The D’Addario EJ16-3D Phosphor-Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings is our best acoustic guitar strings and they have a good and traditional textured feel and they feel good as a set of acoustic guitar strings overall. Moreover, these acoustic guitar strings will make you sound better and these strings are perfect for almost all kinds of occasions whatsoever. When it comes down to the durability, they last a long time as neat acoustic guitar strings.
Our step-up pick is the Martin MSP4100 Phosphor-Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings and providing you great sound and clarity, the acoustic guitar strings are ideal for finger-style guitar players. Moreover, the acoustic guitar strings are so great that you will love the sound overall. Likewise, the acoustic guitar strings can be expected for its superior performance as great strings for acoustic guitars.
The budget pick is the Ernie Ball 2146 Earthwood String Set and a soft feel can be felt with the acoustic guitar strings and the set has great sound overall, with mellow and warm tones. The surface finish is improved due to the brass wire ball end and the acoustic guitar strings are also tin plated. Likewise, the wrap wire that is of phosphor bronze gives a warm and balanced tone and the strings sound great as awesome acoustic guitar strings.
A Little Background
Acoustic guitars are one of the best soulful musical instruments to play and to learn how to play. Usually versatile as much as piano and keyboard players, acoustic guitar players simply and skillfully express their feelings across using songs that they play with each strum or pluck of the guitar strings.
It is inevitable that most people will get broken strings one day or another depending on their usage and needs. Guitar strings must be well-maintained and replaced when necessary and different guitar strings come in different purposes. For instance, old acoustic guitars are best with nylon strings while newer acoustic guitars are best with steel guitar strings. Electric guitars are a different thing altogether.
Whichever kind of musician you are and whatever kind of musical genre you are playing, it pays to have quality acoustic guitar strings for recording, for the stage or just by yourself or wherever you go.
How We Picked
When it comes to the best acoustic guitar strings, we strummed away to the following criteria:
String gauges – do note the string gauges or the thickness of the strings that are included in the package of the acoustic guitar strings. This will be a great factor for those who like richer bass sounds or have an extra light tone depending on your needs.
Material – the string material could usually be steel but some are made with phosphor bronze for better sound acoustics. Some are also nickel plated and made from other materials. As we mentioned above, old guitar strings could also be the good-old fashioned nylon.
Coated or Uncoated – depending on your needs, an acoustic guitar string can be coated or uncoated, with coated ones being more comfortable in comparison to uncoated ones.
Durability – the acoustic guitar strings should be totally durable at the very least to last for longer times than it should (although we all know no guitar string is durable when the stage and the crowd is calling our hearts to play it our best).
Our Pick
D’Addario EJ16-3D Phosphor-Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Our best acoustic guitar strings is the D’Addario EJ16-3D Phosphor-Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings and this acoustic guitar string set that is very popular. It is also corrosion resistant and they are more bendable strings than other acoustic guitar strings out there. Packed in an anti-corrosion package, the acoustic guitar strings are ideal for guitarists who are playing fast often.
In fact, you can also choose the exp coated series as the acoustic guitar strings are also greatly applicable with a fast fret. The acoustic guitar strings are indeed the best string set available and the acoustic guitar strings have an excellent intonation. Each string in the set of acoustic guitar strings sounds good and you will definitely really love these strings.
As consistent strings with great quality and consistency, we really love these acoustic guitar strings and as a whole, these strings are highly recommended. Moreover, the acoustic guitar strings are also hexagonally shaped and the set comes in 3 sets of light toned acoustic guitar strings. They breathe well and bend great and the acoustic guitar strings have 3 to 5 times the lifespan.
Likewise, the acoustic guitar strings are the best of all and they sound very good. The acoustic guitar strings are totally a great choice for almost all skill level of players. Made with high carbon steel core, the acoustic guitar strings can be able to produce warm and bright tones as you wish. The acoustic guitar strings also gives your guitar the skill to have good vibrato for finger-picking and the like.
With a well balanced acoustic tone, the acoustic guitar strings are also easy to tap with and is also a full set to begin with. The acoustic guitar strings set falls between light and extra light gauges and the strings are also quite easy on the guitar. Sounding bright with the tones, you can be assured that you only get and attain the highest quality strings and sound with these acoustic guitar strings.
You can bend the notes to your will with these acoustic guitar strings and live with a reputation due to the great balance in sounds for the acoustic guitar strings. Likewise, classical songs are sure to benefit from the use of these acoustic guitar strings.
Made for all musical genres, the acoustic guitar strings are so diverse and versatile and they’re just right for just about any performance that you are about to have. The acoustic guitar strings have a very good warm sound and are definitely always consistent when it comes down to sounds.
