Hi Guys, after playing acoustic for about 50 years I am just about to get my very first electric guitar. It's in transit at the moment, coming from the other side of Australia, I've swapped a Republic Resolian Parlor size resonator for a (apparently as new with only about 4 hours use) Fender 'Squier' Standard Telecaster. I know absolutely nothing about electric guitar strings but I have always played with Martin light gauge strings on my acoustics. I've read that the Squier Telecaster comes with 9 gauge strings as standard but I don't know if those are light, or not? Can I ask, and I know that this is such a personal taste thing, but, just for future reference and to give me some idea of what's on offer, what would be the best light gauge strings on the market... that is, make and gauge, that would suit a Squier Telecaster being played at home in a fairly gentle manner...?
Cheers, Hansi
TO DO IS TO BE - Nietzsche TO BE IS TO DO - Kant DO BE DO BE DO - Sinatra
Comments
9s might well feel a little too light under your fingers if you've been an acoustic player until now. 9s or 10s are about "standard" for electric guitar inasmuch as there's really any such thing. I think the Martin light gauge acoustic strings are 10-47, so an electric guitar 10-46 set will be roughly equivalent.
One thing worth considering is coated string sets, particularly if you have sweaty hands that rust regular strings quickly. I like Elixirs on my guitars (Nanoweb or Optiweb, not the older Polyweb ones) and haven't yet found another brand that lasts as long and sounds as good.
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.
Cheers, Hansi
Fender strings now (cheaper and lasting 6 weeks or more before i snap a string). No other changes on guitar
I've just fitted D'addario NYXLs and unfortunately seem to like them...much to the disgust of my wallet
Strings are cheap and I'm sure after trying a few brands you will find one you like.
Enjoy the search.
Ignoring British brands that might be hard to get in Australia, I'd start with D'Addario EXL110 which are 10 to 46 gauge. Personally, I've always found D'Addario last much longer than Ernie Ball.
If Australia is anything like the UK, you will find them a lot cheaper online than in a local shop. In the UK Amazon sell them - although it's safer to get them from Amazon themselves rather than a third party seller on Amazon. There are too many fakes around.
If you do like coated strings, then Elixir are an option, although a lot of the other makers do offer coated options as well.
Cheers, Hansi
The EXL110 is the conventional string that everyone has been using for years. The NYXL is some super duper new alloy, or marketing gimmick depending on your point of view, that costs a lot more. On Strings Direct here in the UK, the NYXL are more than double the price of the EXL110.
Consequently, I have put my order in for half a dozen sets of Fender strings seeing as they are made by D'Addario but cost 25% less.
Cheers, Hansi