Best Strings For A Resonator Guitar (2024 Update)

I pretty much exclusively use D'Addario strings at this point, best balance of value, durability and tone. These ones I bought for a 6 string Epi I was setting up, rich lows and bright highs, perfect for lower tuning, open tuning or full chord rhythm playing. A blind test would put that Epi at a much higher price point then what they go for, simply by a set up and these D'ddario strings.KENNY

This was a great price on my favorite strings. Shipping was very fast too. Unfortunately, "new" does not mean the same as"fresh" and I have now learned the difference. These do seem to be genuine Elixers, but a few problems which led to broken strings may indicate that these were either sitting on a shelf for a very long time or else exposed to moisture. Normally, brand new strings will be very springy when you first take them out of the sleeve. They generally will uncoil into a straight line, but every single one of these maintained a strong curl or twist in it. But that alone was not a problem for me. The strings installed normally and tuned well, but the tonal quality seemed a little sub-par compared to what I was used too. Still, it's possible I was just imagining that. The strings were fine for a month. Held there notes as well as any, and the tone was at least decent, though I still felt it was missing something. But after one month I had the B string break. I usually keep Elixer strings for 6 months before they finally lose their great tone and I replace them, and because I wind plenty of extra string around the posts, I haven't had a string break on me in over 8 years. Breaking one now pretty much confirmed my earlier suspicions. I went ahead and replaced all 6 strings with the next set, but 2 weeks later and the high E string broke on me. For now I'm borrowing the high E from the final set, but the first chance I get I will be replacing every string with a new, fresh set from a local music store. I don't think I'll buy strings online again because of this apparent problem of freshness.jaredlang85

Long lasting, great sound. I went to my girlfriends sisters home for Xmas and a few guys got a some guitars out and we played some rock, country and bluegrass on Elixers strung on acoustic instruments. They claimed the strings were three years old. They sounded quite good for their age. After seeing a John Paul Jones interview where he said Elixers were all he used. I already used them but his opinion completely sold me. I even bought an Elixer tee shirt. I use them on all my guitars and mandolins. I won't settle for anything else. I just bought a FX5 that had Addario's on it. No pause, I replaced them with Elixers. Great sound. Long lasting. Stay good looking too. Buy multiple set bundles and save money.easymedicine1

I have an older small-body acoustic and got these extra-lights to see how they'd do. The literature said the Polyweb sounded a bit warmer and felt "slicker" to play than the Nanowebs so opted for that coating this time. They have accomplished exactly what I wanted. They have plenty of volume in a small-body, are a delight to play, and the guitar is more responsive than before. I have a similarly made deadnought that I put 11's in 80/20 Nanoweb on, and those are perfect for that guitar. They are a different sound. I also have a high-end dread that I put Nanoweb 11's on in Phosphor bronze and they're great for that one. So all three types for three different guitars and all worked perfectly.smugdad

The 2ed string would not go into and stay into tune, It broke less that 10 minutes after it was strung. The string broke at the base at the ring.none

I like GHS Boomers for my electrics so I thought Id try these on my dobro. These string really stink. They are DEAD. At max volume I cannot even tell if my amp is on. They flex so much that it is almost impossible to do hammer ons. A set of Bronze acoustic that are old and worn out have more sound than these. Dont waste your money.Rich

Everything you could ask for in strings for a slide guitar. Certainly aren't going to bend easy, but that shouldn't be what you're looking for. They haven't broken yet after several months of intense play, however the tone has started to fade so I'm ordering more. You can't definitely get a few months out of one set.mrmr1101

I have gone through a few sets of these now and they sound very balanced on a Dobro Houndog Square neck. They seem to last pretty good. I'm new to the Dobro but the Americanas seem to last longer than some of the others I have tried. The service from Strings and Beyond is AWESOME!!Mark

I bought this set of strings for my Dobro and I could not believe the sound they have!!, no buzzing or raspy sound, I have used others, but I find these are the best strings I have ever used on my Dobro, You simply MUST try them!!Will

The packaging is great as is the tone, no rust spots as advertised. They do pick up any imperfection on your slide so make sure to use a polished one.aguilared

