12 String Guitar Tunings For Sale (2024 Update)

I've been a D'addario guy for a long time, and use them on all my guitars. I like the phosphor bronze tone on my acoustics, and use the extra lights because I have hand and finger joint issues. Actually 10s are pretty heavy for me, I use 8s on my electrics. Anyway, they sound great, are easy to play and have always been reliable for me.James

For years I refused to replace one of the low E machines on my Guild 12-string, as much on principle as anything else. I could only find a full set when I only needed one. The folks at Sam Ash knew my feeling and enthusiastically referred me back to the shop. Not only did I get a single machine, the price was more than right. Now I will be going back there not so much for their merchandise as for the people. That's where they put their investment.Mediaman.2

A friend of mine put light gauge electric strings on his acoustic guitar so it would be easier to play. I did like the feel but the sound was too thin so when I came across the Extra Light D'Addario's for acoustics I was excited to try them. My preferred style of playing an acoustic has recently become almost all finger-picking without finger picks. I tried them on my vintage classic dreadnought Yamaha F335ii and they sound good with a little less low end and a little more thin high end which you would expect. Also there is a tendency for the little E string to rattle as I use an upward stroke with the index or middle finger to play it. I will try switching that string out with a little higher gauge to alleviate that problem. Your style (light or heavy) of playing may determine whether these strings are right for you. They are great for strumming light rhythm with a balanced bright sound using a Fender thin pick so I would definitely use them for recording rhythm parts. For recording finger-picked parts I will continue using regular light gauge strings on a Martin. The D'Addario extra lights are easy on the fingers and good for practicing any style. They would also be a good choice for beginnersdhughe1

Grover's Rotomatic machine heads are superbly-designed to do one job and do it well – precisely adjust the tuning of guitar strings, and keep them where you put them. These 205C12's are no exception to the rule. I had my luthier install them on my Danelectro Classic 12-string (along with a custom bone nut), and the difference those two mods made to the tunability and sustain of my guitar is compelling. The original, factory Danelectro tuners are chrome-plated, pot-metal crap. They slip contantly. The Grovers, by contrast, stay EXACTLY where I put them. My guitar stays in tune, and adjusting it (for changing humidity and temperature) is quick, easy, and painless. I sure can't say the same for my Dano's factory equipment. Now, admittedly, a lot of the improvement is due to the new, bespoke bone nut. All Danelectro guitars ship with an aluminum nut that is an incredible obstacle to tuning, because of sticktion between the metal strings and the metal nut. (Aluminum, in particular, is a terrible choice for this application, because, like titanium, it galls in metal-on-metal contact applications – which is to say that the two metals tear microscopic chunks out of one another at their point of mutual contact.) The standard, aluminum nut also almost guarantees that you WILL break strings at the nut. The custom bone nut completely eliminates both issues. The Grover tuners add the bonus that the strings stay where you put 'em, once they stretch out. And the 205C12's are RESPONSIVE. Turning them either direction immediately and smoothly changes your strings' tuning. With a 14-1 gear ratio, you can tune VERY precisely. The 205C12's (and their nickel-platec cousins the 205N12's) feature minii buttons, so there's enough room between them to keep you from accidentally knocking a neighboring string out of tune while you're adjusting them. I can't recommend this product highly enough. If you're not sure whether they're going to be an improvement over your guitar's factory tuners, I'm here to tell you that you needn't worry. These are a great upgrade for your axe, and they'll help you fall in love with your guitar all over again.thomst

Definitely the best strings at the price point lately. They have a thinner or smoother wind than Ernie Ball slinkys or Daddarrio exl and this results in less finger noise and a zingier tone IMO. I'm into clean and classic rock, and I doubt you would like these over the former two names if you were into more modern and metal sounds. It depends on the guitar for me, on my strat I could use just about any strings. My guitars with humbuckers seem more picky, at least to my ears. I prefer these over the other two as far as cheap strings go, and these are often cheaper. Win win. Used to be I would never have preferred Fender strings so either my tastes are changing or these strings have changed over the years.Joelish

