Best Guitar Strings to Boost Your Performance in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 23, 2024
With a great variety of types, dimensions, and materials, which strings are best for your instrument? Which ones will match your favorite genre, playing technique, or even a skill level? Our experts bring you the 5 top sets of guitar strings for premium sound and top-notch performances. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
For
Materials
String Quantity
Diameter
Package Quantity
 
PROS

Corrosion- and contamination-resistant, these Elixir acoustic guitar strings with Nanoweb™ coating will serve you several times longer than their competitors, allowing you to enjoy playing and save time on strings replacement.

CONS

At first, the sound might seem a bit tinny.

OUR VERDICT

Designed to meet requirements of professional musicians, these Elixir strings boast clear, rich, and long-lasting sound. They are perfect for both day-to-day rehearsals and recording songs at studios.

detailed parameters
For

Acoustic guitar

Materials

Bronze with NANOWEB™ coating

Plain steel with anti-rust plating

String Quantity

6 strings

Diameter

E - 0.012
B - 0.016
G - 0.024
D - 0.032
A - 0.042
E - 0.053
(available in other diameters)

Package Quantity

Package Quantity of 1

PROS

Featuring a high carbon steel core and corrosion-resistant phosphor bronze winding, these D'Addario EJ16 strings deliver bright and warm long-lasting tone. This pack is an excellent choice for acoustic guitar players.

CONS

Strings lose their colour over time.

OUR VERDICT

Created by D'Addario, a worldwide famous guitar strings manufacturer, this set is ideal for beginners and professional musicians alike. Each piece has a colour-coded ball-end, making strings identification a breeze.

detailed parameters
For

Acoustic guitar

Materials

Phosphor bronze, 

Plain steel

String Quantity

6 strings

Diameter

E - 0.012
B - 0.016
G - 0.024
D - 0.032
A - 0.042
E - 0.053
(available in other diameters)

Package Quantity

Package Quantity of 1
Package Quantity of 3
Package Quantity of 10
Package Quantity of 25

PROS

These reliable Ernie Ball electric guitar strings were designed to deliver a classic balanced tone you know and love. The Element Shield™ packaging will keep the strings in perfect condition as if they were just made.

CONS

It can take you quite a while to tune the strings.

OUR VERDICT

Being the choice of Jimmy Page, Angus Young, Eric Clapton, and other prominent musicians, these Ernie Ball strings are known and loved for their superior quality, bright sound and signature Slinky feel.

detailed parameters
For

Electric guitar

Materials

Nickel-plated steel

Tin plated high-carbon steel

String Quantity

6 strings

Diameter

E - 0.010
B - 0.013
G - 0.017
D - 0.026
A - 0.036
E - 0.046
(available in other diameters)

Package Quantity

Package Quantity of 1
Package Quantity of 3
Package Quantity of 6
Package Quantity of 12

PROS

The strings are made by utilizing a wire drawing process and a special 'fusion twist' process for plain steels. These technologies provide 131% greater tuning stability compared to similar products.

CONS

All strings come in one pack and have to be untied.

OUR VERDICT

The incredible strength of these strings will suit even those players who employ aggressive guitar technique, which makes the NYXL string set one of the best solutions for heavy musicians.

detailed parameters
For

Electric guitar

Materials

Nickel-plated steel

String Quantity

6 strings

Diameter

E - 0.010
- 0.013
G - 0.017
D - 0.026
A - 0.036
E - 0.046
(available in other diameters)

Package Quantity

Package Quantity of 1
Package Quantity of 3
Collectors Tin

PROS

Nickel wound, these strings allow for a long-term playing experience while providing clean and bright sound. A great set of 4 strings for owners of bass guitars.

CONS

They are a bit top-heavy in tone.

OUR VERDICT

Designed to deliver powerful and bright sound, this Bray bass strings set is an excellent value for money. The quality is on par with that of its more expensive competitors.

detailed parameters
For

Bass guitar

Materials

Nickel

String Quantity

4 strings

Diameter

E - 0.045
A - 0.065
D - 0.080
G - 0.105
(available in other diameters)

Package Quantity

Package Quantity of 1

X

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Elixir Acoustic Guitar Strings

Lasting Strings for the Tone that Lasts

If you are looking for acoustic guitar strings with a long-lasting rich tone which would be good for day-to-day rehearsals, performances, and recording, the Elixir set is just what you need. The secret of incomparable sound quality these strings produce lies in their ultra-thin coating that protects the entire string (including gaps between its windings) from dirt, grease, and corrosion. This unique feature ensures consistent performance and extended durability of each piece in the set, which means you will spend significantly less time and money on changing strings. Acting as a protective barrier, the NANOWEB coating also provides a smooth feel and enhances playability. These bronze Elixir strings deliver a bright tone that inspires. At the same time, a reduced finger squeak makes the set an excellent choice for both performing and recording music.

Avid musicians looking for a music instrument with a special sound may also be interested in our ukuleles review. Ukulele is a small but very mighty guitar.

