What are the best strings for Gibson SG guitars? We know the correct answer because we found, reviewed, and collected in this one short article seven string sets for Gibson SG available on the market at the moment.
The Gibson SG is a short-scale electric guitar featuring a lighter mahogany body, feted for its excellent tonal range, huge sustain, and somewhat softer tone.
However, if you want to keep getting the most of your Gibson SG, you’ll need to replace the components, including pickups and strings, more often.
Talking about the SG’s stock strings: you’ll have to change them sooner or later to keep your instrument in perfect humor.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at our list of the best guitar strings for SG.
Best Strings for SG (Comparison Table)
1. Ernie Ball Super Slinky 3-Pack Electric Guitar Strings (Editor’s Choice)
Crafted with meticulous precision and conforming to rigorous industry standards Ernie Ball Super Slinky 3-Pack Electric Guitar Strings guarantee excellent performance, consistency, and durability.
No wonder Super Slinky electric guitar strings have been the favorite of legendary players, including Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Jimmy Page. Super Slinky strings are shaped out of nickel-plated steel wire draped around the tin-plated hex-shaped wire with a solid steel core.
These Ernie Ball electric guitar strings are made out of finely tempered tin-plated high carbon steel imparting a balanced tone to your instrument. All Ernie Ball plain strings have a lock twist to eliminate slippage and boost strength and stability. Additionally, the tin-plated high carbon steel hex core goes a long way to improve the strings’ durability and resilience.
The nickel-wrapped Super Slinky strings featuring precision wounded nickel-plated steel wire ensure a consistent response across the strings with better intonation.
Features
- Custom gauge precision wounded nickel-plated steel strings for electric guitars
- High-carbon steel hex core
- Element shield packaging for boosting durability
2. D’Addario EXL120-3D Nickel Wound Guitar Strings (Close Runner-Up)
The D’Addario EXL120-3D Nickel Wound Guitar Strings have been impeccably engineered, enabling you to bond with your bass with perfection. These EXL nickel wound guitar strings by D’Addario are universally popular with guitarists of almost every musical or playing style.
Precision wounded using intensely magnetic nickel-plated steel complying with demanding specs, the EXL 120-3D strings furnish exceptional rhythm with enduring and uniquely vivid tone.
The EXL 120 comes across as an ultra-light gauge set that aids in delivering a stinging and focused tone with unprecedented flexibility. D’Addario‘s XL nickel wound electric bass strings that have long become the industry’s benchmark are perfect for multiple playing styles. The EXL 120 are painstakingly swathed with nickel-plated steel over a carefully drawn out, hex-shaped high carbon steel foundation.
The spiral wound strings furnish that unmistakable vintage feel and tone that most bassists would instantly identify with. Yet, at the same time, the structure of the strings judiciously blends the steel core’s robustness with the wrapped wire alloy’s tonal attributes.
Features
- Super light gauge nickel-wound string set for 6-string electric basses
- String gauge: .009-.042
- Round wound
- String material: nickel-plated steel
3. DR Strings Electric Guitar Strings
The late metal legend Dimebag Darrell who played for Damageplan and Pantera (heavy metal bands), popularized the dynamic DR Strings electric guitar strings. These electric guitar strings are reinforced with a nickel electroplated steel wrap wire and a hexagonal wire hub. The nickel-plated steel wrap wires have been adeptly treated with DR’s StringLife liquid polymer that shields the strings from corrosion.
On the other hand, DR’s StringLife liquid polymer keeps the electric guitar strings thoroughly lubricated, thus enhancing their functional life. Dimebag Darrell went on record by effusively praising the excellent tonal quality of the DR Strings, articulating, “I like the way DR Strings feel and react; you can get a grip on them.” Darrell further added, “They also stay in perfect tune and remain fresh and bright for an amazingly long time.”
Features
- Medium-gauge nickel-plated steel on hex core wire with ball end
- Treated with Dr. String Life for enhanced lubrication and durability
- String gauge: .01
- Scale length: 38”
4. Ernie Ball Cobalt Regular Slinky Sets
The Ernie Ball Cobalt Regular Slinky Guitar Strings have been designed and crafted to provide maximum output and unmatched clarity. Bassists can look forward to a comprehensive dynamic range marked with the stupendous harmonic response, sharp bottom-end, and crunchy, bright highs. In addition, no other alloy can enable the pickups to establish a beefier magnetic relationship with the strings as cobalt.
On the other hand, string picking and bending becomes straightforward thanks to the soft texture of the cobalt strings. The state-of-the-art alloy composition of these cobalt slinky guitar strings guarantees a higher output and superior sonic and long-lasting life. In addition, these regular slinky strings are coated with a specialized iron/cobalt mix that enables the pickup magnets to develop an extraordinary affinity for your bass’s strings.
Features
- Cobalt regular slinky guitar strings
- Gauges: .010-.46
- Round wound
- Core/winding materials: Steel/iron-cobalt alloy
5. Dunlop 3PDEN1046 Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings
Manufactured with painstaking care keeping in mind the preferences of guitarists, the Dunlop nickel-wound electric guitar strings help dial in well-defined lows, scooped-out midrange, and silky highs. These Dunlop 3PDEN1046 electric bass strings have been created using premium materials along with the manufacturer’s patented core-to-wrap ratio, thereby guaranteeing balanced response over the strings, rapid break-in period, and extended durability.
With these nickel-wound strings tethered to your electric bass, you can move across the fretboard with effortless ease while maintaining tonal clarity. So regardless of whether your signature playing style is R&B, rock, heavy metal, jazz, country, or blues, you can’t go wrong with Dunlop 3PDEN1046. Unlike the earlier versions, the new packages feature VCI technology integrated directly into the paper, safeguarding the strings from corrosion and humidity.
