Guitar String Gauges Explained For Sale (2024 Update)

I had recently purchased another guage here a Musicians Friend from another brand, & was very satisfied, but was having a bit of a hard time seeing the markings unless in a very well lit room. Then I spotted this. It was a little more expensive, though still very reasonable, & the white markings on black make this much easier to see! Awesome!!James G.

The black backing with white numbers & letters is a game changer. All the metal ones you see out there are just remakes of each other, Music Nomad has really improved on an age old product. It really makes set ups a lot easier.19batman69

Better than expected. Solid tone. Easy to play. Just right. Not too bright, just clean and tight, as a well made set should sound. Lows still great, even at the slightly lighter gauge. Don't get me wrong, they can get plenty bright if you want that. Just that they didn't seem as extra bright as some kinds try to be because they can with all the "super nano ultra special coated infused …but still hand crafted somehow" type stuff. Was never happy with previous sets on my 5 string. With these, I was able to set up with slightly lower action. This alone is worth it on my instrument. Finally, it's the bass it should've always been. Waited way too long to find these. I hope they keep making them. Probably going to order a few extra sets and try to keep a few on hand. As others point out, I'm not sure there's another set with these gauges for 5 strings. To me these are just right in a lot of ways.Person

Overall: Don't pay any attention to the low price these are great strings. Have used Fender 7250's on all kinds of bass guitars they always sound great and feel good. Years of use have proved quality. I put them on my Jazz bass, my PJ, and my Squire, have used them on Samick, Music man, OLP, and Epiphone basses, all good.Scott

Been using the 8250-5M set for awhile. Wanted to try a lighter gauge. I get more guitar tones out of these. I was concerned I might overpower them since I'd used medium gauge for a couple of years. These are literally perfect on my Modern Player Jazz Bass V and 2 1993 Jazz Plus Vs. I bought the Modern Player new from Musiciansfriend. I think this light set is the set that it had on it. I use a pick, single and double thumb as well as two finger picking techniques. The E and B strings give a nice low end. The A, D and G strings have a growl and bright tone and respond well to picking or plucking. I'll be using these strings for some timegeorgesguitars

These strings are coated to protect them from wear. The company Aurora went a step further, and colored the coating. So if you can find a set in your preferred gauge and color, get them. They ware well, and sound good.lmssrc

I began using these strings a few years ago when I began experimenting with extreme low tunings; both standard and drop tunings (anywhere between D standard all the way down to drop-G#). At the time they were the heaviest set of strings I could find in the town where I live so I put them through the paces for a good long while before I tried other gauges/brands. Now, if strung on a good quality 25.5 scale guitar these strings do okay tension-wise all the way down to drop-A# or even drop-A for doomy, drone-type stuff. I found that if I tuned any lower than that they lost all clarity and definition. On a 24.75 scale guitar, however, drop-B was as low as I could get with them and they honestly didn't sound that great. After a few months of experimentation I found that Drop-C on a 24.75 scale guitar was just about right for this set of strings tension-wise. Later, after settling on drop-B as my main tuning, I found that the .56 bottom just wasn't thick enough to provide the string tension and clarity I need for my playing style. I also found, much to my dismay, that the .56 bottom string broke way too often to be such a thick gauge string which makes me think that the quality of these strings is sub-par compared to other brands I've tried since. I even filed down the string saddle to try and reduce the wear on the string but it didn't seem to help. I've also found that these strings rust and corrode much sooner than other brands I've tried even after I started using a string cleaner after playing. The final complaint I have about these strings is that the plain G string they put into this pack of strings sounds ridiculously bad in any tuning and the lower you tune it the worse it sounds. I imagine it would help if they made it a wound string or at least included a wound string in the pack so you could choose between the two. I've since settled on another brand of string in .10-.60 gauge and I am much happier with the tone, tension and definition compared to the EB not even slinky set.ViperDude310

