acoustic strings

[Bluenose]

Originally Posted by Gryf

D'Addario XS, phospher bronze. My new (very) favorite string.

Gryf - I believe you have excellent taste in acoustic guitar strings. I've just discovered XS strings myself and they are awesome.

[Jaxon]

i have the best taste in strings, music whatever...don't believe me, just ask me

[Wade Hampton]

Dave, I suggest that you try both phosphor bronze and 80/20 bronze on the guitar - you won’t know until you try both which you prefer. My own brand choice is for John Pearse strings. I’ve been using them since the 1980’s.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller

[Joseph Hanna]

For me Martin Luxe and by a long shot. The top end is probably most like an 80/20 but much, much more even response across the strings. They are an extremely balanced set of strings. None of the "zip", "zing" top-end sizzle of Phos Bronze, which for me, is annoying.

In the alternative, I'll always love Elixir 80/20, and right up there, the D'Addario XS, although a very different feel are sonically almost identical.

[koko61]

For mi the best: D´addario XS phosphor bronze

[Mandobart]

I don't have a 000-18. I have tried almost every brand of steel core strings out there on my many mandolin family instruments and guitars.

The first time I noticed strings that sounded a lot better than the usual d'addario, Martin, Ernie Ball, GHS, Mapes, etc. was when I tried DR Rare strings (phosphor bronze hex core). They sounded warmer and richer than those other brands.

Next I tried DR Sunbeams (phosphor bronze round core). To me these sounded even better than the Rares on my guitars.

Then I tried a set of Curt Mangan phosphor bronze round core strings. These sounded warmer and richer than the Sunbeams, with more volume and sustain. I've since gone exclusively to Curt Mangan strings (with two exceptions). I like Curt Mangan monel round core lights on my 000-15SM and mediums on my Eastman archtop. I like Curt Mangan phosphor bronze lights on my Eastman E2OM-CD and mediums on my HD-28 (though last string change on it I put on monel mediums and really like the sound).

The exceptions are Ernie Ball aluminum bronze. They bring an extra twanginess that I really like on my wood body round neck spider bridge resonator and my Altamira M20D Sel-Mac copy.

[mo6020]

String choice is fairly subjective, but there are a lot of good suggestions on this thread.

I recently went right down the rathole and tried several different brands/guages and I settled on John Pearse PB Bluegrass for my dread and my OM. They hit a nice weight between meaty sounding but still able to get a bit bendy on the higher strings.

I am mostly a strummer, if that matters, and as with all things subjective YMMV.

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

I suggest you get a couple packs EACH of generic, uncoated (any brand) 80/20, phosphor bronze and one zinc (yes). The zinc are the retro style acoustic strings people speak of in the forum.

Zinc?? You appear to refer to Monel, which does *not* contain zinc... I'm not aware of any strings wound with pure zinc; the metal is probably too brittle for that. The 20 in 80/20 brass stands for the proportion of zinc in that alloy, though.

And to answer the question: Thomastik Plectrum and Spectrum. Both are brass-wound (possibly not exactly the same alloy) over a silk-and-steel core.

[dilver]

I was surprised that the D’Addario Nickel Bronze strings sounded good on my old ‘59 00018, as I did not like these strings on my J-45. But normally, the 00018’s got phosphor bronze on it.

[pmgerow]

After reading an artical on Neil Young's preferred gear and guitar string preference. ( D'Angelico 80/20 12 - 54 Prohibition Bronze ). I found some @ Sweetwater and purchased a couple packs. Found that I really liked how they sounded. They took a little adjustment because they are a little heavier gauge that I normally use but I'm liking them.

[lneal14513]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

The choice of strings, wrapping material, gauge , and coated/uncoated is a constant challenge, and the many and various string brands keep changing and introducing New! different, better etc., just to keep us chopping and changing ... and I fall for it too!

I believe that string choice is as personal as your choice of underpants!

FWIW - I usually try various new wonder strings ten go back to Daddario E16s and Ej17s or Martin MA540 and MA550.

(Choice of underpants not stated!)

I tend to agree with this. I've tried various strings from time to time over the last 45 ish years of playing. In the humid summer months I'll use Elixir nanowebs PB but inevitably I'll come back to EJ17's and the Martin equivalent.

[musicman1951]

Originally Posted by Rockysdad

Might try some Martin Retro's.

I would definitely put these on my must try list. Great longevity.

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by pmgerow

( D'Angelico 80/20 12 - 54 Prohibition Bronze ).

85/15, not 80/20!

Probably a bit less fundamental sound than regular brass (after the initial brashness) because a little softer due to the 5% more copper.

d'Addario also sell them under their own name as "American Bronze", and IIRC Dean Martin also sell 85/15s. I tried both of those, liked the sound but both had what I'd describe as "hunting intonation" on the lower strings of the kind I've only really known with fatigued gut strings.