I have been writing about and researching music gear for many years, all while serving as a music director at my local church. I engage in guitar playing and singer-songwriter stints, in addition to mentoring young musicians and teaching guitar and bass.
This is a non-standard set of strings that I'm currently using on my Martin OMCPA4. You might find it interesting if you'd like to try something different from the standard gauges featured in the rest of this guide.
This is an extra-light 11-50 gauge set, which is lighter than the 12-54 gauge sets that I'm used to. It has a combination of 80 copper and 20 zinc (percent) alloy windings that shape its bright voicing. It also has a hex core that come standard with many strings.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings
I'm quite pleased with its smoother and lighter playing feel. I also find its quality and tone to be on par with what I'm used to, albeit with a different trebly flavor.
As the label implies, this is a bright sounding set, and while it bothered me at first, I have grown to appreciate its distinct voicing. It may not sound as full as gauge 12 sets, but I like how each string rings with clarity and definition. Chords and solo lines sound noticeably clearer. They have more fidelity, which makes practice, recording and playing solo more enjoyable
On the flip side, I notice that my plugged-in tone is thinner, and easily drowned out when playing with a band. Thankfully, I am able to shave off some of the highs by tweaking the tone settings on my Martin's preamp system. And I ended up liking the result, because I still get the benefit of clarity and focused tone, with less of the unwanted high frequency zing. And since it doesn't have much bass, it also interferes less with the bassist. Still, the bright tonality of this set is more of an acquired taste, especially for those like me who are used to warmer sounding acoustics.
Pick The Best Acoustic Guitar Strings For You
Compared to the 12's that I'm used to, the GHS BB20X is noticeably easier to play. Techniques like bending, sliding, hammer-on and pull-offs are easier to do, even more so when playing simple chords and single line notes. This relaxed playing feel is the main reason why I will most probably continue using this set on my Martin. Due to its lighter playing feel, strumming, plucking and fretting too hard on the strings may cause unwanted buzzing. Sometimes even intonation issues. To avoid these, I had to be more conscious of my playing intensity and avoid going all out.
In my experience, the GHS BB20X still sounds crisp and fresh after over 3 weeks of use, and this is quite a feat given that this is a non-coated set.
Thanks to the pro setup by my trusted luthier, I never had intonation and tuning stability issues. But if you're inexperienced at string installation and setup, then it is normal to encounter tuning issues. Even more so right after installation, when strings have not yet stretched enough. As they get more corroded, the strings will have intonation problems, especially at the higher frets. This is my cue to swap out the old strings.
Taylor 510 (1992
If you aren't into trebly tone, and you can't be bothered to tweak your plugged-in sound, then this may not be for you. While I'm not totally sold to its bright voicing, I'm able to get good clear tones with some tweaking. The clarity and fidelity of this set, and more importantly, its easy playability, are good enough reasons for me to give it my thumbs up.
At publication time this was the Equal Highest Rated Extra Light Gauge Acoustic Guitar String Set along with the Elixir Polyweb 80/20.
Established back in 1833, C.F. Martin & Co. has a long illustrious legacy of building acoustic guitars with industry leading quality. They have since expanded into manufacturing a variety of acoustic guitar strings. And they've been getting good acclaim, using their long history of guitar building as leverage. The M170 Extra Light is a great example, combining Martin's old school woody tone with the comfortable feel of an extra light gauge set.
Taylor Announces Transition To D'addario Xs Coated Strings
This is an 80/20 bronze acoustic guitar strings that has a clean and slightly trebly tone. This means that articulation and response is really good, albeit with less bottom end. This is great for those who need a cutting tone for emphasizing phrases and melodic lines. This set can also help tame the excess low end of big bodied acoustics.
These strings underwent Martin's quality control. So you can be sure that they feel and sound fresh when you get them, and they stay that way for a long time. And being a naturally bright sounding set, you won't notice much difference as the strings age.
All things considered, Martin is a brand that you can depend on. If you're looking for an easy to play set with Martin's voicing and brand backing, then this is it.
The Best 12 String Guitars In 2023: Reviewed And Rated
For this section we considered sets of strings ranging in gauge from .011/.012 to .052/.054. This is the typical string gauge for acoustic guitars, widely preferred for its lesser tension and feel.
Elixir was the company that pioneered coated strings, and even though many have followed suit, they are still the brand to beat. Even Taylor guitars took notice, which is why when you see their guitars at music stores, chances are they are strung with Elixirs.
Phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings are known for their warm and full tone. And its innate warmth is enhanced by the coating used by Elixir.
Taylor 352ce V Class 12 Fret Grand Concert 12 String Acoustic Electric Guitar
The gauge also compliments its warmth, because even though the packaging says “light”, this set sounds pretty warm. And its fuller sounding warm tone makes it compatible with different musical genres.
But warmth is not the main reason why this set is successful. It's all about the coating's ability to keep the strings fresh sounding for much longer. It also helps that the coating gives it a smoother playing feel, while also reducing unwanted squeaks and fret noise.
Longevity is this set's best trait. The strings sound great many times longer than the competition. And its warm tonality allows it to work well in multiple musical genres.
Sage Mahogany Live
If you want nothing less than the best rated light gauge acoustic guitar strings, then get the Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze Light.
The Elixir Strings Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze Medium is a medium gauge coated set. It follows the same specifications as other Nanoweb strings, including the type of coating used.
Because of its thicker gauge, this set is a bit louder and sounds warmer than its lighter counterpart. And it does so while having the same longevity afforded by the company's string coating technology.
Taylor 555 12 String Jumbo Acoustic Natural, 1991
Speaking of coating, the Nanoweb coat is thinner than Elixir's Polyweb coat, resulting in minor feel and tone differences. Nanoweb being thinner dampens the sound less, so they sound brighter than Polyweb sets. Elixir makes it clear that both sets provide the same protection from dirt and grime, which results in longer life for the strings.
This longevity is the main reason why Elixir strings are considered great value sets. It offsets their higher price compared to non-coated sets.
If you want a set of medium gauge acoustic strings that last long, then go for one that's made by the pioneers of string coating.
Player Tips: How To Restring Your Taylor Guitar
Heavy gauge is not as popular because they are harder to play. And they can damage the structure of guitars that are not designed for high string tension. Simply put, not all guitars will be able to handle them. So, it is best to first check with the manufacturer if your particular acoustic is compatible with heavy gauge sets.
Even with the negatives, there are still brave souls that go for heavy sets because of the extra projection and resonance they provide. You simply can't get the big and fat sound that this set provides from lighter gauge sets.
Experienced players know when and how to use this set, especially those who are into flat-picking and heavy strumming. The warmth, sustain and harmonics that you get from this set is worth the extra effort needed to play them.
Piece Top On A High End Guitar? Taylor Builder's Edition 814ce
You can alleviate some of the tension that this thick string set applies on your guitar by down tuning. Then utilize a capo to do first position chord shapes in standard tuning.
Coming from D'addario, the EJ18 is built to the same steel core and quality standards as their other popular string sets. It also ships with a corrosion resistant packaging.
If you're looking to make the most of your acoustic guitar in terms of tone, then this should be at the top of your list. Just make sure to first confirm your guitar is compatible.
Best 12 String Guitars 2023: Featuring Acoustic And Electric Guitars
There’s a lot that goes into guitar strings, acoustic guitar strings especially. To figure out which strings are best for acoustic guitar, you need to understand how gauge and materials interact with your guitar to create your tone. You then have to balance your tone preferences with the playability you’re looking for. Lets clarify how these factors work in the sections below.
In this guide we’ve presented single sets
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