My Overall Rating:

Martin 12-string is currently on sale on Amazon US / Amazon UK.

The purchase of Martin M190 80/20 Bronze 12-String Acoustic Guitar Strings will satisfy the majority of players. Although received with somewhat mixed reviews, most purchases of the Martin 12-string set were certainly positive, and many found them to be perfectly suited for the needs of their instrument. The cost of maintaining a 12-string guitar is significant, and the cost of a set of strings is usually above $20. Depending on the retailer, a Martin 12-string acoustic set averages at about $17, and through some sellers, can be purchased for as little as $7. For the price, these strings are a bargain, and relatively good quality.

Made from a composition bronze alloy, the description of the Martin 12-string set offered by the company boasts impressive sound quality, promising clarity and longevity. The bronze winding is said to produce a deep bass and a clear tenor. Essentially, these are accurate descriptions. The Martin 12-string acoustic set does provide a good sound, especially considering the price. Some reviewers note that the two demographics of musicians who are likely to order a Martin 12-string set are “broke” artists and guitar players working on a project 12-string inexpensively. For both these groups, buying the string set is highly recommended. The Martin 12-string acoustic set surpasses the quality offered by competitors within the price range.

One critic of the strings noted that few 12-string players exist as serious musicians dedicated to the style of instrument. This is true. The 12-string is rarely played regularly. Musicians who use the style are almost always looking for a unique sound to record or experiment with. The high cost significantly limits the interest in 12-strings. For this reason, it is difficult to justify the purchase of additional strings because they are not necessary for traditional playing. They are an added expense, and generally, an unnecessary expense. Many potential players are deterred simply because of cost, making the Martin 12-string set an excellent option. The set is inexpensive, but offers a good sound perfect for experimenting with. Another reviewer added that other companies offer higher quality strings. This is also true, but the price tag associated with them means they are an option that should be reserved.

The player who has the most to benefit from a purchase of a Martin 12-string acoustic set is the curious beginner, the player who is first experimenting with 12-strings. The set will meet all of their needs inexpensively. Should the player enjoy the unique sound produced by the different style, they may consider purchasing a higher quality, more expensive string set. If the player decides against purchasing 12-strings, they have not lost much of an investment. Many players are entirely satisfied with the Martin 12-string acoustic set and will continue to use it.

The Martin 12-string set is a popular item. Purchases are consistently followed by positive reviews, and among major retails sites, the Martin 12-string acoustic set is rarely rated poorly. It is praised for the quality of the sound produced through the set at the cost, and compared with competitor sets, the Martin 12-string set remains unsurpassed. Click here to read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Martin
Model	M190
Type	Acoustic Strings, 12 string
Wrap Wire	80/20 Bronze
Gauge	Light gauge (012 - .054)
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount price on Amazon US / Amazon UK

While we understand individual player may have personal preference in strings selection, but in general, there are two type of guitar strings we would highly recommended to all beginners.

The first beginner friendly string you may try is D’addario EJ16 Light. These phosphor bronze strings always produce nice and sweet tone. Their price is very reasonable with the quality they delivered. For gauge selection, always choose the light gauge. Although the lighter the string is, the easier your finger to press, but extra light gauge will normally break easily. So choose the light gauge, instead of the extra light would be more ideal.

Another beginner friendly string you can consider is Elixir Nanoweb Light. These strings may not be the cheapest in store, but they are the toughest you could get. Elixir’s strings durability is definitely unquestionable. They are as tough as stone!

Acoustic guitar strings are consider as low cost accessories. Therefore, we have good reason to buy a few packs of different strings to test on their playability and tone. This is why we always suggest readers to invest a little money into both D’Addario and Elixir to make a experiment themselves.

That won’t hurt our pocket too much.

 

Question

I found the sweats from my hands seem to be very acidic as I tend to wear out guitar strings rather quickly. I put on a new set of strings and play my guitar for about 2 hours. I can see rust forming and strings started to discoloring. This is very annoying. Is there any way to make it a little more manageable?

 
Answer

Everybody has different body chemistry. Some people has sweaty palm and their hand will corrode a set of strings within a week of playing. This is because they having the so called ‘Acid Hand’. You may try the below tricks:

1. Use coated strings. Most acid hands kill un-coated string pretty fast if compare to coated one. You may try Elixir Polyweb Coating which has been highly recommended to guitarist who has acid hand.
2. Wash your hands with soap before you play.
3. Use guitar string lubricant to prolong your strings life. Spray it on clean cloth and rub the strings down before and after you play.

Question:

I often seen 80/20 strings & Phosphor Bronze strings selling in music store. What exactly are these strings and what is the different between these two?

Answer:

Acoustic guitar strings are made of different material with different alloy ratios. The alloy ratio we mentioned here is referring to the metals which makeup the string.

80/20 strings is also known as Bronze Strings. Their copper-to-tin (or zinc) ratio is 80/20. They produce bright sound with clear & ringing tone. This type of strings required less tension and will give you a softer feel.

Phosphor Bronze strings are made of 92% copper and 8% tin (or zinc). They are more corrosive-resistant and tend to last longer than 80/20 strings. These produce a brassier sound but stiffer on your fingers.

