Best Acoustic Guitar Strings

[gvarko]

No Martins on the list....

What is wrong w/ you, Martins are my choice....

 

[sile2001]

Only use Kaman 1818 on my Takamine EF261 under mfg suggestion.[]

Wow. You do know that the only reason Takamine recommends Kaman strings is because Takamine is owned by Kaman don't you?

Strangely enough, Martin recommends Martin strings on their guitars. And their guitars even COME with Martin strings! How about that!

I've used a whole heck of a lot of strings, and all I can say is get those Kaman strings off as fast as you can. I would go with Elixir Nanowebs or DR's, but get rid of those Kamans.

 

[sile2001]

I like the D'addario stuff.

I've held out trying the Elixir stuff. I always thought it was some sort of gimmick, so I never tried them out. But all these positive posts will have me heading down to GC to pick up some sets to try out.

Do they sound different (muffled, muted, plastic-y, not enough sustain) than non-coated strings? Or is it a factor at all?

-thanks,
Shag Fu

There is a HUGE difference between the Elixir Polywebs and Nanowebs. If you're concerned about a muffled sound or loss of sustain, then try the Nanowebs. The coating is thinner, allowing more projection, but they will not have quite the life of the Polywebs. They still feel great on the fingers though...

 

[guitar junkie]

Elixer sucks!

i cannot stand the sound of Elixer strings way too bright and not very good at jumping through a mix and i have always broken them in the first week just not enough guts to them and the price was way out of wack i think they suck! now if i had the money to be buying coated strings for all my guitars i like the ones gibson makes for long life i think they are better strings than Elixir. or i would go with EXP coated da'ddario strings. since i have a bunch of guitars to put strings on all the time...... i mail order bulk strings for $2.00 a set and get all the tone feel and quality that i would be getting from a normal 80/20 string!
all and all i have broken very few of them on any of my guitars and with the price the way it is i just change them when they go dead now..... some of you wimps like to say "i hate changing strings" well if you get in the habit of doing it all the time and you learn to do it right its not a big deal! its about a 5 minute job around here. when i am in the studio i like to have fresh strings on the main guitar that i use in the main part of the mix then i like my lead guitar strings to be a little dead and mellow its all a matter of taste and what you can aford. if you guys want to know where to get the strings i use just PM me.

 

[LI_Slim]

I like Elixirs in that they improve a bit with age and last twice as long as strings that cost half as much, saving me labor. But if I want the most powerful sound right now I go to DRs (I like the Sunbeams).

Do NOT use Martin nylon strings. They just suck. The best nylon strings are D'Addario Composites.

 

[sickstring69]

Elixir Nanos...Not too brassy and not too sweet. Nice and quiet on the recorder. They stay in tune and last forever. They came on my Morgan Dread standard. I'll never lust for any other.

 

[Atterion]

I've tried the Elixers twice, and broke my high E both times while stringing up (On 2 different acoustics, and I've never broken a string tuning up...ever...). I'm using Martin SP right now, and I love Pro Arte nylons.

 

[mishagolin]

i used the elixer polywebs a few times when i just started playing and wasn't too impressed with them. i enjoyed the fact that they lasted a long time but they just didn't have the tone i was looking for. i haven't tried nanoweb's yet.

lately i've been set on martin sp's (light) for my acoustics (Taylor and Martin) and d'addario xl's for my electrics (.09 on the tele and .10 on the LP)

 

[DigitalSmigital]

I always use Martin Marquis for the warm, sweet tonal qualities.

 

[ch2os7]

Elixer

Nanowebs, a little bright at first but they do last. Anybody like the Rogue strings made by Martin? Musicians Friend sells them. Just wondering.

 

[bonzxylophone]

My friend Travis tells me that he thinks Elixir strings are the best. Supposely they have a very thin plastic coating which are friendlier to the fingers and stuff. I pretty much just get whatever is cheap.

 

[bendplucker]

John Pearse, but recently started using Martin Marquis.

 

[Newbie-Doo]

Martin Marquis are my favorites.

 

[Zaphod B]

Martin Phosphor Bronze as my everyday string set. The tone is very consistent and drops off slowly as the strings age. Breakage has never been a problem for me.

Martin Marquis if I want to record, or if I want a couple of hours of brilliant tone - but they're only good for about three hours of play time, then they go straight to shit.

 

[IronFlippy]

Elixers, after trying everything else. They're friggin expensive though. Luckily, acoustic strings don't break often.

 

[mjareo]

I used to use Martin Marquis, and then after having 10 sets where the D string broke every time (I did order them bulk, so that is probably why all of the sets broke - I'd never had problems before) I switched to D'Addarios on a friend's suggestion and just never went back. I also love the D'addario nylon ball end acoustic strings - the black ones just look nifty =)

Oh, and I must say I am impressed with a thread 3 years old still getting replies.

 

[astoebe]

oh baby, i used to used DR's, didn't like Elixir polywebs because the G string broke for alternate tunings pretty easily.....then they came out with nanowebs, and I will never play another. I use extra light nanowebs, they last a long time and sound great/feel great

 

[travelin travis]

Martin SP phosphor/bronze, my favorite

 

[spoonie g]

Ernie ball earthwoods, by far the warmest sounding i've used.

 

[adamo_musica]

Gee I thought I was the only one that knew liked elixer this much. I play them on a tanglewood tw12ns, makes the guitar sounds twice its price, and they last a decent time. Long and McQuade sells them for 32.00, I think. I get them for 20 somewhere else. Rediculous.