The acoustic guitar strings have a solid bass and are long lasting strings overall. The acoustic guitar strings are also very resistant to breakage and can be used by any level of guitarist at all. The acoustic guitar strings also come in plain steel strings which come in .016 and .012 gauges. Made of phosphor bronze wound strings come in .053, .042, .032 and .024 gauges, the acoustic guitar strings are definitely comfortable with all kinds of guitars and they should work with most guitars.
With a bright sounding tone, the acoustic guitar strings are ideal for finger style guitar players. Moreover, the acoustic guitar strings gave a brassy tenor feeling. They are also versatile enough for a lot of guitars and the strings are definitely good for all your needs.
As neatly packed and great sounding strings, these don’t pop easy and are much more balanced than other acoustic guitar strings out there. Producing a crisp, clear and warm sound overall, guitarists who play every single day can definitely benefit from the acoustic guitar strings. You will get the most vivid sound with the use of the acoustic guitar strings as the quality production of these strings is awesome.
Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
The D’Addario EJ16-3D Phosphor-Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings may be our top pick but it does have a few non-threatening limitations such as the fact that people who are used to coated strings could have some adjustment with these strings, but those are depending on how you play.
Step-up Pick
Martin MSP4100 Phosphor-Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
For our step-up pick, we chose the Martin MSP4100 Phosphor-Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings and it is applicable for studio use and stage use. The acoustic guitar strings also have great vibration modes overall and are ideal acoustic guitar strings for Martin and Ibanez acoustic guitars.
With great tone quality, the acoustic guitar strings can last longer than typical strings and they will make you feel like getting a new guitar. Moreover, the acoustic guitar strings can give you a very nice bright tone and the string product comes in 3 sets.
Great at making individual notes pop, the acoustic guitar strings can also work its way to bring out nuances. Likewise, the acoustic guitar strings are the real deal when it comes down to the best pricier acoustic guitar strings with a great tone overall without sacrificing playability all in all.
Having less straining, the acoustic guitar strings makes your guitar brighter sounding in the long run. Likewise, the acoustic guitar strings are also ideal for making those complex chords and great note bending techniques. The acoustic guitar strings play very nice and produce a well balanced sound all in all. The acoustic guitar strings have the ability to make your guitar sound great again.
The compatibility with any guitar is so great with these acoustic guitar strings and they are great for finger pick techniques. In fact, your guitar can sound brighter with the acoustic guitar strings as they are also plenty loud as strings and are indeed very good sounding overall.
With great longevity and a high quality build, you will never be disappointed with these acoustic guitar strings that will last a long time. These are absolutely nice acoustic strings for music lovers and are nice and bright. Likewise, they are great as acoustic guitar strings with specific pointed warmth and they can last quite a while. Moreover, the acoustic guitar strings do not lose brightness for many years hence they have a long life as acoustic guitar strings with very consistent tones.
Budget Pick
Ernie Ball 2146 Earthwood String Set
Our budget pick is the Ernie Ball 2146 Earthwood String Set and it can make a rich and expressive sound with superior intonation overall. The acoustic guitar strings are equipped with some brightness and produce excellent clarity as a whole. As a long lasting string set, the acoustic guitar strings are at excellent quality in comparison to other acoustic guitar strings out there.
Totally easy on the fingers, the acoustic guitar strings have a balanced tone and are made with steel core wire. The lock twists help ensure the longevity and prevents the slippage of the string and the acoustic guitar strings are made with the finest materials. With a warm and rich tone, the acoustic guitar strings also produces rich sounds with string gauges are .050, .040, .028, .020w, .014 and .010 gauges.
Having clear and bright trebles, the acoustic guitar strings are made with high carbon steel round wire to give tone and durability. Made with light orange and gold color, the acoustic guitar strings are made with consistency and are made with 92 percent copper, 0.3 percent phosphorus wire and 7.7 percent tin.
Coming in a medium light style in one pack, the acoustic guitar strings have an excellent sustain and are packed in element shield packaging for durability. The core wire and the lock twists have been made greatly and the steel hex core is brass plated and in high carbon to give a lot of durability. The acoustic guitar strings are also hex shaped with a mellow sound.
Made with good raw materials, these are perfect acoustic guitar strings for achieving rich and deep bass notes. As quality strings, they have prolonged string life and less buzz overall. Possessing good tone, the acoustic guitar strings are ideal for touring musicians who want that ringing sound. The packaging keeps strings fresh. Also, some artists who used the acoustic guitar strings include Paul McCartney, John Mayer, Brad Paisley and Billie Joe Armstrong as well as The Counting Crows, Maroon 5 and The Edge.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings that are Coated
Elixir Strings 16545 Acoustic NANOWEB Coating
For those who need frequent string changes, you can depend upon the Elixir Strings 16545 Acoustic NANOWEB Coating as they are easy on the fingers and is ideal for the player on a budget. It is a set of light gauge strings with gauges of .012, .016, .042, .053, .024 and .032 and the way they resonate will definitely captivate you.
