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Guitar Strings

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smooticus
Posts: 1798 - Karma: 27
Can someone pleaseenlighten me about some of the terms used for guitar strings. Like what the difference is between different metals and such. Also the numbers associated with the strings, ex) 80/20, 92/8. Ive been playing for almost 8 years and i still have no idea how to shop for strings


What are your favorite strings and for what kind of music
Oct 14 2009 8:10PM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
I find that plucking the tail hairs of a unicorn and using them as strings produces great sounds for funky jazz.
Oct 14 2009 8:21PM
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smooticus
Posts: 1798 - Karma: 27
^ ill keep that in mind.

Are the mods deleting "first" posts lol, i swear someone posted one like a minute ago.
Oct 14 2009 8:28PM
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smooticus
Posts: 1798 - Karma: 27
for electric i use d'addario XL, mediums nickel wound. I started using super slinkys, but now i hate them cause i dont need them to be super soft and i dont like how they just have no backbone you know.

Im really looking for acoustic strings. I definetaly want something stiff, loud, with a strong low and midrange. Im thinking either some elixers cause i heard they pretty awesome, or some martin marquis. Prolly the martins cause i dont really want to spend a ton.

Anyone know the difference between phospher bronze and just bronze
Oct 14 2009 8:47PM
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Frank_Spinatra
Posts: 1203 - Karma: 75
http://guitar.suite101.com/article.cfm/choosing_acoustic_guitar_strings

found it on google, real basic but gives a decent overview about what to think about.  I just typed "how to choose guitar strings" and tons of info popped up so i'd cruise that for a few minutes and get some opinions.
Oct 14 2009 8:51PM
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Zoro
Posts: 1253 - Karma: 37

the numbers on strings are the string gauges:

for electric there is gauge 9, 10, 11, and12.  The number of the gauge is judged by how thick the higher-sounding E string is,  .009in, .010in, .011in, and .012in.  the thicknesses of the other strings go up also:

Gauge 9:

e-.009in/.23mm, B-.011in/.28mm, G-.016in/.41mm, D-.024in/.61mm, A-.032in./.81mm, E-.042in/1.07mm

Gauge 10:

e-.010/.25, B-.013/.33 G-.017/.43 D-.026/.66 A-.036/.91 E-.046/1.17

i dont know what 11 or 12 are but theres that.  Higher gauge= the better sound, less chance of breaking, but harder to use.  i used to use gauge 9 d'addario's when i started, but they were breaking so i switched to gauge 10 d'addario's.  i didnt like the bright sound so i switched to ernie ball 10's.  they're my preference now and sound and feel perfect.  hope that wasn't too confusing

Oct 14 2009 9:49PM
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