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.

HOW TO CHANGE ELECTRIC GUITAR STRINGS

HOW TO CHANGE ELECTRIC GUITAR STRINGS

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.


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.

HOW TO CHANGE ACOUSTIC GUITAR STRINGS

HOW TO CHANGE ACOUSTIC GUITAR STRINGS




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.

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. 

HOW TO CHANGE BASS GUITAR STRINGS

HOW TO CHANGE BASS GUITAR STRINGS



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.

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.