Able to retain their tone longer, the tone and durability of these strings are superb. With a great tone, the strings are great for most of the music styles of most people. Able to withstand long life, you will definitely be satisfied with these strings as you can be able to rest assure of the durability due to the materials able to coat the entire string.
With longer lasting durability made from phosphor bronze, the strings keep a tone for quite a while so they are great especially for certain guitars. They also have a protected outer string surface for added durability and great sounding strings that are using nanoweb coating.
They seem to last forever due to the durability and your playing improves with these strings. Being anti-rust-plated, they are great strings which produce a very clean bright sound and you can be assured that the quality lasts a very long time.
The ultra thin coating keeps players very much at ease without strain and you definitely get what you pay for. Moreover, the strings work well with certain pickups and the beautiful tone produced by the strings is nonetheless great. Moreover, these are great plain steel strings but they are decent sound quality. The string set comes in 3 sets and they are able to resist corrosion that is tone-deadening.
If you want to stock up on strings then you can depend upon these strings. The packaging also keeps strings from rusting using the coating. Moreover, you get longer life for the whole set and the sound they give. If you are making music then these will be great go-to strings for you.
Most people who have Martin and Taylor guitars can benefit from the acoustic guitar strings. People who use thicker picks can use these strings as they are very easy to play with. The strings also have protected gaps between the windings for better longevity.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings for Gibson Guitars
Gibson Masterbuilt Premium Acoustic Guitar Strings
The Gibson Masterbuilt Premium Acoustic Guitar Strings are able to produce great sound at will and they are nice sounding strings overall. Made with high quality phosphor bronze, the strings are great for country blues and the sustain ability is great for these guitar strings.
Very easy to install, the gauges are .012, .016, .041w, .052w, .025w and .034w on this set of strings which all produce a gorgeous sound. As light strings, they can produce a rich and solid tone. These are great for producing Beatles sounds. Made with top quality materials, they are ideal for blues and the like.
Producing really nice tonal quality, the strings can give a very wonderful tone and are also very ideal for Gibson Montana’s flat top guitars. Whatever your playing style is, these strings are amazing and you can definitely achieve great guitar sound as expected. Producing an expressive tone, the strings have a lighter gauge but you can get a decent tone with them.
With bright and clear notes, they do not squeak much and are excellent quality guitar strings overall. They are also vacuum sealed for longer life and are ideal for Fender acoustic guitars. You will not be disappointed at all as they’re lighter than most similar strings and are the right strings for the job.
You will definitely love the rich bases and you will also get plenty of flexibility and extended life as well. The string set sounds great and are also very ideal for folk rock. Each string rings true and they sound great overall. For those who want to achieve a true nice harmonic sound, these guitar strings are great.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings that are Uncoated
Fender Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Made with phosphor bronze material as guitar strings, the Fender Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings produce crisp and clean quality sounds and are best strings around for uncoated strings. Producing beautiful tones, these acoustic guitar strings are uncoated and seem to be under rated strings with great quality.
As an excellent choice, the acoustic guitar strings set is able to produce the sounds you need and ideal for those who play the guitar every single day. Producing no early breakage issues, the acoustic guitar strings are ideal for solo artists and the like. The acoustic guitar strings are also great so that they can hold their tone well as light strings.
The songs will sound perfect with the use of these acoustic guitar strings. In fact, singer-songwriters can greatly benefit from these acoustic guitar strings and the crisp highs are so great for those who are frequent playing guitar. The guitar sounds better than before with the acoustic guitar strings due to the warmth and richness that can be achieved when plugged in.
With a nice harmony, the acoustic guitar strings also add depth to the sound and are also ideal for full time musicians. The acoustic guitar strings have gauges .011 up to .052 with a custom light style and are great for any acoustic guitar or even on an expensive guitar. Producing clear and crisp highs, the acoustic guitar strings give an excellent choice for your needs.
There is no worry about string breaks as the acoustic guitar strings can work well on any acoustic guitar if you give it some time and care. The acoustic guitar strings are also great for those who do solo guitar work as light strings. Likewise, these are coated strings that produce an excellent complement to vocals.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings made with Silk and Steel
GHS 345 Silk-and-Steel Acoustic Guitar Strings
As a Nitro Pack single, the GHS 345 Silk-and-Steel Acoustic Guitar Strings sound great and are able to produce sweet and mellow tones. You will be happy with them overall and they can be great for Ibanez acoustic guitar.
Fresh from the factory, the acoustic guitar strings produce less noise and come in light gauge from .010 up to .042 and they couldn’t be better as great acoustic guitar strings to get quality sound. They are gentle to your finger and produce a warm sound and are made with silver-plated copper.
