Good strings for younger beginner?

[mjr]

I have a guitar I'm thinking about "replacing". I asked my cousin if either of his kids would like it, and he said his son might.

So if I replace this current guitar, I would be giving him the guitar, a small 10 watt amp, and an amp cable. I want to provide him with a little additional helpful information, though.

So what's a good brand/gauge of strings for a beginner? I was thinking of suggesting to my cousin (who knows nothing about guitars) he get either D'Addario or Ernie Ball strings. Probably 9 or 10 gauge, and coated. Or for a beginner does it really matter?

I'm also going to tell him to get a chromatic tuner, string winder, chord book, and song book for whatever music his son likes.

I'd ask my son if he wants the guitar, but he's more of a keyboard player. I've asked him before if he wants to learn other instruments and he's said no.

Opinions? Thanks everyone!

 

[TalismanRich]

The brand of string is not going to be important to a beginner. Ernie Balls, D'addarios, GHS, DR, Elixer, Fender. You won't find a big difference in brands at that level. The gauge will be somewhat important, 9s or 10s will be fine, but more important will be the setup. Many cheap beginner guitars have 1/4" action by about the 6th or 7th fret. If your guitar has a good setup, then it will be perfect. Get 2 or 3 sets and put them in the case.

When I started with an old Sears guitar, it probably had 11s or 12s. With the high action, it really wore out my fingers. I had a Kent that was better, but over time, the action got much higher. Back then there was no such thing as the internet, and few magazines, so many people didn't know you could adjust the action easily. When I got my Fender Jaguar, it was like heaven! Super low, easy to play. It made a real difference.

Either do a setup, or take it to a good luthier and have it set up with a fresh set of strings A tuner and a chord book would be nice. I didn't have a string winder until I was in my 50s! It's not a necessity. Dad can get it for a birthday present if the kid takes to playing. Chord books and song books are fine, especially if he can read music.

 

[mjr]

Many cheap beginner guitars have 1/4" action by about the 6th or 7th fret. If your guitar has a good setup, then it will be perfect. Get 2 or 3 sets and put them in the case.

When I started with an old Sears guitar, it probably had 11s or 12s. With the high action, it really wore out my fingers. I had a Kent that was better, but over time, the action got much higher. Back then there was no such thing as the internet, and few magazines, so many people didn't know you could adjust the action easily. When I got my Fender Jaguar, it was like heaven! Super low, easy to play. It made a real difference.

Either do a setup, or take it to a good luthier and have it set up with a fresh set of strings A tuner and a chord book would be nice. I didn't have a string winder until I was in my 50s! It's not a necessity. Dad can get it for a birthday present if the kid takes to playing. Chord books and song books are fine, especially if he can read music.

I bought one of those cheap guitar setup kits. I have the action at 2mm at the 12th fret. I've heard that's good for a "standard" setup. What about coated vs uncoated? I've heard coated might be easier on the fingers, and longer between changes.

 

[rob aylestone]

They're tonal choices really - but for beginner to progress, they actually need to toughen up the fingertip skin. It's tough at first, but that's pretty important.

 

[TalismanRich]

I don't find coated strings to be any easier on the fingers than uncoated. I use Elixers on my acoustic guitars, not for ease of playing, but for the reduction of squeaks when moving up and down the fingerboard. They also last a bit longer, but with roughly double to triple the price, it's not really more economical. You might go 2 months with standard strings and 6 months with coated. If you play the guitar a lot without changing strings, eventually you will cut a groove it the string and it will break.

 

[spantini]

When I was beginning on electric, I hadn't developed calluses yet. The lighter gauge string sets would sink into the pads of my fingers and prevent the strings from fretting properly or at all causing a buzz - mainly the E & B strings.