Without prior guitar experience, you stand pardoned for thinking that buying a fresh set of custom strings is a cheap thing. You need basic market information to procure the right strings for your ESP Flying V guitar. One common terminology in the custom guitar string market is the gauge. Gauge refers to how thick or thin the guitar strings are. Usually, the strings are measured in microinches, and the more the inches, the thicker the guitar straps.
What Do the Gauge Inches Mean?
As a guitarist, you have to bear in mind that you have to strike a balance between playability, volume, and tone of your instrument. Heavy strings need more tension to generate a pitch than the lighter ones. This is because the heavier straps are tight and thus difficult to press down. This means that you need extra effort to pluck them. A thick gauge is crucial to enhance sound variance. The heavier straps generate higher volume than the lighter straps. To play better, the two gauges have to be used interchangeably. Most beginners prefer to use straps of a lighter gauge. This is due to the fact that the thin guitar strings are easily pressed down. Lighter gauge strings also allow easy bending of notes and fretting. However, the sound volume of the light strings is slightly lower and thus the need for a few thick straps. The typical custom strings vary, depending on the manufacturer. With an acoustic guitar, you can choose the following gauges, all in microinches:
• Custom light gauge – 0.11, 0.15, and 0.23
• Light gauge – 0.25 and 0.32
• Medium gauge – 0.35, 0.39, and 0.45
• Heavy gauge – 0.49 and 0.59
Feeling the String
The decision on what string to buy for your guitar is important. However, having a practical feel of the guitar strap is crucial if you want to buy the right gauge. Different guitars possess dissimilar sonic characteristics. Therefore, it’s advisable to get a string set that works well with your guitar. You are the one who knows your guitar best, so you should be able to choose a custom strap set that has a good feel.
Conclusion
Your guitar’s strings have a huge impact on its sound and playability. Accordingly, when buying custom ESP Flying V guitar strings, it’s advisable to get a set with the right gauge. You should be able to get both thick and thin straps for your instrument. Your ultimate goal should be having a guitar that is easy to play and one that can produce quality sound.
