Electric guitar string sets .014: extreme tone control and power for the most demanding guitarist
For those seeking absolute control, maximum tonal fullness, and extreme tuning stability, .014 electric guitar string sets are the ultimate choice. These extra-heavy gauge strings are designed for guitarists who know exactly what they want: deep, powerful tone and strings that stay tight under all conditions. Discover why .014 sets are especially popular with jazz guitarists, slide players, and downtuning specialists.
What are .014 electric guitar strings?
A .014 string set starts with a first string 0.014 inches thick—the thickest standard string available for electric guitars. A typical set consists of:
.014 – .018 – .027 – .039 – .049 – .059 or even heavier.
Due to their high string tension, these sets are designed for professionals or advanced players with a lot of power, a heavy playing style, or specific tonal preferences. Playing with .014 strings requires technique, but also produces the most robust guitar sound.
Benefits of Electric Guitar String Sets .014
1. Extremely full, warm sound
.014 strings deliver a solid tone with deep bass and clear highs. Perfect for jazz, doom metal, drone, alternative rock, and other styles where timbre is essential.
2. Ideal for low moods
Do you usually tune to D, C, or lower? .014 electric guitar strings will still sound tight and clean, without the "weak" feel of lighter sets.
3. Maximum tuning stability and accuracy
Even with intensive playing or slide techniques, these strings remain perfectly tuned. They are virtually immune to fret buzz and always deliver consistent tone quality.
4. Perfect for expressive playing with lots of nuance
The high resistance gives you ultimate control over attack, vibrato, and tone shaping. This makes .014 sets very popular with guitarists who want to play with nuance, power, and dynamics.
What you need to know before switching to .014 strings
Playing with a .014 string set isn't suitable for everyone. Due to the high tension, these strings can feel heavy, especially during bends or fast runs. Your guitar must be technically sound and properly set up (truss rod, intonation, action) to maximize playing comfort and tone.
Do you play a hollow-body or semi-hollow-body guitar? Then there's a good chance that .014 strings will sound great on your instrument. For solid-body guitars, a good neck construction is crucial.
Top brands like Thomastik-Infeld , D'Addario , GHS , and Ernie Ball offer top-quality .014 electric guitar string sets with rich tone and high durability.
