Best Guitar Strings For Martin Acoustic (2024 Update)

I never get involved with commentary of products, but I feel obligated to say WOW, with Martins new Authentic Acoustic line of strings. Installed the PB variety on my 000-28ec, my Gibson sj200, and my Collings CJmh, in each case there was an immediate improvement in all areas of tone. Pardon the cliche', but in every way the guitars came to life. Great sustain, solid bass, and smooth bell like treble. I have tried many strings over the years, and yes there are differences, but never tothe degree I hear with these. A vast improvement in all areas, IMOP. Can't say how long they'll last, haven't had them on that long. Ther worth a try to any guitar out there. And I will always buy from Strings and Beyond. They have always been courteous, professional, ship quickly, and competitively priced. Thanks.Mark

For the last couple years, I’ve been comparing these Lifespan 12-54 against other coated phosphor-bronze sets: D’Addario EXP 12-53 & D’Addario XT 12-53 & D’Addario XS 12-53 & Elixir’s Light nano set. These Martin Lifespan strings have given me no issues, except that my low E string bridge pin doesn’t quite want to press all the way in (due to being cut for a 53 vs 54 gauge string). I didn’t think that small variation would matter, but it seems to! Even with the bridge pin slightly protruding higher than the others, these strings sound great and have lasted quite a long time without degrading in tone or feel. My pick eventually does cut up the coating, which visibly frays and starts to dull the string sound. But, this is after much time and use. I like the sound and feel of the strings, and will now be comparing them to the new D’Addario XS strings, which claim to survive picking better than any other string, while using a thinner coating. We shall see! At this time I can report that I like the Martin Lifespans fairly equally to D’Addario EXPs, which sound and respond better (in my experience) than Elixir’s comparable strings. I have not yet concluded my XT and XS testing to compare, but I expect them to perform as (or more) durably as these Lifespans. I anticipate the XS strings to sound and respond more like uncoated strings than the others listed above (including these Lifespans) while potentially surviving more punishment from my pointy Dunlop Primetone Flow plectrums! I’ll review the XS performance on that listing after finding the results. I have been pretty satisfied with these Lifespans, but not blown away in comparison to D’Addario’s coated offerings. They’re competitive and if you’re a Martin lover, these are an easy set-it-and-forget-it option that give a longer replacement cycle than Martin’s uncoated strings without sounding completely dull. You can get a still good low-end brassy growl on these until their coating starts to fray. However, you’ll definitely also want to try a set of D’Addario’s coated strings to pick a favorite based on their response with your own guitar, picking technique, and sound preferences. I found Lifespans to be pretty stable for intonation and gradually become less strident/bright in tone through use (wear at the picking location). D’Addario lights may have a touch less power (fundamental frequency) on the lowest string. They both respond well and sustain well on my guitar, with the D’Addarios remaining extremely stable with intonation. [For reference, the strings mentioned here were all installed on a very fine Larrivee LV-10 (sitka & EIT) built around year 2000. The guitar has a TON of rich mid-to-high overtone presence and excellent string-to-string balance with good dynamic range and sustain. Most strings sound pretty good on it, but the timbre does noticeably change with different strings. These changes in overtone prominence are difficult to express in a written review…. Larrivee calls for D’Addario 12-53 gauge phosphor bronze strings. Bridge pins are ebony (like the bridge).]Daniel

I was having problems with the sound on my boutique acoustic guitar, so the first thing I did was try several different makes of strings. Well I finally found THE string that made A huge difference. Buy them in bulk if you can!THOMAS

I have been playing for many years but for fun only , Strings sound good , feel good , play easy for 13 gauge. Seem to last as long or longer than most . I am always trying strings and have had these on this guitar before , they are a great string for this Martin DSTG .Joe R

I have been playing for a number of years, mostly as accompaniment for my singing. Recently I have begun writing and doing more public performing. I use light gauge because I prefer the tone quality and ease of playing. I choose Martin Authentic Acoustic SP because they hold tune and have just the quality I need for the type of music I play.Old Hippie

This is difficult for me to review as the guitar strings are not for me but are a present for my son whose birthday has not yet arrived. I can say that the service was excellent – my order arrived on time and was very well-packaged. But I'm sure the strings are also very good quality as my son has used them before and would not have requested them if they were not good quality and good value.Lindy P.

I like these strings. The sound produced by my Martin D-18 with these strings is rich and warm. Only issue I have is they seem to tarnish after a week or so. However the sound doesn't drop off as fast. Usually change strings about once a month. Not a bad choice for the price.Daniel

I bought these because my local store was out of Daddario EXP 26 strings that I am using. I was using Elixir Custom Lights before that, but I changed to EXP 26 since the G string of the Elixirs was constantly breaking. Comparing this set of Martin MSP4050s with the coated strings I used previously, I found that the Martin strings were the hardest to play with very high tension (hard to bend) and they were also very painful to slide your finger across. Sound-wise they are really good and warm sounding and they get brighter the harder you pick the strings which feels very responsive. Although I haven't used these for long, the Martins feel more durable than the Elixirs but I am expecting some degradation in sound over time since these are not coated. Due to the extremely low playability which I wouldn't expect from a .011 set I found these to be of little use to me. But if you don't use full note bends or slides a lot then you may benefit from the beautiful sound of the strings.ayf

