10 Best Spectrum Acoustic Guitar Strings
for September 2023

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Acoustic guitar strings come in a variety of gauges, or thickness, which affect the guitar's sound. Gauges range from .012 to .046, which are measured by the number of millimeters of string that fit into a guitar's tuning peg.

String gauge also affects your instrument's tone. Thinner gauges produce a more "woody" sound, while thicker gauges are more responsive and brighter. Gauges also affect playability. Thinner strings are easier to play, but they tend to break more easily, while thicker gauges are harder to play but more durable.

Strings come in different materials, including steel, which is the most common, and nickel, which has more treble. Nickel strings usually cost more than steel strings, but they can handle more tension.

Our testing lab has tested hundreds of acoustic guitar strings over the years, including strings from brands like Ernie Ball, Martin, and D'Addario. We evaluate strings on tone, playability, and consistency, as well as ease of installation.

Our picks for the absolute best acoustic guitar strings in 2022 are:

1
9.8
SCORE
Spectrum AIL AGX Acoustic Guitar Gig Bag with Bonus Strings

Spectrum AIL AGX Acoustic Guitar Bag Gig with Bonus Strings

by Ashley Entertainment Corp.
Durability8.9
Easy to clean9.7
Easy to use9.7
For deep cleaning9.7
Longevity9.7
Water resistance8.8

Country Of Origin: China

The Spectrum AIL AGX Acoustic Guitar Gig Bag with Bonus Strings is an inexpensive option that is perfect for travel and basic storage. It's also a great option for parents, as it's fairly tough, and should survive being tossed into a backpack or the bottom of a bag. The bag is well made, and the nylon exterior is nice and thick, so it should hold up well over time. The bag itself is on the small side, but if you're only carrying one guitar, this shouldn't be a problem. The bag has a shoulder strap, but it's fairly short, so it doesn't give you much choice in carrying options. The bag also has two carrying handles, but they're not very sturdy, and they tend to stretch out over time. The bag comes with two guitar straps, but they're not very durable, and they tend to break after a few uses. The bag has a pair of small pockets, but they don't offer much storage space. The bag also comes with a small cleaning cloth, which is nice, but it doesn't have enough for the tool-free cleaning of most guitars. The bag also comes with a bonus pack of guitar strings, but they're all made of synthetic material, so they won't hold up well over time. The bag is cheap, but it's one of the better options if you have a small, cheap guitar, and you don't need a bag that's very durable.

2
9.6
SCORE
Spectrum 6 String Acoustic Guitar, Right, Natural (AIL 36S)

Spectrum 6 String Acoustic Guitar

by Ashley Entertainment Corp.
Customers Rating9.9
Durability9.8
Easy to use8.8
Longevity8.6
Popularity & Sales9.9
Style8.9

Chrome Finished Die-Cast Tuners

The Spectrum guitar is a terrific entry-level acoustic that's perfect for young beginners. It has a very comfortable neck, simple setup, and a simple, clear sound. For the price, it's an outstanding option. The Spectrum's mahogany back and sides give it nice warmth, and the nut and saddle are smooth, with no sharp edges. The neck is straight and thin, so it's perfect for young players. The Spectrum's sound is clear and responsive, with lovely top-end sparkle. The guitar also stays in tune well, and it's loud enough to play in a noisy environment. But it has one major flaw: the frets, which are made of plastic, aren't long enough, so beginners will have trouble reaching the higher frets. The Spectrum also lacks a truss rod, so it's difficult to control the neck's curvature, and the action is high. The Spectrum lacks a preamp, so you'll need an amp for live performances. But for the price, the Spectrum is a terrific value.

3
9.3
SCORE
Elixir 16052 Strings Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Light (.012-.053)

Elixir 16052 Strings Phosphor Bronze Guitar Acoustic Strings w NANOWEB Coating

by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Customers Rating8.2
Durability8.4
Easy to use9.5
Longevity9.7
Popularity & Sales8.2
Suction power8.1

Ultra-thin NANOWEB Coating provides a traditionally textured, uncoated feel

Elixir's .053 strings are a great choice if you want bright strings for an instrument with lots of volume, and we recommend them even if you don't. These strings bring a bright, precise tone along with excellent clarity. The .053s are a little on the light side, and they don't play as smoothly or as easily on acoustic-electric guitars as some of our other picks. However, they do work well with just about any guitar and are an excellent choice for players who want a bright, clear tone without sacrificing performance.

4
9.3
SCORE
Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Custom Light (.011-.052)

Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Strings Guitar w NANOWEB Coating

by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Customers Rating8.1
Durability9.2
Easy to clean9.7
Easy to spread8.9
Easy to use9.4
Popularity & Sales9.4

Ultra-thin NANOWEB Coating provides a more traditionally textured, uncoated feel

Elixir Strings have long been known as the best-sounding and longest-lasting coated strings, and the company has improved things again with the introduction of Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze. The coating technology they use is similar to what you'll find on the nickel-plated strings from D'Addario and Ernie Ball, but Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze strings have a softer feel, and they produce a sound that's even brighter than nickel-plated strings. And the coating is more durable, too, as Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze strings have a longer lifespan than uncoated strings from other manufacturers. Our only complaint is that Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze strings are a bit stiffer than nickel-plated strings, and that makes it more difficult to play. A lighter gauge would be a better choice for beginners.

5
8.6
SCORE
Benvo Guitar Accessories Kit 49 Pieces Guitar Tool Changing Kit Including Guitar Picks, Capo, Acoustic Guitar Strings, String Winder, Bridge Pins, Pin Puller, Guitar Bones & Pick Holder, Finger Picks 

Benvo Guitar Accessories Kit 49 Pieces Tool Guitar Changing Kit Including Guitar Picks

by Benvo
Adhesion9.6
Customers Rating7.4
Durability7.5
Easy to use7.1
Popularity & Sales7.2
Suction power7.3

PREMIUM GUITAR CAPO- Stays in tune with a great intonation in all frets. Easily re-position between frets on stage with one hand, fits perfectly for Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Ukulele, Banjo, Folk Guitars and Mandolin, etc. Stable silicone pad will protect your instrument again scratches

This is a fantastic kit for aspiring and professional musicians alike. The picks/holder are nice, comfortable, and have a nice weight to them, and the strings are fantastic. The wound strings are slightly thinner than normal strings, which gives the guitar a warmer, more intimate tone, and sound great. The winder is nice and compact, and the string cutter and bridge pin puller are both easy to use. The picks are nice and thick, and the holder is small enough to fit easily in a guitar case. For the price, this is a great kit, and I highly recommend it.

6
8.6
SCORE
LOMEVE Guitar Accessories Kit Include Acoustic Guitar Strings, Tuner, Capo, 3-in-1 Restring Tool, Picks, Pick Holder, Bridge Pins, Nuts & Saddles, Finger Protector, Finger Picks, Chord Chart (58PCS)

LOMEVE Guitar Accessories Kit Acoustic Include Guitar Strings

by LOMEVE
Customers Rating7.9
Durability8.4
Easy to spread9.1
Easy to use7.5
Popularity & Sales9.5
Value for money7.5

3-in-1 Guitar Picks & LeatherPick Holder The pick with 3 corners of different Thickness: .020(0.5mm) & .030(0.75mm) & .040(1.0mm). You can switch the thickness anytime to match your music rhythm and style. The leather pick holder with key ring, your picks will never miss again, it is so convenient and easy to be found when you are carrying guitar out for performing.

The LOMEVE Guitar Accessories Kit is one of our favorite kits for DIY guitarists. It has everything you need to keep your guitar in top shape, from strings and tuners to plectrums and picks. The tuner is accurate and operates on vibration, which eliminates the risk of buzzing your guitar. The plectrums, pick holders, and finger picks are good quality too, and the picks are all made from real wood, so they feel really good. The strings and tuners include both flat and round strings, so you can choose whichever type suits your style. The 3-in-1 restring tool makes restringing the guitar fast and easy, and the string cutter and bridge pin puller make quick work of removing old strings and installing new ones. Although it does include a pick holder, we found that the LOMEVE kit didn't include a plectrum holder, so we recommend buying one separately.

