What are the best strings for acoustic guitar: TOP 10 best strings for guitars

Guitar strings are consumables. Nevertheless, the choice of a set of strings should be approached with all seriousness, because the sound of a musical instrument depends on it. Even the best quality acoustic guitar will sound poorly if used with inappropriate or worn strings. If you record a small piece of audio with the sound of a guitar on new and old strings, the difference in quality will become noticeable even for a beginner. This is proof that you need to choose the right strings and not buy the first ones you come across.

TOP 10 best strings for guitar

We've put together a list of the best acoustic guitar strings for you. It has several subcategories of strings - for beginners, amateurs, and professionals. This division can also be regarded as a gradation by price segments - budget, medium and premium segments, respectively. This is due to the fact that strings for beginners are made from simple materials, and for more experienced guitarists - from more expensive ones.

Best Budget Strings for Beginners

3. FLIGHT AS1047

Inexpensive regular tension copper strings. Ideal for beginners with inexpensive guitars. They feature normal sound and long service life. A good choice for those who are just starting to play the guitar.

Specifications:

• material: silver plated copper;
• tension: Extra Light;
• thickness: 0.010 - 0.047.

2. RIGEIRA AGS 900

Inexpensive entry-level bronze strings that are suitable for classical and acoustic guitars. Suitable for more experienced beginners who have learned the basics of guitar playing techniques. Medium tension allows the strings to produce a loud sound of normal quality. Great for budget beginners.

Specifications:

• material: 80/20 bronze;
• tension: Medium;
• thickness: 0.012 - 0.054.

1. STAGG AC-1254-PH

Budget strings for acoustic guitar. Made of phosphor bronze - this allows you to achieve very high quality sound. An ideal choice for those who have been playing guitar for 3-6 months and have already learned the chords. Advanced guitar techniques can be learned on these strings.

Specifications:

• material: phosphor bronze;
• tension: Medium;
• thickness: 0.012 - 0.054.

Strings for lovers

4. D'ADDARIO EZ900

Quality strings from a renowned manufacturer. They are distinguished by good sound quality and a special material of manufacture - an alloy based on bronze in the proportions of 85/15. The strings are suitable for both beginners and amateurs. With these strings, you can already start a more or less serious musical path.

Specifications:

• material: 80/15 bronze;
• tension: Extra Light;
• thickness: 0.010 - 0.050.

3. SIR MUSICIAN SV11

Strings made of combined materials - silvered steel and phosphor bronze. A "golden mean" that will suit any guitarist. It can be used by beginners and amateurs as basic strings, and by professionals as training or non-responsible instruments. The good tune of these strings and the medium tension make the SV11 one of the best in the price range.

Specifications:

• material: phosphor bronze;
• tension: Medium;
• thickness: 0.011 - 0.051.

2. D'ADDARIO EJ12

Another model of strings from a well-known manufacturer. This time a standard bronze alloy is used as the material.The strings are characterized by great depth of sound and bright music that is played on the guitar with these strings. The only drawback is insufficient tension, which prevents these strings from opening to the end.

Specifications:

• material: 80/20 bronze;
• tension: Medium;
• thickness: 0.011 - 0.051.

1. LA BELLA 7GPCL

Phosphor bronze strings. An ideal choice for amateur musicians. These strings are worth staying for those who do not plan to develop to the level of a professional musician. The strings combine depth, durability and quality. The best choice in this category.

Specifications:

• material: phosphor bronze;
• tension: Medium;
• thickness: 0.011 - 0.052.

Professional strings

3. D'ADDARIO EXP10

Extra fine strings for professional musicians. Provides good sound. Due to the presence of a winding, the service life of the strings is increased significantly. Made of 80/20 bronze. The strings have been thinned for sound quality, but it was worth it - these strings are the first on our list for serious professional use.

Specifications:

• material: 80/20 bronze;
• tension: Medium;
• thickness: 0.010 - 0.047.

2. ERNIE BALL 2090

Ultra-strong bronze strings. Extremely durable - these strings will last ten times longer than conventional inexpensive strings. At the same time, they have a very high-quality sound, which the manufacturer was able to achieve thanks to the use of a steel core and bronze winding. The standard thickness range allows the guitar to be used for different purposes, that is, the strings are universal.