I needed a set of strings to reproduce a heavily Black Sabbath influenced recording (c. Vol 4) that would not thin out in a drop tuning environment, standard for slide playing and standard for thickening the tone and sustain before I got to my amp or effects loop I tried out a set of these when I was informed they are indeed made in the USA. Short answer: Oh yeah, oh hells yeah! The increased tension in the neck might make these strings unsuitable for some players. I'm on a neck though body Gibson SG and have been holding solidly in tune (E=329Hz. A=440Hz, etc).for over a week with no loss. When you put these string on you will need to stretch them with a string stretching tool or by bending the string left to right, right to left with your thumb and finger from the nut to the bridge to keep them in tune, go down the string in 1/2" increments and repeat until you run out of string. Many players put on a set of strings and break as they go, try this and see how much less you have to tune in the overall lifespan of the string, i break in all my strings with this method and it works wonders. I would NOT use these for guitars manufactured with inexpensive components (e.g. knockoffs and starter kit guitars) as you will go out of tune due to the lack of strength on the wood used to build and the tuning pegs which are usually very cheaply produced from inferior metals with shoddy gears and posts and truss rods that are misaligned and/or made form inferior components. Once on these strings sound big, (e.g. yo mama big), the fatter tone and sustain going to these from light and medium gauge .9/.10 – .42/.48 is immediately noticeable and leaving yourself in standard tuning will be much more of a workout on your fret hand, but the payoff is the tone and sustain you can get from the increase in string mass and tension. For the negative reviews I'd be interested to see what kind of guitars these strings are being set up on and what the manufactures recommend. I'm planning on putting the other set of these on a G&L ASAT (AKA Telecaster 2.0) for heavy blues slide and I will observe if that stays in tune as well.as it's a 4 bolt neck, but if your gear is not very good to begin then don't expect adding that much more tension to an inexpensively made guitar to behave like a quality instrument.Sultan of the Six Strings

I've tried many string brands out there and have come back to Ernie Ball in the last couple of years. They sound and feel great, stay in tune (assuming you have a guitar that stays in tune), and are durable (no strings last forever). You can simply depend on them.Frank

Getting back into guitar after a few years off, decided I don't really have anything to prove to anyone and dropped down from 12's to these 10's. Negligible sound difference, if any at all really. But wow are my fingers so much happier. Less pain = more practice. Get you some!ZACH

I have used Ernie Ball Slinkys since I started playing guitar (time that can be measured in decades, that's all I say). I have been through other top brands, and just don't like them. I have gotten to know EB strings to the point where I can nearly predict when they'll break. That's good in my book. The lively tone and intonation stays for a LONG time. And they're good enough to scrape clean and, in the word of Billy Idol, Start Again. Well, that beats boiling them (RIP EVH). What's even better is all these new, attractive hybrid sets, allowing you to easily find your groove without having to get two packs for your ideal set! EB just keeps getting better.Guy lll

It is a great tool to use to get your instruments to be dialed in and sounding their best. This ruler/gauge is easy to handle, use and see. This is the one you see on all the best Yutube videos. Know your numbers and save your gas money and fees for buying gear! Glad I checked it out because I live 50 miles from the nearest music store. AMS ships quickly and packaged your stuff so it will get there in perfect shape.GreggB

This is the 3rd action gauge I've purchased, after returning the first two because they were inaccurate. This gauge is accurate and feels solid. My only gripe is what appears to be a typo on the back of the gauge, 'guitar' is spelt 'giutar' three times. The measurements are also etched into the steel, unlike the other gauges where they were printed on. 10 seems steep for a bit it steel with some measurements etched into it, but after trying to cheap out and getting a faulty gauge twice I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this.axdx9x

I have a couple of these d'Addario gauges and they are accurate and easy to use. Some of the cheaper brands that you find on the internet often have rulers that do not line up with the edges or the printed lines are not clear or straight. I've never had problems with d'Addario.Ken

I have been a Stringjoy customer now for 4-5 years(I think?) and they are the best strings I’ve ever used on my electric guitars! Love the feel of them and the tone. You guys have an amazing thing going. I would love to try them on my resonator guitar(it’s a square-neck). Beard Guitars makes the strings I currently use on it. They’re a little peculiar as far as the gauge goes though. .18-.20-.29W-.36-.45-.56 but I love the tone of that gauge and like Ariel Posen, I like a fight from my strings. I almost ordered a custom set to try when I was ordering my previous sets of electric strings but didn’t see a .29W in bronze. Anyways, I’m very thankful I discovered you guys! Best.string.manufacturer.on.the.planet!!!! Period! Nathan Farlow High Point, NC 86 Ibanez Roadstar RG-110 2000s G&L Tribute ASAT Rogue lap steel Martin HD28 Gold Tone PBS-DNathan F

