How many guitar strings are there?

Most standard guitars have six strings. However, some guitars have 7, 8, or even 12 strings for extended range or special styles. For beginners and most players, the six-string setup is the norm and offers all the range needed for most genres

What are the Names of Guitar Strings?

The strings are named based on pitch: E, A, D, G, B, and high E. Starting from the thickest (lowest pitch) to the thinnest (highest pitch), the names go: E, A, D, G, B, E. A common acronym to remember the order of strings from thickest to thinnest is: Eddie Ate Dynamite; Good Bye Eddie.

What is the order of guitar strings?

From the thickest (top when holding the guitar) to the thinnest (bottom), the order is: 6th (Low E), 5th (A), 4th (D), 3rd (G), 2nd (B), 1st (High E). Knowing the order helps with tuning, learning chords, and following guitar tabs.

What are some common materials for guitar strings?

Strings can be made from stainless steel, nickel, nylon, phosphor bronze, flat wound

How to Choose Guitar Strings?

If you play electric guitar, nickel-plated steel strings are the most common and work well for most genres, If you’re into blues or vintage rock, pure nickel gives a warmer tone, Stainless steel is a good pick if you want a sharp, bright sound with less corrosion, For acoustic guitars, phosphor bronze strings offer a rich tone with warmth and brightness, 80/20 bronze strings are another option, giving a brighter, punchier sound, Nylon strings are only for classical guitars or beginner nylon-string acoustics; never use them on a steel-string guitar.

What are winding types for guitar strings?

Roundwound strings, flatwound strings, half-round strings

What are roundwound guitar stirngs?

These are the most common type of winding type for guitar strings. They’re bright and have a textured feel, but can be noisy when fingers slide across.

What are flatwound guitar strings?

Smoother and darker sounding, flatwounds are popular in jazz and blues. They produce less finger noise but feel stiffer. They have a very smooth feel and produce a mellow, warm, and dark tone with less sustain and a more percussive attack.

What are half-wound guitar strings?

These are a middle ground between roundwound and flatwound strings. They offer a smoother feel than roundwounds with more brightness than flatwounds, but can be more expensive.

What type of strings are bass guitar strings?

These are thick, low-tuned strings made for bass guitars. They’re available in roundwound, flatwound, or tapewound.

What type of strings are classical guitar strings?

Classical guitar strings should only be made from nylon, as steel strings can damage a classical guitar’s neck and body.

What type of guitar strings to use on acoustic guitars?

Use bronze or phosphor bronze strings, usually with steel cores. Never use nylon or electric strings on an acoustic.

What type of strings should I use on an electric guitar?

Use nickel or stainless steel strings for an electric guitar. Acoustic-specific strings won’t work properly with magnetic pickups.

What are guitar string sizes or gauges?

String gauge refers to how thick the strings are. Thinner strings are easier to play; thicker ones are louder and more durable. Guitar strings come in extra light or super light (0.008-0.038), light (0.009-0.042), medium (0.01-0.046), and heavy (0.011-0.052)

How do I care for guitar strings?

Keep your strings clean by wiping them down after each use. Oils and sweat can make them corrode faster. Store your guitar in a case to protect strings from humidity and dust.

How Often Should I Replace My Guitar Strings?

If you play daily, change strings every 2–4 weeks. Occasional players can wait 1–2 months. Replace them when they sound dull, feel rough, or are hard to tune.

Can I Boil Guitar Strings to Clean Them?

Yes, boiling can temporarily remove grime and restore brightness, especially on bass strings. But it weakens the metal, so it’s not a long-term solution and we recommend just buying new strings instead.

Why Do My Guitar Strings Keep Breaking?

Common causes include sharp bridge edges, worn frets, over-tightening, or old strings. Make sure your guitar is properly set up and check for sharp spots.

What are some popular brands of guitar string?

D'Addario, NYXL (by D'Addario), Ernie Ball, Elixir, GHS Strings, Stringjoy, Fender

Steel vs nylon strings – which is better?

Neither is “better”; just better for you and your needs as a guitarist. Steel is for acoustic and electric guitars with bright, strong tones; nylon is for classical guitars and gives a soft, mellow sound.

How much are guitar strings?

Most sets cost between $5 and $20, depending on quality, type, and coating.

What are guitar strings made of?

Guitar strings are made from a variety of materials depending on the type of guitar. Electric guitar strings are usually made of steel, nickel, or stainless steel. Acoustic strings are often made from bronze, phosphor bronze, or brass. Classical guitar strings use nylon or a combination of nylon and silver-plated copper. Each material affects the tone, feel, and durability of the strings.

