Best Strings for Acoustic Guitar 2022

Numerous factors impact your guitar’s core tone: your instrument, your technique, and of course, the type of strings you play. But where’s a player to start with so many string types available today?

Ask any number of acoustic guitarists what their favorite strings are, and you’re likely to receive just as many opinions. 80/20 versus phosphor bronze, coated versus uncoated — the debate goes on and on. 

Fortunately, Sweetwater has assembled a list of the most popular acoustic guitar strings on the market today. Whether you’re after a change of tone or a longer life, the following strings are a great starting point for most players.

Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!

Elixir Strings Nanoweb Acoustic Guitar StringsErnie Ball Paradigm Acoustic Guitar StringsD’Addario Nickel Bronze Acoustic Guitar StringsMartin Retro Monel Acoustic Guitar StringsD’Addario EJ 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar StringsMartin Authentic Acoustic Guitar StringsErnie Ball Earthwood Acoustic Guitar StringsElixir Strings Polyweb 80/20 Bronze Coated Acoustic Guitar StringsD’Addario XS Coated Acoustic Guitar StringsD’Addario XT Coated Acoustic Guitar StringsStringjoy Foxwoods Coated Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar StringsDR Strings Dragon Skin Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings

Elixir Strings Nanoweb Acoustic Guitar Strings

A leader in coated-string technology

There are many reasons to try coated acoustic guitar strings, like those from the Elixir Strings Nanoweb Collection, for example. Coated strings last longer, resist corrosion, and can help reduce finger squeaks. Using strings that last longer means you won’t need to change them as often, and you’ll find that it takes much longer for their tone to diminish. Elixir Nanoweb acoustic guitar strings are available in a wide range of sizes and are also available for electric guitars.

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Long-lasting Tone | ELIXIR Strings

Ernie Ball Paradigm Acoustic Guitar Strings

Surpassingly resistant to rust and breakage

Ernie Ball has been a leader in guitar strings ever since the ’60s, and the Paradigm acoustic guitar strings are Ernie Ball’s most innovative offering to date. The plasma-enhanced wrap wire’s Everlast nanotreatment repels sweat, oils, and other buildups. They’re stronger and last longer than traditional string sets — Ernie Ball even offers a 90-day guarantee against rusting and broken strings.

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Ernie Ball: String Alloys — Acoustic Paradigm Phosphor Bronze

D’Addario Nickel Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings

Pure, unhyped acoustic tone

Featuring a unique “Nickel Bronze” wrap wire, the D’Addario Nickel Bronze acoustic strings don’t color your guitar’s tone the way many acoustic strings do. Instead of trying to add brightness and depth, these strings are designed to highlight the sonic character of your instrument with minimal coloration. But don’t worry — these acoustic guitar strings offer plenty of clarity, resonance, and projection. They’re also very well-balanced from string to string, with harmonically rich overtones.

D’Addario Nickel Bronze Acoustic Strings

Martin Retro Monel Acoustic Guitar Strings

Vintage-inspired for golden age sonics

By the mid-1970s, Martin’s Monel acoustic guitar strings were prevalent among flatpickers and fingerpickers alike — until Martin stopped making them. With the Retro series of strings, Martin has re-created Monel’s nickel alloy formulation. Martin Retro Monel acoustic guitar strings offer a mellow sound that accentuates the woody tone of your acoustic guitar. Many players describe them as sounding broken in, right out of the package — in a good way! And for guitarists who want to dig even deeper into vintage tones, Martin partnered with legendary bluegrass player Tony Rice on the Martin MTR13 Tony Rice Retro acoustic guitar strings for the mellowest Retro strings available.

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Martin’s Retro Strings

D’Addario EJ 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings

Timeless 80/20 strings with hex cores

With a history that reaches back nearly a century, 80/20 bronze strings are the original acoustic guitar strings and were adopted by John D’Addario in the 1930s. Since then, D’Addario EJ 80/20 bronze acoustic guitar strings have found their way onto countless classic recordings and are still favored by guitarists looking for a vintage tone. With a clear top end, slightly scooped mids, well-defined lows, and an uncanny ability to tuck an acoustic tightly into any mix, D’Addario EJ 80/20s are an excellent choice for recording.

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Martin Authentic Acoustic Guitar Strings

Three ways to define your sound

With its Authentic Acoustic line, Martin offers simplified, elegant strings that align with the company’s ethos of putting the performer first. Martin Authentic Acoustic guitar strings are incredibly durable — the core wire has high tensile strength and is tin-plated to prevent corrosion, and the high-quality wrap wire produces consistent tone. The series offers three flavors: Martin Authentic Acoustic Superior Performance strings, the flagship set; Martin Authentic Acoustic Marquis silked strings, with soft, silk-wrapped ball ends to prevent bridge wear; and Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 strings, which are treated with a proprietary formula to extend string life, reduce string drag, and provide a smoother playing experience.