Overall: Don't pay any attention to the low price these are great strings. Have used Fender 7250's on all kinds of bass guitars they always sound great and feel good. Years of use have proved quality. I put them on my Jazz bass, my PJ, and my Squire, have used them on Samick, Music man, OLP, and Epiphone basses, all good.Scott

According to a Fender rep, these are what came on the Fender PJ bass I ordered from Musician's Friend. They produce the classic Fender tone I wanted. I eventually replaced them with a set of Fender 7250L (.040, .060, .080, .100) to make it easier to play on the guitar's 9.5" fingerboard radius. I stayed with Fender because of the tone that the 7250M strings produce. The Light's have slightly less oomph on the low end, yet all the tone while the lighter gauge makes for nice melodic work on the high end of things. If you have a Fender bass and want Fender tone…Vice

I was surprised to fine this heavy of a guage of strings. I didn't know they existed. The thing about heavy strings is that you have much more ability to play with dynamic resonance – something you can't really get with light guage strings. With these strings, you can play as softly as you wish but when you really want it to "come out" they don't disappoint. I also only play with the fleshy tip of my fingers which melds into the subtle nuances of chord and solo performance.garycgrieve

The package is for C standard, not Drop C as some people mistakenly think…well, I guess you could use them for Drop C if you like veeeery stiff strings. If you want strings for Drop C, I'd suggest a skinny top/heavy bottom set of strings with an 11 up top and a 54 or so on the bottom so the bottom E tuned to C doesn't get floppy and knocked out of tune easily. Anyway, I've been using these for a long time on my USA core line PRS Custom 24 in C standard. They seem fine for going down a half step to B standard and feel fine even up half a step to C# standard. That's as high as I'd tune these strings up, though. I couldn't recommend these strings more!Josh

I have these strings on my schecter c-1 SLS blackjack tuned all the way down to drop A#, and let me tell you, despite being labeled as optimized for drop C, I don't recommend them for that tuning. 11-52s, 12-54s and 11-56s are better for Drop C, but for Drop B and Drop A#, you will not find a better gauge than these on a 25.5 scale length guitar or a 26.5 baritone. The tension is absolutely perfect! It feels like a 10-52 set in E standard with the E string tuned to D! Like with all D'addarios, they are bright, long lasting, they feel smooth and they absolutely love locking tremolos. I can yank my floyd rose all I want and it still will not go out of tune. Since D'addarios are bright as I stated before, they also remain clear under high gain, which I use my marshall JVM on the red channel with a maxon OD as a boost and a peavey 5150. Between the tuning stability, the tension, the reliability, the playability and the string life, you cannot go wrong with these for baritone tunings!Daniel

I have a Gibson LP, and I gotta say this works. Tuning stability problem with D and G strings are pretty much gone. It wont be as good as a Floyd rose system. But you wont be tuning every song.chricor-62

A must own for Gibson players. I installed the V2 on a Les Paul and a 335 and now they stay in tune like my fenders, even after many extreme bends. What good is an expensive guitar if it doesn't stay in tune? This does the trick!datie_28

About $10 too pricey but it does what it says it will do. Most of your tuning problems will be be over, especially if you do what I did on my SG… Tusq XL nut, Grover tuners and a Wilkinson roller bridge. That may seem a bit overboard but if you're frustrated enough by tuning issues, you'll try anything. In the end, it was worth it… Ridiculously playable and stable guitar. The String Butler was an essential part of the solution. Highly recommend.claydiesel76

It will work, but haven't fitted it yet.Plenty of "beef" to pare it down to fit, next project coming up,then I will get to it.Beats having to make one by hand from scratch.payus.sc3opzlfx