I turned to Stringjoy because I wanted a 9-72 8-string set, for which there aren't many options ot there, unless you go for a custom set. I was tempted by the stellar reviews, so I decided to give these a go. Firstly, these are the clearest sounding strings I've ever tried. They're not excessively bright, but their articulation is amazing, which really helps that low F# string ring true. They are almost clear to a fault, because they emphasise every little bit of fret buzz and string rattle, so you have to watch your technique. Secondly, these are the longest lasting uncoated strings I've ever used. After a month of use, they have shown minimal aging. I don't play my 8-string every day, but still, this is impressive. Also, they don't rust, flake or turn black. They just gradually become duller, while still remaining playable. One bit of criticism I have is the tuning stability. These strings seem to need a certain amount of tension to stay in tune. They were fine on my 27" scale 8-string, but when I tried the equivalent set on my 25.5" scale 7-string, bending made them go out of tune very easily. I need to try the 10-60 set and see if it's any better. Overall, I'm very happy with this set for my 8-string, and I have already purchased more. Oh, and one more thing! Normally, whenever I use gauge 72 or higher, I have to partially unwrap the winding to fit the string into its tuning peg. With this set, the lowest string was somehow able to go in as it is. A really nice added bonus!Alexander K

When I was in my teens and early twenties, I didn’t think about the differences between brands of strings. I based my choices as much on the packaging as anything. After putting it away for decades, I decided to take up guitar again. I decided that this time I would explore the differences in strings. I’ve been all over the map with this and have finally settled on Stringjoy Naturals. They’re not as expensive as some other strings I’ve tried and liked. They hit a sweet spot for me. Price, playability, and sound. They’re all there for me.Mark B

I have been using Stingjoy string on my 3 Ibanez electric guitars and a 5 string Fender Jazz bass bass for a couple years now. I really cannot comment on the bass strings- I just do not change them often enough. The electric guitars on the other hand I change quite frequently. I have found that the Strinjoy strings make more and a broader sound 'acoustically'- that is with the guitar unplugged, and as I use low to medium output PUPS that 'acoustic' sound translates when plugged in. Over the years I have managed to get a handle on Floyd Rose double locking systems which can offer really solid tuning stability once you do learn how to manage them. With the Stringjoy strings the tuning stability on my FR guitars went from very good to ridiculously solid. Once the a new set of strings are settled in, If I stick to whole tone bends or < and nothing environmental intervenes, I can play 6 plus hours a day and be not need to tune, or if I do it is just to sharpen the high E and perhaps B string occasionally. The tuning stability coupled with the great sound and extended time the strings sound good has made Stringjoy strings my electric guitar strings of choice.Shaun F

This FiveStar review is really more of a projected rating. At the time I ordered the super balanced set, I also ordered a set of Broadways. They are beautiful strings – amazing tone and vibracy. Plus they’ve lasted 3 months- a LONG for all the bending I do. This may be partly because I also decided to use the StringJoy string conditioner, a product Ive always stayed away from. Stringjoys formula is awesome and most importantly safe for the guitar wood and finish (I ran a test on a couple beaters). I’m looking forward to trying the Balanced set- I’ve pieced sets together to get that combination- perfect for taming the loud G string on my Strat. It’s handy that StringJoy makes it so easy to customize your sets. I’ve also tried both of their acoustic strings, in various guages and they’ve all been top notch! Thanks StringJoy! If you’re on the fence about buying these strings, go for it! They are worth the few extra bucks- a nice sonic treat. One of my customers brought a set over to put on his guitar after a set up and Im glad he did- my favorite strings hands down! And I love supporting a local Nashville business.Noah G

These strings have been game-changers for me. They sound awesome on my electrics and acoustics; the custom sizing options make it easy for me to get the exact combo I want; they never break; and I really appreciate the individual packaging—no more fiddling around separating strings before you put them on. I cannot recommend these highly enough.James P

