Wednesday, 27 January 2010

The Many Varieties Of Guitar Strings

By Phil Zertisky

Strings are vibrating elements that produce the sounds in string instruments. There are many types of string instruments including pianos, violins, and guitars. Guitar strings are flexible lengths of material that is kept under tension so that although it may vibrate freely yet controllable.

Although there are several types of strings, there are only two categories for them. There are plain strings which are made up of a core and winding made from one material, and then there are wound strings that are made up of two different materials. Wound strings have a core made from one type of material, and then a winding that is made from a different type.

Modern strings are made up of metals, polymers, or plant and animal product materials. Strings made up of steel are usually made from alloys that incorporate steel, phosphor bronze, or nickel. Some strings that are made for bass guitars are made up of polymer materials like fluorocarbon and nylon materials that are wound instead of mono filament.

Strings come in all different varieties. One of the most common types of strings are round wound strings. These types of strings consist of 2 parts, the hex or core and the round wire which wraps tightly around the core. Because these strings are both simple as well as easy to make, they are not as costly as other types of strings that are available.

As the old saying goes, "you get what you pay for". Due to the fact that these strings are so cheap to make and purchase, and are not made like more complex strings, they have to be replaced more frequently. These round wound strings are known to have bumps on their surface that is known to cause friction and squeaking when a player slides their fingers along their surfaces. These types of strings are also known for having round cores which means that the winding is not secured to the core and can rotate freely around it.

Flat wound strings on the other hand are similar to round wound strings but these strings, although made with a round core, are more costly then round wound strings. The reason for this is because of the way in which they are made. Flat wound strings do not have bumpy surfaces and do not produce squeaking sounds when a players fingers slide across them. This alone makes the sounds produced from flat wound strings more clear and rich then that of round wound strings.

Bronze is the most common element used for the winding of guitar strings. The elements of gold and silver are also used but are generally more expensive. They are used for their resistance to corrosion as well as their hypoallergenic properties, meaning that they have been known to cause fewer allergic reactions or skin irritations then other materials of their category.

When you use any type of metal alloys for any type of construction or materials then you must face the fact that the products produced from these materials are vulnerable to corrosion. All strings that are made from alloys become vulnerable by exposure to the salts, sweat, and even the oils produced by the human body. Exposures to these will eventually cause your strings to rust or even to break. Depending on how often you use your strings will determine how often they will need to be replaced. It is always a great idea to keep a spare set for those times when you may need them.

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