The 10 Best 12 String Guitar Strings, Tested by Experts

Top Picks

•  Best Overall: Ernie Ball 12-String Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings 

Although this was a custom gauge (ranging from.008 to.040), we discovered that the Regular Slinkies performed admirably on 12 strings. We were concerned that the hot Epiphone pickups would make them sound thin, but we found that the opposite was true. There was excellent note separation, and the tones were very bright and shimmering. It was difficult to believe that these were not high-end, high-priced strings, as their sustain and overall resonance were impressive.

•  Best Coating: Elixir Strings Acoustic Guitar Strings 

Coated strings, also known as long-life strings, are a necessity for many musicians, and Elixir is the brand that most people think of first. They've made a name for themselves by producing premium coated strings of exceptional tone, feel, and playability. When strung on an acoustic guitar, the Elixir Nanoweb strings' 80/20 bronze alloy really shines. Elixir's Nanoweb polymer is used to coat the items.

•  Best for Rich Tone: Ernie Ball Earthwood 12-String Light Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings

Ernie Ball's Earthwood strings are a model of simplicity in stringed instrument design. There's a reason both amateurs and veterans use them. These sound fantastic and are a great addition to any acoustic 12-string guitar. Ernie Ball has taken great pains to ensure that these strings are brand new and unused when they reach the player. Given 80/20 bronze's susceptibility to oxidation, we appreciated the "Element Shield" packaging we discovered around each string.

•  Best Superior Quality: Martin Authentic Acoustic Guitar Strings - Superior Performance 

Martin, an American company that dates back to the 1830s, is well-loved and renowned for its acoustic guitars. They produce acoustic guitars like Fender's traditional electric models. It seems to reason that strings of such high quality and obvious pride of production would be used by Martin on their own exquisite instruments; nobody could dispute that. Martin's 12-string bundles are among the finest on the market, and this SP MA180 from the company's already-affordable 12-string lineup is a major plus.

•  Best Budget: Ernie Ball Earthwood 12-String Light Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings 

The final choice of strings is quite individual and subjective. There are guitarists who love the sound of an 80/20 bronze set, while others want the bright tone that Phosphor bronze provides while still retaining the warmth and depth of an 80/20 bronze set. The brass-plated hexagonal steel core wire in this Ernie Ball Earthwood set is wrapped in a combination of 92% copper, 7.7% tin, and 0.5% phosphorus.