I have been playing for many years. These strings have been my favorite. As the years went by, my fingers could no longer handle the medium gauge, so I tried a light gauge strings. Those strings would not stay in tune. I was thinking my guitar needed new tuning pegs. But I bought these and installed them on my 70's Gibson look-a-like acoustic guitar. Oh man, it's like having my old friend back again. The strings stay in tune and bring out the warm sound this guitar makes. I have been strengthening my fingers so no problems. It's so nice to play again with these great sounding strings. The lighter strings were too light and cut into my fingers. These make my old friend sing again.Harp Gal

Don't go by me, I change my mind on guitar strings about once a week. But for what it's worth, these are great strings. I've had a few injuries to my left index finger over the years. These days, I use them on my acoustic guitars for comfort. I've switched to D'addario, and nickel based strings for my electrics.George

The good news, the strings are OK. They sound good, are what they are and, for the price, could be considered for budget minded performers. The bad news, the strings are not made in USA. Fender, D'addario, Gibson, Pearse and so on make the effort to manufacture their stings here in the United States. Martin makes their strings, and now some of their instruments, outside the US. At a time when we need to pick up our economy and provide jobs for people in the United States, I cannot, nor will not, buy Martin strings ever again.The Harp Man

My favourite acoustic guitar strings. My acoustic sounds noticeably better when I have these strings on, compared to other major brands. More "stringy" and bluesy, less bright. They've been my go-to for years.Mr R. S.

Excellent product and an awesome Price!! Bright acoustic sound. There are my go to strings and I love the affordable price! I will definitely buy from here again!!topcop32

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 sound great for my gigs. I dont own a martin guitar but they're durable in the heat, and thats exactly what i was looking for.Jake

I cant state enough how good this nut worked. It fit perfectly with a little minor sizing. The guitars tone opened up dramatically. The notes literally come blossoming out. And that annoying plink while tuning is gone. Great product. 2017 Breedlove Studio 12-string.jhs60061

Great strings at a good price. I've used these for a couple of years on my Martin OMC15E (also bought from PMT!) and they sound great, last ages, and maintain tuning really well. Keep up the good work, PMT People!Chris T.

Brilliant sound, very very happy with these. Just remember to tune the 1st E slooooowly! Martins have been my go-to for a very long time for a reason though. They sound great and they'll get old before they snap.Charles H.

I cant afford elixirs since strings dont seem to last more than 2 gigs no matter what i buy. For the price these have the longest life without string breakage or tone loss. I have even pulled a full set off after a few gigs without breaking one. I also live individually packaged strings since i usually only break g & d strings.Matt

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

Feel and play well. Stay in tune after the initial stretch. The B and high E could be packaged so it's easier for an old guy to see the size difference.Wm N

Bought a new guitar and these were the original strings. Martin Guitars also recommended the strings and I wanted to capture the original sound when purchased. The end result is the guitar sounds exactly as it did in the shop. They sound great and are long lasting, maintaining a constant tonal quality. When I changed the strings there was no sign of degradation or pitting. To be fair, I only changed the strings because I thought they'd been on too long rather than any deterioration in sound. I also regularly used a Fender Speed Slick String Cleaner.Ian C.

The new LifeSpan 2.0 treatment does not protect the plain steel strings from tarnishing under acidic fretting fingers. Attached photos show tarnishing that occurred after three hours of use. I had the exact same thing occur after using sets of Martin's untreated strings. Martin's previous MSP7600 LifeSpan strings would not tarnish after playing them over a month. And Elixir's anti-rust plain strings would last me at least four months with no tarnishing.MusicfromFDR

I have been doing a comparison of silk & steel strings from multiple brands, and these are by far the loosest feeling and easiest to play. They really do feel like having nylon strings on a steel guitar. This is great if you want to make playing easier, and it definitely does. The sound is pretty good too, not as loud as regular strings but a more sweet sound. If your guitar has low action you will probably get fret buzz since these are basically extra lights. Also, another plus to these strings is that they are wrapped with silk at the ball end, which is good for delicate or older instruments. I would recommend these for people who want the easiest to play strings. Otherwise the LaBella 710L strings sound similar and aren't quite so light.Chris

Looking at the description, I wasn't sure if it had "silk" threads underneath the wrap wire. On the Martin website, "silked" seemed to refer to the windings at the ball end. I took a string apart and, indeed, it is a true silk and steel. I'm using them on a very old Gibson flat top with many repaired cracks. Also, my hands seem to be degrading where normal strings are too high tension.Roy

Smoother, more comfortable to play than typical wound strings. OK, silky, if you will. Price is higher, though, and they have a shorter lifespan. Before they wear out, they sound good.Ned

