The guitar is a small orchestra. It is polyphonic.
Every string is a different color, a different voice.
                                  - Andres Segovia

There's no doubt about it. Guitars sound better with new strings. One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to improve the tone of your instrument is to change the strings. New strings can give your guitar an entirely new sound and feel. Tuning problems can be caused by old strings. Strings that are dirty or oxidized might not stay in tune. Note: Wiping your strings with a lint-free cloth after playing can help prolong the life of your strings.

WHICH STRINGS ARE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Esteban Strings offers various guitar string sets in different tensions, or gauges. The gauge of a string is a measurement of its thickness. Here are some helpful hints to help you select the right strings for your guitar.

Classical Guitars

Silver wrapped strings are a little brighter than bronze wrapped strings. So keep that in mind from the outset. We offer both, and I suggest you try each to get a feel for the differences. The bronze wrapped string has a lovely warm sound in the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings, where the silver has a more "folk/rock" sound in those same strings. I use both, depending on the performance. If I'm playing solo, I use bronze wrapped bass strings. If I'm playing with my band, I use silver wrapped bass strings.

Regarding Medium or High tension strings, this is a matter of preference. You should experiment with both to get the sound you want and the comfort level you want. If you're a beginner, then use Medium tension strings. High tension strings are for more advanced players who really want to project sound in a non-amplified environment. It's harder to press down High tension strings. High tension strings make the guitar a little louder, and you can dig into them to produce more sound when you're more advanced.

I use High tension strings myself, but I've been playing a long time!

Acoustic Steel String Guitars

If you play fingerstyle, or fingerpicking with the right hand, I recommend Extra Light gauge (tension) strings or Esteban Hybrid strings for the acoustic steel string guitar. You should get a feel for the slight difference in gauge on the first 3 strings, which are slightly thicker for the first 3 strings on the Hybrid set. You get a little more volume from heavier gauge strings as a rule of thumb. Always remember that.

Light gauge and Medium gauge strings are for more aggressive playing with a flat pick. If you want to play loud rhythm guitar in a band, for example, Medium gauge is the ticket. You can dig down into these strings and really be loud. The normal Light gauge strings are a great all-around string for flatpicking and some fingerpicking as well. This is the perfect combination string for flat picking and fingerpicking together. Remember, the heavier the gauge (tension), the harder it is to press down with the left hand. It's much harder to maintain a clean sound holding down an F Major chord or a power barre chord with Medium gauge strings, than if you are using Extra Lights or a Hybrid set. It's much easier to press down with the left hand using lighter gauge strings.

I use the Esteban Hybrid set for all my acoustic steel string playing.

Electric Guitars

Esteban Extra Light and Hybrid Rock gauge sets are for high lead playing, bending the strings for that bluesy sound. These are easy to press down with the left hand as well. The same rules apply as above for electric strings. Light and Medium tension strings are for hard rhythm guitar in a band, and when you get accustomed to them, you can play lead as well, but the string will not bend as much, so you have to work hard at getting that blues/rock bending sound.

Rock on!