Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings

Phosphor bronze wrap on a steel core. Warm, full tone with balanced response across a wide range of playing styles.

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About Phosphor Bronze

Phosphor Bronze is the standard acoustic set and the widest range we make. A phosphor bronze wrap over a steel core gives a warm, rich tone with clear highs, a full low end and even response across all six strings. If you don't know where to start with an acoustic guitar, start here.

The line runs from .009 all the way to .016, and covers six-string, 12-string, baritone and Nashville tuning, so most players find their gauge inside this one collection.

Choosing a gauge

.012–.054 (P1254 Light) is the industry standard and the safest first choice — enough volume for strumming, still comfortable for fingerstyle. For an easier feel, .010–.048 (P1048 Extra Light) and .009–.046 (P946 Ultra Light) drop the tension, and .011–.050 (P1150 Pro Light) sits between the two. If you want a light top with a heavier bottom, .011–.052 (P1152 Custom Light) and .012–.056 (P1256 Bluegrass) are built that way, and Bluegrass is the flatpicking set. For maximum volume and projection, .013–.056 (P1356 Medium) is the heaviest six-string in the line.

Outside standard tuning, .016–.070 (P1670B Baritone) is for extended scale guitars and lower tunings, and P1025NT is a high-strung Nashville tuning set for layering under a standard-tuned guitar. Twelve-string players have .009–.046 (P12946 Extra Light) and .010–.046 (P121046 Light).

Gauges

Set Gauges
.009–.046 — P946 Ultra Light .009 .012 .018 .026 .032 .046
.010–.048 — P1048 Extra Light .010 .014 .020 .030 .036 .048
.011–.050 — P1150 Pro Light .011 .014 .022 .030 .036 .050
.011–.052 — P1152 Custom Light .011 .015 .022 .032 .042 .052
.012–.054 — P1254 Light .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054
.012–.056 — P1256 Bluegrass .012 .016 .026 .036 .046 .056
.013–.056 — P1356 Medium .013 .017 .026 .036 .046 .056
.016–.070 — P1670B Baritone .016 .022 .030 .048 .060 .070
Nashville tuning — P1025NT .010 .014 .009 .012 .017 .025
12-string .009–.046 — P12946 Extra Light .009 .012 .020 .026 .036 .046
.009 .012 .009 .012 .016 .025
12-string .010–.046 — P121046 Light .010 .014 .022 .030 .038 .046
.010 .014 .009 .012 .017 .025

On the 12-string sets the first line is the main course and the second is the paired course — unison on the top two strings, octaves on the bottom four. The Nashville set is that paired course on its own.

How Phosphor Bronze compares to our other acoustic sets

Phosphor Bronze is the warm, balanced middle of our acoustic range and the usual starting point. Golden Bronze 80/20 is brighter and crisper. Royal Bronze uses the same gauges with a different winding for a fuller, more even and longer-lasting set. CRT Coated Phosphor Bronze is this string with corrosion resistance added. American Roots Monel is drier and more vintage, and Semi-Flat Silencers 80/20 cut finger noise.

Made in the USA.