Guitar Strings And How They Produce Proper Tones

By Phil Zertisky

Do you play the guitar? If so then have you ever stopped to think or even to wonder about just how your guitar strings were made? There are many different types of strings. There are some that are made strictly for use in pianos and violins, and there are even some specifically made for certain model and brand guitars.

Strings come in two different types. There are plain strings and then there are wound strings. Plain strings are usually made up of only one type of material, where as wound strings have a core made from a single material and are then wound with a second type of material.

Although some strings are marketed to be steel, in actuality steel strings are made up from bronze, nickel, and other alloys that incorporate steel into them. There are even some strings that are made from plant and animal products, polymers, and metal. Bass guitars use strings that are made from wound polymer materials that are bigger gauged then regular strings.

There are numerous varieties of wound strings. There are round wound strings, which are the simplest of all strings. These strings are made up of two parts. A round or hex core on the inside with round wire winding tightly in a spiral around the core; make up these round wound strings. These strings are not only easy and simple to make and manufacture, but are also cheap to purchase.

As with anything though, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Although these strings are cheap and easy to replace, the fact of the matter is that these will have to be replaced more often then other types of strings. Round wound strings have a bumpy surface that is known for producing friction on people's finger tips that use them and play them on their guitars. If the core to these round wound strings is round then the winding is not secured to the core. This means that the winding can rotate freely around the core.

Flat wound strings on the other hand are similar to round wound strings but these strings, although made with a round core, are more costly then round wound strings. The reason for this is because of the way in which they are made. Flat wound strings do not have bumpy surfaces and do not produce squeaking sounds when a players fingers slide across them. This alone makes the sounds produced from flat wound strings more clear and rich then that of round wound strings.

Keep in mind that not all guitars are the same. This means that not all guitars take the same type of strings. All strings do however share some of the same type of materials needed in order to make them. Bronze for instance is one of the most commonly used elements for the winding of strings. In some instances silver and gold are used as well, but tend to be more costly. These types of materials are both hypoallergenic and also are resistant to corrosion.

As do most things that are metal or made with metal, guitar strings offer a unique problem because they are susceptible to corrosion and oxidation. Wound strings of any metallic type will eventually corrode due to exposure of moisture and salts from players fingers. Unfortunately due to this exposure, metallic made strings not only will loose their shine but will eventually break as well. Recently in order to combat corrosion, manufacturing companies have began applying a metal plating or polymer coating in order to better protect the strings from normal wear and tear and corrosion. - 18780

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