I’ve known young guitarists change out tuning keys, and even buy new guitars because their old guitar would never stay in tune. In many instances it was just a matter of a poor setup, with nothing wrong with the guitar or any of it’s components.

But don’t worry, adjusting intonation is really very easy. All you need is a guitar tuner and a screwdriver. This article tells you how.

Plug your guitar into an electric guitar tuner, and tune the first string. Once it is perfectly in tune, play the same string at the octave (12th fret). What does the tuner say? Sharp? Flat? If it is not in tune, your guitar needs an intonation adjustment.

This is done by moving the relevant saddle by a very small amount. If the note was sharp, it needs to travel away from the bridge; if flat, towards the bridge. This is usually accomplished by turning a bridge screw.

This process of tuning the open string, testing at the twelfth fret, and adjusting where necessary should be repeated until each string is perfectly in tune up and down the fretboard.

In some instances, no matter how hard you try to intonate a string, it will never keep tune adequately. Old or damaged strings can cause such problems, as can incorrect strings, and silk windings extending too far onto the string, and onto the saddle.

Many older electric guitars from the 1950s and early 1960s have no means of intonation adjustment. Some have a one-piece bridge that  is not attached to the guitar top, and must be moved in entirety to make adjustments.

In short: learn how to intonate your guitar, it’s incredibly easy. Spend 10 minutes, and make sure you sound at your very best!

A new set of strings can do wonders for a bass. If the old set have been on for a while, the sound they produce will be dull and lifeless. Old strings can be the cause of fret buzz and intonation problems, and in a worse-case scenario could snap during performance.

How long a string takes to become ‘old’ depends on several factors: how much it is played, whether it is wiped down after use, and even how corrosive the perspiration of the player. Top players may change their strings nightly; only fresh strings give them the sound they want, whilst a bass that spends very little time in use - perhaps avoiding gig situations – will be fine for months or years.

So, now you’ve decided to treat your beloved bass to a new set, how do you decide what to buy? There are a lot of choices, but which ones are right for you? Long scale? shortscale? roundwound? flats?

This article describes some of the main types, to help the reader identify the best bass strings for them…

Scale

The scale of an instrument is effectively the length between nut and bridge saddles; the length that vibrates when you pluck an open string. Of course intonation adjustments at the bridge will vary this value slightly, so more often the scale is measured as twice the length between nut and twelfth fret.

The vast majority of basses will be short (30 1/2″) scale, or long (34 1/2″) scale; this can be measured with a tape measure in seconds. There are also other scales; medium (32″) and extra long (36″) but these are the exception.

In some instances, longer scale strings may be required. Basses with string through bodies (above), or very long headstocks may need longer strings than the actual scale of the bass suggests.

Tension

Tension can also be described as how taut the string is. There are a number of factors that affect tension – but when choosing a set of strings, only the gauge, material, and type of string are important. Too low tension will result in loss of volume, inferior tone and flappy, difficult to control strings. Too high tension may make the bass uncomfortable to play.

Typical gauges are 0.095″, 0.100″ and 0.105″; light, medium and heavy, or lower, medium and higher tension.

There are even lighter and heavier strings too. If you play fingerstyle, a lighter gauge will be more appropriate than if you prefer a pick. 

The type of string is also relevant to tension - flatwounds have the highest tension – then halfrounds, with roundwounds having the lowest.

Round, Flat or Halfs?

So what are the different string types?

Roundwound

As can be seen, this string is made by winding a round cross-sectioned wire around a central core. It gives a brighter sound than flats (particularly steel roundwounds), but can be prone to finger squeaking when played. Roundwound strings are probably the most often used strings, but can cause significantly more fretwear than flatwounds. most popular roundwound strings

Flatwound

Flatwound strings, as the name implies, are wound with a flat tape, and polished smooth. They are much mellower sounding than roundwounds, and are great for Jazz, RnB, and classic rock (they were all you could buy back in the day). No finger squeaking, and very little fret wear. most popular flatwound strings

Half Round

These strings combine elements of both roundwound and flatwound strings. They are somewhere in between with regard sound, and many players find halfs to be exactly the right balance. most popular halfround strings

So how do you know what to buy? Well what do you play?

