gCGCD

gDGBD

aEADE

gCGCD*

gDGBD†

27.0"

26.25"

25.0"

27.0"

26.25"

nylon

nylon

nylon

fluoro-
carbon

fluoro-
carbon

1

.027" / 0.69mm

.028" / 0.71mm

.027" / 0.69mm

.020" / 0.52mm

.020" / 0.52mm

2

.031" / 0.79mm

.032" / 0.81mm

.028" / 0.71mm

.024" / 0.62mm

.024" / 0.62mm

3

.038" / 0.97mm

.041" / 1.04mm

.038" / 0.97mm

.028" / 0.71mm

.028" /0 .71mm

4

.030"w / 0.76mm

.028"w / 0.71mm

.028"w / 0.71mm

.036" / 0.91mm

.036" / 0.91mm

5

.027" / 0.69mm

.028" / 0.71mm

.027" / 0.69mm

.020" / 0.52mm

.020" / 0.52mm

The nylon sets are all derived from classical guitar strings bought individually rather than in sets.  The fourth string in all of the nylon sets is metal wire wound on a nylon core of the diameter specified.

Many clawhammerers will use a lighter gauge string for the fifth than for the first, e.g. .027" fifth and .028" first.  I use the fifth string melodically a lot; so I like to have them the same gauge.

The fluorocarbon sets are made of much thinner gauges than are the nylon sets, except for the fourth string.  That is because fluorocarbon is much denser than nylon. Since the fluorocarbon strings are sold for fishing line there is no wound fourth string, but that is fine because the timbre of the fourth string is consistent with the higher pitched strings.  The fluorocarbon gauges are all based on recommendations made by Ray Frank.

The gauges for both fluorocarbon sets are the same because there are not as many gauges available for fishing line as there are for guitar strings.