FENDER STRING GUIDE
Fender has been producing strings for electric guitars and basses since 1957. From gauges and materials to how to change them, here’s everything you need to know about Fender strings.
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6 Signs It's Time to Change Your Strings
Dull Tone
Strings will eventually sound flat and lifeless, while new strings are bright, present, and crisp.
Strings Feel Dirty
The grime on your hands and dust in the air can get trapped in the wound wire around metal strings, dulling the sound and feel.
Broken String
You need a full complement of six strings, so a broken string can throw everything off.
Guitar Won't Stay in Tune
As strings wear, they lose the capability to hold tension, making them feel brittle and less able to hit the fret.
Corrosion/Discoloration
Humidity and oils from your hands will oxidize and corrode metal strings, affecting their vibration.
It's Just Time
Beginners should generally change their strings every 3 months, intermediate players at 2 months, and every month for pros.
Fender String Guide
ELECTRIC
Whether you prefer a bright and clear tone or a more aggressive sound, Fender electric guitar strings are perfect for guitarists of all styles. With alloys ranging from nickel plated steel to pure nickel, Fender has a string that will suit your playing needs.
SUPER 250's
Our Most Popular Electric Strings
Fender Super 250's strings combine the high output and dynamic sound of steel with the smooth feel of nickel.
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.009-.046
Light Regular
Popular in blues and rock, the regular gauge still keeps the mids focused to accentuate the frequency where the guitar lives in the mix of a band.
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.010-.046
Regular Gauge
Popular in blues and rock, the regular gauge still keeps the mids focused to accentuate the frequency where the guitar lives in the mix of a band.
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.010-.052
Regular Heavy
A second option for a level up in volume and sustain, while meeting in the middle of light and heavy gauges.
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.011-.049
Medium
A slight level up in volume and sustain, but a meeting in the middle of light and heavy gauges (you may need to adjust the action on your guitar to compensate for added string tension with medium and heavy gauges).
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.012-.052
Heavy
Heavy gauge strings offer maximum volume and sustain, allowing you to play harder. Perfect for metal and drop and alternate tunings, their increased size also makes them more challenging to bend and fret.
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.008-.038
Extra Super Light
Ideal for beginners, these are easier to play, brighter and allow you to bend strings and fret notes easier while exerting less tension on your guitar's neck.
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.009-.042
Light
Easy to play with slightly more volume and sustain, these are some of the most common gauges you’ll find on electric guitars.
ELECTRIC STRINGS FAQ
Most Fender electric guitars ship with Super 250L (.009-.042) strings with ball ends, where the core wire of the string wraps around a separate piece, a tiny metal “ball.” Bullet strings are a preferred option for a Stratocaster, where a tiny cylinder of brass shaped like a bullet is attached to the end of the string to fit precisely into the tremolo block to add sustain and tuning stability.
Light gauges may be the way to go for fast leads and chords (metal players with a preference for drop-D tuning would still need a heavy gauge for the lower strings or wound strings). Look for medium gauges for blues and rock, and heavy gauges for jazz.
Yes, but you may need to adjust the action on your guitar to compensate for the string tension if you move up a gauge. Action refers to the height of the strings as they sit above the fingerboard.
Fender electric guitar strings are made of steel to properly transmit the string vibrations to the magnetic pickups. The low E, A and D strings are wound with various alloys, while the G, B and high E strings are tin-plated. Here are some common alloys: Nickel-Plated Steel: A popular option with balanced tone between warmth and brightness and a fast attack, offering the best of both worlds. o Vintage Nickel: Popular for blues and jazz, find a little more warmth than nickel-plated steel. Stainless Steel: For very bright tone with excellent sustain and resistance to corrosion, they’ll last a long time for metal players or those looking for a faster attack.
When your strings sound flat, don’t feel right or simply break, it’s time to change them. Generally, beginners should plan for every 3 months, intermediate players every 2 months and pros every month.
Fender String Guide
ACOUSTIC
Fender acoustic guitar strings are crafted from high-quality materials and come in a variety of gauges and coatings to accommodate different playing styles. With alloys such as 80/20 Bronze, Phosphor Bronze, and Dura-Tone® Coated, all Fender acoustic strings are designed to provide a balanced and natural tone.
80/20 BRONZE WOUND
Our Favorite Acoustic Strings
Fender 80/20 bronze strings deliver articulate sound and great feel, making them perfect for an acoustic guitar with a naturally dark tone.
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.010-.048
Extra Light
Easy to fret and bend, extra light strings are ideal for beginners.
