The acoustic guitar strings are used for acoustic guitars that have a hollow body with six or twelve steel strings. The onboard electronic pickup is optional here. The classical guitar is different from acoustic guitar. The former one require nylon string as they lack the supportive truss rod that is usually found in the neck portion and so this cannot make use of high tension steel core strings. However, the choice of acoustic guitars is the steel and strings that are made of different alloy ratios and gauges. The alloy ratio refers to the different combination of metals that make up the acoustic guitar strings. They also differ in their gauges or the thickness of the strings.
The acoustic guitar strings that are made of bronze are 80/20 strings. This ratio refers to the combination of the metals. Here this means 80% of copper to 20% of zinc or tin. This combination of acoustic guitar strings is capable of producing bright sounds with clear ring. But some people think that this alloy lasts only for a short period and the quality deteriorates with usage.
Another choice of acoustic guitar strings is 92/8 phosphor and bronze acoustic guitar strings. This alloy has good resistance to corrosion and so can withstand for more time period. The bronze can produce brassier sound as it is stiffer than the 80/20 combination. If you want to take the midway between these two acoustic guitar strings, then you certainly need brass acoustic guitar strings what have 85/15 combination. These are well liked by people and they are more sensitive to skin oils.
The gauges of acoustic guitar strings vary greatly. There are many models such as light, super light, extra super light, medium, heavy and extra heavy gauges. The tone will also vary according to the thickness. If you choose lighter variety of acoustic guitar strings, this will be thinner and so will be easier to press so that playability will get improved. You can blend the notes easily and work with them.
The heavier acoustic guitar strings are not only louder and fuller but also stiffer and require more strength and skill to play. However, when you consider the quality of sound produced, you can get a larger and brighter sound that is good for strumming. For beginners and those who use 12 string guitars, the lighter acoustic guitar strings are the best choice. This depends upon ones playing style.
The 12 string guitar strings are made especially for guitars that have 12 strings in 6 courses. This guitar may be an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar but it can produce a richer and more ringing tone when compared to the ordinary 6 string guitar. The 12 string guitar strings are of different gauge that can give natural chorus effect in this type of guitar which can arise as a result of the subtle differences in the frequencies produced.
The 12 string guitar strings are arranged in double ranks in 12 string guitar so that they could produce that shimmering chorus effect. The courses of two strings are usually played together. The 12 string guitar strings are arranged in the guitar in pairs such that the first string of each pair is struck on a downward strum. You could also see the reverse arrangement in some guitars.
Anyone who plays 12 string guitars would certainly face the need to replace the 12 string guitar strings. Only those are good at playing ordinary guitars can try their hand at this kind of one. You have to take special lessons to play them well. In case the strings are worn out you cannot replace them with ordinary strings that are used for normal type of guitar. You need special 12 string guitar strings for this one. You have search for this type of strings. These strings are much lighter than the ordinary one. Therefore the gauge or the diameter of 12 string guitar strings is lesser. The thinner variety alone can give you that desired effect in these guitars.
Not everyone who makes use of 12 string guitar knows how to replace 12 string guitar strings when they get worn out. You have to loosen and remove the lower sixth string and its higher octave string first. Then you should clean the exposed region with a soft cloth before restringing them. You must check if you have a correct gap of one to one and half inches between them when they go past their appropriate tuning peg. The 12 string guitar strings is inserted into the tuning peg at this point where it takes a 90 degree angle bend.
Bending your 12 string guitar strings at the tuning peg will help you hold it in position as you tune it. The tuning at this point will only be approximate. Accurate tuning is not required too. You may make use of a pair of pliers to cut off the excess string that is protruding from the tuning peg. You have to repeat this for all the 12 string guitar strings. At the end you can use a tuner to fine tune the pitch of each string separately.