Review of Elixir Acoustic Guitar Strings

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £11.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B0002E1O2C

 

D'Addario EJ16

Warm Sound, Traditional Feel

It is not for nothing the D'Addario strings are known all over the world and are widely used by professional musicians. A winning combination of the highest quality materials, innovative design and enormous experience is the secret of their excellent-sounding strings. Now we would like to introduce you one of their most popular products, the D'Addario EJ16 acoustic guitar strings set that includes round-wound phosphor bronze and unwound plain steel strings. To ensure long-lasting tune and bright sound, the strings feature a corrosion-resistant phosphor bronze winding and a carbon steel core. This core is hexagonally-shaped to provide a reliable bond between the inner and outer wire, which helps to keep the string in tune. Moreover, each piece has a colour-coded ball-end for easy identification and securing the string to the bridge.

Summing up, we can say that boasting well-balanced and warm tone, traditional textured feel, and excellent playability, this D'Addario strings set is a wonderful choice for acoustic guitar players.

Review of D'Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Light

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £8.50
Stock In stock
ASIN B000EEJ8CS

 

Ernie Ball 2221

Part of the Legend

The best advertisement for any product is if it is used by best musicians. The Ernie Ball Slinky electric guitar strings have been the choice of legendary musicians for years; it is fair to say that they have become a part of the industry. So, let's have a closer look at the Ernie Ball Slinky strings. To ensure the optimal performance of the strings, the manufacturer uses the finest raw materials and repeatedly inspects them during the production and packaging process. Plain strings made of tin plated high carbon steel are reliably secured around the ball ends with the lock twists. Wound strings feature a hex-shaped core with nickel-plated steel wounding, to provide excellent durability and unmatched sound. Every single detail guarantees a well-balanced tone and signature Slinky feel. If you are looking for quality strings to compliment your playing style, this Ernie Ball set is an ideal choice.

If you are a fan of rock, metal or blues, you may also be interested in our electric guitars review.

Review of Ernie Ball 2221 Regular Slinky 10-46

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £6.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B0002M6CVC

 

D'Addario NYXL1046

Rock'n'Roll, Baby!

One of the reasons for musicians to value D’Addario strings is that they satisfy the highest expectations. Innovative production processes make each new series of strings a huge step forward in every possible way.

If we compare the legendary D’Addario XL ProSteels EPS510 set with the new NYXL1046 set, we will find that NYXL is superior in all aspects. These electric guitar strings allow for better volume, presence, and produce a richer and more saturated sound with or without special effects. Many players note their exceptional strength due to a reinvented wire drawing process and a revolutionary ‘fusion twist’ process for the plain steels. The unmatched tuning stability of these strings allows the instrument to stay in tune much longer. If you are a fan of aggressive guitar style, be sure to check out this amazing set by D’Addario.

We also recommend you to get distortion and overdrive pedals as well as guitar picks and guitar slides to open up new possibilities in playing your favourite genre of music.

Review of D'Addario NYXL1046 Nickel Plated Electric Guitar Strings
Last updated price £11.60
Stock In stock
ASIN B00IZCSX9U

 

Bray 4 String

Good Strings Don't Have to Be Expensive

It is not so easy to find quality bass strings at a moderate price. Basically, you would pay almost twice as much for a 4-piece set for your bass guitar than for a pack of electric or classical guitar strings. If you are looking for bass strings that cost less yet boast good tone and playability and are quite durable, this Bray set is the one to go for. Nickel wound, the strings have bright and clear sound. They will perfectly fit your Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha, or Squier bass guitar. This Bray 4-string set is of regular gauge (E 45, A 65, D 80, G 105), but you can also choose lighter or heavier strings depending on your needs. Most consumers agree that the product is a good value for the money. All in all, it is an excellent choice if you need a replacement set for your or your kid's bass guitar and do not want to go for too expensive strings.

A quality guitar amplifier will make your electric guitar or bass sound awesome. While a guitar pick will let you emphasize your style and hone guitar picking techniques.

Review of Bray 4 String Bass Guitar Strings
Last updated price £8.95
Stock In stock
ASIN 7787088001

 

What Are Guitar Strings?

It goes without saying the quality of music sound stems mostly from a player’s skills. That being said, any experienced player knows that choosing the correct gear, up to a guitar pick, is vital for a clean, expressive, and unforgettable performance. And if you’re just gearing up your guitar, we’d recommend you to start with a high-quality set of guitar strings.

Since 1265 when the strings were first introduced, they’ve undergone a lot of changes. Back then, they were produced from gut and were installed in a set of four items. It was only after five centuries had passed that the number of strings on the instrument has grown from 4 to 6 and that guitars started to look like we know them today. At about the same time the manufacturers of guitar strings started to make them not only from gut but also from steel and nylon.

In our today’s review, we look at 5 best guitar string sets available today (made from different materials). If you are looking for best acoustic or electric guitar strings, or simply want to buy cheap guitar strings, go and check it out!

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Publish Date: 2017-11-24 08:03:24