For every guitarist, the choice of string has a significant effect on the guitar’s sound as well as its playability. There is a lot to put into consideration when buying the strings that are suitable for an acoustic guitar. Because there are no pickups or amplifiers that add to the sound of the acoustic guitars, the acoustic strings have a big role to play on the sound of the guitar. The composition and the gauge of acoustic strings should get factored in as well as the body type of the acoustic guitar.
Strings vary according to a range of thickness or gauge depending on the manufacturing process. The gauges have a big effect on the playability and sound, and they get designed in thousands of an inch based on their tension. The lightest strings are a typical 0.010 while the heavier gauge strings are a 0.059. The lighter strings are easier to play because the bending of notes and frets are smooth, but they break easily. They put less tension on the neck of the guitar, and this makes them a safe bet for use on old guitars. However, they are prone to bring about fret buzzing on guitars with low action. The heavier gauge strings are harder to play because they need more pressure from the fingers to fret and bend notes.
Elixir 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
The Elixir Company has specialized in making instrument strings, and they have gotten recognition by world famous artists. This is probably the reason most acoustic guitarists seem to favor the Elixir acoustic guitar strings highly. These guitar strings are highly durable because they are coated by NANOWEB, and this makes them degrade and rust slowly. The coating has made these strings have such a popular following, but it has also made a lot of people not like them. There are some guitarists who prefer the raw feel of uncoated steel. Some people, however, do like the feel of coating on the strings because the smooth feel is friendly to the skin on their fingers. The coating ensures that no matter how many times the strings are played, they will not rust anytime soon.
Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
The Ernie Ball is a well-renowned name among guitarists and bassists due to its exceptional quality. Their electric guitar strings are more popular than the acoustic strings, but that does not mean that the latter are of lesser quality. The Ernie Ball acoustic guitar strings are made of 92 percent copper, 7.7 percent tin, and 0.3 percent phosphorous wire, and this gives them incredible power. The strings have a bright, warm and rich tone, which makes them sound great. The Ernie Ball strings get used by artists such as John Mayer, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Paul McCartney, meaning that the company must be doing a lot of things right in the manufacture of the strings. The strings are very well packaged in the company’s specialized Element Shield Packaging, so they do not oxidize prematurely.
Martin MSP4150 SP Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Martin, just like other manufacturers of guitar strings, makes very many strings, and one of the most popular models is the SP line. Martin has been in the business of making fantastic acoustic guitars since 1800, and it is, therefore, safe to conclude that they know a couple of things about what makes an acoustic guitar string sound good. Martin manufactures their strings with a slight touch of coating that has proven to split opinions among acoustic guitar players. The Martin MSP4150 SP is usually regarded as uncoated, and as a result, they have a fantastic sound. However, what the buyer gets in a rich and warm tone is lost in the durability. An absence of a coating on the strings means that corrosion will attack the string and you need to be ready to change them every month in the probability that you play a few times a week.
John Pearse 600L Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
John Pearse strings are not as famous as Ernie Ball, Martin, and Elixir, but that only makes them the best acoustic guitar strings that people have not heard of. The marketing team behind John Pease strings may not be the stronghold of the company, but that does not mean the strings are not fantastic. The wire wrap is made of 92 percent copper and 8 percent zinc, but it does have an unwanted effect of leaving black residue on the fingers of the player. All in all, they have a rich tone that places them up there with the likes of Martin and Elixir. They have an immaculate and clear sound with excellent durability, and are worth a try.
Cleartone Phosphor-Bronze Light Acoustic Guitar Strings
The best phosphor bronze characterizes ClearTone acoustic strings. The high level of detail in the manufacture of the strings radiates a warm and bright, resonant sound on an acoustic guitar. This brand of acoustic guitar strings is highly rated by musicians and experts in the music industry. What you get with the ClearTone guitar strings is a superb element of durability in the coated strings without compromising on other positive elements of the string brands. Despite it being a premium coated guitar string maker, what differentiates ClearTone from the rest of the manufacturers is the treatment of coating on the strings that are only one micron thin. The coating, which is highly thin makes sure there is no flaking as is with other coated string brands and it has no smooth feel.
D’Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
The D’Addario strings are one of the most recommended acoustic guitar strings because of their good sound. The American made strings are usually compared to Elixir and are a perfect choice for acoustic players who desire the same kind of coated strings as the Elixir, but they do not want the coating. D’Addario strings are somewhere in between the coated Elixir strings and the uncoated Martin strings. They are cheap, reliable, and durable because they are known to withstand intense punishment from players, and of course not failing to mention the great sound they have. These guitar strings are not the outstanding winner in any category, but they are of high quality. D’Addario is the company that introduced phosphor bronze to the string manufacture process back in the mid-70s, and so no company does phosphor bronze better than them.
DR Strings Rare Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Rare Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings are a mile away from the standard good quality bronze strings available on the market. They are not better than most, but they have a sound that is new, stronger and much different. The strings are more bendable as compared to its competitors, but they are still playable, and are easy to manipulate during standard tuning. They have a good following, but they would not be ideal for a professional. They are round core strings, and the core wire is not hexagonal, therefore, the wrap does not grip as tight as it probably should. They are also hand wound meaning a few bad strings could make it through.
Elixir Strings 16182 Phosphor Bronze with NANOWEB Coating
The Elixir marketing team claims this model of acoustic guitar strings to be the best guitar strings, but in there are many similarities to D’Addario’s guitar strings. They also claim to be the only string brand with a coating designed to protect the entire string by making sure gunk does not get into the gaps between the windings. These strings provide a comfortable and balanced feel to the fingers that make for smooth playing. They are highly durable as acoustic players expect from Elixir acoustic strings and are, therefore, not stressful when it comes to constant string changing. They are also anti-rust plated, and this makes them corrosion resistance, offering a clean feel and vibrant tone to the player. The phosphor bronze winding and the steel core are coated with Nanoweb thin coating all over, and this makes for an audible and long lasting rich tone.
Martin Acoustic SP MSP4200 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Martin used high precision and great detail when they designed the MSP4200s. They are highly versatile and strike a nice balance between treble and bass both during studio recording and in a live playing situation. They have a sweet sound and can transition from smooth to edgy depending on how the player picks the strings. They use a winding alloy that is well designed for producing a deep and rich bass in between outstandingly clear trebles. The alloy is made of phosphor bronze for durability and brilliance. The golden bronze application on the strings gives the guitar an aesthetic look, but it has a more intended functional purpose in that they prolong string life and quality of the tone. These strings are designed for everyday use and get wound to the industry’s best specifications.
Vibe Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
The vibe is an exclusive online guitar string maker and players are allowed to feel a little bit hesitant before taking the risk of trying out their products. Vibe’s acoustic strings are of good quality and can be trusted to provide a refreshing sound that sets it apart from most of the popular brands of acoustic strings out in the market. A single pluck of the Vibe phosphor bronze strings will leave it ringing for days on end. They are made of an alloy composed of 92 percent copper and 8 percent zinc, giving it a warm tone. These guitar strings have the ability to stay in tune for a long time and is an advantage for professional musicians who have regular shows.