Phantom Power Gear: Guitar Strings and Accessories

Beautiful hard rock woman carrying a premium hard shell guitar case, realistic lifestyle photo for guitar case buyers

Quick heads-up: This post contains affiliate links to gear sites like Amazon, Reverb, and our other partners. If you buy something through these links, I get a small piece of the pie to help keep this blog running, but it doesn't cost you a penny extra!

Do you need a hardshell case or is a gig bag enough? Use a hardshell for any guitar worth more than about $500, air travel, or rough transport — and a well-padded gig bag for local everyday carry of lower-risk instruments. Every guitarist who has watched a guitar fall off a stand or seen what happens after airline check-in reaches the same conclusion: the case was not optional, it was just a purchase they had not made yet.

The case market has options at every price that genuinely protect what you paid for. Used cases from reputable brands show up regularly and a used hardshell in good condition protects as well as a new one.

Who This Guide Is For

Players protecting a guitar they care about
Anyone choosing between hardshell and gig bag

Who This Is Not For

People storing a disposable beater who accept full risk of damage

Hardshell vs Gig Bag

A hardshell has a rigid exterior and holds the guitar immobile. Better against impact, stacking, and humidity swings. Heavier and bulkier.

A gig bag is lighter and easier to carry. A well-padded bag (around 20mm+ foam) handles everyday local transport. It is not for serious impacts or checked airline baggage.

Honest rule: hardshell for valuable instruments, travel, and high-risk storage; gig bag for local transport of lower-value instruments.

Gator GWE Deluxe Wood Case

Best for: Most players who need a solid mid-price hardshell for electric or acoustic

Wood case, plush interior, common body fits (Strat, Les Paul, Tele, acoustic). Used examples often $50–$80.

Search Gator GWE Cases on Reverb →

SKB injection-molded cases are the tougher option for regular travel — near-indestructible shells and TSA-style latches. Used often $80–$150. Pelican with custom foam is the high-value / touring extreme when failure is not acceptable.

Mono M80 Gig Bag

Best for: Daily professional local transport when you want more protection than a cheap bag

Semi-rigid design and serious padding. Not a checked-baggage hardshell replacement, but a benchmark soft case.

Search Mono M80 Bags on Reverb →

Gator Transit-style bags are the budget path when you still want real foam and a reinforced base.

Acoustic Cases and Humidity

Acoustics move more with humidity. A case plus a soundhole humidifier in dry months is basic maintenance, not optional luxury. Fit the case to the body shape so the guitar cannot shift.

What to Check on a Used Case

Latches that close securely
Hinges under load
Interior foam not crushed or crumbling
Correct body fit

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a gig bag enough for a $1,000 guitar?
For careful local carry, sometimes. For travel, storage risk, or peace of mind, use a hardshell.

Can I check a guitar in a gig bag?
No. Use a proper hardshell (or flight case) for airline checked baggage.

Are used cases safe?
Yes if latches, hinges, and foam are sound.

Do acoustics need different cases?
They need correct body fit and better humidity control while stored.

Final Recommendation

Buy a Gator GWE (new or used) as the default hardshell. Step up to SKB or Pelican for hard travel. Use a Mono M80 when you need a premium everyday bag. Match protection to the value of the instrument and how you move it.

For more gear protection and buying guidance, see:

Follow Phantom Power Gear on Pinterest for more gear tips and recommendations.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

D'Addario has been making strings since 1974 and is now the largest string manufacturer in the world. That size is not an accident — it reflects decades of consistent quality, a catalog that covers every instrument and playing style, and a commitment to manufacturing that keeps strings on the shelves of every music store on the planet. When a guitarist does not know what strings to buy, D'Addario EXL110s are what most teachers and shop employees recommend — and that recommendation is usually correct.

This guide covers every D'Addario electric guitar string series so you can find the right ones for your guitar, your tuning, and your playing style without buying three sets to find out what works.

D'Addario EXL Series — Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

The EXL series is the most popular D'Addario electric guitar string line and the one most players encounter first. Nickel-wound construction produces a balanced tone with moderate output and a bright but not harsh high-frequency response that works across most genres and amplifier types.

