Can You Put Acoustic Guitar Strings on an Electric Guitar?

Yes, you can put acoustic guitar strings on an electric guitar. But it will change how your instrument sounds and feels. And not in a good way…

First off, it’s good to know that acoustic and electric guitar strings are made differently.

Acoustic strings are thicker and made of materials like bronze or brass. Electric strings are thinner and often use nickel or steel.

These differences affect the sound. And how the strings work with pickups on electric guitars.

Putting acoustic strings on your electric guitar can give you a brighter, twangier tone. But this is only true if you play your electric guitar unplugged. It will not sound as loud or clear through an amp.

The thicker strings can also be harder to play and might need some adjustments to your guitar’s setup.

Key Takeaways

• Acoustic strings on electric guitars but will change the sound and playability;

• The thicker acoustic strings may need tweaks to your guitar’s setup;

• Acoustic guitar strings are harder to bend and are tougher on your fingers.

Can You Use Acoustic Strings on an Electric Guitar?

Let me explain why this isn’t a good idea. 

Sure you can put bronze acoustic guitar strings on an electric guitar. But there are some key differences between acoustic and electric guitar strings. These differences can affect how your guitar sounds and plays.

Here’s why:

The output from these strings is much lower than nickel strings. 

This creates an unbalanced sound. And electric guitar pickups rely on magnetic output. Phosphor bronze strings lack enough magnetic properties. 

The strings do have a steel core. This core provides some magnetic activity for the pickups. But the phosphor bronze wrap wire isn’t very magnetically active. It mutes the magnetic output. 

As a result, the signal reaching the amp is weak. It lacks the fullness and brightness typical of electric guitar strings. 

It makes the sound quality suffer very much. The tone becomes unbalanced and lacks the characteristics that you want for electric guitar playing.

Potential Issues

Acoustic strings are thicker and have a higher tension than electric strings. This can cause problems with your electric guitar’s setup.

The nut slots might be too narrow for the thicker strings. You may need to file them wider, which isn’t always easy to undo.

The string gauge affects the guitar’s sound. Acoustic strings can make your electric guitar sound dull or muffled, as explained above.

The pickups on electric guitars are made to work best with thinner, magnetic strings.

With the extra tension, your guitar’s neck might also bend more. This could make it harder to play and even damage the neck over time.

Benefits and Drawbacks

One good thing about using acoustic strings is they can give your electric guitar a unique sound. Some players like the warmer, fuller tone they create. It’s a bit like having an acoustic-electric hybrid.

But acoustic strings don’t work well with distortion pedals or high gain amps. They can create unwanted noise and feedback.

Playing might feel different too. Acoustic strings are harder to bend and can be tougher on your fingers.

Differences Between Electric and Acoustic Strings

Electric and acoustic guitar strings are quite different. They’re made in special ways to work best with each type of guitar. 

Construction Variations

Electric guitar strings are usually thinner than acoustic ones. They’re made with metal cores, often steel or nickel.

The thinner strings help the electric guitar’s pickup detect vibrations better. This means clearer sound through your amp.

Acoustic strings are thicker. They need to be louder without an amp. The extra thickness helps them push more air and make more noise. Acoustic strings often have a bronze or brass wrap. This gives them a brighter tone.

Here’s a quick comparison:

• Electric strings: Thin, metal core;

• Acoustic strings: Thick, bronze or brass wrap.

Tonal Characteristics

Electric strings sound bright and crisp. They can handle lots of effects like distortion. When you bend these strings, they make cool sounds that electric players love.

Acoustic strings have a warmer, fuller tone. They ring out nicely when you strum chords. The bronze wrap gives them a jangly sound that’s great for folk and country music.

Try this: Play an open G chord on both guitars. 

You’ll hear:

• Electric: Sharp, clear notes;

• Acoustic: Rich, resonant sound.

Playing Feel

Electric strings are easier on your fingers. They’re thinner and don’t need as much pressure to play. This makes fast solos and bends easier. You can slide up and down the neck smoothly too.

Acoustic strings are tougher to play at first. They’re thicker and need more finger strength. But they’re great for building calluses. Many players find them better for fingerpicking.

• Electric: Easy bending, smooth slides;

• Acoustic: Stronger fingers needed, good for fingerpicking.

The type of wood on the fingerboard can change how the strings feel too. But that’s a whole other story.

Practical Considerations

Putting acoustic strings on an electric guitar can be tricky. You’ll need to think about a few key things.

Adjusting the Guitar Setup

Your electric guitar wasn’t made for acoustic strings. You’ll need to make some changes.

The nut slots might be too small for thicker acoustic strings. You may need to file them wider. BE CAREFUL though – if you go too big, your regular strings won’t fit right later.

The bridge might need tweaking too. Acoustic strings are often higher tension. This can pull on the bridge more. You might need to adjust the bridge height or even the truss rod.

Impact on Playability

Acoustic strings feel different. They’re usually thicker and stiffer.

This can make playing harder, especially if you’re used to bendy electric strings. Your fingers might get sore faster.

