HOW DOES THE GUITAR STRING MATERIAL AFFECT THE GUITAR SOUND?

No question, strings are an essential part of the sound of a guitar. With the exception of a rare few, the majority of players will agree that their guitars sound noticeably better with new strings. Though it's no secret, this fact is frequently overlooked and taken for granted.  Changing strings is probably the cheapest and simplest way to improve your tone.  So if you're not entirely happy with the sound of your guitar you may want to consider trying another type of string before suspecting the guitar or the amp, since different strings may give your guitar an entirely new sound and feel.   Remember, the string is really where the sound of your guitar begins.  It's the vibration of the string that initiates everything else. the gauge of the string, the actual thickness, which is measured to 1/1000th of an inch. 

The gauge of a string affects the amount of tension the string creates and how difficult it will be to press down or bend.  Heavier strings have more tension and are somewhat harder to play on, however they do produce a stronger and fatter tone than thinner strings. As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the string, the bigger the sound.