I've played a fair amount of guitar – and guitars – over 30 years, but never a twelve string. Narrowed my choice (there are a few but not a ton of choices in this price range) to this Martin and Taylor's 150e. The Martin neck just accommodated my uncertain left hand a little better. Laminate sides, so yes, there are some tonal sacrifices a more sophisticated listener than I would recognize. But if you are dipping your toes in the 12 string pool for the first time, I highly recommend this Martin. Well built, easy to play and not a budget buster!msh6691

You won't find better action on a twelve string. Nice combination of woods. Great sound and playability. Sounds good plugged in, miked up and with no electronics. Went shopping for high end Martins, couldn't find one that sounded or played well, saw this gave it a try and immediately said this is it. Saved lots,of money that I can no spend on roses for my wife!Abe

Great affordable 12 string from Martin, Nice punchy tone and it stays in tune well! Great workhorse guitar! The sound is unmistakable Martin and the high pressure laminate back and sides look good and don't ding dent chip or scratch easy. Built in electronics are convenient and easy to use. keep in mind that these guitars still have plenty of solid wood used in the construction so you will still have to humidify these guitars during the dry months. The guitar has a comfortable body shape and a nice feeling neck. This is a hands on review, I am a staff reviewer for Sam Ash Music.JOHN @ Huntington

I have used these strings for 3 or 4 years now they're really good I chose them because of the size and I found out that they are awesome. Not one ever broke on me as I did expect the 10 to from the speed and pressure I used sometimes. My particular style is metal, the strings work great for that. They are highly pliable. I am a bender and the tuning I think does not go out too much after the stresses I place on the strings. I have used deep standard E standard C standard a also be dropped down tuning no problem with any of the strings at all the sound is crisp and clear it's not a muddy sound and it's not a tinggi sound from the strings like a steel Acoustic sound.Big Mac

These strings work pretty much as advertised. They let you tune absurdly low without sacrificing note clarity or integrity… not perfectly, but reasonably. They also stay in tune remarkably well with little to no breaking-in.Regular DR 10's can handle my guitar tuned down 1 1/2 steps with no problems, but anything beyond that is flub territory and intonation is out by as much as a full half-step. With the DDT 10's, I can go 3 steps down and they still sound tight. If you check with a tuner, the intonation isn't quite right, but the difference is negligible to the naked ear. It's hard to break a DDT string. They are noticeably tougher than your average set of 10's. The feel is quite nice at 1 steps and lower though. They're surprisingly easy on the fingers. You don't have to pick hard to get heavy attack. They just exude brutal tone.Their quality stands true to the DR name. Definitely worth a try if you plan on experimenting with extremely low tunings. They can make your 6-string sound like a 7-string… only it'll still feel like a 6-string!Strizzwald

I typically play a half step down, sometimes drop C#. Guitar I have set up for that was giving me some occasional open string buzz in drop C#, but I didn't wanna go to a higher gauge because I like to be able to go to E standard once in a blue. Took the Daddarios off, put these on. Boom. Problem solved. Also very stable tuning wise and feel great overall. Thumbs up!Dustin J.

Used these tuners to replace the originals in a 1960s~1970s Japanese Decca 12-string guitar. They fit perfectly. (Be sure that you have enough tuner bushings before you install tuners!) They operate smoothly and stay in tune well.zippystooge

Fantastic set! Took my standard scale six-string to new lows! It’s a bit loose but useable in G but about perfect for G# on my SE archtop Rich Bich. And better than the 72 gauge EB string I had tried previously. Immediately fell into a reasonable tone and with a little EQ-ing! Been an Ernie Ball guy for years. Stringjoy has a new fan!Andrew M

I like the strings, but the over advertising on emails is really annoying. I’m not sure who is your marketing manager, but your time would be well spent at NAAM, Local guitar dealers, online advertising, etc. Maybe even getting a contract to put your strings on specialty guitars from the manufacturer, along with specs that only you meet. Such a great product, but it’s really not out there and non-stop emails are annoying to every person. Good luck as a company, hope the honest feed back helps.John L

