ACOUSTIC STRING BASICS

Helping you choose your wires…

GAuGe & Core

Acoustic strings are usually thicker than electric strings, which means stiffer string tension. Broadly speaking,‘standard’ acoustic sets are 0.011 to 0.052 (extra light) 0.012 to 0.054 (light) and 0.013 to 0.056 (medium). There are many other variants and hybrid gauge mixes to suit different tastes. The wound strings’ steel core thickness has an effect, too: thicker core/thinner wrap gives you more volume and string tension; a thinner core/thicker wrap the opposite.

mATeriAlS

There are two main types for acoustic wound strings: Phosphor bronze (typically 92 per copper, eight per cent tin) is the modern ‘standard’; a good all-round choice that sounds less bright than bronze when new, and maintains a more consistent tone over the strings’ lifespan than… Bronze (also called ‘brass’, 80 per cent copper, 20 per cent tin). Brighter and more ‘rich’ than phosphor bronze when new, although loses brightness and articulation more quickly. It’s also worth looking our for different alloys that have a tonal effect, for example the new aluminium bronze from Ernie Ball and Retro ‘Monel’ (nickel) from Martin.

CoATed/uNCoATed

Most modern string brands offer a range of ‘coated’ strings these days, where either the whole string, or just the wrap wire, is treated to a coating of material that protects the metals and therefore extends string life: three or four times in our experience. The ‘downside’ (that may be an advantage, depending on your opinion) is that they generally feel and sound slightly smoother to a lesser or greater degree. They’re more expensive, too.