Features
- Medium-style round-wound nickel-plated steel guitar strings
- Gauge: .01
- Winding and core material: Nickel-plated steel/steel
6. D’Addario ECB81S Chromes Bass Guitar Strings
The D’Addario ECB81S Chromes Bass Guitar String is a light gauge flat-wound string specially designed for short-scale electric guitar. To put it in perspective, the EC81S bass guitar strings work perfectly on instruments with a scale length varying from 22” -24.75”. Many rocks, blues, jazz bassists, and guitarists have eulogized and lauded the warm, full, and mellowed feel of these D’Addario electric bass strings.
The EC81S Chromes Strings for short-scale basses have defined the industry standards in the flat-wound guitar strings category for many years. Players of various jazz genres heavily bank on these regular light-gauge XL Chromes as they ensure the delivery of full, well-rounded low-end notes. The XL Chromes come securely wrapped with smoothened and ultra-compact stainless steel ribbon wire that is further buffed for making them sleeker.
At the same time, the finely polished, precision flat stainless steel wrap wire helps furnish a super soft feel marked by a heavy melodious tone. D’Addario guitar strings are meticulously wounded around hex-shaped high-carbon steel core wires using CNC machines for ensuring clean inflection and unmatched consistency across the strings.
Features
- Regular light gauge flatwound for bass
- Gauges: .045, .065, .080, .100
- String material type: Chrome
- Core and winding material: Steel/stainless steel
7. Rotosound RS88S Nylon Flatwound Strings
The RS88S Nylon Flavored Flatwound Strings by Rotosound was originally conceptualized and created by the founder James How for Jim Burn’s legendary bass-the Black Bison-in 1962.
The Rotosound Tru Bass RS88S Flatwound Strings spectacularly replicates the steep bass sounds enabling you to transform your electric guitar into double bass. These nylon flatwound strings were pressed into service by the iconic Sir Paul McCartney for the Beatles’ Abbey Road album, which accounts for their universal popularity.
Rotosound Tru Bass strings have been and continue to be used extensively by reggae, dub, fusion, and jazz players universally. The magnetic stainless steel core embedded below the versatile black nylon tape guarantees smooth handling of your guitar, broadening the instrument’s tonal palette.
On the other hand, the RS88S’s versatility ensures excellent compatibility with a standard amp letting your electric bass sound like a string bass, tonally speaking.
Features
- Medium gauge nickel steel strings
- Gauges: .065, .075, .090, .115
- Nylon tape wound
- Short-scale (30”)
FAQs About Strings Used on Gibson SG Guitars
What Kind of Strings Does Gibson Put On Their Guitars?
If a guitar’s body is regarded as its heart, the strings can be considered the instrument’s lungs. Way back in 1927, Gibson introduced the original guitar strings crafted from metal that has evolved hugely. Talking about electric basses, Gibson signaled its renewal of contemporary strings production by coming up with the ‘Vintage Reissue Pure Nickel String.’
The Vintage Reissue Pure Nickel Strings comprises premium Swedish hex stainless steel core enfolded with pure nickel-plated wire to ensure warm, resounding tones. In addition, Gibson joined forces with iconic players for introducing top-quality ‘B.B. King Pure Nickel Signature Series’ and ‘Les Paul Pure Nickel Wound Signature Series’ electric bass strings. On the other hand, Gibson launched the coated Masterbuilt Premium Phosphor Bronze strings set for acoustic bassists, thus adding to their ‘Factory Spec String Collection.’
Gibson created the coated phosphor bronze set exclusively for their Montana flattop guitars, aiding in delivering gentle, articulate tones. In addition, the Gibson strings for electric – and acoustic guitars are made from top-quality materials that resist humidity and corrosion as well as normal wear and tear.
What Strings Are on A Gibson SG?
The Gibson SG Standard is with the iconic guitar brands, including the Fender Strat, Fender Telecaster, and Gibson Les Paul. The SG (Solid Guitar) Standard launched in 1961 was promoted as a lighter version of the Les Paul competing with the globally famous Strat. That said, the Gibson SG is a legend on its own, and it does not bear emphasis that the instrument sounds great.
The factory set .010.-.46 gauge strings in the Gibson SG play a crucial role in lending to the instrument its signature sound. These lighter gauge strings are ideal for maintaining the proper tension in the guitar’s neck section. Though you can always use heavier gauge strings provided you adjust the truss rod, it’s the .010s that are indispensable for the SG.
Unlike the Fender Strat, the Gibson SG is a short-scale (with a shorter neck) bass. To put it in perspective, the .010 gauge strings on an SG offer the same smooth tension as the .011 strings on a Stratocaster.
What Gauge Strings Come on a Gibson SG Guitar?
The Gibson SG, a shorter-scale guitar (24.75” neck), works pretty well with strings having a little thicker gauge than a Strat. The SG comes equipped with strings having a gauge ranging from .010-.46. If you want that super slinky feel go for .010s strings.
So, Best Gibson SG Guitar Strings Are…
It ultimately boils down to your personal preference when it comes to picking top-notch strings for your Gibson SG. That said, the strings sets for electric basses reviewed above should be able to cater to your preference for sparkling clean to darker tones.
The electric guitar string models evaluated above will come in handy for delivering intensely clear midrange, well-defined low-end, and marked highs. Our winner is Ernie Ball Super Slinky 3-Pack Electric Guitar Strings. These are the best strings for a Gibson SG guitar you can find on the market, in our opinion.