I had been reading about these strings in forums etc and was intrigued. Decided to try a set or two and see what was up. I bought the 10-52 Signatures. Well, I have been using them for a month and a half and all I can say is, believe the hype. The feel great, nice on the fingers, and it seems like the difference in quality of the metal is noticeable. I mean, it feels that way. Maybe it's something else. I don't know but they feel good, hold tune very well and settle in easy right after they're strung up. In six weeks of home playing they have not diminished in tone or tuning stability at all. I am already subscribing for three sets every two months as well. Love my stringjoys.Brian H

While I cannot yet attest to the longevity of these strings, I can say without reservation that their initial tone puts to shame all other coated strings I have ever tried. As the name implies the tone is remarkably clear and well-balanced, the perfect blend of warmth and definition. They also settled in very quickly. If they last nearly as long as others suggest I will update this review. These may well be the strings I have been looking for since 1968.Tom S.

I service guitars for local player and collectors. One of my customers preforms regularly with a set of USA Ovation's (Ovation 6868 Elite Standard primary & Ovation 1868 Elite backup). Over the years we have tried on 3 or 4 different brands and gauges with varying results. About two years ago I installed a set of Cleartone 7412 EMP Phosphor-Bronze Light 12-16-25-33-43-53 Acoustic Strings on the pair and never looked back. Customer has not once broke a string, feels great without the Elixir overly "slick" feeling, and these last a very long time before going dead. Used to be able to buy these locally on sale in the $8 to $12 range (per set), but those days appear to be long gone. Therefore price may be the only downside.budacus

The Cleartone 10's were for a relative's 3/4 size acoustic guitar. Their lightness suits it very well and have significantly improved the tone, resonance, volume and response of the instrument. The player feel of the strings is excellent and they are oxidation resistant, so they stay good and bright. So although they are a bit more expensive than some other string sets, a regularly played instrument is worth the upgrade. They do turn out to be a pleasing choice. We find them to be of very good value for money and they do not disappoint.arajuk0

I just put these strings on my 12 string Yamaha fg720S. I had D'addario 80/20 10-47 on it before I changed strings. I made a video with the old strings and these strings which wasn't much of a comparison since the D'addario strings were old and the Ernie Ball were new and they sounded different but both sounded great so I can't choose between the 2. I took my guitar to church and the Ernie Ball 80/20 strings were just as bright and loud as the D'addario strings. So if you can't make up your mind between the 2 either way you win. But let's see how long these last.God's guitarist

Nice sound from these strings. Restore 60s Hoyer 12 string to playable again. Replace tuner and a bushing. Installed strings and this old dog sings again.donbefree

These are just fantastic strings. They're warm even in the lighter gauges, they break-in quickly, and stay stable and consistent for quite a long time. At this price point, I don't think their quality can be beaten. The way I see it is this: Everyone who plays acoustic has "that sound" that they're always trying to replicate. For me, these EB Earthwood Lights on my battered cheapo flattop get me about as close to there as my mediocre noodling could ever ask for. Very highly recommended.jensonj

Great strings! Have used them for many years because they sound incredible on my 1978 Fender F-55 12-string! Thank you sooo much!!kduckyg_27

Best sounds so far. My mando now has deeper tones and more resonance. Bluegrass and folk as well as spiritual songs and hymns.billbob164

I've been on the lookout for some thicker 12-string sets (not for down-tuning, but just so the thing puts up a bit more fight), and they're getting hard to find (most companies max out at .10's). So I was glad to stumble across these, and the price point seemed right; however, while bringing them up to tension and making requisite truss-rod adjustments, two of the new strings [high A .22w and high G .10] popped, leaving me to go shopping the next day for individual strings. Ernie Ball has long been my go-to for electric strings, and I can't say this experience rules them out for me, but I was disappointed. Will definitely be trying Martin strings the next time my 12 needs changing, as they offer even thicker strings and come recommended from several friends I've talked to since. On a final note, if you haven't tried using sets where the high A is wrapped, I'd recommend you do so; the high A has always been one of the main sources of 12-string tuning frustrations in my experience (if it sounds in tune open, it sounds off when fretted & vice versa), and having it wrapped seemed to clear a lot of that up.czdolphy