I'm a senior citizen jammer, having played guitar ever since Peter, Paul & Mary were young. These guitar strings have been my favorites for many years. Recently I tried some others, simply because I wasn't in an area where these were sold. I noticed the difference right away, and so did my fingers! The Elixirs are recommended for my Taylor GS Mini, and for good reason. I've had them last for years in the past, and now that I'm playing more than ever, I change them quarterly. They are superb strings and easy on the fingers, so I recommend them highly.NikiRoo

Fat Sound, my local dealer stack up these exclusively over the 80/20 because they sound so good. They are luthiers I trusted for many years for advise. If you want get add some boldness to your acoustic guitar, try one of these. They are probably the best sounding acoustic guitar strings from Elixir. I tried these briefly on my Taylor DN3. It came equiped with Elixir Nanoweb 80/20. When it was time to stock some replacements, my local dealer had only the Elixir Nanoweb Phosphore Bronze and argued that they sounded better on Taylor guitar because they have warmer tone. It turned out they have a great tone and are very lound and very well projecting, but unfortunately, the tension is much higher then the Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 of the same gauge, and it made my studio guitar sound like a folk guitar. Sincde I did not want to mess with the near prefect factory setup of the DN3, and I prefered the Studio tone of the 80/20 over the Folk tone of the Phosphore Bronze, I decided to go back to the 80/20. But that doesn't mean they are not good strings. They are in fact better sounding in many ways then the 80/20, but I the 80/20 just suites my taste better with this specific Taylor DN3. The Phosphore Bronze strings have huge and clear mids, and a lot of high mid harmonics. Yes they have much more tension then the 80/20, and would probably require neck adjustement when switching from 80/20 to these, but the bold and forward folk/blues tone pays back for that small sacrifice. They have much more harmonics then the 80/20, and the high E string is not too bright. The first thing I noticed with these strings was the fact that the High E string was not lean, but rather fat and well defined. . However, compared with the 80/20, the lows are a bit overwelmed by the bold mids. Which is not bad at all, it's just that my DN3 has a clean and well defined low end with the 80/20, which is not as noticeable with the Phosphore Bronze. My next guitar will probably be more for Folk and will have these strings.Pierre-BJnej

Put these on a bright, shimmering guitar that had old strings maybe a year or more and put on these Elixir Nano supposed upgrade by suggestions at my local guitar center and immediately took them off an put the old strings back on! These are dull, muffled sounding dead resonance producing strings. They SUCKED compared to old di Addario strings? Waste of time and money. They were put on a Ibanez EW Monkey Pod wood 6 string acoustic guitarDas Fuut

I have been a Stringjoy customer now for 4-5 years(I think?) and they are the best strings I’ve ever used on my electric guitars! Love the feel of them and the tone. You guys have an amazing thing going. I would love to try them on my resonator guitar(it’s a square-neck). Beard Guitars makes the strings I currently use on it. They’re a little peculiar as far as the gauge goes though. .18-.20-.29W-.36-.45-.56 but I love the tone of that gauge and like Ariel Posen, I like a fight from my strings. I almost ordered a custom set to try when I was ordering my previous sets of electric strings but didn’t see a .29W in bronze. Anyways, I’m very thankful I discovered you guys! Best.string.manufacturer.on.the.planet!!!! Period! Nathan Farlow High Point, NC 86 Ibanez Roadstar RG-110 2000s G&L Tribute ASAT Rogue lap steel Martin HD28 Gold Tone PBS-DNathan F

I turned to Stringjoy because I wanted a 9-72 8-string set, for which there aren't many options ot there, unless you go for a custom set. I was tempted by the stellar reviews, so I decided to give these a go. Firstly, these are the clearest sounding strings I've ever tried. They're not excessively bright, but their articulation is amazing, which really helps that low F# string ring true. They are almost clear to a fault, because they emphasise every little bit of fret buzz and string rattle, so you have to watch your technique. Secondly, these are the longest lasting uncoated strings I've ever used. After a month of use, they have shown minimal aging. I don't play my 8-string every day, but still, this is impressive. Also, they don't rust, flake or turn black. They just gradually become duller, while still remaining playable. One bit of criticism I have is the tuning stability. These strings seem to need a certain amount of tension to stay in tune. They were fine on my 27" scale 8-string, but when I tried the equivalent set on my 25.5" scale 7-string, bending made them go out of tune very easily. I need to try the 10-60 set and see if it's any better. Overall, I'm very happy with this set for my 8-string, and I have already purchased more. Oh, and one more thing! Normally, whenever I use gauge 72 or higher, I have to partially unwrap the winding to fit the string into its tuning peg. With this set, the lowest string was somehow able to go in as it is. A really nice added bonus!Alexander K

