Best Acoustic Guitar String (2024 Update)

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 build guitars and buy these for setups period. I have tried to use these on one occasion just for kicks but found the tension all wrong. Not so much on the wound strings as the unwound upper strings. I found the tension and feel really poor. They seemed to be ridiculous to bend and if you managed that they felt like they were about ready to snap. I did not like the brittle tone either. The feel of these is just all wrong but they are cheap and fine to use for building but my guitars would never go out with these!Thump54

Musicians Gear strings are perfect for any player. If you get your strings for free because of an endorsement deal, you can claim a better value. I don't have that option = I pay for my strings. I change strings about once a month, sometimes more often, because NOTHING sounds as good as a new set of strings. But I can't afford big coins to keep fresh strings on them. These MGs are very affordable, they sound great, they play well, they are consistent, and I am very happy when I play with new strings. The new packaging helps stop rust and corrosion, so I usually buy in boxes of 10, just so I have some on hand.guitarpicker7

I use these strings all the time. Dont believe all the nonsense you read- they sound good, they last well and they are affordable. If you dont need to pay double or triple for hype, buy these strings. The best sounding strings in the world are new strings. Buy a stack of these and change them whenever you need to. The more you play, the more often you will need to change them. Even a cheap guitar will sound good with new strings. And the most expensive guitar will sound bad with old strings. I love them.reynardfoxe

It has a very fundamental tone, good for mahogany guitars. But on rosewood guitars, it may kill off the overtones, which may not be right for some people. Recommended on larger guitars rather than small ones. They do last quite a long time, which helps justify the high price to an extent.J A.

recently asked curt mangan to make me up a custom set of round core monel strings in 12 string configuration. What a great set of strings. I loved monel strings on my maple bodied guitars. But when i saw they had round core available i ordered a set of 6 string strings. They were so good ,i asked about a 12 string set. They dont offer them as of yet, but rep. said they could make me up a set. i askedfor 10- 48,s round core monels, …What a great set of strings. My guild F 412 has always been a stunner tone wise with monel strings. But the round core monels enhanced that 5 x,s .. Btw, ive got over 26 hours of playing on the 6 string set. and no noticeable fall off .Dave Gover

I put these on my Gibson J-55 and man what a difference over the phosphor bronze that came stock. I have yet to put them on my '29/'31 L3 or Custom Shop martin 0018, but I really adore the sound on my J-55. The J-55 has an Adirondack top, mahogany back/sides and is essentially a Gibson version of a Martin D-18 without the super boomy low end. I love these strings and they really bring out the natural woody tone of the guitar, which is how it should be in my opinion. After using these I really like the sound, and in a weird way I'm closer to that guitar than I ever was before, the phosphor bronze that were on the guitar were just too bright and metallic, I prefer the natural earthy tones. I put this guitar in different tunings and these strings really open it up there and in standard tuning as well. I can't wait to put these on my Martin 000, I just got it so the strings on it are fresh but they're 80/20s and I really don't like them. You can't go wrong with these strings. I'm going to be using them on my acoustics forever. Just vintage, natural, woody earthy tones and I couldn't be happier!Antonio

These came installed on my new Epiphone J-45 and man do they sing. Nice bass response and they are not tinny sounding, got the just right acoustic sound. They are coated and to me they make it easier to play. As I haven't played them for that long I'll have to see how they hold up. One other reviewer gave them 3 stars but if you read the review, he was complaining about the shipping time and even said he hadn't tried them. I find it hard to believe that it was AMS's fault for the delay, they always ship super fast. We were (and still are) getting slammed by Covid and delivery times by carriers were way behind in September when that review was written.Greg 'Purple' Hays

I like to keep my J45 Gibson guitar all "Gibson", so I use Gibson coated strings. They sound great and last a long time. Other coated strings are nice too but the Gibson strings just seem to sound brighter and louder.Guy

I put these strings on a older Alvarez guitar and all I can say is WOW what a voice change! The Martin Retro Monel Bluegrass string made my inexpensive student model guitar sound like a much higher end instrument. The clarity and sustain is so much better than the 80/20's I used to use and the life span is at least double if not triple of the 80/20's. Try a set you won't be sorry.Mark