Generally easier to play for beginners and experts alike, the acoustic guitar strings can produce a lasting intonation and give you a superior tone and feel overall. Great at hold their tune, players with tender fingers will love the acoustic guitar strings. They are ideal for lower tension and they are amazing overall. The acoustic guitar strings can ease the pain on your fingertips and they play easy overall.
Providing you with more musical tone, the acoustic guitar strings are ideal for full scale guitars and they have a round silk and steel core. The coating really helps for comfort and you can’t deny that the sound rocks. Ideal for professional use, the acoustic guitar strings are a decent start for beginners as well.
With a classical guitar tone, the acoustic guitar strings can give you a naturally good sounding guitar and a lasting intonation. Moreover, they sound decent with a warm sound. Using your guitar now feels awesome with the acoustic guitar strings under the fingers. They have a great feel from an acoustic string for long lasting quality sound.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings made with Nickel
Martin MTR13 Tony Rice Bluegrass Strings
Based on the specifications of legendary guitarist Tony Rice, the Martin MTR13 Tony Rice Bluegrass Strings produce a warm and rich tone and are long lasting strings that really have a nice sound. Moreover, they give a classic bluegrass sound and are medium light gauge.
They stay clean and have longer playing life. For those who want old school tunes, these have a low squeak and you will be very pleased with these guitar strings. You will really like these strings made with nickel-based alloy and are great for custom vintage guitars.
With more subdued basses, they hold their tone very well and you will like the overall tone with a wonderful tone. Producing mellow tones, the sound is more percussive and the strings are great and ideal for an acoustic dreadnaught. As a great alternative string set, they have a warm vintage tone and are great for the flat picker. A good set of strings that are the best sound for the money, they can produce unique and woody sounds.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings with Phosphor Bronze Material
Martin SP 7100 Phosphor Bronze Strings
Made with light gauge from 12 to 54, the Martin SP 7100 Phosphor Bronze Strings can last for a really long time and use clear tone technology for keeping it up with other guitar strings. The improved feel of the strings are great and they are all coated strings for easy playing. They are great strings with the longest possible string life. The structure keeps the deterioration from happening and they are designed to last longer which will work to produce long lasting quality sounds.
Without sacrificing tone, they sound perfectly fine overall using phosphor bronze materials to give a natural feel. Highly recommended for lead rock, folk styles and blues as well as for studio performance, these are good strings you can play on in any situation. They are a complement to a beautiful instrument and they stay much brighter with superior sound.
The strings also repel oils and dirt and sound better than others. The strings sound amazing and truly highly recommended due to being bright but slightly warmer sound. The extended life of these light strings is worth the price as they are treated for long life.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings made with Nylon Material
La Bella 2001M Classic Medium Tension
Ideal for those who need trebles, the La Bella 2001M Classic Medium Tension make excellent classical strings for those artists and teachers. They produce aural transparency that is greater than other strings. They prevent tarnishing with a strong action as well as sound projection.
With a medium tension, warm tones and great sounds can be felt with the vibrato. Made with silver-plated wound basses, the ease of playing is there with these high quality guitar strings. They have memory for pitch and the packaging can ensure freshness. The strings have a nice and clear sound and each string is in its own packet.
The overall sound is nice and crisp and the strings are ideal for consistent sound production. As balanced loud strings with sustaining power, these are gentle on fingers and they sound just beautiful. With high performance capability and are packaged using modified atmosphere packaging technology for better preservation. The strings are great classical guitar strings and are ideal for making tonal changes.
The Competition
Other acoustic guitar strings were a miss due to their inconsistencies when it comes to sustain, tone and other factors and they were a bit harsh on the player’s fingers. It is important for a set of acoustic guitar strings to be guitar-friendly, player-friendly and quality sounding overall.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
To know more about acoustic guitar strings, here are a couple of frequently asked questions to read about for your information:
Q: What do you consider in the best acoustic guitar strings?
A: According to Dawson’s , consider the string gauge (light, medium, heavy, extra light or custom light), as well as the body style of your guitar. Know if the playing style fits the acoustic string guitar and know how old your guitar is and if it is applicable for the strings.
Q: What are the different types of acoustic guitars strings according to material?
A: According to Guitar World , there are bronze strings made from copper and zinc and there are the phosphor bronze strings which are the most popular of all types of strings for guitars. Brass strings have a metallic sound while silk and steel strings are ideal for mellow tones and are for beginners as well as for vintage guitars. Nylon guitars are for the older guitars or the nylon specified acoustic guitars.
Wrapping It Up
In summarizing the article, the D’Addario EJ16-3D Phosphor-Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings is our best set of acoustic guitar strings for your performance needs, for the road, for the recording studio or for chilling afternoons or by the campfire with your family and friends.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.