Best Acoustic Guitar Strings

  • Thread starter Thread starter Titanship
  • Start date Start date

Your favorite acoustic strings

  • Guild

    Votes: 3 2.8%

  • Dean Markley

    Votes: 10 9.2%

  • D'Addario

    Votes: 38 34.9%

  • Other

    Votes: 58 53.2%
  • Total voters
    109
I've been using Martin Bronze Light for more than 20 years, can't beat 'em. Recently tried Elixir on a new acoustic I bought and I like the reduction in finger noise, but I am getting a strange spongy sound thru the Fishman pickup. Haven't figured it out yet, could be the guitar, the pickup or the Elixirs....I am going to slap some Martins on and see if that fixes it.
 
I have a jumbo Taylor and run medium phosphor bronze strings. I'm always looking for string shimmer, so I probably change strings more than I need.

Every now and then I go off looking for a new string, and it seems sooner or later I'm back to DRs. When Elixers first came out I tried them and found that they were a bit dull - not really bad, but they had no sparkle. They were fast as all get out, though, and I had to slow things down to keep some semblance of control. They were very quiet. I tried the nanoweb when it first came out, too, with similar results. Like the Elixers, but brighter. The stayed stable for a long time, but when they did begin to wear, I had a lot of plastic trash on the fingerboard. I guess I tend to be rough on strings.

So I tried Tomastik - Infelds (at twice the price of anything else, it seemed). Big string that seemed higher tensioned than I was used to. The gauges were familiar, but those hurt to play - felt like a set of heavys. Maybe they would work on a bluegrass D-18, but most of my stuff is fingerstyle, and I don't use fingerpicks.

I tried Nashville flattops (through Flatpick-L) and found them to be OK but not memorable. Felt like a D'Addario or a GHS string. Pretty good for the money.

So I'm back to DR Rare Bronze mediums. Guess my guitar likes them... You can get 'em cheep at Elderly Instruments.:cool:
 
battleminnow said:
You are joking, right?!!:D

You seem to have forgotten the two most popular sets, Elixirs and Martin (SP? the extended life ones.)

Oh, and by the way, Elixirs live up to the hype in every way. Last longer, sound richer, eliminates string noise almost entirely. Well worth the extra money. GC is selling them for $10 a set right now.

Pete
Click to expand...
amen!!
 
For Price: D'Addario

For Tone: Martin Marquis.

For Longevity: Elixirs, followed shortly by Martin SP's.

Overall, I generally go for the Martin SP's.
 
Richard Monroe said:
Any of you old timers remember Nashville Straights? I used to love them.-Richie
Click to expand...
And the Long Johns. They came in a box about 3 feet long.
 
hands down either Martin SP's or Elixers. Best of the best if you ask me. show after show I change strings, and found a cheap great set are the Darco brand. It is a Martin string just produced in Mexico, so you get the great sound and packs run about $2.50 American dollars, a set. Really good buy for musicians with little cash and tons of shows.
 
strings

Black Diamond? Those still around? My Dad used to use 'em.
I too remember Nashville straights. The alternative packaging begged you to try them at least once. I like the Martin SP's. 2nd choice D'addario phosphor bronze. Used to like the Guild phosphor bronze, but something went squirrelly with them a few years back.
 
I'm amazed the responses are so consistant on this. I also use Elixir for all acoustics.
 
i am mixed on elixirs-the polywebs sounded weak out of the box, but they stay consistent for a long time. the nanos are better, but i still prefer the cheapo wholesaled rogues (i think they're the same strings as basic martin 80-20's)-price is awesome, and if i use GHS fast fret more or less every time i play, they sound damned near new until i break a string. usually, i consider broken string time as the time to replace the whole set, but as good as the strings still look, feel and sound with their "treatment", i'm contented with just buying another pack of heavy es and light e's before the rest :D
 
I've been a Martin SP user since they came out and i love them. I haven't tried the Elixer's yet, but I will have to now, based on all the rave reviews.
 
I always used Martin Phospher Bronze.
Didn't last very long though.

For a while I used the Tomastik - Infelds,real nice,especially the electric blues strings.
But nobody sells them around here anymore.

Now I use either the SP's or Elixers.
I think the Elixers sound a little better recorded.
And you can't beat not having to change the strings if you don't play for a while.

Pete
 
Another vote for Elixirs... I went through every kind of string imaginable till I finally found one brand I could settle on. I used to switch around from Dean Markley to Martin Marquis to D'Addario to DR,... you name it... and I was never satisfied... then I started using the polyweb Elixirs and I don't think I'll ever bother trying another brand.

I've tried both the polyweb and nanoweb coatings and I prefer the polyweb. They last forever... and sound great.... (of course... my Taylor kinda has something to do with that too... :D)


WATYF
 
Wally loves black diamond strings. They have coated strings like elixers, but are cooler in 3 ways. #1 They are black. Very sexy. #2 I do belive they coat the wrap first, then wrap it on the core. As opposed to coating the entire string. #3 They are solid. Haven't broke a single one. Elixers, I broke many of them.
 
I don't know how you could have left off Martin SP's. I have used them for over 14 years now.
 
D'addario for steel string. They've got a big, boomy sound that lasts a long time. To be fair, however, I haven't tried Elixer's on acoustics, but really I doubt the price difference is worth it.

Martin's for Nylon; they seem to make the best, though I'm thinking about switching to a full nylon instead of the top 3 strings being wound, any suggestions for brands on that?
 
D'addario for steel string. They've got a big, boomy sound that lasts a long time. To be fair, however, I haven't tried Elixer's on acoustics, but really I doubt the price difference is worth it.

Martin's for Nylon; they seem to make the best, though I'm thinking about switching to a full nylon instead of the top 3 strings being wound, any suggestions for brands on that?
 
I can't believe you read this many posts

My 2 cents: I buy D'Addario phosphor bronze lights in the three-pack for about $15. I change my strings about every ten days to two weeks, so that's four to six weeks' worth of strings. A single set of Elixers costs about the same. So if you change Elixers more often than every month and a half, it's cheaper to buy D'Addarios. Maybe I'm weird, but I kinda LIKE changing strings, and the sound and feel of a fresh set. Plus, I have some sort of psychological objection to keeping ANY string on my guitar for six weeks, coating or not.
 
SP or Elixer

They are both great strings and I have alternated between the 2 for a couple of years now. Elixers are a little dull sounding for my liking but they are the strings I want when writer's block strikes. But you can't beat the sound of the SP.

However, you must remember that this is all subjective!!!
Every guitar has a personality and one brand might sound good on my guitar and yet sound dreary on yours. You have to go through many brands to nail down your GUITAR's favorite string, and that is what counts.

Save the packages and write yourself detailed notes so after a while you'll know what works best. Good idea, huh?
 
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