Are you in the market for the best acoustic guitar strings for warm sound? When choosing strings for your acoustic guitar, you’re looking for something in the mid- to lower range but not too heavy a gauge.
You want it to give you a balanced sound but still with those deep wood and earthy tones. The selection of acoustic guitar strings below give you that and much more. They are all quite durable and designed to resist corrosion.
Martin MSP4100 SP Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Martin & Co. strings are some of the most well-known acoustic guitar strings in the music industry. Well, they’re better known for their acoustic guitar strings than anything. They hold a very high reputation when it comes to the quality of their products—strings and guitars included.
They have a wide array of strings – light, medium, to ones with deeper tones. The MSP4100 strings are one of the most highly regarded strings in their product line. They bring about a more wood sound out of your guitar. You can even call the tone as a bit earthy.
These strings are a lot well-rounded in their tone in that they aren’t too deep or too thin. But they’re easier on the fingers since there isn’t a lot of tension—but they’re not light strings though.
This set of strings gives a nice balanced tone. They give nice deep notes and you get no buzz from them. Even old guitars will get a nice tonal range with a string upgrade from this Martin.
Some guitar players may find that the lower E may be a bit too low, but that’s just part of the tonal adjustment that gives your guitar a new level of depth. Some may also feel a bit strange using these strings since they’re phosphor bronze; that is after switching from bronze strings.
Elixir Strings Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings with NANOWEB Coating
Elixir is a brand that is well-known for strings that last a lifetime. You can bet your bottom dollar that when they tell you that their strings will last really long, you know that they’re not bluffing.
What makes these strings unique is the proprietary technology called the Nanoweb coating. This is a super thin chemical coat that covers the entire length of the string.
Apart from making the strings squeak free and really smooth, this coating also protects the strings from the gunk that usually build up overtime. Ergo, it reduces the amount of dirt and corrosion, thus making the strings last longer.
These strings give you a surprisingly full sound. Note that these are 80/20 bronze strings, which everyone will be familiar with. If you get the 13 to 53 gauge Elixirs, you will get bright tones but they won’t be that stiff.
The bottom line is that they are very playable and they don’t impede your guitar playing techniques. They make a very good pick for best acoustic guitar strings for warm sound.
The only downside is that the market has a lot of counterfeit Elixirs. Make sure to buy from a trusted supplier.
D’Addario EXP16 Coated Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
No list of best acoustic guitar strings for warm sound is complete without the D’Addario brand. If you’re looking for something that has no frills but brings that familiar bronze and wood tone, then this set should be part of your list too.
It’s a brand that has been around for a while and a lot of musicians are fiercely loyal to this brand. If you want to know why, then all you need to do is to try a set and see how it fares for yourself and then you’ll know.
Note that the EXP16 is coated with phosphor bronze, which helps to keep these strings smooth and corrosion free. The core of the strings, on the other hand, is made from the signature D’Addario carbon steel.
Expect the tone and pitch to be stable and the strings themselves to be more durable. These strings tend to feel fresh out of the box for a very long time.
These strings work well for a variety of builds from different guitar manufacturers. If you play Gibson, Eastman, Tacoma, Fender, Guild, or even Breedlove, then don’t be surprised to find that these brands favor D’Addario and may come with them out of the box.
The only downside to these strings is that they are still prone to those sharp contact points on the saddle and the nut as well. The only way to deal with it is to fix both rough edges of the nut and saddle.
Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze Medium Light
Compared to the other guitar string manufacturers mentioned in this product roundup, Erni Ball is a relatively newcomer. Now, even though they are newer in the guitar string industry, they have gathered quite a following.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise when you find guitarists to have all of their axes to be stringed with Ernie Balls. Getting these strings is a solid choice and will seldom disappoint.
The Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze strings sound clear and full. They give you a good balance of warm sounds that boosts your guitar’s playability. Since we’re looking for that warm tone, then you should get the 12 to 54 medium-light to medium gauge strings.
The strings are made of copper, steel, phosphorus, and tin. Well, it’s mostly copper to be exact (which is around 92% of the string).
These strings are coated, which ensures that they are corrosion resistant, and will last long.
Note that these strings aren’t as brightly toned as an 80/20 string. But if you’re after a rather mid-range tone, then this set of strings may be the one you’re looking for, especially if you’re hunting guitar strings that will last.
Conclusion
So, which of these four highly rated guitar strings wins as the best acoustic guitar strings for warm sound?
Here’s our top pick:
Elixir Strings Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings with NANOWEB Coating
These Elixir strings give you a good range of warm tones, which is exactly what you will want from your acoustic guitar. They’re well-made and the nanoweb coating makes these strings last a long time.