Getting in tune and staying in tune, are what the job requires, for sure. I’ve been in so many situation’s where string breakage and not staying in tune just creates havoc on the band, Audience, and music. I’ve had situations in my youth and now a days to be sure, where I’ve neglected to either change my strings, and a couple of times I like a dumb kid just didn’t bother to properly tune my guitar.

            I used to work for the Gibson Guitar String and Accessories Division (now called GIBSON GEAR) as a shipping and receiving clerk then moved up to Regional Sales Manager in Elgin, IL. In those capacities I was able to see the Gibson String line from start to finish, as well as learning what alloys the strings were made of. I got to understand how those alloys affected their overall tone feel and playability.

            Also, with trying to sell these products I found the questions and some of the answers to many of the issue’s we guitarist encounter.

            Mind you, I’ve been playing now for over forty years and I’ve used most every brand of string manufactured. Obviously I haven’t tried every string brand sold out there, just most of them. I tend to play very hard when I’m rocking and I’m used to certain brands of guitar strings giving (or wearing) out. I don’t pretend to know what the ins and outs are to manufacturing strings. I do know what works for me!

            I’ve used The Gibson Brand string for decades before I worked there and after I got the job in shipping (working for minimum wage); I’d buy the strings and turn them on to my guitarist friends. I’d also give them to some friends who weren’t guitarist, just guitar players. My point was to hip my buddy’s and other local “axe slingers” to these strings that seemed to tune well, not break from a good workout. Besides, I’d get them on discount.

            I know the whole subject of strings is a subjective point of view. Here is mine.

ELECTRIC STRINGS

          Basically we find three or four types of string covers for the windings. The plain strings are stainless steel at least as far as I know when it comes to a quality string set.

 We have

1. Nickel wrap wound strings
2. NPS or nickel plated steel wrap wound strings
3. Steel or stainless steel wrap wound strings
4. Flat-wound stainless steel flat wrap wound strings

These different wound strings have each have a tonal difference as well as a feel or touch difference. 

The NICKEL wound or “Pure Nickel” wound strings are generally referred to as the “vintage” electric string type. These strings have a warm, smooth attack and a gradual decay. This type of string is suitable for guitarists who play an arched top or Jazz-box type of guitar (usally with a wound third string), or the Vintage sound fan (blues, rock or country) and those who can afford to purchase strings regularly since they are a softer alloy and tend to lose their tone after a nights performance. These strings offer a different sound and feel in recording sessions because of their attack, decay, and punchy smooth tone

         Electric String Types

The NPS or nickel plated steel wound strings are the choice of most of the artist I’m in contact with. These strings are brighter and harder than their nickel counterparts so they last longer, keep their tone and aren’t as prone to wearing out after one nights work out. You tend to feel these strings at the finger tips more than the nickel (harder alloy). So these are finger tip callous builders for you beginners and young artists alike.

The STEEL or stainless steel wound strings are the loudest and punchiest of the bunch. There’s a school of thought that these strings aren’t good because they tend to wear out or wear down the frets on your guitar. That’s especially true for the beginner guitar player who plays in a rather small or limited area of the fret board; you’ll find fret wear in concentrated areas of your fret board like the first fret of the G or third string especially. Pros tend to play chords with voicing’ that require playing guitar all over the neck using all the strings up and down the neck. That isn’t as much a problem for them.

The FLAT WOUND stainless steel wrap strings are a special application string used by The Jazz artists and commercial “jingle musicians who don’t want string and finger noises emitting from their amps during these “money sessions”. These sets do use a wound third string. The smooth feel and tone is a joy to play on, though you don’t bend these strings. You play a fluid glissando style of voiced solo and the attack is light and the tone is dark and warm. “Smooth”

                  Acoustic String Types       

                         I’m familiar with the three main types of acoustic guitar strings, based on the alloy of the cover wire or wrap. Again the plain strings are usually stainless steel.

                        We have

1.      Monel

2.      Phos. Bronze

3.      80/20 Bronze or Brass 

The “MONEL” string cover or wrap was a name for the Gibson for the first manufactured guitar string. I liked the long decay of the string with that cover. The string didn’t have a loud, sharp attack. That coupled with the decay made for a nice recording guitar that could produce notes evenly and ring with a nice slow decay. Since this is the set you have on your guitar, you really shouldn’t feel or hear a big difference between this type and a brighter type.

One gets used to the sound you get on your instrument, and as you play you would adjust to that sound. Sadly Gibson has discontinued the manufacture of the “MONEL” type covered string. Hopefully some one will produce these strings. Like I said these strings were a useful tool in the studio as well as live.

      The PHOS. BRONZE string by contrast has a loud sharp attack that is considered to be the choice and favorites among professionals and semi. Pros. alike. They don’t keep the ring as long, and that will work for a pro.

80/20 BRONZE or BRASS are brighter and ring more than Phos bronze but generally don’t hold their tone as long as the Phos bronze.

There are other elements and factors that could be instrumental in your decision of brand and types of guitar strings. Like cover to core ratio, round or hex core types of strings, and of course string gauge. That’s another article and I’m not sure how to tackle those on paper just yet, maybe, later kidz.

I’m no expert, that’s for sure and I don’t make or manufacture guitar strings. So I’m just making observations based upon an outsider guitarist point of view. I hope I’m able to illuminate this “dark territory for us broke and or slow to learn impatient types of guitarist’s

Peace, Mike Tafoya

I’d like to thank Dave Timmons of Gibson Gear (1150 Bowes Rd. Elgin IL. 60123),     1-800-544-2766 (1-800-5 GIBSON) for his help and friendship.

Mike uses Gibson Guitars, Gibson Strings, Epiphone, Marshall, and Crate amplifiers, and Dunlop guitar Picks.