This article details a fun experiment comparing the breaking points of various brands of 10-gauge electric guitar high E strings. The high E string is notoriously prone to breakage, making this a relevant test for guitarists. We subjected strings from Clear Tone, Elixir, D'Addario NYXL, Ernie Ball, Ernie Ball Cobalt, Fender Bullets, GHS Boomers, and DR Strings to increasing tension beyond their standard tuning pitch to determine their breaking points. This hands-on approach aimed to highlight potential differences in tensile strength and durability between different string brands, offering a practical comparison for players.While not a rigorously scientific study, this experiment provides a comparative analysis of string breakage points. Our observations focused on the note at which each string failed and the location of the break, noting interesting variations in behavior such as stretching before breakage. The results reveal a surprising degree of similarity in breaking points across different brands, suggesting that other factors beyond initial tensile strength contribute significantly to a string's overall lifespan and performance. A comparison with a 9-gauge string is also included.
Read more: Top 5 Elixir Guitar Strings: A Buyer's Guide
The Experiment: High E String Test
This experiment focuses on the high E string, the most commonly broken string on an electric guitar. We'll test various brands of 10-gauge strings: Clear Tone, Elixir, D'Addario NYXL, Ernie Ball, Ernie Ball Cobalt, Fender Bullets, GHS Boomers, and DR Strings. Each string will be tuned to pitch, then tuned past pitch to determine its breaking point.
The goal is to observe at what point each string breaks under tension, indicating potential differences in durability and quality among various brands. This isn't a scientific study, but rather a fun experiment to compare the tensile strength of different string types.
The strings were installed without initial stretching. Tuning proceeded gradually to observe at what point past pitch each string failed. We focused on observing the breaking point and location, rather than precise tuning accuracy.
Results: Breaking Points and Observations
The Clear Tone string broke first at G#. The Dunlop strings also broke at G#. The Elixir strings performed a bit better, snapping at A#. The Fender Bullet strings were next, breaking at A. This highlights potential variations in durability even amongst similar string gauges.
The D'Addario NYXL strings broke around A#, a similar point to the Elixir. The Ernie Ball Cobalt strings broke at A, but interestingly, broke at the nut instead of the usual areas of failure. This suggests a potential difference in construction or material properties compared to the other brands. The DR strings stretched significantly before breaking at A. This points towards a higher degree of elasticity than other strings tested.
GHS Boomers came very close to A#, almost reaching A# before breaking. Finally, the Ernie Ball custom gauge and another D'Addario set also failed around A, showing varied breakage points even amongst different batches of the same brand.
9-Gauge String Test & Conclusion
A 9-gauge D'Addario string was also tested for comparison. Surprisingly, the 9-gauge string broke at a similar point to the 10-gauge strings, suggesting that gauge alone may not be the sole determinant of breaking point.
Overall, the experiment demonstrated that most tested strings, regardless of brand or price, broke at relatively similar points under excessive tension. While some minor differences in breaking points and behaviors were observed (stretching, breakage location), they were not significant enough to definitively declare one brand superior in terms of durability.
The experiment doesn't fully assess the longevity or 'deadness' of the strings over time. Therefore, this test only focuses on the tensile strength of the strings at a single point in time, not their overall lifespan or performance.