Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
I like Elixirs, but IMO 80/20 bronze suit darker guitars like Martins best, so I'd probably try the EXPs first.
Elixir also make phosphor bronze sets for acoustics. ET, some experimentation may be necessary here are the different compounds available for acoustic guitars do effect the tone. As usual it's not a case of "good" or "bad" but what sounds go to you.
I note that the EXPs are also available in 80:20 or phosphor bronze. So either way pay attention to what is on the label so that you know exactly what you bought.
G strings tend to be the first to break in any set of acoustic strings and the downside of any coated string is they are never available as singles.
It was explained to me that the G usually has a core that is lighter than either of the first two strings and thus is the most vulnerable. I don't have a problem with string breakage. I did have two Gs break on me 3 years ago but McGibbon's (Elixir importers at the time) swopped my spare packs out and put a new G on me, using strings from a newly arrived batch, and the problem has never recurred.
I use Elixir. You get very good life out of a set of those. A friend of mine likes to change strings whilst he's sitting out on his stoep at night. He coils up the strings that he removes and hangs them from a light fitting (don't ask). Months later the Elixirs look bright and shiny (even the plain strings) whilst just about everything else is severely tarnished.
