Martin 12 String Guitar Strings For Sale (2024 Update)

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 Bright , sparkly and very lush 12 string chorus sound. Expensive but worth every penny. A class above everything else.Alan T.

I use this product with the 12 string Martin I bought at Guitar Center. The string I chose is the top of the line long lasting acoustic guitar string.Jim

I didnt buy these strings from GC.But, i put them on a brand new out of the box upper echelon 12 string .I was not really happy with the Daddario strings that came on guitar.So made the journey to local music store and browsed thru their strings.These strings actually made guitar sound liked i imagined it would.Mclkar

These are excellent strings. I usually buy them by the dozens as I am a luthier, building and repairing guitars. Every new build leaves the shop with a set of Martin SP strings, whether it be medium or light guage strings, And many repair jobs leave the shop with Martin SP's as well unless the customer request a different string. I have used Martin strings for over 35 years. I've tried everything on the market but always go back to Martin strings, now being the Martin SP, whether Bronze which has a warmer, less boomy sound or the Phosphor Bronze which is a Brighter, punchier, wanta be heard string. Also very few string breaks!! And 2 sets are cheaper than 1 set of Eli**ers and sound and last as long . Pickin' a lot of Bluegrass,Country and Southern Gospel,,, you'll soon find out what works.Gtrwoodrat

It started almost 7 years back when I was experiencing someone perform with an identical model Taylor acoustic/electric that I owned – yet HIS guitar just sounded significantly brighter and more tone appeasing to me. I was dying to ask what kind of strings he was using – turned out to be the Martin SP Phosphor Bronze series. He even had an extra pack that he generously gave me, and I couldn't wait to get them on mine. I was previously using primarily Elixir coated strings, who's sound I had gone completely bored and disappointed with, very plastic-like. My guitar was reborn, I have not gone back to anything but the Martin SP Phosphor Bronze since. I've played acoustic for almost 20 years, and have performed as a solo acoustic musician for 10 years now – so I've played a variety of acoustics and strings over time. These have become my ultimate go-to. They are bright, yet have a full tone – beautiful and natural. They stay in tune very well, which is always an issue because I strum so heavily. They also remain in tune pretty much immediately after changing, which has been great when I've had the occasions where I needed to get them changed shortly before a show. Can't go wrong with these. They are Martins. Taylor guitars come with and recommend Elixir coated strings for their guitars. I will never ever do that again.RoxieBeane

These flex core strings are the best, I use them on all my guitars. The tone quality and response is awesome for fingerpicking and they're super easy on the fingers. The only issue I have with the twelve string set is that it only comes in the extra light gauge so you can't detune them very far. I use some medium gauge strings for the low e, a and d stringHayden

I like these better the regular strings. Worth the extra costs. This is my first 12 String so I am comparing these to the Six strings that I have used in the past. These sound and feel really good. Great quality!!! For the money you can't go wrong.INGRID HEAD

These were described as custom light; however, they are extra light. The thinner strings break too easily, and dont stay in tune.brmilubech

For my acoustics, I have tried other Martins (they're very good), but the Martin SPs just shine, literally, in both sound and sight. They look great on your acoustic axe and they bring out the lows through the highs flawlessly. I play them on my Taylor 455ce 12 string Jumbo. I have an affinity towards Taylor guitars, and Taylors come with Elixers (which are very good), but the SPs just outshine the Elixers for me in both sound, sight, and price!Steve-CUNm4

Martins for my 12 string guitars have been a staple for years. Extra light is what I recommend for a 12 string. Easy fingering and less stress on the guitar neck and bridge.6-12strings

The first reviewer confounds me. The ball kept falling off the string? What?! I have used these strings on my Martin 12 strings for over 9 years now and NOT ONCE has that ever happened. These strings are great, they last long when taken care of and cleaned after use (Fast fret) and have a midrange tone. They don't last as long as the Elixers but they are also 1/3 the price. I like the Elixers also, but to give these strings a 1 star just was crazy to me. They are great strings from a great company.Keith

When it comes to acoustic strings, nothing compares to the quality and resiliance of Martin strings. Buying them at such a great price only adds to the value of the purchase.zeppelinnerd1

I use these strings on my 12-string and have used either these or the Martin Marquis strings. I like the tone and the life of these strings.Dave

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

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

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

I'm in the Guitar Center string of the month club and am trying out various acoustic strings. I just got done with some D'Addario Light Phosphor Bronze EJ16 which I really liked and had on for a long time. I'm using all the strings on a Yamaha F335 TBS. These are underwhelming – a little too bright and the low E and A don't have the bass or resonance of my previous set even though they're a thicker gauge. Good projection and tone. They're good but they didn't wow me like the D'Addarios did. Actually, the more I play them, the more off putting they are. They sound cheap and there's no depth or low end. These might not stay on long.Mitch

