I play my Martin D-18GE (K&K mini) using D'Addario EJ19 "Bluegrass" strings. Sounds great strummed, flatpicked, or fingerstyle. I wouldn't ever use 11's on any Martin dread.
What strings do Martin guitars come with?
So, what strings do Martin Guitars ship with? The answer is either Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 in phosphor bronze medium gauge on low to mid range models, or for high end models like the D-45, you’ll get Martin’s Titanium Core Nickel Wound strings in a light gauge.
Is my Martin D-18 too high at the first fret?
I've owned a couple of D-18s and a few other Martins, and the nut slots are invariably cut too shallow, resulting in an uncomfortably high action at the first fret. The bridge saddle is also usually too high. It's no more than a few minutes work to get it playing comfortably and transform your guitar. Take it to a reputable tech.
What are the gauges on Martin lifespan strings?
In a packet of Martin Acoustic Lifespan strings, like those that come on many Martins from the factory, the gauges are as follows, .012, .016, .025, .032, .042, .054, with .012 representing high E, and .054 representing low E.
What strings to pair with a Martin msp4100?
Martin MSP4100 SP 92/8 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Strings (.012-.054 Light) I don't have a D-18. While my rosewood-bodied Martin dreadnaught (HD-28V) liked Martin SP Medium, Adamas 1919 medium phosphor bronze and the new Martin Tony Rice monel strings, my mahogany 000-18 sounds best with Gibson Masterbuilt or Adamas 1818 PB.
What strings came on my Martin?
So, what strings do Martin Guitars ship with? The answer is either Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 in phosphor bronze medium gauge on low to mid range models, or for high end models like the D-45, you'll get Martin's Titanium Core Nickel Wound strings in a light gauge.
What strings does a Martin d28 come with?
They come with . 013s, or what Martin calls a medium set. . 056 to . 013.
What strings does Eric Clapton use on his Martin?
Martin Guitar Eric Clapton's Choice MEC12, 92/8 Phosphor Bronze Light-Gauge Acoustic Guitar Strings.
When did Martin switch to steel strings?
1927Around 1927, Martin started offering steel strings as standard and gut strings as special order instead. Hawaiian music changed everything because they needed even more volume. That's where you see the Dreadnought eventually come in.
Which is better 80/20 or phosphor bronze?
Basically phosphor bronze is 92% copper—so a little bit more copper than 80/20 bronze—has about 8% tin and contains trace amounts of phosphorous, which is what makes it a little bit more corrosion resistant compared to 80/20 bronze. Phosphor bronze is really known for having a balanced, rather warm response.
Which Martin acoustic string is best?
Authentic Acoustic SP These strings are the most popular of all Martin acoustic strings. The core wire and the unwound strings are covered with a small layer of tin to repel dirt and moisture. The winding wire used is of the highest quality.
What strings did Stevie Ray Vaughan use?
Stevie used real heavy strings - . 013 (high E) to . 058 or even . 060 (low E).
What gauge strings did Jimi Hendrix use?
Jimi used Fender Rock 'n' Roll 150 strings (. 010, . 013, . 015, .
What gauge strings do most guitarists use?
On electric guitars, the most common string set is a 9-gauge set also know as a 0.009-0.042″ set. This is often referred to as a “light set” but is considered the average gauge, with many brands such as Fender, supplying their guitars with a 9-gauge string set.
What did the most expensive Martin guitar sell for?
US$6,000,010Kurt Cobain's 1959 Martin D-18E guitar, famously played in Nirvana's historic 1993 “MTV Unplugged" performance, has smashed the world record price for a guitar at auction, selling for US$6,000,010 at a Julien's auction in Hollywood today.
When did Martin stop using Adirondack spruce?
Martin started using some Sitka in that year, mainly on style-18's. I have seen a handful of red spruce tops in 1946, but they have been four-piece. That tells me that Martin essentially 'ran out' of red spruce by the end of 1945.
What does CF Martin stand for?
Christian Frederick MartinMartin & Company (often referred to as Martin) is an American guitar manufacturer established in 1833, by Christian Frederick Martin. It is highly respected for its acoustic guitars and is a leading manufacturer of flat top guitars.
How To Choose Guitar Strings
Strings are one of the single most cost effective changes a player can make to their guitar. Unlike some mods with subjective sound benefits (I’m looking at you, saddle upgrades!), as little as $10 and half an hour of installation can have an enormous (and demonstrable) impact on both tone and playability.
String Gauge
Guitar strings aren’t measured in length, they are measured in width, or diameter. Because their diameter is so small, manufacturers use an easy to understand, universal measure in order to let consumers know what size their strings are, and that measurement is gauge.
String Material
Another important factor in the tone and playability of acoustic guitar strings is the material from which they are made. Most strings have a steel core wire, which may either be round, or hexagonal.
Best Replacement Martin Acoustic Strings
If you love how your Martin sounds from the factory, you should probably look at replacing the strings like for like. In the case of Mexican made Martins, this will be the medium gauge Martin Lifespan 2.0 Phosphor Bronze, or, if you own a US made Martin, you’ll be replacing your strings with Martin Titanium Core light gauge strings.
Final Thoughts
As I said right at the beginning of this post, strings are a great way to experiment with the sound capabilities of your Martin without making any permanent changes or without the risk of any real damage to the guitar.
When was the Martin D-18 made?
Paul Simon With his Martin D-18. The D-18 dreadnought was manufactured with a Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides for the first time in 1931 and was an immediate sensation as it was the most affordable high quality dreadnought on the market.
When did CF Martin make guitars?
The years 1850 to 1900 represent a time when CF Martin was implementing many of its greatest innovations in guitar making, increasing the sizes and style varieties they would later standardize. The body shapes, sizes and styles that we identify with Martin today did not exist as such at the time, but rather evolved over decades as ...
What is the sweetest guitar?
The D-18 is considered by many experts to be Martin’s sweetest sounding guitar, making it the perfect accompaniment for songwriters looking for that deep, rich Martin sound but in a version that doesn’t overwhelm the vocal line, which is likely why may legendary songwriters like Paul Simon and Kurt Cobain were known to play them.
Where did Martin use spruce?
For instance, during the depression, Martin used Adirondack Spruce sourced in upstate New York for their soundboards instead of Sitka Spruce which was most plentiful in and around Sitka, Alaska, which was not a US state until 1959.
When did the Martin 18 style come out?
The Martin 18 Style began to take its modern form in 1917 when Martin produced the first 18 Style instruments with Spruce tops and Mahogany back and sides. This was the 0-18 and 00-18‘s which appeared between 1917 and 1930 in several interesting and collectible variants including a gut-string version (00-18G) and a Koa version (00-18K).
When were 18's made?
The earliest 18‘s, the Size 1-18 and size 2-18 models manufactured between 1857 and 1898 had Spruce tops with Rosewood back and sides, Ebony fingerboards without inlays and 12-fret necks. In 1898 Martin made 0-18 and 00-18 with the Spruce and Rosewood tonewood combination, an unbound ebony fingerboard and a rectangular bridge.
Who plays 18 style Martins?
Most recently, players like Thom Yorke of Radiohead and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana have favored 18 Style Martins, with Cobain’s D-18E played during Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged performance becoming arguably the most recognizable acoustic-electric of the MTV era, recently selling at auction for over $6 Million!