I have been reading about pure nickel strings and I've wanted to give them a try. The Martin Retro reviews were good and if Tony Rice likes them and uses them, they must have something positive to offer. I've only had them on my dread (solid mahogany b/s and Adi top) for a couple of weeks…but I love them. I hear the tone of the guitars wood. Not too bright but also not too dark or muddy. Very mellow. Urban legend has it that they get better with age. We'll see. But they sounded good new and they guitar sounds great after two weeks. Too early to tell or comment on how long they stay this way. I will be buying more and use them again. Time to try them out on an OM.B

Replaced the dead right out of the box elixir string that SUCKED and these brought the guitar back to life and it now sounds and plays wonderfully. Highly suggested and as the string were in my box for a while and now the package has added Tony Rice's name to them even more highly suggestedDas Fuut

These came installed on my new Epiphone J-45 and man do they sing. Nice bass response and they are not tinny sounding, got the just right acoustic sound. They are coated and to me they make it easier to play. As I haven't played them for that long I'll have to see how they hold up. One other reviewer gave them 3 stars but if you read the review, he was complaining about the shipping time and even said he hadn't tried them. I find it hard to believe that it was AMS's fault for the delay, they always ship super fast. We were (and still are) getting slammed by Covid and delivery times by carriers were way behind in September when that review was written.Greg 'Purple' Hays

I like to keep my J45 Gibson guitar all "Gibson", so I use Gibson coated strings. They sound great and last a long time. Other coated strings are nice too but the Gibson strings just seem to sound brighter and louder.Guy

I switched from John Pearse strings to the SIT strings and found them more responsive, easier to tune and as they promise, stay in tune. I really like the pro light and light gauge strings as they have great sustain and are easy to workSANTEESLIM

These are the slickest, most comfortable strings. I bought them to put on a PRS Angelus SE and be able to do those David Gilmore bends on an acoustic. For that, they are awesome. Bendiest, easy to slide acoustic strings I have ever tried. Great for all those single note lead lines. The bass strings are also heavy enough to still give some oomph. The problem is when you come out of those lead lines to do any rhythmic strumming-the tone is bright, brash, tinny and very G forward. I want to like these strings for their play-ability and keep trying them to see if they'll break in, but always leave disappointed. For reference, my PRS is already a little brighter in a Taylor sort of way than my other guitars. I usually play Santa Cruz Low Tension Parabolics on my Santa Cruz OM, and Martin Life Span on my Martin 0015. The brashness is muted a little if amplified.Jonah

Bought these as replacements on my Taylor guitar. I was surprised at the quality of the strings, the incredible tone and that they didn't stretch A LOT when new (meaning I didn't have to retune after every song…I let the rest for about 4 hours and tune them up before performing). And, they were made in the USA. Highest possible recommendation!Amy

I have been experiencing with different string blends and I stumbled across these… I love them! I like the bright top tones these strings bring. They are super flexible for soloing! I have smaller hands amd fingers so the thinness is an extra benefit! 10/10 recommend!Kayla

I have used these about 3 years… they have great tone.. I get positive comments every time I play —about my tone– it is the strings and the Laravee' together, I would highly recommend them.. I buy 10-20 packs at a time..RC

I was hoping to remove some of the ringing I hear from D'Addario strings. Didn't work. I down tune one whole step so that I can use arrangements for tenors and still sing them. Went to heavy strings but they are too hard on my fingers and they still ring. When I tune up to concert pitch, the problem goes away. Clearly, this is really not a product judgement, but a misapplication.Rex

I wanted to experiment & give these Retro strings a try. I installed these on my '87 Martin HD2832 Shenandoah with V neck (super comfy) which has a warm tone, getting better with age. I was not aware that these Retro strings were all nickel so I love how they bring out the nickel hardware on the head stock (see attached pic). Comparing these Retro strings to the med gauge 80/20 bronze Martin Marquis that I usually play, these Retro strings are just as warm and comfy, especially when finger picking. If bass is at 'noon', so is the brightness, even throughout. (When comparing to another brand, these Retros sound and feel just as great as the med gauge bronze Ernie Ball Earthwoods that I occasionally play.) I've been playing bronze strings for so long that I'd have to hear the nickle and bronze played back to back in order to hear a difference, if any. These Retros have a nice punch when strumming and leads are rich & full. I have no doubt they'll last just as long as the Martin Marquis. Looks like I've found another set of Martin strings that I'll play for awhile…I believe Martin strings play better as they get older.John564Holloway