I had been using 0.13 baritone strings on a 25.5 scale Ibanez 6 string and never could get it to intonate well if I went lower than b standard. With these strings I can get it to Ab standard or Drop F# while still maintaining an almost perfect intonation. Plain steel 3rd isn't my Forte, but it works.Barry Baritone

these sound incredible at the B and A range. Particularly A because they are so thick. I dont play in F but they still hold tune and tension amazingly. They sound sharp and are very lively strings. Im going to try the 10-60 next week. the 65 gauge is a little to big for versatility. I plan on buying a third guitar and that will have these strings designated to it.Reza

I usually use brands that cost more – I decided to try these out on my 12 string because I like to try out different strings and they were cheap. As I was putting them on, I immediately noticed that the strings needed to be stretched out a lot more than the brands I usually use. As I was tuning them up, the small G string snapped. Later one of the high E strings snapped. I was afraid to keep tightening the strings to get them up to pitch because they did not stretch out like normal ones. When I finally got ten strings tuned, they kept going flat. Eventually they stretched out & actually sounded nice (with ten strings on a 12 string guitar). I ended up taking them off the next day and throwing them out & putting a new pack of nicer strings on. I've been changing guitar strings for 32 years so I know how to do this – I've worked with many different brands & types of strings (80/20, phosphor bronze, silk & steel, coated, etc). I say that to emphasize that I'm not a novice at putting strings on a guitar. Maybe they'll work for you but I won't try them again.10nhm69

Nice extra light gauge but still with more bass than I expected which is a bonus. Very little pull on the neck, so action stays low. Nice feel and tone when playing.DuncanW

Kept getting sore fingers after playing on my Taylor, but then put these on. They are so soft and playable, I can play all night. Highly recommend these strings.S

Terrific strings for markedly reducing the jangles on my Taylor Sitka/Rosewood 12-string. Full but warm tone. On top of that, owing to the low tension of these strings, I am no longer forced to tune my 12-string a half-step flat to ease fingering! Highly recommend.Phaedrum

I prefer the crisp tone of 80/20 bronze strings. They sound great on my Seagull S12 CH CW Spruce Sunburst GT Q1T. Rock n Rollphifan_24

Love these string… Guitar formerly used brights and always had a buzzy sound in it performance. With Silk and Steel Silver wound.. the Guitar has been transformed into a very pleasant yet still full 12 string sound. No more undesirable noises.Greg

D'addario EJ26 Phosphor Bronze guitar strings are very good. I have played this strings for years. D'addario is a very trusted brand among guitar players. They are always consistent great sound and playability. They are comfortable on the fingers and they last a good while. The longevity of strings all depends on how much and how often you play. Phosphor Bronze have a warm smooth tone. If you are looking for great sounding strings look no farther than D'addario EJ26 Phosphor Bronze strings.Travis

I have used various D'Addario strings since the early 80s. I was 'aware' of them in the 70s but I typically used Fender strings on electrics and Martin on acoustics. I have always maintained that D'Addario strings are cheap, plentiful, and get the job done. The argument could be made that there are better strings out there ("boutique" strings) but D'Addarios are available in any music store and they are consistently good. I think I only had one or two sets where the unwound strings were nasty…. they looked 'kinked' and didn't sound right. One or two sets out of how many hundreds of sets?? As to these particular strings, I have a 1947 Gibson L-5 and it just feels more 'right' with caveman strings. I'm not one of those 30s rhythm players that go runka chunka all day long, I play it like any other guitar, and it begs for heavy strings. D'Addario has them available….not everyone does, ya know. I'm happy with the company's products, across the board.ksdaddy