If its punky slung-low rock, played with a plectrum you could go for some heavy gauge roundwounds. You’ll get a powerful punchy sound that can compete with overdriven guitars. Works well for slapping too.

If its mellow jazz played fingerstyle, try some light-medium guage flats. Or some heavier ones if you use a pick. Flats sound great for classic rock – giving an authentic boom and rumble that was the signature sound of the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

But playing style isn’t the only thing to consider. Some older guitars are tricky to set up, perhaps a slight neck bow is preventing a low action. A change in neck tension can be used to your advantage. For example a slight upbow, can be reduced with lighter gauge roundwound strings, (or exagerated with heavier flatwound strings)

Makes

Manufacturers to look out for include D’addario, GHS, Rotosound, Elixir, Ernie Ball, Thomastik and Warwick

• General Guitar String Information
• Cleaning Guitar Strings

Figure 1 - Dirty or corroded strings give poor tone and sound quality- and music will sound increasingly dull until they are replaced.

Elixir strings are actually developed by a technology company that does an array of different subjects of work. This company, named Gore, created a new wa to coat guitar strings. Other companies have created strings that coat the actual string- but Elixir strings coat crevices, and seals them. This prevents dirt and grime from entering the cracks, and likewise prevents rust from forming.

The strings were invented in 1995, as the company was actually trying to develop a new type of cable. The developers coated the wire with a special mixture, and voila, the cables were rust-free. Parts of the development team began to think on how they could apply this to other fields of technology, and the team found a way to transfer the technology to guitar strings. The strings are actually coated and form a microscopic tube around each guitar string- and the effect stays with the guitar for a long time. In fact, the company and guitar players alike agree that Elixir strings last 3-5 times longer than conventional strings.

Figure 2 - Elixir guitar strings form a complete tube around the string- preventing grime and buildup between windings. 

Just like the hundreds of guitar strings available today, Elixir guitar strings come with many different types of gauges and styles. From a mandolin to a bass guitar, virtually every popular stringed instrument is support- even acoustic strings. Different gauges can change the desired tone- from ultra light to heavy. Elixir strings suffer from no shortage of options, and are gaining in popularity among guitarists everywhere.

 Elixir strings are handy, because they protect against more than one way of rust. They of course protect from oils, sweat, and dirt from fingertips and hands- but they also protect from the environment. Unlike alternatives to Elixir guiar strings, Elixir strings can maintain rust-free strings even in the saltiest and most humid of weather. Wearing gloves or polishing strings immediately after play can increase the health of strings, but this still doesn’t protect against nature’s elements.

Figure 3 - He might not play guitar, but Michael Jackson would have below average rust on his strings, thanks to his glove. Even Michael can’t protect against humidity and other elements, however.   

So, do you absolutely need Elixir strings? Probably not, but it sure does help those who don’t like to change their strings as often. Some performances require guitarists to have instruments restrung after every song! With this little piece of technology, this practice is starting to become history- and it is doubtful anyone will miss it.

• General Guitar String Information
• See the entire Elixir string range
  

Figure 1 - We recommend FAST-FRET; It makes cleaning a one step process.

First, it should be noted that cleaning liquids are not necessarily needed. If one happens to own an expensive guitar, it would seem like a little string cleaner would be a worthy buy. Otherwise, a lint-free cloth can do a good job. The target here is usually under the guitar strings- as dirt becomes trapped nder the strings and can harden. When this hardening takes place, the dirt can act as a knife against the fret board, and carve nasty scratches into a nice wood finish. Also, the grime acts as a dampener that absorbs sound- essentially robbing guitar players of sound.

