15 Best Guitar Strings

The trademark, founded several centuries ago (in 1640), was once a supplier of strings for Stradivari itself, and today it is the only one that produces catgut strings for baroque and antique instruments. This convincingly proves that from the very beginning of its existence, it has been oriented and continues to focus on exceptional quality. Today, it has numerous awards, patents and proprietary technologies to its credit, which make it possible to talk about leading positions in the market.

La Bella was the first to mass-produce nylon strings. The La Bella 427 set was developed for classical guitar over 50 years ago and is deservedly considered the most popular in the world. As expected, there are 6 strings, the upper ones are made of pure nylon, and the basses are with silver-plated copper braid.They give a juicy, rich sound, and it is not surprising that for more than half a century they have been considered the “gold standard”.

A set of nylon strings for classical guitar from the famous Italian-American brand "Daddario" has been among the top sellers all over the world for several years. They are loved for their durability, bright sound, affordable cost. In the EJ27H model, the manufacturer used a denser nylon material, due to which the strings received a lot of tension. They are great for playing bravura Latin American and Spanish compositions that require sonic power and dynamics.

But for beginners, these strings are a bit heavy. Clamping them at first, until a habit is developed, hurts, which is why you have to take long breaks between workouts. The kit lasts a long time. Of the minuses - lately D'Addario has been complained about due to an increase in the percentage of defects, plus, with a certain rhythm of the game, you need to get used to a specific timbre.

In the Ernie Ball 2406 Ernesto Palla set, 3 out of 6 strings are made of black nylon, and another 3 are nylon core with silver winding. Despite the fact that the color of the material does not affect the sound and quality, the consumer interest in the model is high. Musicians are attracted by the striking combination of black and gray strings, providing an elegant appearance to the entire instrument. In addition, Ernie Ball strings are famous for their increased strength, and some users still notice their special timbre.

Another advantage is the packaging of each string in a separate bag, which eliminates damage due to friction during transportation. These are good to give to familiar guitarists. The lengths of all the strings correspond to the declared ones, they are easy to install, but they require tuning skills, otherwise they do not keep the system in the best way. Also, from the conditional minuses - the muffled sound of the 1st and 2nd strings, but the basses are chic. In general, the kit is quite tight, it even seems to someone too much.

Classical guitar is often preferred by acoustic musicians playing flamenco, romances and folk compositions. In such cases, the pros advise not to experiment with the material of the strings and choose only nylon strings, for example, such as Rotosound CL1. They give a balanced sonorous sound and turn the old guitar almost into a playable one for different styles of classical music. The tension is normal, for beginners what you need. Virtuosi may seem weak, but they also note the amazing volume and clarity of vibration.

The set comes with bass strings wrapped in silver-plated copper, the most popular material in this category. Separately, it is worth noting the convenience of the speed of changing strings and tuning the guitar due to the special shape of the tips - ball (ball end). The strings are easily fixed on the tailpiece, they do not need to be tied in a special way.

The set is designed for classical guitar and consists of 6 strings in gauge from 027 to 045.Constructed from pure nylon, starting at 3 have a chrome-plated steel metal braid that provides corrosion resistance, insensitivity to finger squeaks and a bright, long-lasting sound. By tension they are classified as Normal Tension, which is good for beginners, because they are soft, easy to pinch, and untrained fingers hurt less from them.

According to reviews, the quality of the products of the Austrian company is impeccable. Apparently, a noble origin is affecting - its hereditary leader was the opera singer and art collector Peter Infeld. Strings "Tomastic" have been popular since the days of the USSR. The CF128 kit is a great, if not the cheapest, option for both students and pros.

Unlike most manufacturers, GHS Strings specializes only in the production of strings, and over more than half a century of existence in its native industry has gained a huge experience and a first-class reputation. David Gilmour himself ordered from GHS for his beloved Stratocaster and Gibson sets with a hybrid set of thicknesses - 10-48 and 10.5-50. GHS Boomers is the most famous line of strings for electric guitars. It is characterized by an excellent universal sound, which is provided by a metal core and nickel-steel winding.

Caliber 11-50 is designed for professionals, in addition to it, the company has developed both popular and unique custom sets. The design of string threads is classical – a nickel-plated alloy core is hidden under the round winding.It remains the standard for electronic guitarists to this day. And it is worth noting that GHS remains committed to a loyal pricing policy and allows even beginners to get good inexpensive strings.

In an age where the braid is wound around the core purely mechanically, DR Sunbeams approach is completely different. They believe that the quality, sound, and feel of hand-wound strings are so different that machine-wound strings are worth forgoing. And users agree with them: in personal charts, they often put NGE 11 in first place in terms of brightness, strength, and focus of the sound wave.

And these strings look damn spectacular in stage light or just in the dark, because due to the color coating they give a super-bright neon glow. There are all colors to choose from - green, blue, orange, etc. From practice, in terms of reliability, the kit, although inferior to other brands, works flawlessly with proper care. The tension is the weakest of the analogues, but the strings are easily placed on any scale.

Ernie Ball 2915 strings are considered to be the loudest and most expressive strings ever created for electronic guitars. Thanks to special materials and production technology, they have the best frequency response and sound power. Their production uses a special martensitic alloy M-Steel, which is also used in the aerospace industry.It is excellent for transmitting vibrations from strings to pickups.

