Introduction

This is the first article in the Elements of Tone series.

Strings are an underrated component in the search for tone.

The right age

Old strings sound dull. The more distinctive the treble of the guitar (e.g. from a telecaster, stratocaster), then the bigger the difference the age of the strings will make. If you want to hear that clang of the strings against the frets that's so familiar from a stratocaster, then you need new strings. Even on rockier guitars, the strings will make a difference.

The right size

If we're looking for awesome tone, then you may need to look at thicker strings. Throughout electric guitar history, the best tone has been achieved with thicker strings. The most common reference always seems to be Stevie Ray Vaughan playing with .013 gauge strings and turned down a semitone. Yes, he did have an awesome tone, but it wasn't just that he played thick strings - he had a lot more components, each working towards that tone - but the strings were one component and they did add to the combination.

Thicker strings are more difficult to bend and more difficult to play fast on. But you can learn to bend with a couple of fingers on the bend or build up strength over time. One good thing about thicker strings is that they break less than thinner strings.

Just watch out for the tension on the neck from using heavier strings, it's best to get advice from your local guitar tech if you're changing string gauge. If you have a tremolo bridge, then you may find you need to adjust that as well if you use a different gauge of strings.

The right material

Stainless Steel, bronze or nickel. Do some research and/or try different materials. Oddly enough stainless steel strings don't sound as bright as you'd expect them to. There's a reason why most electric guitar strings are nickel-plated; it works nicely.

The right surface

The standard electric guitar strings are top 3 nickel-plated stainless steel and the bottom three as wound steel. For some applications, most notably jazz, flat wound strings offer a distinctive alternative. The flat wound reduces the string noise as your fingers pass along the length of the string. They are more expensive than normally wound strings.

The right brand

My choice for Les Paul or PRS type guitars are Kerly Kues. Time and time again, they've performed admirably. In the years I've been playing with them, I've only ever broken one string.

I've yet to try Kerly Kues on Stratocaster and Telecaster type guitars where I'm still using D'addarios. I know that the basic D'addario range aren't sold as the best strings in the world, yet they are consistent. They're generally available and wherever you are, you can find them. If I fancy a change, then I like to swap to Rotosound with light tops and heavy bottoms.

1. Kerly Kerly Kues Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings MediumKerly Kues Nickel Plated Steel strings are seasoned between -320F and +350F for 24 hours to reduce the micro-cracks that cause tonal loss and premature breakage. Thanks to the repetitive HOT/COLD tempering process, the micro-cracks close up, preventing the buildup of dirt and corrosion. Strength, sound, and string life are enhanced. Set of 6 medium-gauge guitar strings.
2. Kerly Kerly Kues Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings - Light Top Heavy BottomKerly Kues Nickel Plated Steel strings are seasoned between -320F and +350F for 24 hours to reduce the micro-cracks that cause tonal loss and premature breakage. Thanks to the repetitive HOT/COLD tempering process, the micro-cracks close up, preventing the buildup of dirt and corrosion. Strength, sound, and string life are enhanced. Light top. Heavy bottom.
3. Rotosound Roto Blues Light Top/Heavy Bottom Electric Guitar StringsGauges 10-13-17-30w-42w-52w. Nickel Developed in conjunction with some of the world's top artists, Roto Blues Electric Guitar Strings deliver a smooth powerful tone that lasts when other strings have long since gone dead. Superb brilliance and strength make Roto's the first choice for the professional.
4. D'Addario EXL115W Nickel Blues/Jazz Wound 3rd Electric Guitar StringsGauges 11-14-21w-28-38-49.EXL115Ws are among D'Addario's most popular round-wound, nickel-plated electric guitar strings. World-renowned as "The Player's Choice" among guitar players of all genres and styles. XL strings are wound with nickel-plated steel, known for its distinctive bright tone, excellent intonation and reduced fret wear. D'Addario is the world's largest manufacturer of strings for musical instruments. Many top guitarists won't play any other brand. Whether you play blues, jazz or rock, D'Addario has a set of strings that's right for your electric guitar.
5. DR Strings Legend Light Flatwound Electric Guitar StringsGauges 12-16-24-32-42-52. Legend polished flatwound electric guitar strings are made with old-style construction for a vintage sound.