitars; 34″ (863.6mm) standard bass guitars; As you can see, there is no ‘normal’ scale length for an electric guitar. It’s hard to argue against the SG as being the … The best short scale acoustic guitar is one which melds tonal emphasis with ideal sound projection. A word on guitar string materials… Many thanks @Rockin_Cowboy. And you don’t have to be rock royalty. SIT Power Wound electric guitar strings, 9. Sometimes the tone and feel of fresh electric guitar strings can even get you out of a creative rut. This is the latter. The best electric guitar strings for higher-output playing, Price: £13.95 | Material: Tin plated high carbon steel core. Playing a guitar that is too large for your hand size can be just as daunting. The scale length on the Burswood guitar is approx 50cm I have tuned it to A-D-G-C-E-A and the strings are now suitably taught, and are not going out of tune (well, not quickly as previously), and the guitar sounds really very nice for something so cheap £25 (GBP) from a second-hand shop. And, of course, when it comes to restringing your Les Paul. Ernie Ball Slinky electric guitar strings, 12. These categories of people may not be able to learn the musical instrument effectively as they will find it difficult to play around with a full-sized guitar. A set of .010’s on a Gibson Les Paul (24.75”) will feel pretty different from the same strings on a Schecter KM7 (26.5), with almost 2 more inches of length, they will be significantly tighter on the Schecter. The only difference you might notice is that they stay brighter longer. The pioneering Northern California … There is no doubt that strings greatly affect the tone and playability of your electric guitar. Hexagonal-shaped wires have been used in more modern string construction, as they hold the outer windings in place and hold tune well. www.alembic.com. Electronics. There is a good reason for Ernie Ball’s Slinky series of electric guitar strings’ ubiquitous presence in gig bags and cases the world over. Great Savings & Free Delivery / Collection on many items Epiphone Les Paul Special VE. Meanwhile, New York-based string titans D’Addario plump for a high-carbon steel core with their NYXL range, around which they judiciously wrap some nickel and promise another super-tough string that won’t go breaking on you when you go for a hero bend. Meanwhile, heavier gauges give you more volume and sustain, allow you to dig in and play harder, and are typically preferred for drop-tunings and alternate tunings. To help you zero in on the right strings for you, we've scoured the market and played some of the very best sets, with great options here from Ernie Ball, Elixir, GHS and more that cater for all budgets and playing styles. The core refers to the center of the string, with windings going around it to create larger, wound strings. Short Scale Bass Guitars A short scale bass guitar somewhat bridges the gap between a conventional guitar scale length and that of a full bass. It's not really a Les Paul but it's quirky fun. All Rights Reserved. The best way to find out which is best for you is to try several types before you pinpoint your favorite. These are the. Tough enough for Floyd Rose whammy abuse and heavy picking. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top has a signature set that has a high E of .007, which is really pushing it. Traditional sets can sometimes feature vastly different tensions between strings, causing players to compensate with altered techniques. The plain steel strings are the best example here. D'Addario reckons they will "bend farther, sing louder, and stay in tune better than any string you’ve played before” and that’s just what you need. Hell no! Fender does have short-scale models – namely the Jaguar, Mustang, and Duo-Sonic (which we review below) – which are all 24 inches. - Nickel-Plated Steel: A popular option with balanced tone between warmth and brightness and a fast attack. The first is a question of fretboard geography – to accommodate the lower tunings and maintain string tension, the scale lengths are considerably longer than on regular six-string guitars, measuring from a relatively short 26.5” to 28” or more. The company’s latest step in the Super Slinky catalogue is the first cobalt string – a material said to provide a stronger magnetic relationship with pickups for higher output, clarity and harmonic response. This is true, as long as both are strung with the same gauge strings. Today's best electric guitar strings deals, Tough enough for Floyd Rose whammy abuse and heavy picking, Regular Slinky series still awesome at third of the price, You are cutting down on single-use plastic, Ernie Ball’s Skinny Top Heavy Bottom set is more your speed, Fender patented bullet-shaped string ends, Extra high E string to cover inevitable breakages, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, 3. Indeed, Ernie Ball claims that their patented RPS (reinforced plain string) technology increases tensile strength by up to 37 per cent, with up to 70 per cent more fatigue strength. 