String winding also has a significant impact on sound quality. The M-STEEL Skinny Top uses a patented cobalt alloy on the hexagonal metal core to give the strings a wide dynamic range. The manufacturer paid special attention to the technology of fixing the winding thread in the area of ​​the ball end, and thereby ensured the absence of slippage and extended service life.

In 1997, the American company Elixir revolutionized the market for electronic guitar strings by introducing the concept of coating them with super-thin layers of special materials. Other manufacturers have offered their own identical versions, but Elixir is still considered the benchmark. Set 12052 includes 6 metal strings coated with the thinnest layer of polymer using NanoWeb technology. It serves as a reliable protection against the penetration of dirt and moisture into the cavities between the turns of the braid, as a result of which the strings last 3-5 times longer than standard ones and still sound like new.

On the surface of the lower strings, another layer of Anti-Rust is applied, which prevents corrosion. According to reviews, the coatings are not determined by touch, the strings look normal, but the difference is immediately felt in sound. Taking advantage of the fact that the strings cannot be checked upon purchase, negligent manufacturers forge the famous brand, and this is perhaps the only risk that the buyer may face.

The company with a poetic name that produces these strings was founded by a professional guitarist, a former master of the string shop at the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre. The accumulated experience allowed him to create an unusual Sintal string production technology, which uses heavy-duty synthetic and steel fibers developed by Russian scientists in the laboratories of the military-industrial complex.

LA 11 strings are unique because, firstly, they are made by hand, and secondly, they received the best properties from two types of strings - metal (sound brightness, quick tuning) and synthetic (softness under the fingers, high sensitivity). The first and second strings are made of brass-plated Belarusian steel, the rest have an additional round winding of 90/10 brass made in the USA. Users note good quality at an affordable price and argue that they are not suitable for a professional game, but for an amateur game they are perfect.

Fender do well in everything they do, and the 60CL PH0S 6-string acoustic guitar strings are no exception. Installing a set brings guitar music to a new level, making it deep, rich, lively. The unusual "clattering" sound of the strings is created thanks to the phosphor bronze from which their sheath is made. Due to the presence of phosphorus in the composition of the alloy, it does not corrode after several hours of play, as happens with bronze-brass.

According to user comments, the kit is best suited for solo and vocal accompaniment.There is no individual packaging for each string, all are folded together and numbered using colored fastening rings. The sound is very individual at first, then smooths out and remains just good. There are questions about durability - some strings break after 1.5-2 months.

From an outsider to a leader - this is how you can describe the path of development of the legendary brand in the string production market. His first products were unsuccessful, and the musicians were frankly dissatisfied with them. But with the advent of the Gibson Vintage Reissue line in the 50s, which is still produced today, their opinion has changed dramatically. So, Gibson SAG-J200 are famous for their sonority, clarity, excellent adaptability to different guitar tunings. The core is made of solid Swedish steel, so you can play even very hard technique.

The winding is round, to ensure a corporate timbre, it is applied using the Tension Release technology patented by the company. The strings undergo strict quality control, so the percentage of marriage is minimal. Buyers are supplied in a factory sealed package that preserves their freshness. The thickness of the set varies within 11.15.22.32.42.52, which is optimal for beginners, but also suits those who prefer to play with thicker strings.

The Dunlop Super Bright bass string series was created at the request of the brand's celebrity fans.Dunlop has a lot of them - Marcus Miller, Robert Trujillo, Zach Wilde and other masters of heavy music. The 4-string set is adapted to the needs of modern bass players, providing full control over the instrument and does not limit the complexity of their technique and playing techniques. Each note sounds extremely pure, each frequency has its own sound space, the spectrum of the guitar is fully revealed.

The production material of the set is nickel-plated steel. It is much more pleasant to play with it than on "stainless steels". The classical caliber for basses is 45-105. The sound is balanced even when overdriven. The winding is round, which provides a bright sonorous sound. However, it really needs constant cleaning with special means, otherwise dirt will quickly accumulate in the gap between the turns.

Power Slinky Bass strings are characterized by a hexagonal steel core and a nickel-plated round braid, which gives them high rigidity. Fans of aggressive combat and dense balanced sound will be pleased with them. Manufactured in Southern California from premium, purpose-built materials and packaged in dust, air, and moisture sealed bags.

In the ratings they invariably occupy the first positions, there is not a single complaint about the quality in the reviews. How good they are speaks eloquently for the list of world-famous bands and bands that use them: System of a Down, Nickelback, Eagles, etc. The classic combination of materials is suitable for most musical styles.

Whether classical music, electronic or downhole heavy-metal, the RB45 Roto kit will handle any composition. Musicians from all over the world revere it for its signature sound, durability and longevity. According to the responses, they really live longer than the rest, except for premium brands. They sound special, playing somewhere between nickel metal strings, with an open tone, wide lows and a clear mids.

At one time, Rotosound's clients were the legends of the musical world: Jimi Hendrix, John Entwistle and Geddy Lee. Today, the albums of the greatest bands The 1975, Rival Sons and Florence & The Machine are recorded on its strings. Rotosound RB45 also attracts young talents whose stars will shine in the sky tomorrow.