There’s another type of string – Brass Acoustic Guitar Strings, which their alloy ratio is 85/15. These strings are by some to fall between the above two types in terms of sound. They are also well-liked, though you might find them more sensitive to skin oils.

My Overall Rating:

Ernie Ball Earthwood is currently on sale on Amazon US / Amazon UK

We all know Ernie Ball makes top notch electric guitar strings. But what about acoustic strings? To my surprise, I find they sound pretty good too. I tested Ernie Ball Earthwood 2003 on my Gibson and I’m actually quite like them. These Ernie Ball strings sound clean, resonant and lasting.

Other than clean tone, another thing makes Ernie Ball Earthwood Strings attractive is the price. They are cheap, but give you good and crisp tone. Unlike those “high-end” strings which cost you twice or even 3 times of the price (but you couldn’t tell that they sounded or lasted any better), the price of Ernie Ball strings are very reasonable. And I found they sound great for fingerstyle playing.

These strings are sturdy and easy to play. They tune up very quickly upon install and stay in tune. I would recommend you to try them up because Ernie Ball strings are simply good and cheap! Read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Ernie Ball
Model	Earthwood 2003
Type	Acoustic Strings
Wrap Wire	80/20 Bronze
Coated / Non-coated	Non-coated
Gauge	Medium Light
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount price on Amazon US / Amazon UK

Comment from another happy user:

I. T. A

I use these on one of my acoustics that has a nice warm sound but not a lot of punch. Lights are a bit too light for this guitar, and these particular strings seems to be the perfect match for fast light action, and warm tone on this particular instrument. [Read original review here..]

A clip from YouTube on Ernie Ball Earthwood Strings.

My Overall Rating:

Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 is currently on sale on Amazon US / Amazon UK

I was looking for new strings for my Yamaha acoustic guitar. I had played on Ernie Ball and D’Addario acoustic strings, and I wanted to try something new and different. So I decided to give Elixir Nanoweb coating 80/20 with a try, after browsing through some good reviews online.

Generally, Elixir acoustic strings come in 3 major types: Polyweb 80/20, Nanoweb 80/20 and Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze. I opted for Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 after being told by a friend that Polywebs are a bit dull in tone and that Nanoweb coating is not as thick as the Polyweb. You will get a brighter tone, and the coating doesn’t peel like the Polyweb.

So I put these strings on my Yammy. I found that they sound great and lively! The Nanoweb coating is so thin that it feels no different from playing an uncoated string. My guitar sounds beautiful; the tones are soft and bright. It is simply amazing!

Another great feature of Elixir Nanoweb strings is their consistency. They sound great when you first play them. And they still sound that good months later! Other strings may sound good at first, but after a couple of days, they start to sound dead. I’ve been using my Elixir Nanoweb strings for almost two months now, and they seem to maintain their original tone.

These are the best strings I’ve ever tried. You should try them out, seriously. Read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Elixir
Model	11052
Type	Acoustic Strings
Wrap Wire	80/20 Bronze
Coated / Non-coated	Nanoweb Coating
Gauge	Light
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount price on Amazon US / Amazon UK

Other user’s comment on Elixir Nanoweb 80/20:

O. BLGN

I have a 25 year old Yamaha FG-200D(Domestic model, made in Japan) acoustic guitar. When I bought it, it was around 200 – 250 USD. I always liked the way it sounded. It was always loud, bass rich, but a little dull in high tones. Recently I purchased a set of Elixir Nanoweb Light strings. Afterwards, it sounded so great that I won’t change it for a thousand dollar worth Martin. I realized that the difference was not in high strings, it was the coated low ones which now sounds crystal clear and still rich. I strongly recommend to any acoustic player. [Read original review here..]

A clip from YouTube on Elixir 80/20 Nanoweb.

I got a guitar which my mum stored it for a long time and I’m thinking to buy a set of new strings. I didn’t know anything about guitar strings and I’m just started my guitar lesson. I think I need something easier to press, so that my fingers won’t hurt so much. What strings should I choose?

Answer:

As a beginner, you may choose extra light gauge. These strings are the easiest to press. They won’t hurt you so much if compare to heavier weight strings.

I recommend Elixir Extra Light Strings. This string is easy on your fingers and has excellent durability. Elixir is one of the trusted name in America made better by Nanoweb technology. It is light weight, yet rugged for heavy duty use. A very good choice for guitar beginner. Click here for a list of extra light strings which you could choose based on your own preference.

A note is, light strings need to be replaced more frequently compare to heavy weight strings. So it’s always a good idea to buy a spare set, because you don’t want to have to stop learning just because you broke a single string. You may also want to learn how to restring acoustic guitar. It’s actually pretty easy than you think.

Have fun!

You can now buy this string at Amazon and save 55%!

If you ask me to pick the most durable acoustic guitar string, Elixir will definitely be my answer to you. These strings give bright and lively tone. They used ultra thin nanoweb coating which make them different from other traditional 80/20 bronze strings. They are designed to handle any toughest strumming.

Nanoweb coating actually cuts down unnecessary finger friction. It will keep strings last 3 – 5 time longer than regular strings. In other words, these are strings which you could count on their durability. You will see the quality yourself once you have them on your guitar. The difference will be dramatic – it will make your guitar sound completely different and totally awesome.

You gotta buy these strings!