https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:24:13 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135789 Sun, 30 Oct 2005 19:48:51 +0000
When the tech started saying that I was a bit skeptical. However, I am bit curious about those Gibson strings I have now, so I think I'm going to string them up today and see how they sound.

Jason]]> Guitar Players Discussion Crank-N-Jam https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135789 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135641 Sat, 29 Oct 2005 23:13:54 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion Ricochet https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135641 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135632 Sat, 29 Oct 2005 22:11:38 +0000
Of course, Gibson's the same company that claims to have invented metal strings "in 1927" in some literature I've seen - but metal string guitars have been around about 250 years longer than Gibson has. So maybe I'm being overly charitable :)]]> Guitar Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135632 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135630 Sat, 29 Oct 2005 22:06:30 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion Ricochet https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135630 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135628 Sat, 29 Oct 2005 21:58:08 +0000
In descending order, the typical electric guitar strings for output are:

1. Stainless steel
2. Nickel plated steel (NPS) windings
3. Pure nickel windings
4. Chrome windings

The order will be the same for all pickups. Yes, Gibson has a string they've designed for their humbuckers... I haven't tried them, and don't know how they sound.

The difference in tone will be on the WOUND strings - as far as I know, every manufacturer uses Swedish steel for the plain strings, and for the core of the wound strings. Gibson may be an exception to this, as their advertising says 'special composite core'.]]> Guitar Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135628 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135601 Sat, 29 Oct 2005 19:47:46 +0000 D'Addario's, what the different winding materials are purported to sound like, but in the end the best test is to try 'em yourself and see what you think. My favorites are the usual nickel-plated steel wound electric strings, which I've gone to using on my nonelectric tricone resonator as well. I like the very bright tone they have. Most folks think the pure nickel ones aren't quite so bright, they don't give quite as strong a signal through magnetic pickups (which may or may not be a bad thing, depending on your desired sound), and they're a bit more expensive nowadays. Everybody's tastes are a little different, so play with what you like best.]]> Guitar Players Discussion Ricochet https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-135601 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-12766 Sat, 29 Oct 2005 18:41:28 +0000
I took my Tele in to have it setup last week. I had bought some Fender 250L nickel plated strings to have put on as well. According to Fender, those are what came on it from the factory. The guy doing the setup told me they wouldn't sound very good on my guitar because nickel strings were mainly for single coil guitars. I said string'em up anyway since I already had them. This is a somewhat different Fender in that it does have dual humbuckers on it. Anyway, this got me thinking because I do have some Gibson strings that say they are "specially designed" for humbucker guitars using some special alloy (I haven't strung them up yet though).

So, what does the material used in the string do to the tone exactly? I also bought some pure nickel strings (150L) for my Fender. Will those sound bright or dull on humbuckers? Am I over thinking this whole thing since tone is so subjective? I guess I'm just a bit confused.

I did notice that my guitar does sound a tad bit muddier with these new strings on.

Jason]]> Guitar Players Discussion Crank-N-Jam https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/string-materials/#post-12766