I am a guitar tech with my own shop, so I do a lot of string changes, and get to experience a lot of different strings on different guitars. My personal go-to acoustic strings have been Martin SP phosphor bronze for years. In my shop I use a lot of D'Adderio and Ernie Ball because they are good and inexpensive. About a year ago I went through a bunch of different strings, trying to find the best fit for my OM Martin. When I put on a set of DR Rares my search was over. They gave that guitar volume and richness that none of the other strings could match. Since then I've started putting the Rares on my dreadnaughts, and they sound great as well. They have a nice feel, and they last. The ones on my Martin have been on for two months, and still sound great.Norm H

Whenever I get a new or a new, used guitar I begin the search for the strings that sound best for it to me. This can take a long time because I've learned that brand new, freshly mounted strings take a couple of days to settle in and then it takes more time to evaluate how they sound, how they feel and how they last before a judgement can be made. I don't think I've ever tried any modern strings that I disliked so much that I took them off the guitar right away but there are differences among string brands and models. As regards these DR Rare strings; eight or nine years ago I got a new 2006 Gibson J-50 and boy was it tight sounding. The highs and mids were fine but the low end was lacking. I did a number of things (that ended up working) to try and loosen the top up on this guitar but along the way I found DR Rares to be the strings for it. At first there was just the slightest increase in bass response over other strings but the feel of these strings was just so tasty I stopped my search for strings once I had played them for a month. At this guitar's ten year old mark this guitar began to really blossom with the Rares and it has only gotten better with more age. I find DR Rares to be very consistent in quality and tone and longevity and well worth trying, especially on short scale instruments. They definitely have their own little niche when it comes to feel and tone.Mountainpicker

I put these on my Greg Bennett OM3. It's an all sapele, all laminate box. They sweetened the sound of the tinny trebles. Slide very smooth but still squeak of course. Feel great on the fingers. They are the loudest strings I've ever had. They settled in and held their tuning within minutes. The cheap guitar is always in tune. Never had strings perform like this. I play 90 minutes every night and the strings sound fresh after a month or more. They're showing no sign of corrosion or wear. However, I don't like the overall tone they give to this particular guitar. I used them to replace the cheapest Martin P.B. which are not my favorite strings, and the Martins sounded better. After much experimenting, D'Addario PB lights are the best string for my OM3. I'm going to try the Rare Bluegrass version on my Yamaha FG730S, and will review those in the future. These DR Rare strings have a lot going for them, and are relatively inexpensive. Try them and see how they sound on your guitar.I_likewalnuts

D'addario EJ26 Phosphor Bronze guitar strings are very good. I have played this strings for years. D'addario is a very trusted brand among guitar players. They are always consistent great sound and playability. They are comfortable on the fingers and they last a good while. The longevity of strings all depends on how much and how often you play. Phosphor Bronze have a warm smooth tone. If you are looking for great sounding strings look no farther than D'addario EJ26 Phosphor Bronze strings.Travis

I have used various D'Addario strings since the early 80s. I was 'aware' of them in the 70s but I typically used Fender strings on electrics and Martin on acoustics. I have always maintained that D'Addario strings are cheap, plentiful, and get the job done. The argument could be made that there are better strings out there ("boutique" strings) but D'Addarios are available in any music store and they are consistently good. I think I only had one or two sets where the unwound strings were nasty…. they looked 'kinked' and didn't sound right. One or two sets out of how many hundreds of sets?? As to these particular strings, I have a 1947 Gibson L-5 and it just feels more 'right' with caveman strings. I'm not one of those 30s rhythm players that go runka chunka all day long, I play it like any other guitar, and it begs for heavy strings. D'Addario has them available….not everyone does, ya know. I'm happy with the company's products, across the board.ksdaddy