What Gauge Strings Come on a Squier Strat

If there's a single instrument that requires no introduction, it's probably the Fender Stratocaster. Regardless, allow me to wax lyrical about it. Musical instruments aside, I can think of few products from the 20th century more visionary and celebrated. The Fender Stratocaster has the stature of the Ford Model T, but the sex appeal of a 60s Mustang. It was unbelievably introduced in 1954. By the end of the 60s, there was no debate that it was a living legend.

Personally given by Leo Fender to Dick Dale, the "King of the Surf Guitar" in 1955. Iconically rocked by Buddy Holly, a pioneer of rock n' roll. A favorite of guitar players' guitar players, like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. And the tradition has been perpetuated, by such diverse artists as Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler, U2's The Edge, Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, and John Mayer. Some of the best musicians of the last 60 years have come to the same conclusion: The Stratocaster is The Electric Guitar.

Where the Stratocaster Shines

A player who chooses to play the Strat is making a complex choice. It's certainly not an original or controversial guitar to play. To play the Strat is to celebrate its googie design, its 50s space age portmanteau name, and the long cultural tradition of rock n roll that it is inextricably tied to. Yet this guitar is so expressive, tonally diverse, and customizable that it is still being taken to new places and used in new ways.

All this said, the Stratocaster is not the perfect answer for every single electric guitar need. If that were the case, all guitars would be Strat imitators. The Strat is known to be one of the most diversely adaptable guitars, and could be accurately described as a "Jack of all trades, and master of many." But it still has its strengths and weaknesses. The Stratocaster has a relatively long scale, and three single-coil pickups. Its tone is best when clean, or in low- to mid-gain applications. It is more suited for expressive and lyrical playing. So it is not as common in high-gain genres like punk, or very fast technical applications like metal, particularly with the stock setup.

So if you are playing the Stratocaster, as with any guitar, you want to find the right strings. After all, the strings connect your fingers to the instrument- all of your musicality is channeled through them. By changing strings, you can change the way it feels to play your guitar, and thus change the way you play. They are also one of the factors defining your tone, along with your pickups, electronics, and amp. So, the biggest question is, what genre(s) do you want to play? This question ultimately impacts string choice.

Choosing the Best Electric Guitar Strings for the Fender Stratocaster

String Gauges

Gauge refers to the strings' thickness. Changing string gauge is one of the most noticeable changes. Moving to heavier or lighter strings has a significant effect on the way a guitar plays, and also affects tone. Lighter gauges are more pliable, easier to bend notes, and easier to play for long periods without feeling fatigued. On the other hand, heavier strings are harder to play on, but tend to express tone with more "body." A popular medium string gauge range is .010 to .046, referred to in the short-hand as ".010s." String packs can be light, extra light, heavy, or extra heavy.

Since the Strat has a relatively long scale, it's well-suited to medium or heavy strings. The long scale makes heavier strings easier to bend and navigate. And heavier strings allow the Strat's signature tones to ring more clearly.

If you want to play a highly rhythmic genre such as funk or reggae, consider heavy strings. Players praise heavy strings in these genres

Realistically, string gauge is a matter of personal preference above all else. There's no substitute to trying different string gauges and experimenting with the feeling and the tone. That said, once you settle on a gauge, it's recommended that you get your Strat set up. A Strat plays best when it is set up to match its string gauge.

String Material and Construction

There are three popular material choices for electric guitar strings- pure nickel, stainless steel, and nickel-plated steel. Pure nickel strings are the traditional material, and have been experiencing a revival. They are celebrated for their warm, vintage sound. Stainless steel strings stand at the other end of the spectrum, with a bright and snappy tone. Nickel-plated steel strings are the most common, and their tone is somewhere in the middle.

Most electric guitar strings are roundwound. If you run your finger down the length of the thicker strings, you will feel that it's bumpy. But flatwound strings are also an option. They are smooth to the touch, and also known as "jazz strings." These have a smooth, warm tone, and are a great choice for a jazz, swing, or traditional blues sound.

String Brands

Many brands compete in the electric guitar string market. Some are relatively new, and others come from string-making family traditions stretching back centuries, long before the invention of electric guitars (or electricity for that matter.) Overall, your string choice is more dependent on your preferred gauge, material, and construction, rather brand. But some brands offer unique options.

Ernie Ball

Ernie Ball and d'Addario are tied in my book, as excellent string makers. The former is a much younger company, only founded in the last few decades. Yet Ernie Ball's reputation among musicians precedes it. With a huge range of choices, including some really exciting and unique options, I'm a personal fan!

Cobalt Strings

Most notably, Ernie Ball recently released the world's first cobalt strings. These strings are fabulous if rich tone is your priority. Great for rock, indie, blues, country, or rockabilly.