When I was in my teens and early twenties, I didn’t think about the differences between brands of strings. I based my choices as much on the packaging as anything. After putting it away for decades, I decided to take up guitar again. I decided that this time I would explore the differences in strings. I’ve been all over the map with this and have finally settled on Stringjoy Naturals. They’re not as expensive as some other strings I’ve tried and liked. They hit a sweet spot for me. Price, playability, and sound. They’re all there for me.Mark B

These are great strings be not for everyone. They are different in that they aid the upper register of vocals. I've put them on a 00-27 and a J 200; tow very different guitars. The affect is magical for those musicians who want a harp-like tone from their steel strung axe. They have an interesting configuration. From e to E; 12, 16,12,16, 23 W, 30 W. The result is crisp, clear highs and rich lows. These strings are different, but wonderful.goeller2006

I have tried countless strings over the years, and these John Pearse strings are fantastic! You name it, I've tried it. Everything from D'Addario, Elixer, Martin, Gibson, DR, Cleartone and even Dean Markley. Cheap and expensive, I have tried them. All I can say is that these are the best acoustic strings I have tried to date. I just went from a set of Elixers (which I thought were expensive, but good) to these, and these strings won out hands down. As soon as I installed these, my guitar absolutely came ALIVE! It was almost like night and day. Everything was better! Immediately what I noticed was the added volume and projection I was getting, but most of all, it was the tone that absolutely sold me on these. With these strings I heard more woodiness, percussive body, clarity, string to string definition, harmonic overtones, and resonance than any other acoustic strings I have heard to date. The top end also opened up and became even more tactile and transparent. These strings are just more organic, yet highly defined and less sterile than anything else I have heard, and they also have a very balanced output from string to string that is excellent. In no small measure, these strings have been a bit of a revelation. These strings are also very smooth, and I also noticed less finger noise between fretting notes and bar chords as well. However, regarding that smoothness, I also noticed something interesting as well. Just try to follow me with this: These are the first set of John Pearse strings I have ever installed, so I don't know if this is a "one off", but as smooth as they are, I also noticed that the unwound strings have an ever so slightly uneven and wavy finish to them in spots when you shine them in the light. I don't mention this as a negative IN ANY WAY, but just purely as an observation. Besides, I could care less because they sound so darn amazing. Anyway, my point of mentioning this (and this is based purely on conjecture), is I wonder if the barely perceptible finish inconsistencies contribute to the overall tonality of these strings? TBH, I have never seen strings that had this kind of "inconsistency" to their finish before, and I am wondering if this has anything to do with the great tonality of these strings? All the other strings I have bought over the years have been extremely smooth and consistent in their diameter and finish. Again, I don't mention this as a negative in any way because you never feel this while playing in the least. The only time I noticed it was when I looked at them under direct light. These strings sound fantastic, and obviously their specific alloy and construction plays a great part to their sound, but on the other hand, I have never seen strings with this kind of finish before, and yet I have also never been so excited about a set of strings before either. There has to be something to it. The only other thing I can mention is that these strings also have excellent string life as well. I have had these on my acoustic after about a month and a half of use, and they still sound fantastic! Anyway, all I can say is that I have tried A LOT of strings, and these ones are the standouts by far. Buy with confidence. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Peace. 🙂Eywa Dude

Had a pesky b and e string on short scale 000. Solution was it wanted more tension to ring true. The 13 and 18 did it; short scale so they play like lighter strings! The 22w g is awesome, the rest balance nicely. 52 is lite for E but not much of a sacrifice; drop D tuning still do-able. SO HAPPYJohn

I've pretty much depended on D'Addario strings, both electric and acoustic since the 80s. The EXP42s have been have been my 'go-to' for my wooden body Dobro since they first became available.mrdavee

I have played D'addario exclusively since 1996 on all 12 of my guitars – acoustic, 6,12 and resonator, bass and electric. I don't know how D'addario creates a coated string that looks and feels un-coated, but they do. I play alot, both finger picked, plectrum and slide, and I know I can depend on D'addario, for consistent tone and quality. I rely on them – and almost take them for granted. One of the first things that I did when I bought my new resonator was re-string. The instrument came alive – as I knew it would. I have played other strings in the past but have relied on D'addario for over 15 years, for both performance and recording.Cindy - RedRavenSounds

Like buying a string you need but it's buying six strings you need. I did indeed recieve six different strings, each one able to create the appropriate string sound I needed.customer

Elles sonnent très bien, et sont très agréables à jouer. A voir dans le temps, si elles résistent a la corosion dans le tempsStéphane E.

