In the realm of electric strings, the three most frequently encountered metals are as follows:
Nickel-Plated Steel: This material offers an excellent amalgamation of warmth and brightness. It also provides a strong picking attack and is by far the most popular choice.
Pure Nickel: Pure nickel is warmer than nickel-plated steel and possesses a classic, old-school vintage sound.
Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion and is the least prone to finger squeaks. It also showcases a good combination of brightness and sustain. Other less common metals for electric strings include titanium, cobalt, chrome, and copper.
Regarding acoustic strings, the three most prevalent options are:
80/20 Bronze (also known as Bronze or Brass): Comprising 80% copper and 20% zinc, this is the most widely used option. It has a bright and clean sound. However, it can quickly lose some of its brilliance after just a few hours of play due to the rapid corrosion of the metal.
Phosphor Bronze: Similar to 80/20 bronze, but with phosphor added to prevent oxidation and increase the lifespan of the strings. The trade-off is that they are slightly less bright in comparison.
Silk and Steel (also referred to as “compound strings”): These strings have greater flexibility and lower string tension, resulting in a gentler and mellower sound. They are commonly regarded as a hybrid between traditional metal strings and the nylon strings of a classical guitar.
For classical strings, the most common materials employed are:
Gut (also known as “catgut”): Derived from the intestines of sheep and other farm animals (definitely not cats). Although much less common nowadays, prior to 1940, all strings were made from gut.
Nylon: Nylon eventually replaced gut as it was cheaper and easier to mass-produce. Common types of nylon include rectified nylon, black nylon, and composite. Clear nylon is by far the most popular due to its brightness and clarity.
Silver-Plated Copper (also known as “silver strings”): This material is wrapped around the nylon core of the bass strings and is the most popular metal for this purpose due to its warm and rich tone.
80/20 Bronze (also known as “gold strings”): Some players prefer this over silver-plated copper due to its brightness and projection.