Specifications:

• material: steel + bronze;
• tension: Medium;
• thickness: 0.010 - 0.050.

1. ELIXIR 16027

The best set of strings for professional beginners. Made of phosphor bronze coated with a special protective layer. Thanks to the applied technologies in production, these strings can be used for sound recording and work in the studio. The difference between them and regular strings is noticeable even without the use of amplifiers.

Specifications:

• material: phosphor bronze;
• tension: High;
• thickness: 0.011 - 0.052.

How guitar strings are different

Even newcomers to the world of music know that the strings on guitars can be different. But some guitar musicians, even experienced ones, cannot clearly explain the differences between different strings. Someone simply does not think about it, but someone is confused due to the fact that each manufacturer begins to invent its own classification. In fact, everything is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Guitar strings are divided according to the following criteria:

• material of manufacture (nylon, steel, bronze, nickel and others);
• string thickness;
• string tension;
• type of winding (or lack thereof);
• purpose (type of guitar - classical, bass guitar).

As you can see, the difference between the strings can be dramatic, and the sound produced depends on many factors. Such a number of nuances can completely confuse a beginner. Fortunately, for inexperienced guitarists, these characteristics are of minimal importance.

The most famous string manufacturers are located in the United States, so the thickness of the strings is usually indicated in inches. For example, the mark “0.010 - 0.047” means that the thickest string will be 0.047 inches thick and the thinnest string will be 0.010 inches. The metric system of measurement is more often used for strings for electric guitars, while for acoustic strings, inch sizes are almost always indicated, therefore, in our rating, the American (inch) marking system is used.

Note! The thickness of the string is sometimes referred to as "gauge". When studying the characteristics of the string, be guided only by the actual size in inches or millimeters. The manufacturer's classification is different, and the "thick" string of one will be the "small" string of the other.

String interchangeability

Electric guitar strings are not suitable for use on acoustic guitar, and vice versa. The strings of these guitars also differ from those of the bass guitar. When choosing, you need to look exclusively at those strings that fit your type of guitar. If there is no choice at all, the wrong strings can be used, but this should be a temporary solution.

Important! Cheap strings can be positioned as universal, but their quality is poor.

How to choose strings for acoustic guitar

First of all, you need to choose the strings based on your type of acoustic guitar. Classical acoustic guitar and bass guitar require different strings due to the design differences between these guitars and the difference in their purpose. Next, you need to take into account your experience of playing the guitar.

Beginners shouldn't get hung up on string selection - inexpensive wrapped nylon strings with normal tension and thickness will do. These strings can save you a lot of money. They are 5-7 times more durable than other types of strings. The sound quality of nylon is inferior to other strings, but it will be noticed by experienced musicians and even then, only on the studio recording. Moreover, there is no point in buying more expensive strings, since a novice guitarist will still not be able to unleash the full potential of the technologies used in the string.

More experienced guitarists should consider choosing more carefully. Wrapped strings will not work as the winding absorbs the sound potential of the string. For amateurs, it is better to choose strings with a strong tension, and for professionals, it is better to choose extremely strong ones. For the average experienced guitarist, nickel or steel strings are fine. Anyone who is seriously into music and wants to achieve perfect sound quality should choose strings made of copper, bronze and their alloys.

You need to decide what is more important to you - the musical quality of the string or its practicality. Strings made from expensive materials that produce clear sound are good choices, but these strings have a very limited lifespan due to their lack of protective coating and susceptibility to dirt.

Advice! When choosing a string material, you also choose their design. Bronze strings have a golden hue, which is why they are used for vintage designs. Nylon strings can be of absolutely any color. This allows you to diversify the guitar and make it unique.

Conclusion

Guitar strings are consumables, but they are very important. The sound quality directly depends on the strings; accordingly, you need to choose them wisely. At the same time, one must be guided by common sense and one's own needs - beginners do not have to buy expensive strings at all, since they will not last long and the musician will not be able to reveal their potential. At the same time, you should not skimp on strings if the guitarist is already quite experienced and has developed his technique.