Acoustic Guitar Strings

[Joe G]

I read in another thread about juststrings.com and TI and John Pearse strings. I went to the site to order and saw those brands (along with several others) and was wondering what everyone else here is using and why.

Up until now, I have been using Martin SP Phosphor Bronze light and occasionally DR strings. I tried and was not a fan of coated strings.

Thanks,

Joe

[RacerX]

Depends on the guitar, and the situation.

The Martins sound great, for a short time. Probably good for recording. D'addario seem to last longer and they are what I use most of the time for customer guitars. Elixirs sound good on certain guitars (like em on my Walnut Larrivee, hate em' on my buddy's old Martin) And I like the lighter Nano coating (hated the thick polyweb coating).

Mark.

[Uncle Thor's Hamer]

For the past two years I have been testing different strings on all of my guitars. Martin Marquis Light Phos/Bnz were the gold standard. They just sounded the best on my guitars. Every other string fell short in tone. I tried every major brand and style of string out there.

And then I tried Elixer Nanos. I had tried other coated strings and came away unconvinced, and had avoided the Elixers for months because other coated strings just didn't have it. But once they went on, they are the new gold standard. They sound rich and full and bright, and they last tons longer than the Martins.

This is on a Spruce topped guitar. YMMV on your guitar. Other strings that I really liked were several varieties of John Pearse, and Cleartone coated Phos/Bnz.

[lesterpaul]

Black Diamonds are really nice-I can't stand coated strings, personally-when I can't find them, Martins are cool

BLACK D'S,FOLKS...

anyone tried the new RED brand of strings??

[elduave]

Martin MSPLUS3100. Coated, 12-56, 'cause that's what Martin reccomends, and my ears "get it".

[Jeroen]

I play D'Addario EJ26 for 2 years now. Always played a 010 set on my guitars, but I needed some more body so I play this type now. They call them custom light 011, 015, 022, 032, 042, 052.

Jeroen

[harry65]

I play D'Addario EJ26 for 2 years now. Always played a 010 set on my guitars, but I needed some more body so I play this type now. They call them custom light 011, 015, 022, 032, 042, 052.

Jeroen

been using the same set for years on my balladeer and love em...............................

[tombo]

I've tried many acoustic strings, both coated and non-coated. I really like the DR Sunbeams. Easy on the fingers (low tension) and last a long time. They cost a bit more, but are worth it. If those aren't available, I don't think you can go wrong with the standard D'Addario EJ-16s. John Pearse are nice too, but I don't think they are THAT much better than the D'Ads. The best thing to do is try a bunch of brands with your guitar and see what works for you.

[JohnnyB]

John Pearse are nice too, but I don't think they are THAT much better than the D'Ads.

Yes they are.

And at $5.50/set they're a steal.

The best thing to do is try a bunch of brands with your guitar and see what works for you.

Absolutely. It's a combination of your personal taste plus the combination of a given guitar's size and tonewoods and string gauges and downforce that all add up. For me, the John Pearse make the acoustics I've tried really sing, especially a Martin dreadnaught.

[jwhitcomb3]

I use different strings on different guitars.

On my main guitar (Huss & Dalton OO-SP) I'm using Dean Markley GoldPhos, which sound excellent and last a really long time.

Currently using Martin Extended Life SPs on my Gurian, but may return to DR Extra Life Coated strings that I had before. The Martins are fine, but the DRs just seemed to work better on this instrument. This is my hardest guitar to find suitable strings for...I've tried all kinds of stuff, and even considered selling it until I found a good fit. But this guitar really needs a neck setup (30 years old, bridge saddle been lowered to almost nothing), and I don't have money to do that now.

I'm using DR Rare Phos-Bronz (uncoated) on my Lowden using a Bluegrass gauge. Great sounding strings that last a long time for uncoated. This is my easiest guitar to find strings for: everything sounds good.

I've been pleased with John Pearse and TI as well. What works well on one guitar may not suit another, particularly when the guitars are as different as mine (parlor, OM and Jumbo).

I used to live in the same town where JustStrings.com was located, and in the early days they'd be happy to talk strings with you and help you find exactly what you wanted. Eventually they stopped allowing the locals in except to pick up internet-orders, and their prices aren't as competitive as they once were. Still a good outfit though.

-Jonathan

[doody]

I play D'Addario EJ26 for 2 years now. Always played a 010 set on my guitars, but I needed some more body so I play this type now. They call them custom light 011, 015, 022, 032, 042, 052.

Jeroen

been using the same set for years on my balladeer and love em...............................

Me too

[hardheartedbill]

dreadnaught gets D'addario phosphor 13-56

small body steelstring cedartop gets 12-54

nylon string get Augestine blues

dobro gets roundwound 14-56

[tomteriffic]

I used the D'Addario Phosphor Bronze or the equivalent Martins for years. Can't stand the Poly/nanowebs, but I'm liking the D'Addario EXP coateds, especially since they started doing all 6. They sound broken-in almost from the get-go and stay that way. I hardly know it's there and they last for-freakin'-ever.

[Jorge]

I apologize for the derail (serves as a bump ), but does anybody use an unwound G string on their acoustic?

If so, since no acoustic guitar strings come with an unwound G, what do you buy to put in there?

[Moose]

D'Aquisto bronze masters. They last, sound good, are very consistent, but aren't easy on the fingers. I use them because they sound best with my Piezo -- it's really a guitar by guitar thing as I like D'Addario, but they squealed on the attack with my main piezo-equipped acoustic.

I used snake-oil, too, but I can't seem to get that cat to respond anymore.

I hate coated strings, for no valid reason. They just don't feel or sound right.

[Rhys]

I'm not sure what I'm using at the moment - some type of D'addarios I think.

I was using DR Rare Earth phosphor bronze strings but I was getting a ridiculous amount of dud strings so I stopped using them. The shop would replace them no problem but it was just too much hassle.