When it comes to brands for electric guitar strings, everyone is going to have their favourite. We see questions being asked about the brands that are the “best” all the time. However, as some people will always prefer a Fender to a Gibson guitar, for example, we also become conditioned to playing with certain brands or types of electric guitar strings and grow to prefer these brands.

While someone who plays the guitar casually from time to time wouldn’t be able to tell the difference too much, experienced guitarists would instantly be able to tell if strings were different, to the point where they’d probably feel it was going to influence how their instrument sounds and wouldn’t want to use them. Most guitar string brands don’t sound noticeably different, but if you go for the cheap and cheerful option, you’ll certainly notice that they don’t sound as great as they should do.

Here are some of the top brands you ought to be considering. Bear in mind that they all offer a range of strings themselves, from cheaper packs to the more expensive.

Fender/Gibson

The point here is that all guitars have strings when you buy them, and probably 99% of the time they’ll have the maker’s strings fitted. We’ve named Fender and Gibson because they’re the two most popular and iconic guitar manufacturers, but if you’ve gone for a different brand and are loving the sound you create, consider sticking with what you know and buying the same strings.

Be sure to double check before leaving the shop when buying a guitar what strings it has on it already.

Elixir

Elixir strings are highly regarded, with many people preferring to use these above any other guitar string brand due to the presence of coating that keeps the strings lasting for longer. Elixir themselves champion this feature, and their strings are ideal for anyone who plays on a regular basis and enjoys long guitar sessions. If your instrument strings get a pounding, Elixir is the brand for you!

DR Strings

DR strings are another popular brand, calling themselves “The Handmade String.” What brings many people to DR strings initially is the long list of popular musicians who use DR strings or have endorsed their quality through the years. The list includes U2’s Adam Clayton and Prince. Most who use DR strings thanks to a famous endorsement find that they never use another brand again!

D’Addario

Italian born but now New York based D’Addario are famous for being the first string company to move from gut to nylon strings, while today they use a variety of materials and a number of technological approaches to get the best sound every time. Lenny Kravitz and Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton are among the big names that love D’Addario strings.