These strings are much better than the strings I used to use. I love how the bottom end pops out a lot more and gives it a lot more foundation and volume. I'm looking forward to trying the naturals soon. I also got a set of custom strings from a friend on my worship team who also uses stringjoy, they sound and feel great on my electric. I also got my girlfriend using these strings and she loves them too. It seems like most of the guitarists on my team stick with these once we use them. Great strings.Noah S

A few things first: the customer service at Stringjoy? 5 stars, no question. The overall attention to detail (especially with regards to packaging)? 5 stars. The feel/balanced tension of the set? 5 stars. Where they fell short for me was the sound/dynamic range and the overall longevity. I tried them on both of my Martin dreds (D16GT and D18 standard) and I wound up disappointed both times. They sounded ok at first, very bright and crisp as you'd expect, but I found they left something to be desired as far as overall dynamics are concerned, bordering on an almost 'tinny' sound that you might get from lesser sets. I also found that they dulled up and died out very quickly (before you ask, both guitars are kept on their cases with proper humidity control when not in use, and I make a point to wipe down the strings each time before putting them to bed). 3 days of moderate practice and one short gig was all it took for the D18. Off they came. Maybe I just got a 'meh' batch, maybe they're just not for me. In any case, that's my take. Again, everything else about this company is 5 star worthy, so keep that in mind.Jesse B

I ordered Medium Brights for my J45 and they sound awesome. The order came quickly and the packaging is really impressive. I didn’t believe that the right set of strings could make such a difference, but it really does. I’m going to try a Custom set for my living room guitar in DADGAD next!Brian G

Try them, they're great. Feel nice, sound wonderful, last a long time. I've been through so many brands and so many different types of string, and these are the absolute best (for me). Even better than the expensive Austrian and German brands. I play many acoustic gigs, most are three sets a night. Some mainstream brands don't even last for one gig, going dead too soon. And if you try to squeeze a second gig out of them, it's normally the wound third string that disintegrates, regardless of manufacturer or price. But these White Bronze strings hold up well. My acoustic guitar is also stiff to play (yes, I should get an easier-playing guitar), but these feel perfect and my fingers aren't beat up by the end of the night. The singer-songwriter I often work with heard these strings on my guitar and immediately noticed the difference, and then wanted a set on her guitar.Colin

I have my favorite strings for acoustics, electrics, and classical guitars. But I needed something that would work well with the pick ups on my new Ibanez arch top Expressionist. I've tried several. These are a great option. I like the wound 3rd string. There's a set of D'Addario with a wound 3rd string I also want to try. The D'Adarrios have a slightly smaller gauge 3rd and 6th string, but these ghs white bronze will definitely be on my favorites list.Coca-Cola Cowboy

These strings are great for archtop guitars that carry a magnetic pickup. I play my Gretsch archtop unplugged every now and then and the flat wound jazz strings just don't have much acoustic presence. I tried the DR Zebras and they are pretty weak when plugged in. These guys are the best of both worlds. Sound great unplugged and are nice and clear through the amp!Riverrat123

Use them on my Martin DX-1. Great tone, last long time. Tone not as good on my D-28. Maybe the rosewood? Overall great strings. GHS has a great product.bro.banjo

Not the best strings. There were already some rust when I opened them when they were supposed to be sealed. I don't blame Mightyape as I've bought these strings from other stores as well and had some rusty as well.Kevin

I began using these strings last year and I've never looked back. If there are better acoustic strings in this price range (or any price range for that matter), I'm not aware of them. Great tone, great feel, and the tone remains bright and crisp after extended use. Highly recommended.Johnny H.

I bought these strings to try them out beacuse of the reasonable price. The tone when I first strung these on my Walden GA accoustic was great but after the guitar hung for two days in my humidified studio, the wound strings were all dead. I loosened and retightened the strings and some of the good tone returned but after a day the wound strings were again dead. I have not had good experiences with DR coated strings. I will stick to the coated strings I have been using even though they are pricy.Juice

I was skeptical about these strings based on reviews I've read on multiple sites, but tried them anyway. WOW!! These strings are incredible! I put them on my new Dean Custom, replacing the factory Ernie Ball strings and the difference was striking. Great tone and a very smooth feel. Also somewhat "slick" feeling but that meant they were fast. If you are into lead guitar, you might check these out. I had read that the coating on the strings affected sustain but I didn't notice any at all. Another thing I noticed was that my finger tips didn't turn black like they do after hours of playing on regular strings. These are now my "GoTo" strings for all my guitars.Zukiryder05