Technically speaking, these strings have a steel core, and an iron-cobalt alloy surface. Ernie Ball boasts with graphics on the package that this material provides a higher peak output and clearer tone than the other common materials. Since stock Stratocasters have single-coil pickups, boosting their output is a plus. Humbucking pickups were invented to the same end. And in this author's opinion, boosting the clarity of tone is never a mistake. After all, it's better to have too much tone and turn it down, than to not have enough.

As a matter of fact, while writing my previous guide on strings for the telecaster, I learned of these strings and ordered a couple of packs. I strung my Epiphone Les Paul and my vintage Teisco Tulip with them, and I've been blown away by the tone. I record with vintage amps, and my recordings have never sounded better.

Ernie Ball Slinky

Aside from the cobalt strings, Ernie Ball's classic Slinky line of nickel-plated steel strings are a favorite among guitarists of different stripes. Regular Slinky and Power Slinky (medium and heavy gauge, respectively) are probably the best pairings with the Strat. They will bring the tone forward, and the Strat's long neck makes them manageable to play on. If you are playing funk or reggae, try the Power Slinky or even Mammoth Slinky for that thick, laid-back rhythm playing.

D'Addario

D'Addario strings are well-bred. The company's history stretches back centuries with Italian string-making families, though they probably sell more electric strings than lute strings these days. The brand has an equal stature to Ernie Ball in guitarists' eyes, and usually the preference comes down to brand loyalty over anything else.

If you tend to break strings, try D'Addario's new NYXL nickel-plated strings with high-carbon steel core. Though a little pricey, the reviews unanimously praise their longevity. Furthermore, since the tremolo (or "whammy") bar is a fundamental Strat feature, NYXL strings boast greater tuning stability. Since whammy bars tend to throw weaker strings out of tune, this is definitely an advantage!

If you are seeking a jazz, blues, or vintage tone with your Strat, try D'Addario's EPN115 Pure Nickel strings. Before nickel-plated steel, electric guitar strings were usually pure nickel, so these strings will give a classic, warm, round tone. Try them for blues or blues-rock!

You can't go wrong with D'Addario's basic line of EXL110 nickel-plated steel strings. Much like the Strat, they will sound good to great in almost any genre, and they can help you achieve that classic Strat "quack." Great for psychedelic, surf, or Spaghetti Western tones!

For yet another direction, try ECG23 chrome strings. These strings are flatwound, great for jazz, mellower blues, rockabilly, and R&B.

DR

Speaking of quacking, the Strat takes to blues like a duck to water. DR strings are often overlooked because they are not made by Ernie Ball or D'Addario, but their Pure Blues strings are known as a hidden gem by those in the know. These strings are nickel-plated steel. But while most strings in that category have a hexagonal cross-section steel core, the DR Pure Blues have a round core. The company claims that this construction lends "a distinctive, warm, balanced sound that produces rich overtones and oozes vintage vibe. Chords ring out sweet and round. Leads become more present with tons of punch and sustain." And the reviews agree. If you play rock, Americana, classic rock, or blues, give them a try!

Fender

Fender produces a wide range of instruments and accessories, including strings, and they rarely miss. The company has achieved success in such disparate areas as guitars and basses, amplifiers, effects pedals, and electric pianos. There's something to be said about buying Fender strings for a Fender guitar- at the very least, you know the strings are designed with Fender players and their style in mind. There's nothing particularly special to say about the construction or price of Fender's strings. But their pure nickel line is highly regarded for a vintage Strat tone, and their 250 line of nickel-plated steel strings were probably on your Strat if you bought it new.

Elixir

Elixir has made a name for itself with its line of coated electric guitar strings. The company's proprietary coating protects the strings and allows them to last longer, while maintaining an uncoated feel. Try their Nanoweb line for a brighter tone, or Polyweb for a smoother and mellower one. Elixir's strings are not the cheapest on the market, but their coating does the job- they consistently appear on electric guitar string recommendation lists.

Conclusion

As a Fender Stratocaster player, you are paying tribute to some of the greatest guitarists of all time, and continuing the tradition of soulful, reverent playing they have established. As a guitarist, it's your destiny to fuss over every element of your guitar that could contribute to your sound. So don't be afraid to try different strings in your quest for the "right set." And don't forget to get your guitar set up if you change gauge. Ultimately, any string can play any style, but your string choice can work for or against your playing style and sound. Allow it to shine, don't sabotage it! And most importantly, keep feeling the joy of the music.

Robert is a freelance audio engineer and the lead writer for Range of Sounds.

What Gauge Strings Come on a Squier Strat

Source: https://rangeofsounds.com/blog/strings-for-stratocaster/

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