I just installed my first set of Stringjoy Naturals 11/52 gauge on my Martin 000C-28 Andy Summers Signature Edition. My feedback : Tone is good initial impression.Not as bright as Elixir. The strings are longer than other brands, seems like an extra 5+ inches longer so you could save a bit on cost. I also have brights that I will put on my Breedlove Cedar top at some point.William J

1st time I've tried Stringjoy Strings. I was having my Luthier set up my guitar and asked him to put on the Stringjoys. I am very pleased with how they sound and feel, and better yet, I asked my Luthier what he thought of them. He had never seen them before but immediately said they're some of the best he's ever seen or heard. That's good enough for me. I'll be a repeat customer! Thanks Stringjoy, Ed G.Edward G

I had just purchased an Alvarez Yairi guitar and was looking for the best strings for this amazing instrument, I tried the Martin Lifespans, the Elixer Nanoweb 80/20 Custom Lights and StringJoy Brights Super Light Gauge 80/20 Bronze, I didn't like the Martins at all and found that the Stringjoys were the better sounding and longest lasting strings of any I have tried. I am now a lifetime customer and will be receiving a set every 2 months. Aside from the strings themselves, the customer service is amazing and shipping is fast. Try them. You won't be sorry.David M

I was surprised by the lackluster brightness of the 80/20 strings. Nowhere near what I’m accustomed to with other brands. I realize in production at times an inferior batch can pass through. I may give them another shot someday. I already put the second set on my Gibson maple advanced jumbo and it was the same as the first set. I have no idea what happened unless the strings were improperly packaged as 80/20 when in fact they might have been recorded lain phosphor bronze? There was no bell like brightness to them which is surprising for a quality maple guitar.David K

The strings sound amazing! But I have serious trouble getting and keeping them in tune. In all fairness I only played my guitar maybe 3 times in the first week after putting them on and I keep it on a stand in my home. But the strings I had used in the same way had stayed tuned for weeks. Even in the same playing I found myself constantly retuning between songs and key changes, capo use and the like. Could this possibly be my guitar?I have a different kind of string I will change it and see! By the way I am certainly not an expert but I have played for 35 years!Damon M

OK, since you asked, I'll be candid. I had high hopes for handmade-in-America strings, but honestly I didn't like their sound at all. It's hard to describe, but I thought they sounded lifeless. Maybe too tinny, with weak bass. Didn't seem to have much depth. I played them at a rehearsal right after putting them on, and I didn't like the sound. In fact, a woman commented out of the blue that my guitar didn't sound very good. I play a 1971 Martin D-28. By the time we played the next night, I had taken them off and put on a new set of my usual Martin strings, and she commented, again unprompted, that my guitar sounded a lot better, which was just what I was thinking. I try out lots of guitar strings – phosphor, 80/20, monel, hexagon, octagon, coated, uncoated, famous brands, not famous, and I usually go back to Martin 80/20 uncoated between trying new ones. I like a bright sound, but I also want depth and rich bass. I'm sorry to be so negative about these, but I didn't like the sound. It may be the way they interact with my particular guitar or with my ears and preferences. Thanks.Carl R

Well built strings in my opinion. There smooth and able to hold there tone pretty well I think that these strings will prove to be at least satisfactory for any type of musician They can take the heat and they look pretty good too.TC

Bought these on a recommendation from a guy on YouTube and have not had any issues at all. I used Dean Markley Blue Steels for nearly 20 years, but due to lack of availability, was looking for an alternative. The individual who recommended them is a touring professional guitarist. I see why he uses them.Jason

I was experiencing string squeak and a fellow musician suggested flatwound strings. I chose this brand to try. They have perform well. Just ordered another set.SG

I Love Rhythm and blues, jazz and swing. But I also like folk music and great C&W riff lines. To be honest, I have only been using these strings for about three weeks but I like them so much that I plan to use them on most of my instruments. So far, In my opinion, these strings are clean and crisp and they have a very satisfying tone even at higher volumes; and, at the present time, they appear to be pretty flex-able and easy on the fingers. Oh, one other thing, I really like the priceTC

