The 10 Best Electric Guitar Strings

The Elixir Nanoweb Coating (about $11) are revered among players for their durability, both that of their tone and of their construction, meaning that they'll hold up under duress without any sacrifice to your sound over weeks of use, if not more.

The D'Addario EXL110 (appx. $5) come in corrosion-resistant packaging, so they will maintain their quality even if you buy a lot of packs and let them sit on the shelf for an extended period of time. The company's computer-controlled winding machines keep the product consistent.

Players of Les Pauls and SGs may find that investing in a set of Gibson Brite Wires (appx. $8) gives their playing a feel that other brands can't match, specifically because they're made by the same company that manufactured their guitars.

The Elixer Optiweb Light (around $13) provide the brightest output the company has to offer, but with a wider dynamic range than their Polyweb design, allowing players to access a sound that is fuller overall, but that articulates where it needs to.

Your guitar's pickups have a lot to do with your sound, and the Ernie Ball Cobalt (appx. $8) deliver a certain magnetic resonance that gives them a distinct tone, compared to traditional steel and nickel options. If a signature style is what you're after, these can take you there.

There aren't a lot of high-quality options for jazz guitarists out there, but among them, the Thomastik-Infeld Swing Series JS112 (appx. $19) provide a smoothness and warmth that those designed for rock musicians can't begin to muster.

Thanks to their balanced tension, the D'Addario Nickel Wound (around $13) tune slightly faster, and stay that way longer, than the majority of traditionally wound options. They also resist going out of tune due to extreme bending and tremolo bar use.

The Ernie Ball Slinky (appx. $6) offer a slew of different tonal options, all in durable sets that are both affordable and easy to wind. The company continues to make its products in California, and the American-made quality holds true.

Simplicity is the name of the game with the Fender Pure Nickel 150R. Blues and rock musicians will appreciate their clarity, but they aren't the fastest moving option on the market, so if you really need to shred at top speed, you might look elsewhere.

If you want to home in on a bigger, raunchier tone that could complement any southern sound — from classic blues to modern country — the Reverend Willy Mexican Lottery (about $5) have the bounce and power to provide you with just that.