To sound a low note at a playable pitch, a string needs mass. A solid steel wire thick enough to do that would be too stiff to fret and would sound out of tune. Wrapping a thinner core with wire adds weight while keeping flexibility.
How it breaks down by instrument:
- Electric guitar: usually three plain strings and three wound. Heavier sets often use a wound 3rd.
- Acoustic guitar: usually two plain strings and four wound, including a wound 3rd.
- Bass: standard sets are wound throughout.
- Classical: nylon trebles and silver-plated wound basses.
What the wrap changes:
- Tone: the wrap material shapes the sound. Nickel-plated steel, pure nickel, stainless steel and bronze each sound different.
- Feel: roundwound wraps have texture. Semi-flat and flatwound wraps are smoother.
- Wear: wound strings collect grime in the windings and usually go dull before plain strings.
Plain and wound singles are available in our Electric Guitar Singles and Acoustic Guitar Singles collections, so you can replace the one string that wears out first.