A steel string acoustic guitar is an acoustic guitar strung with steel rather than nylon strings, giving the bright, loud tone heard across folk, country, rock and pop.
A steel string acoustic guitar is an acoustic guitar strung with steel rather than nylon strings, giving the bright, loud tone heard across folk, country, rock and pop.
About Steel String Acoustic Guitars
The steel string acoustic guitar is the most widely played instrument in the world. Made famous by country and folk music, its sound now sits at the heart of rock, pop and even hip-hop productions. The steel strings themselves give these guitars their character: bright, loud and rich in texture, which is why songwriters so often reach for a steel string acoustic to accompany a voice.
Our range covers full-size dreadnoughts through to smaller-bodied and travel-friendly models, including Enya acoustic guitars and stage-ready acoustic-electric options. If you prefer the mellow sound and soft feel of nylon strings, see our classical guitars, or browse the full acoustic guitar range. Keep your guitar sounding fresh with guitar strings, and protect it on the move with a guitar case or gig bag.
Steel string acoustics sound brighter and louder, suiting strumming and modern styles, while nylon string classical guitars sound warmer and softer under the fingers. Steel string guitars also typically have narrower necks, which many players find faster to fret.
Yes. Steel strings can cause some finger soreness at first, but a few weeks of playing builds calluses and the discomfort fades. A well set-up guitar with lighter gauge strings makes those first months much easier.
The dreadnought is the most common steel string body shape, with a large soundboard that delivers strong volume and bass response. It is the classic all-rounder for strumming and flatpicking, though smaller bodies suit fingerstyle and smaller players.