EXL110 — Regular Light (.010-.046)

The most popular electric guitar string gauge in the world and the correct starting point for most players. The .010 to .046 gauge provides enough tension for accurate intonation and reliable tuning stability while being light enough for comfortable bending. If you do not know what gauge to use, start here. Used on everything from country to metal to blues, the EXL110 is the universal choice for a reason.

EXL120 — Super Light (.009-.042)

The super light gauge for players who prioritize easy bending and light touch. Nines are the choice of lead players who need to bend a whole step without significant effort — David Gilmour, Stevie Ray Vaughan at certain points in his career, and many country lead players use light gauges for exactly this reason. The trade-off is slightly less sustain and a thinner tone compared to tens.

EXL115 — Medium (.011-.049)

The medium gauge is the choice of players who tune to Eb or D standard, play primarily rhythm rather than lead, or want more tension and sustain than tens provide. Stevie Ray Vaughan famously used thirteens tuned down to Eb — effectively playing at a twelve gauge tension — for the thick, snappy tone his style required. Elevens are a more practical version of that same logic for players who do not want to retune.

D'Addario NYXL Series — High-Carbon Steel Electric Strings

The NYXL series uses a high-carbon steel core rather than the standard hex core used in the EXL series. The result is strings that stay in tune better under heavy bending — D'Addario claims 131% stronger than standard strings — and retain their brightness longer than standard nickel wound strings.

Players who bend aggressively, use a heavy vibrato technique, or play at high stage volumes where retuning between songs is impractical report a noticeable improvement in tuning stability with NYXL strings over standard EXLs. The NYXL cost more than EXLs — roughly double — but last significantly longer before the tone degrades, making the cost-per-hour-of-use closer than the purchase price suggests.

D'Addario XL Acoustic Series — Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Strings

EJ16 — Phosphor Bronze Light (.012-.053)

The most popular D'Addario acoustic guitar string and one of the best-selling acoustic strings globally. Phosphor bronze winding produces a warm, balanced tone with more warmth than 80/20 bronze strings and longer life because the phosphor inhibits oxidation. The light gauge suits fingerpicking and moderate strumming without the stiffness of medium gauges.

EJ17 — Phosphor Bronze Medium (.013-.056)

The medium gauge acoustic string for players who strum hard, play in open tunings, or want more volume and projection from their acoustic guitar. The additional tension requires a properly set-up guitar to be comfortable — a guitar with high action and medium strings is significantly harder to play than the same guitar with low action and light strings.

D'Addario Coated Strings — XT and XS Series

D'Addario produces two coated string lines — the XT series with a lighter coating and the XS series with a thinner coating designed to feel closer to uncoated strings. Coated strings last significantly longer than uncoated strings because the coating prevents the sweat and skin oils that cause uncoated strings to corrode and lose their brightness.

Players who perspire heavily during performance, live in humid climates, or simply do not change strings as often as they should benefit most from coated strings. The tone of coated strings is slightly different from uncoated — a little less immediate brightness on the attack — but the difference is subtle enough that many players prefer the consistency of a coated string that sounds the same in month three as it did in week one.

Which D'Addario String Is Right for You

For most electric guitar players who do not have a specific reason to choose otherwise — EXL110 tens. They work on virtually every electric guitar in standard tuning for virtually every style. Start there and move to a different gauge or series only when you identify a specific reason the tens are not giving you what you need.

For acoustic guitar players who fingerpick or play mixed styles — EJ16 phosphor bronze lights. For strummers who play hard — EJ17 mediums.

For players who need better tuning stability under heavy bending — NYXL in whatever gauge you currently use.

For players who hate changing strings and live in humid environments — XT or XS coated strings in your preferred gauge.

D'Addario strings are available everywhere but buying in bulk — three to five sets at a time — reduces the per-set cost significantly. Find multi-packs and bulk sets alongside instrument purchases on Reverb and never run out at the wrong moment.