Guitar Month spotlight: Discovering the art behind guitar string production
April marks the International Guitar Month. From seasoned professionals to aspiring musicians, guitarists across the globe come together to celebrate their passion and embrace the spirit of musical expression. Guitar Month is a tradition dedicated to honouring the iconic instrument that has shaped the landscape of modern music. Whether it's mastering a new chord, composing a song, or playing in a band, Guitar Month provides the perfect opportunity to showcase the versatility and beauty of the guitar.
“Music has the power to inspire, unite, and uplift, and the guitar is at the heart of that experience” says James Whitten, Marketing Manager at musicGuard.
To celebrate the International Guitar Month, leading music insurer musicGuard dives into the history of guitar strings and their production.
While the origins of the modern guitar are hard to place, the history of stringed instruments goes back thousands of years. Historically, guitar strings were made of catgut until the introduction of steel strings towards the end of the nineteenth century. Despite the name, catgut was made typically from the inner linings of sheep or goat intestines, not from a cat.
Guitar strings have come a long way since those days and are now available in numerous different materials, widths, and colours. The strings vary based on the type of a guitar.
Classical guitars
Classical guitars (also known as Spanish guitars) typically have strings made from nylon. These 6 strings will be split in half into groups known as basses and trebles. While the trebles are plain nylon which are ground down into the tight tolerances required for correct resonance, the basses are made with a different technique. A metal wrap is used to wind around a nylon core to create the bass strings, and even the metals used here can be unique. Most classical strings feature bass strings wrapped with an 80/20 bronze, however for those with a more expensive taste some manufacturers produce strings wrapped in pure silver.
Acoustic guitars
Unlike classical strings, acoustic strings use steel rather than nylon for both plain and wound strings. This innovation was inspired by the use of metal wound strings in pianos. Acoustic guitars typically feature 4 wound strings instead of the 3 found on classical guitars, but they share a commonality in using metals like 80/20 bronze or phosphor bronze for the wound strings. Phosphor bronze, a newer option, is favoured for its longer lifespan, making it popular among players.
Electric guitars
The electric guitar creates sound differently than the acoustic one. Acoustic guitars use vibrations, but electric ones use pickups and magnets. That's why electric guitar strings are made of steel, which is magnetic. People often debate whether to use plain or wound third strings on electric guitars, but most makers offer both for players to try.
“While manufacturers have unique ways of producing their strings from various materials, sound qualities, feel and the foundations often remain the same” adds Whitten.
Read more about how guitar strings are made:
https://www.musicguard.co.uk/guitar-strings
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