I have tried many different makes and models of strings for my Martin HD28 but I always come back to these. Although they are not coated, they last a long time for me. They retain their bright tone and stay in tune better than others I have tried, particularly coated strings. I usually change them because I think it must be time to do so, not because of any sound issues or corrosion. I do always keep the guitar in its case when it isn't in use.Pete

I go back and forth between the Retro series and the SP series on several of my Martins and Altmans so I was excited to try the new ones out since I needed new strings. Yes, it is noticeable that there was zero corrosion when I opened the first set. I have less finger noise and the playability is a bit easier. They don’t go as far as the flexible core series, but if you use a pick this set sounds more solid and big. If you always use SPs you will really enjoy the upgrade and if you haven’t used Martin strings for awhile give them a shot! I can see moving from Monel on my rosewood guitars to these and Retro series on my mahogany instruments. Ive only had them on for about 10 hours of playing time and they still sound fresh and hold tuning much better out of the box than the previous SPs. Now I hope they carry the 12.5-55 set which is prefect for two of my Martins.Gunbarrel

The Martin Extra Light 10 to 47 strings work very well on my Martin D28. They sound like Martin and are great for live gigs. Affordable strings for live Musician…Vernon

Definitely easier to play, but a bit lacking in tone( especially base). Big difference to a set of custom lights. Depends on your priorities! Barre chords and string bends noticeably easier to bring off.alex m.

They sound great and great quality, but string tension seems a bit high, have to be heavier handed when fretting strings.Kenneth

not used to playing a 12 string, but my daughter gave me a martin D12, so I had to buy strings, they seem to be strong, as none of them have broken yet, although I did not tune the G an octave above. It took me all day to get in tune, but I was being careful and I guess it's the nature of 12 strings.toolman

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

I really hate restringing my Martin 12-string. These strings have lasted nearly 2 years before I hanged them. Sound great and stay in tune.gallicdenis

i've used these Matin Phosphpr Bronze for years. They make Middle of the road quality guitars sound closer richer to their more well heeled GuitarsReWired

I've put these strings on a low budget Vintage 12 string guitar (which is a great value for money guitar).. the sound was nog too bad, bout improved incredably with these Martin strings.deRoel

I have been experimenting with Elixir strings lately but find they take several days to start sounding their best. They also sound better on some guitars than on others. The Martin Marquis 80/20 bronze has been my go to strings for years. I like them for their clarity of sound, even though they may not last as long as Elixir strings. So, I may have to change them more often to keep that brilliant new string sound, which the Elixir, even with their nano web technology, still cannot quite match. Musician's Friend helps, by having the best prices !Art

I haven't tried every brand of strings out there, but of those I have tried, these Martin Marquis are my absolute favorite. I don't do a lot of alternate tunings, so breakage is not an issue for me, but my daughter broke the high E descending to double drop D, which seemed weird. Probably an isolated case. I thrash pretty hard on mine at acoustic sing-alongs, and so far none have broken for me. This isn't a coated or long-life string, you'll probably want to change them every few months if you play frequently, more often if you play daily, of course.Manki

I was setting the action on this 12 string for a friend and, talked him into letting me restring it also.What a difference it made,It didn't sound like the same guitar.The tone was so sweet and full after installing the M 190 12 string set.Thanks for your good products and value. Paul in the Mountains of Pa.Squire

A friend was given a 12 string guitar and asked me to make it playable, so I did just that. These strings look and sound great! They're design for longevity too. Good Buy… I recommend them!moor4themoneykevin

After 30 years I switched to these ball ends which make it super easy to change strings. You don't have to mess around with wrapping the string around itself to secure it. These strings sound great and very much in tune.spectral_paints

There are nylon string sets and other brands that may fit certain styles of playing or specific player preferences better, but for the price, these Martin hard tension nylon sets are tough to beat. They seem to have pretty good string life and nice tone. I am happier with the wound bass strings than I am the trebles. I do prefer harder tension and some of the more expensive sets that have black or titanium trebles; but again, I come back to the Martins time and time again for the balance of good quality, for a great price. I've started playing Martins on my steel string guitars as well for similar reasons.Marshall

These are a great replacement for classical or nylon string folk guitars. Perhaps not quite as bright and sweet as say Fender Bullet nylon strings, but a much better value for money, longer lasting and resilient guitar string, not prone to breaking. I do recommend these as a general purpose string for beginners or parlour guitar use. Very nice, quite happy with these. I also highly recommend Martin Custom Light strings for dreadnought or steel string acoustic guitars.purchasefinger65

For many years the Martin M140 ruled the acoustic guitar world, then sadly one day they disappeared. Now the sound that you've heard on many (many) Woodstock era recordings is back. You MUST give these a try. You'll be a believer!Rocky G.

I was out on the road when I broke two strings on my acoustic guitar. As luck would have, I was visiting one of those lovely European countries, whose stores close on Sunday. Understandable. Store owners also want to go and visit the festival where things are happening. So, a fellow guitarist introduced these to me. I felt silly, because I had never up to that point associated the Martin brand with strings rather only their (quite popular) acoustic guitars. After trying these, I've been purchasing from the Martin line of strings ever since. Martin strings now adorn my mandolin as well.Boyan P.