This was a great price on my favorite strings. Shipping was very fast too. Unfortunately, "new" does not mean the same as"fresh" and I have now learned the difference. These do seem to be genuine Elixers, but a few problems which led to broken strings may indicate that these were either sitting on a shelf for a very long time or else exposed to moisture. Normally, brand new strings will be very springy when you first take them out of the sleeve. They generally will uncoil into a straight line, but every single one of these maintained a strong curl or twist in it. But that alone was not a problem for me. The strings installed normally and tuned well, but the tonal quality seemed a little sub-par compared to what I was used too. Still, it's possible I was just imagining that. The strings were fine for a month. Held there notes as well as any, and the tone was at least decent, though I still felt it was missing something. But after one month I had the B string break. I usually keep Elixer strings for 6 months before they finally lose their great tone and I replace them, and because I wind plenty of extra string around the posts, I haven't had a string break on me in over 8 years. Breaking one now pretty much confirmed my earlier suspicions. I went ahead and replaced all 6 strings with the next set, but 2 weeks later and the high E string broke on me. For now I'm borrowing the high E from the final set, but the first chance I get I will be replacing every string with a new, fresh set from a local music store. I don't think I'll buy strings online again because of this apparent problem of freshness.jaredlang85

These strings have been a lifesaver for me. My hands aren't acidic and I easily get a year from them before needing to restring. I use the same brand on my PRS electric, too. (10's). I gig weekly in our church worship band so I prefer a string that holds tone and these just deliver. Super product! I do prefer these over the 80/20 and any poly web version…for tone and I feel the poly version stifles string resonance too much.BradM

Long lasting, great sound. I went to my girlfriends sisters home for Xmas and a few guys got a some guitars out and we played some rock, country and bluegrass on Elixers strung on acoustic instruments. They claimed the strings were three years old. They sounded quite good for their age. After seeing a John Paul Jones interview where he said Elixers were all he used. I already used them but his opinion completely sold me. I even bought an Elixer tee shirt. I use them on all my guitars and mandolins. I won't settle for anything else. I just bought a FX5 that had Addario's on it. No pause, I replaced them with Elixers. Great sound. Long lasting. Stay good looking too. Buy multiple set bundles and save money.easymedicine1

I hate to give a bad review of Earthwood because I've played and loved the other Earthwood strings; however I tried these Rock & Blues strings on my Taylor as well as my Fender Sonoran and was not happy at all with the sound. For me I think it is the fact that the g-string is like an electric string and not wound like an acoustic string. Because of that, when I strum the whole acoustic sound is "off". Sure the string is easier to bend for lead, but to me it's not worth the trade off of having a bad sound when strumming.Strums the Word

I use to buy Martin Marquis strings but the price went up and I thought I would try these Ernie Ball strings. I put a set on my guitar yesterday evening and they sound good. I like buying the packs of strings instead of single packs. We will see if they have a long or short life. The sound is great.Hunter Dan

I discovered these strings by a lucky accident. Now I use them on all my acoustic guitars. I feel that they improve the tone considerably especially on my slim bodied electro acoustic. Although I am not an expert,and unable to comment on longevity and durability, I recommend them.John F.

Great for bends on an acoustic. Not quite as loud as elevens, but you’d expect that. I have wound G on my Telecaster, so having equivalent sets allows easy transition between playing the Tele v playing the acoustic.Richard P.