Chords might be tougher to play. The extra tension means you’ll need to press harder. But single notes could feel easier to control.

Bending notes will be harder. Acoustic strings don’t stretch as much as electric ones. You might need to change your technique a bit.

Some good news – slides can sound awesome. The bronze strings can give a cool, gritty tone when you slide.

Effect on Guitar Electronics

Your guitar’s pickups weren’t made for acoustic strings. They might not pick up the sound as well.

The tone could be weaker or muddy.

Steel strings on acoustics are magnetic. But many acoustic strings use other materials. If you use non-magnetic strings, your pickups won’t work at all.

Even with steel strings, the sound will be different. Electric pickups are voiced for electric strings. Acoustic strings might sound thin or harsh through them.

Your volume and tone controls might act weird. The different string material can change how they respond. You might need to adjust your amp settings to compensate.

Making the Switch

Putting acoustic strings on an electric guitar is possible, but it takes some work. You’ll need to know how to install the new strings and keep them in tune. 

The output from bronze phosphor strings is much lower than nickel strings

How To Install Acoustic Strings on Electric

First, take off the old strings. Use wire cutters to snip them near the bridge. Then unwind them from the tuning pegs. Clean the fretboard with a soft cloth.

Now, get your new acoustic strings ready. They’re thicker than electric strings, so check if they fit in the nut slots. You might need to widen the slots a bit.

Thread each string through the bridge and up to its tuning peg. Leave some slack. Wind the string around the peg, making sure it goes down the post. Cut off the extra string.

Repeat for all six strings. Be careful not to scratch your guitar.

Tuning Stability

Acoustic strings on an electric guitar can be tricky to keep in tune. They’re heavier and put more tension on the neck. This can make the guitar neck bend a little.

You might need to adjust the truss rod. This is the metal rod inside the neck that keeps it straight. If you’re not sure how to do this, ask a guitar tech for help.

The bridge might also need tweaking. Because acoustic strings are bigger, they might not sit right in the saddles. You can file the saddles a bit to make room.

Tune up slowly. Let the strings stretch out. You’ll probably need to tune a few times before they settle. Be patient.

Experimentation and Sound Exploration

Trying acoustic strings on an electric guitar opens up new sonic possibilities. It’s a fun way to shake things up and find fresh sounds.

Creative Advantages

Putting acoustic strings on your electric guitar can give you some cool new tones. The bronze strings used on acoustics have a brighter, twangier sound than regular electric strings. This can add sparkle to clean tones and crunch to distorted sounds.

You might notice your guitar feels different too. Acoustic strings are usually thicker, so they’ll have more tension. This can change how you play and might inspire new techniques.

Don’t worry if it sounds weird at first. Play around with your amp settings to find sweet spots for these new strings.

Discovering New Tones

Swapping strings is like giving your guitar a makeover. Acoustic strings on an electric can produce unexpected sounds. You might hear warmer, rounder notes or even some jangly overtones.

Try different pickup combinations with your new strings. The neck pickup might sound extra mellow, while the bridge pickup could get super zingy.

Experiment with effects pedals too. Reverb and delay can make acoustic strings shimmer in new ways on your electric.

There’s no right or wrong here. It’s all about having fun, and finding sounds you dig.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you use acoustic strings on an electric guitar?

Using acoustic strings on an electric guitar isn’t ideal. The sound will be quieter and less clear.

Acoustic strings are thicker and made of different materials. This means they won’t work well with the pickups on your electric guitar.

Your guitar might also need adjustments. The neck could bend more due to the extra tension from acoustic strings. This could make playing harder and less fun.

Can the same strings be used for both acoustic and electric guitars?

Not really. Electric and acoustic guitars need different types of strings.

Electric guitars use lighter, steel-string sets. Acoustic guitars use heavier strings, often with bronze windings.

If you put electric strings on an acoustic, it won’t sound right. The guitar won’t be loud enough.

Acoustic strings on an electric will mess up the sound and might damage the guitar.

Is it possible to use an electric guitar amp for an acoustic guitar?

You can, but it’s not the best choice. Electric amps are made for electric guitars. They change the sound of acoustic guitars in ways you might not like.

If you do use an electric amp, keep the volume low. High volume can cause feedback and hurt your ears.

For the best sound, use an amp made for acoustic guitars.

What type of strings is most suitable for an acoustic-electric guitar?

Acoustic-electric guitars work best with regular acoustic strings. These guitars are basically acoustic guitars with added pickups. They need the full, rich tone of acoustic strings.

Light or medium gauge phosphor bronze strings are popular choices. They give a bright, clear sound that works well when plugged in or played unplugged.

Are there any special considerations when changing strings on a classical guitar?

Classical guitars are different from steel-string acoustics. They use nylon strings instead of metal ones.

You tie these strings to the bridge instead of using bridge pins. Be gentle when putting on new strings.

Classical guitars are often more delicate than steel-string guitars. Take your time and don’t overtighten the strings. This helps keep your guitar in good shape.