Replacing the fret board of a guitar can cost hundreds, so it is a good practice to get a thorough clean every few sessions- with a quicker clean after every session. Particularly, if damage has already been done, it may be necessary to remove the hardened grime with a scraper of some sort- preferably plastic that doesn’t do more harm than good. If the grime is left to set, sound will of course dampen- and frets will turn into unsightly, green, tarnished nightmares.

To recap, cleaning the strings, fret board, and the frets themselves are important. When the time comes to actually change the strings (yes, it will happen eventually, even with exceptional cleaning), make sure they are thrownaway. It has become habit for some thrifty people to simply throw strings in the washer- some have even boiled them like spaghetti. This is not advised, however, as it will reduce the elasticity of strings. Shelling out a little extra money is well worth not having to explain to your friends why you cooked your strings.

Figure 2 – Anti rust strings can maximize the life of guitar strings, so replacement isn’t necessary as often.

Anti-Rust strings may resist rust, buy they will still inevitably wear out. If they didn’t, then the guitar string manufacturers would be out of a job. However, they do last longer when concerning tone quality. If guitar strings are being replaced once every few days, this can extend the replacement timeto as much as two weeks- so giving the Elixir guitar strings is worth a shot.

In the end, no one can bypass the arduous task of changing guitar strings. They can, however, delay it for a good amount of time- and save a fret board or frets in the process. This is especially important among more expensive guitars, or if sound matters to a guitar player (and it should). Do your guitar a favor and take a little cleaning solution, a lint free towel, and give it a nice rub down after each jam session.

• General Guitar String Information
• Elixir Guitar Strings

Figure 1 - Look familiar? This is your guitar string up close! Notice how the metal is wound into string.

Tone is dependant upon the gauge of a string (diameter), among other things. Heavy strings have greater tension than lighter strings, and have more sustain, although they are more difficult to bend. Of course, heavy strings are needed for thicker and heavier sounds. Before purchasing guitar strings, it should be noted that there are many gauges to choose from – from super light, to super heavy – and that using a different gauge strings can have a significant impact on guitar tone. Different thickness guitar picks sometimes need to be tried out, if a change is made to string gauge.

Steel is usually either the basic material strings are made of, or are the center of the material. For instance, nickel plating is usually attached to steel for a different sounding tone. Silk or nylon has been used to coat strings as well- and the wealthy can enjoy gold plated strings. Most strings are round wound, which means that a rounded wire was used to create the string. Otherwise, there is what’s called flat-wound strings that are much smoother- and bass guitars often use them.

Figure 2 - For those who have the money, gold strings offer great tone.

Since strings are made of metallic materials, they are subject to rust and oxidization. Most guitar cleaning liquids can help prevent sweat and other means of possible rust reagents from damaging strings. A rusted string will sound much less appealing than a clean one- so it is important to take care of strings. While it isn’t completely necessary to buy cleaner, cleaning guitar strings after play is recommended.

New strings can be very difficult to work with, since they stretch. Just like rope would, wound wire will inevitably be quite inconsistent. However, this will change with “breaking them in”. During this process, a lot of tuning work may have to be done on the guitar in question- and purposely stretching them may be necessay. It usually may take anywhere from a day to a week to break in a set of strings, depending on how often they are played and retuned.

Figure 3 – Rusted string can dampen sound, and ruin tone. They appear as dark spots, and can be prevented through hand washing or cleaning strings after use.

Shopping for guitar strings is easy, changing them is a different matter altogether. Carefully taking old strings off and putting new ones on can take up to half an hour. Professionals can usually do the job within 15 minutes at top speed. There are many guides to change guitar strings, and most of them are free. Local musicians and stores can also be a great help when trying to replace guitar strings.

There are so many variables when buying new strings, its probably best to try several types, by different manufacturers to see what works. But for best tone, buy the heaviest gauge strings that will allow you to play normally; that includes bends, chords, vibrato etc. Too light strings might make for easy playing, but won’t have the same power or tonal quality

• Cleaning Guitar Strings
• Elixir Guitar Strings