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The only acoustic guitar strings I used (or even tried) for a long time were Elixir, but I simply grew tired of the coated feel over the years. I recently played a friend's acoustic strung up with non-coated strings and I loved it, though he wasn't able to recall the exact ones he used. I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the choices though. In looking to simplify, a little googling led me to this, which laid out the following recommendations as alternatives to Elixirs:
- Martin SP Phosphor Bronze
- D'Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze
- Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze
- John Pearse 600L Phosphor Bronze
If my understanding is correct, Martin strings are the most "raw" (if that makes sense) and the opposite end of the spectrum of coated. But with that comes that they don't last long at all, so I'm not sure I want that. The other 3 brands seem like they make something in the middle. I could certainly buy a pack of all 3 but I only have one acoustic guitar, and also I'm trying to save up some cash for xmas gifts I need to buy.
tl;dr Have you tried D'Addario, Ernie Ball Earthwood, and John Pearse 600L, and which do you like? FWIW my acoustic is a dreadnaught, voiced a little on the brighter end by default.
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11-29-2016 02:51 PM
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I have tried all of those strings on my Martin at one time or another, in addition to installing them on other folks' guitars when I do setups and repairs. I would rank them...
1. D'Addario
2. EB
3. Martin
4. John Pearse
That being said, I usually use the Elixer nano (not polyweb) on the Martin.
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I have played a variety of strings but always seem to come back to Martin PBs. Mediums for dreadnaughts, lights for OMs, 000s, 00s, etc. My steel strings are all Martins or Gibsons. The Martin PBs sound great to me, whether it's Gibson's strong fundamental note or Martin's overtones. Almost never break a string and can last for months (although the sound of dead strings doesn't particularly bother me).
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If we're talking flat-tops, I've got two favorites, really, depending on how the guitar responds -- Ernie Ball Earthwood Silk & Steel in .013, or D'Addario Phosphor Bronze in .012.
But it really depends on the guitar. I let it tell me what it likes, and so I will experiment. For the record, I dislike coated strings all the way around; they tend to lack the bass response that I prefer.
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A lot depends on the guitar and your playing style. For me after trying many different brands I have settled on 80/20 John Pearse .13 or medium. I'm not a strummer nor do I use a pick. I don't care for the JPs when I first put them on but after a few hours of playing they settle in nicely.
On this guitar a CFox small jumbo spruce and Indian rosewood, I find the 80/20 gives me a bit of sparkle that is lost on the P Bronze strings. Again, in my opinion, solid wood well made acoustic guitars are a lot like a good classical guitars i.e. how the guitar sounds is heavily string and technique dependent. To me it is about finding what works with your particular guitar and your playing style. If I was a flat picker of a strummer I might go with PB strings.
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Martin Phosphor Bronze here. They do have a "long life "version, 92/8s I think they're called, but I haven't tried them. New Martin strings are the sound; they are simply gorgeous and brimming with life and happiness
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John Pearse 80/20.
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I like 80/20 better than Phosphor Bronze. I usually use Elixir Nanoweb 80/20's, but I feel that the EB Earthwood 80/20's are good as well ... and inexpensive. My acoustic is a 40-year-old Martin 000-28. (I'm the original owner.)
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John Pearse for Flattops all the way!
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John Pearse Pure Nickel Wounds.
Martin Retro Monel.
Thomastik Infeld Plectrum.
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I don't need anther thing to obsess over, but I guess I need to try some of these John Pearse strings?
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I'm thinking the same. People seem to love those!
Originally Posted by jim777
I don't need anther thing to obsess over, but I guess I need to try some of these John Pearse strings?
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Thomastik Infeld Plectrum
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Yep, that'd be my pick too. Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
I dislike Phosphor Bronze. Too zingy for too long. 80/20's start out really bright, but mellow out nicely rather quickly.
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For acoustic I mostly use this set
Martin MSP4100 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings 12-54
But i can recommend you strings from GHS
GHS Bright Bronze 80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings Medium
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John Pearse Phosphor Bronze Light
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On my '52 Gibson J 45 I use D'Addario EJ 16.
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I've just started using Martin Retros. I really like them and they seem to last quite well.
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