Can you put electric guitar strings on an acoustic?

Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. Electric guitar strings are made for magnetic pickups and won’t sound right on an acoustic. They also have lower tension, which can affect the guitar’s tone and feel. For the best sound and playability, use acoustic strings on acoustic guitars.

Does acoustic string gauge make a difference?

Yes, it makes a major difference. Lighter gauges are easier to play and better for fingerpicking, but they can sound thinner and break more easily. Heavier gauges produce a fuller, louder sound and are better for strumming, but they’re harder on the fingers and may require a stronger setup.

How do I choose electric strings?

Start by considering your playing style and tone preference. If you want a bright tone and long life, stainless steel is great. For a warmer sound, try pure nickel. Light gauges are easier to play and bend, while heavier gauges offer more sustain and volume. Also, match your string type to your guitar’s scale length and setup.

Santa Cruz OM Custom – Lost Tunnel Redwood & The Tree Mahogany Acoustic Guitar

All photos are of the actual product. Learn More

Description
Media Gallery
Downloads

The Santa Cruz OM Custom in Lost Tunnel Redwood and The Tree Mahogany is an instrument of extraordinary lineage, an heirloom born from the marriage of two of the most storied tonewoods ever to be placed in the hands of a luthier. It carries within its frame the life’s vision of Richard Hoover, the founder of Santa Cruz Guitar Company, who has spent decades pursuing the artistry of guitar making with devotion and reverence. Since establishing SCGC in the late 1970s, Hoover has drawn inspiration from the golden-era traditions of acoustic lutherie while forging new ground, not only in technique but in the relationships he has built with the musicians who play his guitars. His work has found its way into the lives of the world’s most celebrated players, not as commodities but as trusted companions in their music-making, instruments shaped as much by friendship and understanding as by wood and chisel.

The materials chosen for this OM Custom place it among the rarest and most precious instruments on earth. The back and sides are crafted from The Tree, the fabled Honduran Mahogany whose figure and tonal properties have elevated it to near mythic stature. The 5A quilted set selected for this guitar ripples with a three-dimensional beauty, each grain a river of light and shadow. Its voice brings warmth, depth, and clarity, an almost orchestral range that supports both the subtlety of fingerstyle and the strength of a dynamic strum. Paired with this is a top of Master Grade Boswell Lost Tunnel Redwood, a wood unearthed from a hidden chamber deep within the earth, preserved and aged in silence for over a century before its rediscovery. The tonal response of this redwood is immediate and sensitive, with a resonance that feels both powerful and intimate, a sound that seems to breathe with the player.

The details of craftsmanship are as refined as the tonewoods are rare. Figured Honduran mahogany shapes the neck, while Brazilian rosewood adorns nearly every accent of the instrument: body binding, backstrip, fingerboard and peghead binding, headstock overlay, heelcap, tail strip, and the fingerboard and pyramid bridge. The rosette is lit with abalone, a shimmering halo around the deep red hues of the soundboard. Every curve is finished to perfection, the top, back, and sides buffed to a mirror gloss that reveals the full character of the woods, while the neck is given a satin finish for effortless playability.

The ornamentation is steeped in tradition yet executed with Santa Cruz’s unique grace. The solid square peghead carries an abalone torch inlay, a nod to the most elevated instruments of the past. The fingerboard sparkles with 42 style abalone snowflake inlays, culminating in the SCGC emblem at the twelfth fret. White side dots offer clarity without distraction, while the tortoise pickguard adds an earthy warmth to the presentation.

Playability is central to the experience. The neck is shaped in a standard V profile with a volute, a form that sits naturally in the hand and encourages comfort over long playing sessions. With its 25.375-inch scale length, 1 3/4-inch nut width, and 2 1/4-inch bridge spacing, the guitar is balanced for versatility, ready to respond to the lightest touch or the boldest attack. Nickel Waverly tuners ensure precise stability, while the Ameritage hard case offers protection befitting an instrument of such stature. At just 3 pounds 10 ounces, it is light and resonant, a guitar that feels alive even before the first note is struck.

The Santa Cruz OM Custom in Lost Tunnel Redwood and The Tree Mahogany is more than an instrument. It is the culmination of history, nature, and artistry, a collaboration between the vision of Richard Hoover, the voice of the player, and the silent strength of woods that have lived for centuries. In every sense it is a masterpiece, a vessel of beauty and sound that will inspire music for generations to come.

Other specifications of the OM Custom include: