80/20 bronze acoustic guitar strings are great for classic genres like folk, ’60s rock and old country. They pair well with larger instrument sizes, such as battleships.
Phosphor bronze was developed to extend string life by slowing corrosion. They have a dark sound that pairs well with folk and traditional music.
Bright Tone
The alloy of copper and zinc in 80/20 guitar strings gives them a bright sound when new. This brightness makes them a good choice for stringing small instruments like parlour guitars or even some jumbo-sized acoustic guitars, as they can balance out the tone and make it less muddy compared to other strings. They pair exceptionally well with more relaxed musical genres such as folk, alternative, and fingerstyle music. They are also popular among performers and professionals who want to reduce the string changes they need since these strings will last a few weeks or even months before losing their brilliance due to corrosion.
Unlike steel strings, which have a much duller sound, 80/20 bronze strings tend to be more complex in their upper harmonics and offer more depth in their sound overall. This is something that many guitarists appreciate because it allows them to cut through ensemble playing or large bands and still sound clear. This is a big reason that bluegrass musicians often choose 80/20 sets to get the clarity they need in their music to stand out over other instruments.
Phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings differ slightly from their 80/20 counterparts in that they are generally warmer-sounding throughout the entire range and don’t emphasize the high to mid-range frequencies as much as 80/20 sets do. Phosphor bronze strings are also slightly more corrosion-resistant, making them the ideal choice for long-term use.
Many people enjoy combining both types of acoustic guitar strings to create the exact tone they are looking for. Depending on the size of an instrument, the style of music being played, and even the time of year, acoustic guitar strings can have a wide variety of sound profiles. As such, all guitarists must experiment with different string types to find the right one that suits their needs and preferences. The great thing about trying out different types of acoustic guitar strings is that you can find the perfect set for any situation.
Durability
The 80% Copper and 20% Zinc alloy used to create these sets of strings produces a bright tone from the start. They also sound a little warmer over time. Once they dull, you should replace them for the best tonal range. These strings are great paired with folk, 1960s rock and older country music styles and work well on dreadnought guitars. They also make an excellent option for performers and professionals who want to reduce the frequency of string changes.
While they produce a great tone, 80/20 bronze acoustic guitar strings corrode more quickly than other types of metal. The copper component is highly corrosive, and although zinc slows the aging process down a bit, they have a shorter life cycle than other acoustic guitar strings. Fortunately, manufacturers have come up with ways to make these strings more resistant to corrosion.
In recent years, acoustic guitar string coatings have been developed that protect the strings from moisture and prevent corrosion. These coatings are available from several companies, including D’Addario, Elixir and GHS. Elixir’s NANOWEB Coating, for example, is an excellent choice if you like the bright sound of phosphor bronze strings but prefer to play with a more traditional feel.
It’s important to note that the type of acoustic guitar you choose and the wood it is made from can make a difference in the sound it produces. In particular, certain tone woods – such as mahogany – are naturally darker than lighter tones, and they may respond better to a set of brighter 80/20 bronze acoustic guitar strings.
While it’s up to each guitarist to determine what type of acoustic guitar strings they enjoy playing on, it is helpful to have several sets of each string style to keep a variety of sounds on hand. Many players find that using a pair of bright 80/20 sets and a pair of phosphor bronze enables them to enjoy the best of both worlds by having access to a wide variety of tonal options. Plus, stretching out the amount of time between string changes saves a lot of hassle and saves money.
Corrosion Resistant
The bright, bass-heavy tone that 80/20 strings provide matches the sound of many popular guitars. However, the copper windings can erode quickly, affecting the tone and shortening the string’s lifespan. This issue led to a new alloy that combines bronze and zinc, called phosphor bronze, which solves this problem.