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This creates a small V-shaped area of "slack" fit in the two places where the wire loops around the ball. humidity and the residue left behind by your hands can speed the process, - "Light-Regular:" .009/.011/.016/.026/.036/.046, - "Regular Heavy:" .010/.013/.017/.032/.042/.052. “But,” you ask, “if high tension is good, why not use extra-hard strings?” Maybe you should. You will receive a verification email shortly. Fender offers strings with ball ends and Bullet ends. They come shipped in an air-tight fresh pack with each string individually wrapped in GHS’s NitroPack. Menu 0. When looking to purchase the best short scale acoustic guitar, there are some points to be noted. Because electric guitar strings are made out of steel, they contain iron, which corrodes when exposed to oxygen. - Vintage Nickel: A little more warmth than nickel-plated steel. Best Budget Option. On ball end strings, the core wire of the string wraps around a separate piece, a tiny metal "ball." Liquid error: Could not find asset snippets/.liquid Free Shipping on orders over $50 *remote area exclusions. The body size of a guitar can make or break your guitar playing experience. Lighter gauge strings will sound brighter and will be easier to bend; if you are playing lead guitar, a set of .009 or .010 strings will be a more comfortable feel. This takes some getting used to. Easier to play and deeper in tone, these instruments are more popular than ever before! There are other considerations, however, like tuning stability and durability. Optima Gold Brian May Signature strings, 10. Short scale Electric guitar DIY kit for Children GK SST 06; Best-seller Electric Guitar DIY Kit GK SST 10; Chinese Left-Hand Electric Guitar DIY Kit GK SST 10L; 12-string Guitar Kit/ Solid Wood guitar GK SST 10S ; Solid Ash Body DIY Electric guitar kit GK SST 15; GK SST 15-REV; 12-strings Electric Guitar kit/ Ash Body GK SST 15S; more>> GK STL Series. The Stagg BC300 is a 4 string, 3/4 size fusion electric bass … This 'fix' has worked perfectly. Generally, lighter gauge strings are easier to play, brighter, allow you to bend strings and fret notes easier, and exert less tension on your guitar's neck. That said, the resurgence in popularity of pure nickel strings suggests that players still value that vintage experience, and in terms of warm tone and smooth playability, they are hard to beat. Everything you need to know about Fender's collection of electric guitar strings. Bath I currently have them equipped with .09. Sure, if the shoes are too large you can get your feet in them, and you may even be able to walk around, but soon you’ll have blisters and all kinds of other problems. To achieve the optimal fit to the player, this model is available in a multitude of scale lengths 613.5mm and longer. It works for him, but then every player is different, and you will only find out what is right for you after trying a variety of gauges and materials. item 5 Ghs Balanced Nickels - Bass String Set, 4-String, Medium 044 106, short Scale - Ghs Balanced Nickels - Bass String Set, 4-String, Medium 044 106, short Scale AU $54.60 +AU $19.60 postage Every type of string has its own sonic qualities and playing characteristics. So strings that would be under low tension on a full-size guitar will be under extra-low tension on a short-scale guitar. CYBER WEEK SALE: Save 50% on a Monthly Plan. While a few day’s heavy playing might mellow-out some of that high-end, which a lot of players like, D’Addario promise an enhanced response in the 2-5khz range courtesy of these newly-engineered strings’ magnetic response with your pickups. They are said to have a brighter tone with great sustain. The low E, A and D strings are wound with various alloys, while the G, B and high E strings are tin-plated. Nylon strings provide a mellow and percussive contrast to the bright and articulate sound of steel strings. One advantage of less string tension is a “looser” feel, making bending and vibrato more fluid. Boomers are uncoated, roundwound nick-plated steel strings with a round core, and offer a smooth ride for all kinds of styles. When equipped on a small body