I have a used 2005 hollowbody Cort Yorktown. I tried D'Addario ECG23 (10-48 "chromes" flatwounds). They were nice, but for this guitar, they were too bright, at least on the treble strings. I put on these DR flatwounds (11-48) and immediately heard the difference. The tone was mellower, including (especially!) on the treble strings. Don't ask me why. After all, the high E is just .001 inch heavier, but the consistent softened jazz sound was there, from low end to high end. Guitars differ in variables (woods, pickups, etc), so all I can say is that for my guitar (laminate maple back and sides, laminate spruce top and original humbuckers), DR 11-48 flatwounds did the trick. Will stick with these from now on. (By the way, both brands have a wound 3rd string, but DR's is 22 instead of 20. Go figure!) At one point, I was even thinking of replacing the neck pickup. Thank you, DR, for saving me that trouble and expense!A. G.

I have used these strings for 3 or 4 years now they're really good I chose them because of the size and I found out that they are awesome. Not one ever broke on me as I did expect the 10 to from the speed and pressure I used sometimes. My particular style is metal, the strings work great for that. They are highly pliable. I am a bender and the tuning I think does not go out too much after the stresses I place on the strings. I have used deep standard E standard C standard a also be dropped down tuning no problem with any of the strings at all the sound is crisp and clear it's not a muddy sound and it's not a tinggi sound from the strings like a steel Acoustic sound.Big Mac

These strings work pretty much as advertised. They let you tune absurdly low without sacrificing note clarity or integrity… not perfectly, but reasonably. They also stay in tune remarkably well with little to no breaking-in.Regular DR 10's can handle my guitar tuned down 1 1/2 steps with no problems, but anything beyond that is flub territory and intonation is out by as much as a full half-step. With the DDT 10's, I can go 3 steps down and they still sound tight. If you check with a tuner, the intonation isn't quite right, but the difference is negligible to the naked ear. It's hard to break a DDT string. They are noticeably tougher than your average set of 10's. The feel is quite nice at 1 steps and lower though. They're surprisingly easy on the fingers. You don't have to pick hard to get heavy attack. They just exude brutal tone.Their quality stands true to the DR name. Definitely worth a try if you plan on experimenting with extremely low tunings. They can make your 6-string sound like a 7-string… only it'll still feel like a 6-string!Strizzwald

I typically play a half step down, sometimes drop C#. Guitar I have set up for that was giving me some occasional open string buzz in drop C#, but I didn't wanna go to a higher gauge because I like to be able to go to E standard once in a blue. Took the Daddarios off, put these on. Boom. Problem solved. Also very stable tuning wise and feel great overall. Thumbs up!Dustin J.

These strings are amazing and are quite possibly the best strings I've ever used and I've used a lot of strings especially lately. I've been in a testing phrase trying to find my "go to" strings. I've narrowed it down to the John Pearse slightly light custom gauge and the D'addario nickel bronze strings, the John Pearse seems to retain the new crisp tone longer than the nickel bronze strings though the nickel bronze and really comfortable. These are really great sounding, and have a crisp bright tone that brings out the best of your guitar. I absolutely love these strings.Patrick

Fantastic set! Took my standard scale six-string to new lows! It’s a bit loose but useable in G but about perfect for G# on my SE archtop Rich Bich. And better than the 72 gauge EB string I had tried previously. Immediately fell into a reasonable tone and with a little EQ-ing! Been an Ernie Ball guy for years. Stringjoy has a new fan!Andrew M

I like the strings, but the over advertising on emails is really annoying. I’m not sure who is your marketing manager, but your time would be well spent at NAAM, Local guitar dealers, online advertising, etc. Maybe even getting a contract to put your strings on specialty guitars from the manufacturer, along with specs that only you meet. Such a great product, but it’s really not out there and non-stop emails are annoying to every person. Good luck as a company, hope the honest feed back helps.John L

I had been reading about these strings in forums etc and was intrigued. Decided to try a set or two and see what was up. I bought the 10-52 Signatures. Well, I have been using them for a month and a half and all I can say is, believe the hype. The feel great, nice on the fingers, and it seems like the difference in quality of the metal is noticeable. I mean, it feels that way. Maybe it's something else. I don't know but they feel good, hold tune very well and settle in easy right after they're strung up. In six weeks of home playing they have not diminished in tone or tuning stability at all. I am already subscribing for three sets every two months as well. Love my stringjoys.Brian H