Guitar string help

[Steveb]

My kids broken her E string. It's a 3/4 size guitar, normal strings as far as I'm aware. Just looked for a replacement string and it's not as easy as thought. Lots of different gauges and stuff to choose from.

Make it simply for me, what should I get?

[jimjam]

Presumably a light gauge.

[Tiff]

bring it to one of the guitar shops and ask (support your local guitar shop ;))

[suspectmonkey]

Light strings are usually a bit easier to play on, not quite as hard on the finger tips especially if your learning. Well thats what I found any way, although I'm sure as always it comes down to personal preference. Look for 10's or 12's, usually listed as 10-47 and 12-53 for light strings. I sucked at guitar though :D

[Steveb]

Thanks chaps.

Wife took it to a music shop, they patronize her and basically little her for not understanding about strings. Support your GOOD local guitar shop.

[ryan]

As the lads say, light gauge strings will be easier on the fingertips. Conversely, they'll break easier and the kid'll have to toughen the fingers up sometime

[jimjam]

Go in to matchets and (assuming that wasn't the offending shop) and get some Martin extra light or light gauge acoustic strings for about 5 or 6 quid. Will do rightly. Like these. (http://www.cheapstrings.co.uk/showproduct.asp?pid=1&ProductId=13) Trim off the excess.

[simon]

Wife took it to a music shop, they patronize her and basically little her for not understanding about strings



Wife took it to a bike shop, they patronize her and basically little her for not understanding about spokes

My wife hates bike shops, she's spent enough years with a pile of bike mags beside the bog, sofa and bed to know when she's being bull ****ted so it's funny to hear her reaction. especially to a certain specialized dealer

[JAC]

Check the type of strings too, many 3/4 or parlour type acoustics will use nylon strings rather than steel. Putting steel strings on may overstress the neck and cause it to arch.

Hopefully a shop should be fit to know that much of course...

And 10's should be a decent compromise for feel & tone, 10 being the lightest or top E string

[geoffo]

i just got an 1998 esp strat mmmmh.

sorry - hadda get that in.

[Steveb]

Thanks again. She's only 8, so going to try another shop and get the guitar restrung with lighter gauge jobbies.

[suspectmonkey]

I wonder how a gear shifter cable would work as an E string... it even has the wee thingy on the end to hold it in the bridge. Not sure about the tonal qualities though ;)

[bob8925]

get luke to thread a xtr cable through and you hammer it till it fits,
why change your tried and tested methods now???