instruments like parlor or small classical guitars, nylon strings produce a different tonal palette that both professionals and beginners enjoy. Elixir Optiweb coated electric guitar strings, 5. Rotosound Rotos electric guitar strings, 11. The standout multi-coloured electric strings, Price: £11.10/$9.99 | : **Material:** K3 luminescent neon multi-color nickel-plated steel, hexagonal core wire with ball end. It won't be overnight, but humidity and the residue left behind by your hands can speed the process. Basses. Still, the increased size adds more tension and can be more difficult to bend and fret. Because of their flat surface, they can also be easier on the fingers. Hello! Further, the nature of the precision-machined Bullet end design meant that the string returned to the exact same position every time, greatly improving tuning stability even after heavy tremolo use. They are: Body Style. Folk music is best played on a steel string acoustic. SIT is an all-American string company that prides itself on the fact that its strings Stay In Tune. That they come in all kinds of custom gauge options and are cheap as chips just seals the deal. Be the first to know about new products, featured content, exclusive offers and giveaways. Strings designed for drop-tuning and baritone guitars, Price: £6.99/$4.99 | Material: Nickel-plated steel. There is no loop and hence no slack, and the business end of the bullet makes tighter and more uniformly solid contact with the bridge. Scale Length. While some players prefer the natural feel of an uncoated string, not to mention the lower price, string coatings have evolved to feel evermore natural. A number of brands now have sets catering for drop tunings and extended range guitars, but Dunlop says these Heavy Core nickel-wrapped steel strings have the core-to-wrap ratio to rule them all, one that maintains a comfortable and consistent tension in lower tunings. At normal string tension, this "slack" wire loop is taut and unbent, and the ball end is prevented from completely abutting the bridge plate. For example, Stratocaster and Telecaster scale length is the standard 25.5-inch length as you can see in the picture below. Finally, don't forget to wash your hands before playing to rid your fingers of potentially damaging oils. And when it comes to Fender electric guitar strings, there are a lot of factors to consider as you decide which set to purchase, such as the musical genre you want to play, how often you play and your guitar's scale. And there is no better time than now to start experimenting. … Readily available discounted online, and like many of the more popular string sets as multipacks, the GHS Boomers represent great value. These long-life strings from German company Optima are the only 24 carat gold strings in the world (don’t fear, they’re priced in the upper-medium end of the spectrum). Ball end strings work on all electric guitars. $9,200. They really pop with a bright clarity, and nice solid midrange. There’s also plasma-enhanced wrap wire for increased corrosion resistance, too, and Ernie Ball promises that its Everlast nanocoating won’t flake nor mess with the string’s natural response. Coated or uncoated electric guitar strings? Optiweb is the company’s latest coating, helping to protect these nickel-plated steel strings from corrosion while offering the same tone as uncoated strings. A mathematically precise set with comparable feel from string to string, Price: £6.99/$4.89 | Material: Round wound with nickelplated steel. Ernie Ball Paradigm. The low E, A and D strings are wound with various alloys, while the G, B and high E strings are tin-plated. Luckily, regularly cleaning your strings will keep them stronger longer. That’s not to say they’ll never break, of course, but rest assured they’re tough in the extreme, while the nanocoating feels natural with that Slinky tone present and correct. The normal scale length for a Fender is 25.5″, but the normal scale length for a Gibson is 24.75″. The scale length of a guitar is measured from the nut of the guitar to the center of the … Coated strings such as Elixir’s promise to extend the life of your string, repelling the gunk and sweat that builds up when playing. Please refresh the page and try again. Asked/Answered: Are Short-Scale Guitars Best for Players with Small Hands? Free delivery and returns on eBay Plus items for Plus members. Then once you have your strings picked out, just make sure to monitor them regularly so you're always sounding great. What you need to know about guitar string gauges A short scale guitar can be any guitar: bass guitars, acoustic guitars, scale electric guitar, acoustic-electric bass guitar - you name it, and there is probably a short scale version of the guitar on the market. Elixir coat the whole of the string, too. Classic British strings with an extra high E, Price: £5.95/$4.99 | Material: Nickel-on-steel. Also resistant to corrosion, so they will last a long time. 27-30″ (686 – 762mm) guitars in this range are called ‘baritone’ guitars. Let's face it, if you don't want it to be just another percussion instrument in your collection, you need strings. Buy Short Scale Electric Guitars and get the best deals at the lowest prices on eBay! Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CtqfHmssx8&t=191s. BA1 1UA. Body: Poplar. Gibson’s “bench-tested and builder-approved” nickel strings should on the shortlist for any player looking for that warm nickel tone and smooth feel. These nickel-wrapped steel strings are the second brightest electric guitar strings D’Addario manufacture and come in a wide variety of gauges. Lots of blues and rock guitarists land on medium gauges that offer the benefits of both worlds, while jazz guitarists who don't bend a lot of notes tend to use heavy gauges, sometime with a wound G string. The best coated strings, with a natural feel, Price: £14.99/$12.99 | Material: Nickel-plated steel. On the other hand, lighter gauges offer less sustain and volume, and can break more regularly. Tough to break and with increased presence, Price: £12.50/$12.99 | Material: Nickel-wound, high-carbon steel core. I couldn’t help to put it in the first place because … Short Scale Guitars that have smaller bodies do not resonate as well as guitars that have average-sized bodies, ... and strung with a pack of 012-054 Martin SP Phosphor Bronze guitar strings. Short scale bass guitars, short scale fender, short scale mustang bass. Copyright ©2020. I was wondering what string gauge would be ideal for a shortscale Fender Mustang. Featuring my characteristic powerful, refined and noble concert sound, Scott Short Scale guitars are true concert instruments designed to suit musicians with smaller hands. Bullet strings attach a tiny cylinder of brass shaped like a bullet to the end of the string in a one-piece construction. Expect to get a lot of joy from bends, and a great feel. Use some string cleaner with a special wipe, or simply a polish cloth, to keep things properly maintained. String gauges are measured in 1/1000th of an inch. Fretboard radius: 14" … - You are having trouble staying in tune. Something for everyone! They might also serve a practical purpose for beginners, too, as new guitarists can quickly identify specific strings based on their colour. No string is fully break-proof, but you should be looking for those with a high tensile strength. MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Below are the common materials used for wound strings in Fender's lineup: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. - Stainless Steel: Very bright tone with excellent sustain. By Mike Duffy. The best electric guitar strings for ultra-strong, long-lasting performance. As a result, they top this list of the best electric guitar strings. Don't miss the latest deals, news, reviews, features and tutorials. The good thing about having a variety of strings for your electric guitar is that you have options. Stagg BC300 Short Scale Electric Guitar. Fender also offers the Speed Slick guitar string cleaner applicator that restores and extends string life with a few swipes up and down the string. The string of choice for Rammstein and Lamb Of God, Launch price: from $4.99 | Spec: 8% nickel-plated steel cover wrap over a hexagonal-shaped core. They take their name from the bullet-shaped string ends that sit snugly between the bridge block and creates what Fender calls a “sonic coupling”. As far as uncoated electric guitar strings go, these are impossible to beat, and the second-brightest model D’Addario makes. This roundwound set is used by May exclusively, with a custom light gauge running from .009, .011, .016, .024, 032, 042. While short-scale instruments are designed for smaller hands, they’re not the only option. The extra first string is a useful addition to these nickel-on-steel sets, especially to players who are prone to snapping that high E – which, when you think about it, is most of us. Visit our corporate site. The best electric guitar strings for your Strat, Price: from £7.99/$9.99 | Material: Nickel. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Available in .009, .010 and .011 gauges, these pure nickel strings will partner nicely with your Strat or Tele.