I’m actually really glad that I’ve been given the opportunity to write this review… I recently had my main Breedlove acoustic looked at by our local tech here in Gibsland Jon, I have been trying different string types for about two months and couldn’t quite get the sound I’ve been chasing. I don’t use the other bright brand that cost a bit because it sheds and I find other things I don’t like about the big E John told me you’ve gotta have a go at these mate… After considerable pressure I brought a set and I still can’t believe how great my guitar sounds every time I play which is every day. The people I work with have all been saying to me that I sound great all of a sudden. So I’ve just found my absolute go to new set of strings. And I buy from Mannys out of principle, because I’m 62 and they’ve been around… Just like me ha ha hahMark M.

I waited a few weeks before submitting this review because I wanted to see if these strings lived up to the promises. I have to say I am not disappointed. They sounded great (as you would expect) when I first restrung my guitar. However here I am, several weeks later and there is no noticeable deterioration in the sound quality, whatsoever. For the past year or so I have been using Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze which are excellent but these are better. Yes, at first glance, they seem expensive but given their longevity, they are a good buy.Mr T. J.

I have been playing out for over forty years. These strings are so much easier on the fingers for long gigs. More of a mellow tone too if you like that. I have used these strings for my acoustic guitars for over ten years. These or the light set would be perfect for beginners. You remember how heavier bronze strings felt the first time you picked up a guitar.troxil-09

I am an aging arthritis sufferer. Been trying a wide variety of strings to mitigate the pain associated with playing my collection of high end acoustics. I know I could switch to nylon classical or electric guitars, but they just aren't my style. The GHS silk and steels give me the comfort I need with less pressure required for fretting and still retain a full, high quality acoustic resonance. Have yet to find a better set for my purposes. I used Elixirs exclusively for years, so I know a good string when I play it.Phil P.

I have used Elixir strings exclusively for the past 20 years. This is my first purchase of acoustic nanowebs in this gauge (only just started playing acoustic guitar again in recent months and always use polyweb 9's on my electrics). Only just fitted them yesterday (swapping out the poly 10's I had previously fitted – finding them too light for acoustic and going back now with the 12-53 to the maunfacurer's original gauge supplied on the guitar). Plays much better now – almost certainly due to the gauge and sounds good. Time will tell if I like nano's better than poly's on acoustic. Elixirs are comparatively expensive but the trade-off is that they keep their tone a very long time and don't corrode – so full string set changes are infrequent. Occasionally I replace just the plain strings on my electrics when I wear through the plating and/or tire them a bit with bending and vibrato.STEWART C.

I only have pros, no cons!!! I love Elixir strings!!! I've been using them for years!!! I first heard about them from a good friend of mine, Tom Hemby. He is a 30+ year session player and producer in Nashville Tennessee. I'm not a pro like him, just a weekend warrior, but honestly these strings have been a Godsend for me!!! I HATE to change strings!!! I'm using the word about strings!!! Anyway, I love the sound of NEW strings but hate to have to stop and change them all the time! My hands sweat profusely so I always have dead strings. Tom told me that if I started using Elixir strings that problem would no longer be an issue and he was right! I use the Extra Lights .010 -.047 Nanoweb set on my Blueridge BR-163 CE. One of the things I didn't realize was that the coating cuts down on the noise, the string squeak when I change chords or when I'm playing a lead. With un-coated strings it's very irritating! So, my strings are quieter, they last longer, they sound bright all the time!!! I'm diggin these strings! All I can say is if you aren't using them, you should be, give your audience a break from the squeak, squeak squeak, of your strings during your performances, it's very distracting from the songs and your playing ability!!! I tell everybody I know that plays or is starting to learn, just go ahead and buy yourself some GOOD strings, it's the foundation of your sound!!! NO MORE SQUEAKING AND THEY LAST A LONG LONG TIME!!! That's a winner to me!!!buddy636

The main reason I purchased this instrument was to have the ability to travel, play outside in the present climate. It's almost a disposable guitar. Not a negative against the instrument. I am not going to bring my Strat or Yamaha out to the fire, by the river or sitting on the porch during a rainstorm. Worth every dollar and every dollar I did not have to spend. GOOD VALUE, SOUND and SIZE. HAPPY!!!!Rich

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

I’ve used these Santa Cruz Mid Tensions for 4 string changes now on both my D18 and D35 and I continue to be impressed. I don’t think it’s just a marketing gimmick as these strings produce a more balanced and full sound than regular phosphor bronze sets. It’s a more mellow sound right away, almost like Monel strings. These have a great feel under the fingers as well. Great product!Michael M.