Martin Guitar Titanium Core Strings, Light-Tension Nickel Acoustic Guitar Strings

They do not sound like phosphor bronze strings, but they do sound nice both acoustic and plugged in. And they last and don't need to be changed. Put them on in August, and they still sound and feel the same playing in February. I would have had to change phosphor bronze many times over. If you don't like coated strings and need/want to not change strings frequently, these are it.

Wonderful strings. Easy on the fingers and they sound great! The trick to avoid the strings breaking is to install them so they wind over themselves in one direction around the tensioner shaft. DO NOT INSERT THE STRING THROUGH THE HOLE IN THE SHAFT AND BEND IT BACK OVER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION SO THAT IT WINDS OVER ITSELF. This puts a kink/weak spot in the string which virtually guarantees it will break. You can get away with this on traditional bronze strings but not titanium strings.

I bought these strings because the phosphor bronze strings blacken my fingers and I can taste metal after a short practice session. Titanium as you may not know, is used in replacement parts in the Human body, hips, knees and pins. because it doesn't react with Human fluids.. Also, Raw Titanium is a 6 on the MoHs hardness scale and is as hard as soft steel with about half of the mass. Titanium as drawn wire is not expensive and can be purchased to be used as strings on the Web. Also as wire as it crystallizes it forms a six sided wire. Imagine then my disappointment to learn that the 'B' and higher 'E' string are only steel.I found the strings to be somewhat muted compared to Phosphor Bronze as to the sound produced on my Martin acoustic guitar. In spite of this, the sound sis not consistent across the higher neck scale. The 10 thru 13th fret on the E string had the same G note In short order the E string broke. When I went back to nickel wrapped strings they did not do this. I found the sustain on a note to be less than the Phosphor strings and is suited to relatively fast playing. The strings are listed as 'light', but they are heavy in their thickness, your finger tips had better be 'worn in' or you will feel it after a longer practice. I did notice some blackening on my fingers after a first use. All this being said, I don't know why a 6-7 dollar set of Ernie Ball nickel wrapped strings wouldn't be as suitable. In general I am disappointed. I will see how they hold up to both my skin and skin oil type and how long they last compared to other strings. After some use I will make an update to my eval. At this time I cannot justify buying them because of the general $40 dollar cost.Update: The high E and D string broke with only moderate playing. Also when it broke it was not being played and had not been played for maybe half an hour. I hate it but I am going to go back to the old blacken the fingers type of strings. I feel these strings are barely adequate. This has earned them a solid 1 star rating both for the expense and their failure.

The 3rd string broke while jamming. I was shocked, been better if ing these strings for years, that s is the full that time a string broke in just weeks, usually they last about 4-6 months.

Emphasizing what others have said: These strings break a lot. On my second set, the high E string slipped (without a luthier's knot) but I was able to rewind the stub on the post with some difficulty. Then, the winding on the A string pulled apart while tuning it up slowly from D and this set only had a few weeks use on them. On the previous set, the high E and B strings both broke after 8 months use within a week of each other which was acceptable to me but seemed weird b/c I hadn't been banging on them and they still sounded good. 2 weeks later, the high E broke when tuning down to D!? Since I like alternative guitar tunings, these strings are probably not for me although they easily sound the best on my dreadnaught. Next set, G string came apart while bending. Finger style guitar playing might be best use.Don't use a luthier's knot, as shown below, with these strings. Martin now has a diagram on the string envelopes which shows the string simply wound over itself in one direction around the peg without either a luthier's knot or a top wrap pinching the string on the lower wraps. I didn't find any additional info from Martin on this issue which is surprising given the number of complaints of broken strings and the cost for this set. I add an extra wrap or two instead of the normal two or three wraps just for more security and no problems. Besides the increased bass, volume, tone and brightness, the nickel wrap doesn't line the "rivers" on my finger tips like bronze strings do which I hope means its not deteriorating and I don't have to use a finger brush to clean my calluses. I also liked Thomastik-Infeld AC112 strings for tone and durability but pricey and usually play Martin Marquis which are not as durable.

These strings sound incredible. The projection, and clarity, of the wound strings is the best I've ever heard in 40+ years of playing. I was concerned with some of the reviewers experiencing breakages, but haven't had that issue (yet?). In all fairness, I do tune to Eb, and capo the first fret. This provides for lower string tension, and slight better action, on the first few frets. If I don't suffer any breakage myself, these will be my main acoustic strings from here on out. They're that good.*UPDATE - I love them even more 6 months later. They play/feel/sound like broken in strings, without the crud.