For that sweet, crisp sound many guitarists look for, you absolutely need acoustic guitar strings of the highest quality. This can be a bit tricky, mind you, because each brand builds them differently, thus the need to take into consideration not only the materials used in their making but the manufacturer as well. That aside, you also have to consider that some strings are definitely better made than others, which is reflected in the quality of the sounds they produce.
If you are an experienced guitarist, then you should know by now what strings to get and how to make the most of them. If not, however, then perhaps you should take the time and learn about what makes a good guitar string and who makes the best ones. To help you in this respect, we put together a list of the ten best acoustic guitar strings money can buy for you to look at.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings – Reviews
10DR Strings VTA-12 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
The DR Strings VTA-12 strings are an innovative model of acoustic guitar strings, a Phosphor Bronze design that provides a longer life without outer surface treatment or any sort of coating. ACT (accurate core technology) is integrated at the heart of these Veritas strings, with their superior core wire being the foundation for accurate tone and durability. The technology also perfects and strengthens any core wire variations. Throughout its entire length, the core wire is very strong and accurate for an advanced pitch and a longer life.
9Martin MSP6100 SP Acoustic Guitar Strings
Made by Martin, the MSP6100 SP Lifespan are acoustic guitar strings with studio performance quality. Designed and treated for a much longer duration, these strings are repellent to grit, dirt and other elements that may change the sound quality of the strings. However, the treatment is quite thin to be noticed or felt. And as a matter of fact, SP Lifespan strings are designed to offer greater value by lasting longer and sounding better than most of what you can find in this price range.
8Martin SP 7100 Phosphor Bronze
Another one of the SP Lifespan series, the Martin SP 7100 Phosphor Bronze is, like its sister product above, a type of acoustic guitar strings treated for long life and studio-class performance. They also repel grit, dirt and other elements which may decrease the sound quality they produce. Again, the treatment is too thin to be noticed. Besides a long life, these strings also produce a remarkably great sound when played, a pitch experienced guitarists always look for.
7Martin MSP4100 SP Phosphor Bronze
Another Phosphor Bronze, the Martin MSP4100 Light acoustic guitar strings are constructed of a 92/8 alloy wire to offer that clarity, longevity, and brilliance of the sound needed by pro guitarists everywhere. This winding alloy is suited for designing strings that produce rich, deep bass and bright, clear trebles which today’s acoustic players want. We should also point out that the Martin’s are generally seen as premium-grade strings for daily play.
6D’Addario EJ11-3D 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
D’Addario’s EJ16-3D is not only one of the company’s most popular Phosphor Bronze, but also one that ranks among the best acoustic guitar strings available today. This set features a premium-grade coating that makes it offer thrice the lifespan of other models. Proudly made in the USA with the highest standards for the best quality performance, D’Addario EJ16 delivers a bright, warm, and superbly balanced tone. They are also a lot more durable than most strings in this price range, a sturdiness that doesn’t influence their acoustics in any considerable way.
5Martin M140 80/20 Bronze Light
For long life and brilliance in studio quality acoustic guitar performance, you can trust the Martin M140 80/20 Bronze Light strings. Their premium bronze winding alloy enables the strings to provide a deep, rich bass and bright, clear trebles. This string pack has Martin’s best quality acoustic guitar strings for your daily play, which means that both the core and wrap wires adhere to the strict standards for best performance since these strings are wound to precision design.
4Vibe Acoustic Guitar Strings
The Vibe Acoustic is a superior performance and long-lasting type of acoustic guitar strings featuring a precision wound phosphor bronze over quality steel core and plated premium-grade stainless-steel head. Featuring individual labeling for easy identification and restringing, these strings also deliver the best in acoustic sound and flexibility for bright and impeccably clear sound quality, with warmth and feel which make playing your guitar such a joy. They also allow a quite dynamic range in terms of playability, a flexibility experienced guitarists always look for.
3Ernie Ball 2146 Earthwood Medium Light
Ernie Ball’s 2146 Earthwood is a Medium Light acoustic strings guitar model made of exclusively phosphor bronze wire wrap. Designed to meet the needs of acoustic guitarist all over the world, these are concert-class strings that produce rich, deep bass notes, bright clear trebles. Many touring musicians, including The Edge and Maroon 5, use these strings, which should tell you everything you need to know about their overall quality. For those standards to be achieved, only the freshest and finest raw materials are used to make these strings and are hermetically sealed to stay as new for a very long time.
2D’Addario EJ17-3D Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Introduced in 1974 by D’Addario, the Phosphor Bronze is now one of the world’s best popular models of acoustic guitar strings. Producing a warm, well-balanced and crisp acoustic tone, the EJ17-3D is precision wound on a high quality, hexagonally shaped, high-carbon steel core that offers a long-lasting and bright sound tone with superb intonation. The pitch alone is sublime, and yet these strings stand out through a lot more than acoustics alone. For instance, they are generally seen as some of the most durable out there, which tells you a lot about the standards you can expect.
1Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Having garnered probably the highest rating in the industry, these Elixir Acoustic Guitar Strings are made of 80% copper and 20% zinc, an 80/20 bronze wire wrap that produces a crisp and bright tone, expressive with vibrancy. The wire has an ultra-thin NanoWeb coat that shows a more classic textured, uncoated feel, while its proprietary coating technology offers great protection from corrosion, prolonging tone life compared to other brands’ coated/uncoated strings. Overall, this is seen as one of the best acoustic strings the market has to offer at this point in time.
