What Are The Best Acoustic Guitar Strings? Elixir versus Martin String Sound Test

Cant agree more.. I was using the D'Addario XS PB strings on my dreads and j-45s for a year till recently a came across the Martin Authentic acoustic 2.0. strings and fell in love with it. Yes, the XS strings last forever like the elixirs but the tone does not settled in. its like having a new set of strings for 6-8 months.. not that i dont like the sound of new strings is just that for my old ears i find it too bright after few hours of playing, the feel is also different too. but then again, we all have different preferences. now i use different types of strings on both of my guitars.

Dreads - Martin Authentic Acoustic 2.0
J-45s - Martin Retro strings

I think with the Martin strings it sounds like someone turned the volume down. Elixir is too bright it louder. I think the Daddario xp songs sound better than both and it’s fairly noticeable to me. What do you think about string joy? I hear they’re really good??? I have 2 Martins I use most far more than my Taylor. Thanks

Personally, I think you would get a fuller sound between bass, mid and treble if you put 12’s on the guitar and either set would sound better and your playing would be better and easier to play.

Martin

I found this video searching for strings for my HD-28. Before I got the HD-28 about 5 years ago I had a Martin D16 RGT Dreadnought and always used Elixer Nanoweb 80/20 bronze strings. I think I fell out of love with the price, but I can attest to the piano like brightness, long break-in period and longevity of those strings. I always preferred the Elixers after the broke in after months and lost the brightness.
For the past 5 years, I’ve been using Diadarrio 80/20 bronze on the HD28 and changing them more frequently. I couldn’t get enough brightness/punch out of Diadarrio phosphor bronze. I recently changed to Diadarrio 80/20 XP and I’m still not getting the sound I want.
Now to tie this all into the video…..I also picked up a D18 standard about a year ago and they come with Martins Lifespan 2.0 Phosphor Bronze. I cannot believe how good that guitar and string combo is! The sound is perfect to my ear. I will try the Lifespans on the HD soon.

Only difference to me is.. The tone of the low E when picked..

I've always used Ernie Ball Earthwood Medium Lights

I would have to agree with your thoughts on this sound test. Yes, the Elixirs maybe last longer but no one talks about, is the fact the Elixirs are twice the price of Martins. They should last long for that price. In the long run, it's all subjective and like comparing Chevys to Fords.

I personally think Elixirs are some of the most overrated strings ever. I don’t like how they sound, feel, and stupid cost.

I preferred the Elixirs. The Martins had a harsh sound to the mid/treble like overpowering overtones.

Erni Ball Gold coated strings #1

Nice video, but we still have the million dollar question: which one live the longest???

For elixirs,
80/20=brighter.
PhosphurBronze=warmer.
Nanoweb is better than polyweb

Sounds like the mic got moved a bit, I hear more promity effect on the martins

To me the Martins sounded better. More mellow and a little more bass

I think the D-18 sounds better than a D-28 anyway, IMHO...

The Martin strings definitely sound better to me.

Played for 55 years and the Martins are always better. Especially the life span. Use them on my custom shopp 0028 Martin and Hd 28😂😅

Elixirs don’t sound the best when they’re brand new imo. However, that last forever and after their long break in period is over, they still sound pretty good.

I am currently choosing between these two. Can you do one with D18 thank you.

I run elixir with pb medium on HD35, sounds like a good broke in set of EJ17’s for months at a time.

I never really agreed with the coated string concept. Fresh (uncoated) strings are bright and jangly. With time, crud settles in the coil and they become dull. So in summation, they dull over time.

With coated strings, they don’t dull at all over time because they’re “pre-dulled” with a coating. In other words, they never were as bright as uncoated strings.

I think someone thought it was the tarnish that made strings sound dull and tried to rectify that, but a tarnished silver coin is as resonant as a brilliant.

You might as well buy pre-stained underwear, which is much more pleasing in my opinion.

Medium strings sounded stiff

Great video on this comparison. They both sounded great. The elixir sound better on a hd-28 Martin because of lot more bass

80/20s on a D18 will be a bit bright. Use Phospher Bronze on D18. On a D28 the phospher bronze can be a bit dark so use 80/20s on D28 to brighten it up a bit. That’s what I’ve always done 👍🏻

Thank you for the comparison. I think you search for more warm mids in your sound and the Martins were a little "rounder". That's also the reason you liked more the sound of the D-18. If you get the D15M you're gonna really fall in love.

Martins sound the best.

Martin

It's actually so much more than just the wood. The wood does create different types of resonance, but the articulation and responsiveness are more often than not the strings, the pick and the player.

80/20's are incredibly cool sounding. I rock those on my Taylor ever since I bought it.

I been using elixir for 10 years. Def better in my opinion

ρяσмσѕм ⭐

Coming from someone who has regularly used Elixirs for the past 10 years, I thought the Martin strings sounded better too, at least in these sound comparisons.

I’ve never tried phosphor bronze strings before. I just get the 80-20 Elixir nano web and I like the feel of them, so I haven’t bothered trying anything else. I do like the sound of the Martins, though.

Thanks for the great video 👌

Was curious on the content after your last video stating the change to guitar videos. Didn't realize you had such talent in guitar picking as you did mouse clicking lol! Great job GF keep up the great content my friend!

For a moment, I thought your channel got hacked 🤣 As a musician myself, love the video and I'mlooking forward to more content on this channel!

Very interesting channel rework as you stated in the previous vid. I love guitars so I'm all for it

I know next to nothing about guitars but this content is still really entertaining and informational in a way that I have only seen from you and this channel. Lovin' it man

Well... my friends always say martin had a quality uptick. That said. At least out here.... they were at least 30% more expensive

My main’s Viper, been playing her since the beta but my favourite strings are the Daddario XP series

This valorant gameplay is pretty dope ngl😂 nah fr I play music and love the new direction ur going and doing what makes u happy