Hi Lroa,

The coating keeps the wound strings (the lower sounding strings which are a very thin wire coiled around another wire) from getting gunky from sweat and oil from your hands, etc. The effect is that the brightness of the strings lasts longer. They do not become dulled in sound as quickly as non-coated strings. The flipside of that is that some people feel the coated strings start out lacking the brilliant brightness of brand new uncoated strings. True - so you have to decide what's most important to you.

The coating also makes the strings a little slipperier, and less squeaky if you are doing any kind of sliding techniques.

In my opinion, the coated strings are well worth it. Personally, I love them - but I'm sure you'll find other experienced players who feel the opposite!

As far as the brand and the guage, I'd recommend you go with the cheaper ones simply because you are still in the process of figuring out the best fit for you. If you put on $5 Super Lights and decide you don't really like them, you can try Lights, and not have spent much money on the experiment. Once you land on the ones you like best, then you might invest in the better quality strings at that time.

Just my two cents!
Have fun
- Lisa McCormick, Guitar Tricks Instructor