Being a member of the string of the month club, I've been trying a bunch of new acoustic strings and these Martin 4100 SPs were in the pile of strings to try. Immediately after installing them, I didn't like them – way too bright and chimey. I left them on thinking maybe they'd age into a better sound or I'd get used to them. Neither happened and actually, they seem to have gotten worse. The sustain is no longer there and the guitar just sounds horrible. I gave them a good month and this morning when I picked up my guitar to play, I couldn't stand it anymore. I put on a set of D'Addarios and I got my old guitar back. Not sure if I got a bad batch or what because others really seem to like these but it was night and day when I removed the strings. It was so bad while I had them on, that I began to question my venerable old Yamaha and had even gone to GC to demo some other acoustics.mitch

I have been using these SP phosphor Bronze 12's for probably 10 years at this point. For the longest time I have been using them on my Martin DM (part of the Road Series they offered in the late 90's thru early 2000's) and they really have worked well for that guitar. I tried them on my Breedlove and hated them for that application, but for my Martin, they were perfect. So last summer I got a Rainsong Shorty which comes with Elixir Nano's which are fine strings and I'd been using them on other guitars and was used to the Elixir tone and feel but on the Rainsong, a carbon fiber guitar, the Elixirs didn't seem a great fit. So I started a quest for a good string match for the Shorty. After 9 different sets of various strings, these SP's were the clear winners by a long shot! The strings I compared were Elixir Nano 80/20, Elixir Nano PB's, Elixir Poly 80/20, D'Addario EXP PB's, Martin Retro Monel's, DR Black Beauties, Wyres and finally RotoSound Nexus.Moondoggie999

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

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

really though, these strings are great. I used to buy elixirs because they're durable but feel as just as secure and well wound. Compared to others, they really accentuate the naturally warm sounds of the guitar and they don't sound overly bright. Good stuff bby. 🙂Joey mtbc

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.

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.

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 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

Years ago I bought a cheap Esteban acoustic guitar to practice with when I was laid up with a broken ankle. Wasn't a bad guitar but you get what up pay for. I decided to take it out of the case and put new strings on it. WOW ! These MA530 strings made a world of difference. Now that old cheap guitar sounds and plays great! What a difference a new set of strings make. These strings made a big difference. These strings and make even a cheap guitar sound and play great !Dan K.

The strings were great for their specific purpose. I put them on my travel guitar. I don't want a lot of volume or a finger workout when playing this guitar. I just want to sit in my hotel room and play without disturbing anyone. For my regular guitar I would buy a higher gauge of string.Steve

I've played Martin strings fir a while, however, always a heavier gauge. I tried these out and immediately liked them. Longevity of them is my only concern coming from heavy gauge strings. I doubt it will be an issue, but will update if it is.Dave S

First time of trying these strings and I love them. The sound, response and clarity are first rate. I put them on a parlour guitar and they have transformed the quality of sound no end. Try them and you will not be disappointed. And if you are, then go back to your regular strings. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.Peter O.

I love these Retros on my Taylor AD27 as they suit the mellow tone of an all mahogany guitar. Lovely smooth tone and light feel. I purchased 11s to try on my Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster for a more electric feelIain V.

These strings are probably the most debated sets on the market today, seems you either like them or you don't. In the early 1970's we use to put light gauge electric strings on our acoustics for ease of play and to capture the sounds of the acoustic rock of the times. The Martin Retro Custom Lights in many ways seems to recapture those times to me. Admittedly, after being acclimated to PB and some of the other newer alloy strings over the last twenty years or so, I didn't particularly like these when I first decided to try a set on my beater, an early 80's MIJ Fender Malibu. I was about to give up on them when I realized they were beginning to grow on me, so after about a week or two I tried a set on my Martin HD-35. Again I wasn't impressed initially, but after a little bit they settled in and I really liked what the guitar was giving back to me. My Martin is an absolute cannon with SP's anyway, but seems even more so now, the bass is really big and the highs ring clear. Really nice. A few weeks later I replaced the FX's on my Gibson J-45 with these, and once again, after they settled in, I liked what I was hearing. If you were to try these strings, I would suggest you give them some time to settle in and you just might find you actually like them. Certainly, not everyone will like them, but some of you will. So, are the Retro's really that much better than the SP's and FX's? No, not really. They are simply different, and in my opinion a very good alternative. Only you can decide. Have fun……….Stan

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.