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Authentic Acoustic | Understanding Our New String Lineup

Ernie Ball Earthwood Acoustic Guitar Strings

A folk-rock institution since 1972

Leaning into the brighter side of the alloy, Ernie Ball Earthwood acoustic guitar strings are particularly suited for plectrum-style playing. When strumming, Earthwood strings exhibit exceptional clarity and string-to-string separation. Lead lines fly off the fingerboard, punctuating the sound field. Earthwoods complement numerous genres, including rock, pop, and folk, which makes them excellent workhorse strings for gigging musicians. And Ernie Ball’s Element Shield packaging keeps strings fresher longer, so you can have ample backups without worrying you’ll open up a pack of rusty strings.

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Ernie Ball: String Alloys — Acoustic Earthwood Phosphor Bronze

Elixir Strings Polyweb 80/20 Bronze Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings

Maximized life, smoothness, and vitality

Similar to Elixir’s Nanoweb Series, Elixir Strings Polyweb 80/20 bronze coated acoustic guitar strings reduce corrosion, extend the life of your strings, and tamp annoying squeaks that distract from a performance. However, while the Nanoweb Series is known for a bright, bell-like tone, the Polywebs have a decidedly rich and warm sound, accentuating the pleasant low harmonics for which the 80/20 alloy is famous. They’re an excellent choice for lean arrangements, providing a sonorous accompaniment while leaving plenty of room in the frequency spectrum for intimate vocal performances.

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D’Addario XS Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings

Longer life without compromise

Do you have corrosive hands? D’Addario XS coated acoustic guitar strings feature a protective polymer coating that gives them four to five times the lifespan of traditional roundwound acoustic strings — all without compromising tone or feel. Not a fan of coated strings? Fear not. D’Addario spent three years developing an XS series coating that wouldn’t squeak, flake, or inhibit tone like traditional film coatings. The response is so natural that many players don’t even realize they’re playing coated strings. XS plain strings are also coated, resulting in a consistent touch and tone from bass to treble strings. XS strings are available in D’Addario’s full-bodied phosphor bronze blend or in an 80/20 bronze formulation for a scooped response.

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INSERT YOUTUBE VIDEO:D’Addario XS Guitar Strings: Protecting Your Sound

D’Addario XT Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings

Coated strings for coating-averse players

Coated acoustic guitar strings are great at preventing corrosion, so you get as much life out of a set as possible. However, many players still prefer the feel of uncoated strings and are willing to sacrifice longevity. D’Addario XT coated acoustic guitar strings eliminate the need for that compromise. Fusion twist technology improves tuning stability, and D’Addario’s proprietary extended lifespan treatment applies a “barely there” coating that retains a natural feel but rejects grime, sweat, and dirt that destroy your strings. And they sound fantastic with a mellow tone unique to phosphor bronze strings. As with XS strings, XT coated strings are available in phosphor bronze and 80/20 bronze formulations.

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Introducing D’Addario XT

What’s the difference between D’Addario’s XS and XT coated strings?

According to D’Addario:

“XT and XS are coated using two different methods. Because of that, XT strings last longer than standard non-coated strings, and XS strings last longer than XT. 

XT is made with a treated wrap wire, which results in an extended lifespan over similar non-treated strings, as well as a natural feel.

XS is coated using a film coating which generally lasts even longer — delivering maximum string life — and affords a smooth feel.

Each string satisfies a particular need in the market. XT has replaced our successful EXP line as an excellent coated option, while XS utilizes a new, ultra-thin coating to bring a premium coated offering to players who want it.”[KO1] 

Stringjoy Foxwoods Coated Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings

Custom craft quality comes to acoustic strings

Stringjoy’s founder and president, Scott Marquart, is on a mission to create the world’s best-performing acoustic guitar strings. Stringjoy Foxwoods coated phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings promise to supply the bright, lively projection of uncoated strings while offering a two-to-three-times-longer lifespan than that of traditional strings. These phosphor bronze strings pair a hexagonal core with an enamel-coated wrap wire for a long life and a smooth touch. All Stringjoy Foxwoods strings are designed and small batch–crafted one at a time in Nashville “Music City,” Tennessee, USA.

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How Stringjoy Guitar Strings Are Made: Dialing in the Perfect Wind

DR Strings Dragon Skin Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings

Superior to uncoated in every way?

In fantasy mythology, dragon skin is a high-grade leather armor prized for its flexibility and imperviousness to the elements. DR Strings Dragon Skin phosphor bronze coated acoustic guitar strings wear their moniker accurately. The secret lies in DR Strings’ K3 coating — which reviewers report “sounds as good or better than uncoated strings.” Not only are Dragon Skin acoustic strings long-lasting and resistant to breakage, but they also sound great, delivering a pure tone and great articulation across strings. Dragon Skin acoustic sets feature coating on bass and treble strings to provide the perfect balance in every pack.    

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Steve Dadaian Plays Our Dragon Skin Acoustic Strings

Searching for the Perfect Acoustic Strings? Call Sweetwater!

And there you have it — some of the best acoustic guitar strings on the market today. Of course, every player has different preferences and playing techniques, and no one set of strings will sound best for everybody. But we hope this list has inspired you to explore some new acoustic guitar string options, allowing you to get closer to your ideal tone. Have more questions about acoustic guitar strings? Give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700.
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