Okay. I do things a little differently sometimes. I have an Ovation 1778 Elite with a maple neck very similar to an electric neck. So I decided to string it like an electric. I put a set of DR 10's strings on it and replaced the wound third with a plain .018 string. Wow! This is a fun guitar to play! I'm mostly an electric guy but lately I've been playing the Ovation at home almost exclusively. There is a whole new set of lead sounds available to me and the strings sound great for flat pickin'. I'm a DR fan anyway. They are just great strings. I am really suprized at the fulness of these light strings. Try DR, you'll be glad you did.Aubieone

In over 50 years of playnig I have never found a better string than DR. I have always used the medium gauge however due to some arthritis developing in my left index finger I have switched to light gauge to see if it can help. I have never been careful about changing strings and the DR strings last a long time. I change strings once or twice a year. I play a lot and a year is too long. I would not recomment anyone wait that long as the strings, any strings, will get to sounding dull. I use acoustic strings but have a fishman pickup installed in my guitar. I have only played one gig since putting on the light gauge strings and playing thump style the bottom end seems to suffer a little so I have to come up with some adjustments like pidking harder with my thump pick. I haven,t used any other strings than DR for the past 20 years. They are definately the best.JT

turned my 150 dollar epiphone into a powerful sounding guitar. these strings really add extra drama to your strums. Not quite sure write a review for something that requires hearing to understand but for the price it won't hurt to just try them and see what i mean..ROBERT

I usually use Elixir Lights or Mediums which is the recommended brand for all Taylor Guitars but I always wanted to try out Cleartone. Picked up the Cleartone Grand Lights which is a mix of medium and light strings and they do not disappoint. They sound beautiful on my Taylor Grand Auditorium! I highly recommend picking up a set of these and try them out on any acoustic guitar. If you like the crisp bright tones of lights with the rich and loudness of medium strings then these are the strings for you! They are corrosion resistant and have a thin flake free coating on them like Elixirs do. These just might be my new favorite strings! I will have to check out some different sizes and see what else they have. But as of now I am happy with my very first set of Cleartone acoustic guitar strings!mccaseyfresh

Although I was not throughly impressed I still say they are worth a shot if you are curious. If you don't like them, hey, go back to what works. I am unfortunately stuck with a stack of these strings (and intend to use them), but I'm not going to complain because I got an incredible deal on them. There's too many complainers out there today. Cleartone strings appear to be a well-manufactured, quality product, and I recommend them on the grounds that you try them to see if they are a good fit for you and your guitar. All the best! Cleartone coating versus other brands' coating – this is what the package touts. I notice the coating to be thinner but a good quality "coated" string has never bothered me much. In other words – it advertises a thinner coating and a more natural feeling product, but unfortunately it doesn't matter to me much. I'll rate this category a 6. The strings seem to be well made and are even packaged nicely in a durable poly wrap package, I admit I was pretty impressed just seeing what was underneath the pouch. Strings are color coded, which will be appealing to those who are familiar with D'Addario strings. Nice touch. Each string tips off with a long straight steel core. Strings tuned up fast and after a few stretches only needed one or two re-tunes. The area where I am dissatisfied is not in the durability or the feel of the strings. I am dissappointed in the sound. These strings replaced an old set of D'Addario EXL's on my Yamaha FGX720SCA Acoustic/Electric, and although they were brigher (as new strings tend to be), they were lacking a certain fullness and richness that the EXL's provided, both new and used, when played on my guitar. The EXL's have always been my go-to coated string, simply because they sound better to me than other coated competitors, so I may be partially biased here. But I know what I hear and I know what I like, and I don't feel these Cleartones are the best fit for my guitar. I want the readers to know that every guitar responds differently to strings. I have played guitar for quite a few years and have realized that some brands/gauges/lines of strings work better on some guitars, both acoustic and electric, than do others. So don't let this review scare you away from trying a set of strings that you might just fall in love with. On my particular guitar I wasn't impressed, but perhaps on your Takamine or your Martin these strings will shoot rainbows from your fingertips. It's all subjective. If you can find a special, I'd say give them a whack. You may not be dissapointed, and you'll know for yourself if these are for you or not. There's a lot of buzz about these strings, why not try them for yourself? Peace.zippidydoo