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.011-.052
Custom Light
Custom light strings offer a great compromise for players who want the depth and projection of light gauge strings with slightly less tension on the high strings.
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.012-.052
Light
With great sustain and bright tone, light strings are also very durable, making them a good choice for fingerpicking.
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.013-.056
Medium
While harder on your fingers, medium gauge strings provide more resonance and bigger volume.
ACOUSTIC STRING FAQ
Most Fender acoustic guitars ship with 80/20 Bronze light gauge (.012-.0.52) strings. The gauge of your strings greatly influences the amount of tension exerted on your acoustic guitar’s neck, so the larger the body, the heavier gauge it can handle.
Most Fender acoustic models ship with 80/20 bronze strings (either coated or non-coated) for clear and bright tone. Some acoustic players also prefer phosphor bronze (also either coated or non-coated) for a slightly warmer tone. D’Addario XT hydrophobic coating that retains the articulate sound of the natural strings, but with extended life and outstanding reliability.
If you want continuously bright, crisp tone, you’ll change strings more often, but it’s not recommended to go more than 3 months with a single set.
The right strings may be the key to honing in on your acoustic tone. For a bright and ringing tone try bronze strings. On the other hand, phosphor strings are warm and rich, but offer a crisp bite. Brass can be bright and almost metallic, while silk and steel strings are gentler and mellower.
Fender String Guide
BASS
Fender bass strings are crafted from high-quality materials and come in a variety of gauges to accommodate different playing styles. With alloys ranging from pure nickel and stainless steel, Fender bass strings are designed to provide a deep and punchy tone.
SUPER 7250's
Our #1 Selling Bass Strings
Fender 7250 nickel-plated steel strings combine the high output and dynamic sound of steel with the smooth feel of nickel.
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.045-.125
Medium (5-String)
Most Fender 5-String basses ship with medium gauge strings, as it’s the most common.
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.040-.115
Light (5-String)
Lighter gauge strings are easier on your fingers, which is especially important for newer players. They can also provide more attack and increased midrange.
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.040-.100
Light
Lighter gauge strings are easier on your fingers, which is especially important for newer players. They can also provide more attack and increased midrange.
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.045-.100
Medium/Light
Find a slightly lower tone thanks to a tick-up in weight in the G and D strings for a balance between light and medium.
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.045-.105
Medium
Heavier gauges produce richer tone with more bottom-end, but demand more strength in your fingers. Most Fender basses ship with medium gauge strings, as it’s the most common.
BASS STRINGS FAQ
Most Fender basses ship with 7250 bass strings, as the medium gauge is perfect for the long scale and the punch you need for rock, blues and more. However, if you are playing a short-scale Mustang Bass, make sure you order short-scale strings. In addition, beginners may want to look for lighter gauges for their strings, as they are easier to fret.
Bass strings typically come in three different materials — nickel-plated steel, vintage nickel or stainless steel. Vintage nickel strings are enjoyed by blues and jazz players for their warmth and subdued sound, stainless steel brings bright tone and excellent sustain for rock and metal. Nickel-plated steel is a great meeting in the middle for warmth, brightness and fast attack.
The timetable for bassists isn’t as tight as a guitarist’s. New strings should be considered after 3-4 months, depending on how much and how aggressively you're playing.
The most popular bass strings consist of a steel core string wrapped with a round wire, usually stainless steel or nickel; the former being the brightest and loudest of the two. They are by far the most popular bass string type because of their bright, clear sound (think funk and most rock subgenres), but their grinding “ridged” design (which feels similar to the edge of a quarter) means that they wear down frets faster and produce more finger noise than any other type.
Flatwound strings consist of a steel core string wrapped with a flat wire, which results in a smooth feel and warm, mellow tone (think jazz and Motown). Further, “flats” don’t chew up frets and fingerboards as much as roundwound strings do, which makes them the preferred type for fretless basses.
Another, albeit seldom seen, option are tapewound bass strings, which are made with a layer of nylon wrapped around the metal winding wire (which can be either round or flat). They’re easy on the fingers and they produce a softer, darker sound usually considered the closest thing to upright bass sound and feel. If you see a bass and its strings are black, those are tapewound strings.
String Care & Cleaning
One of the best and easiest ways to take care of your guitar is to simply keep it clean. Dirt, dust, sweat, skin oil, spilled beverages, smoke, and other gunk can prematurely age your guitar’s strings. Fight back—some basic cleaning and care can go a long way toward keeping your instrument in top shape.