strings

  1. Acoustic Strings on an Electric Guitar

    Acoustic Strings on an Electric Guitar
    Ernie Ball EB2221 Regular Slinky Guitar String Set 6-Pack @ $24.99 Q: "Can I use acoustic guitar strings on my electric?" A: Taking a typical set of acoustic strings into consideration, the high E and B will work fine and should generate the normal amount of output if used in an electric guitar. As for the other four, you...
  2. Simple But Effective Bass Tone Upgrades - Part 3

    Simple But Effective Bass Tone Upgrades - Part 3
    Welcome to the third installment of our multi-part bass tone upgrade feature! We've already covered pickups and electronics in our previous articles so now its time to move on to the next simple but effective upgrade: strings. While you should already be changing your strings regularly -- every month or so for average users or every other week if you consistently gig -- swapping out an old set for a new pair is the perfect time to experiment with the different tonal upgrade options strings can give your bass. It's actually pretty surprising just how much a different set can change your instrument's sound. Below, we'll be breaking down some individual aspects of bass strings along with some common tonal characteristics. Continue reading →
  3. Preventing Broken Guitar Strings

    Preventing Broken Guitar Strings
    Imagine being in the middle of an amazing solo, making those notes scream as the crowd gets wilder and louder -- only to greeted by the awful sound of a snapped string. Not only is the performance going to take a hit but unless you have a spare guitar, you're going to waste valuable time just to get your ax restrung. While broken strings can’t be completely avoided, there are a few things you can do to better prevent their occurrence, especially if the breakage is caused by things other than the strings themselves. Continue reading →
  4. Quick Tip: Heavier Gauge Strings for Fatter Tone

    Quick Tip: Heavier Gauge Strings for Fatter Tone
    [caption id="attachment_2989" align="alignright" width="212"]eb2215_1 Ernie Ball Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom Electric Guitar String Set @ $4.49[/caption] Here’s a quick, cheap and easy tip on how to beef up your guitar’s sound for a fatter tone: new guitar strings! A lot of manufacturers offer lighter gauge strings for players who want to be able to perform bends much more easily than they would a heavier gauge set. A good example is the Ernie Ball Super Slinky light set which features a gauge range of .011 to .042. While a lighter set of strings will definitely makes those bends easier to pull-off, they will also thin out your guitar tone – a consequence some players might not realize. Luckily, you have a few choices. Continue reading →
  5. Bass Guitar Scale Lengths

    Bass Guitar Scale Lengths
    [caption id="attachment_2495" align="alignright" width="210"]AABoth Fender set the standard for the 34" long scale bass length with the release of their influential Precision (left) and Jazz (right) bass guitars.[/caption] One of the most important aspects of a bass guitar is its scale length. In the framework of guitars, bass guitars and any other string instruments, the scale length refers to the distance between the bridge and the nut, essentially the entire vibrating length of the strings as opposed to the length of the neck or fingerboard. Short scale basses are usually designated as those with a 30” length. Long scale basses on the other hand ordinarily have 34” lengths. It was actually Fender that is credited with creating the prototypical long scale length distance with the release of their immensely influential Precision Bass in 1951, followed by the Jazz Bass in 1960 along with a few other long-scale models (such as the Telecaster Bass and Jaguar Bass in 1968 and 2006, respectively). Although there are no hard and fast rules, the 34” is now pretty much universally accepted as the standard scale length of a bass. There are certainly other sizes available, such as the 32” medium scale and 35” long scale, although both are not as common as 34". Continue reading →

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