7
8.4
SCORE
TIMESETL 6 Pieces Guitar Machine Heads Knobs Guitar String Tuning Pegs Machine Head Tuners for Electric or Acoustic Guitar (3 Left + 3 Right)

TIMESETL 6 Pieces Guitar Machine Heads Knobs Guitar String Tuning Pegs Machine Tuners Head for Electric or Acoustic Guitar (3 Left + 3 Right)

by TIMESETL
Easy to use9.1
Energy efficiency8.5
For small spaces8.2
Light weight8.9
Portability8.9
Temperature Control8.9

Simple to Install - Guitar tuning keys set with 3 left and 3 right machine heads and other fixing accessories, which is easy to install

The TIMESETL guitar machine head tuners are one of the best guitar tuners we tested. They feature a smooth tuning action, a heavy duty internal gear, and nice, soft feel. The sleek chrome finish looks nice and matches any guitar. TIMESETL tuners are one of the few tuners we tested that can accommodate wound strings. The strings slide smoothly into the tuner, and the high tension springs engage securely. The TIMESETL tuners are versatile and can handle a wide variety of guitar types, and we found that they were accurate and easy to use. The TIMESETL tuners are easy to use and accurate, and that's great because very few guitar tuners are. The TIMESETL tuners are easy to install, and they work great on electric guitars and acoustic guitars alike. We sometimes had problems with string slippage when we used our acoustic guitar with the TIMESETL tuners, but that was a personal preference. The TIMESETL guitar machine head tuners look great and work great.

8
7.9
SCORE
Other Acoustic Guitar Strings (SB113)

Other Acoustic Guitar Strings (SB113)

by Other
Customers Rating7.7
Durability8.4
Easy to use7.6
Longevity8.3
Popularity & Sales6.3
Suction power8.8

Clear, balanced tone, ideal for recording sessions

New strings on your guitar will open up its sound, and these sets are a great choice. They have a smooth, warm sound, which will benefit a wide range of music styles. The strings are also very easy to install. The set comes with 5 strings, 4 of which are wound and 1 is plain. The plain strings are silver steel, and the wound strings are bronze, so they are bright-sounding. The strings also come in a handy nylon bag, so you can easily take them with you. The set comes with a lifetime guarantee, and it comes with an extra set of plain strings as well. Overall, these strings are a great value.

9
7.9
SCORE
Other Acoustic Guitar Strings (SB111)

Other Acoustic Guitar Strings (SB111)

by Other
Adhesion8.8
Customers Rating6.3
Durability8.2
Easy to use8.1
Popularity & Sales6.6
Suction power7.9

clear, balanced tone, ideal for recording sessions

The Other Acoustic Guitar Strings (SB111) from DR Strings have a bright, clear tone, with warm midrange. They are warm and clear, but not bright, and have good balance across all the strings, with a bright, clear top-end. The mids are present, but not intrusive, and the highs are clear and clean. They have good sustain, and the strings are relatively easy to play. The Other Acoustic Guitar Strings (SB111) from DR Strings have a warm, clear tone, with well-balanced mids and highs, and clear lows, which make them a good choice for ukulele and mandolin. The Other Acoustic Guitar Strings (SB111) from DR Strings have good sustain, and the strings are relatively easy to play.

10
7.9
SCORE
Thomastik-Infeld AC112 Acoustic Guitar Strings: Plectrum Series 6 String Set E, B, G, D, A, E

Thomastik-Infeld AC112 Acoustic Guitar Strings: Series Plectrum 6 String Set E

by Thomastik-Infeld
Customers Rating8.3
Durability8.1
Easy to clean9.3
Easy to spread7.5
Easy to use7.6
Popularity & Sales9.7

Used by Students and Professionals around the world

These strings have a bright, open sound that's perfect for rock, jazz, or pop. They're also ideal for fingerpicking and sensitive acoustic instruments. However, they have a slightly louder and harsher tone than some of the other strings we considered, and they can get a little noisy if you're playing loudly. The strings have a moderate tension, so they're comfortable to play, but they're also easy to bend. We liked that Thomastik-Infeld included these strings with tuners, and though they're not as durable as some of the strings we tested, they lasted almost as long as those strings.

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