Editor Reviews:

Product Description:
Martin s SP acoustic guitar string series (Studio/Performance) are made by craftspeople from an ultra-high quality steel core that resists breaking much better than average acoustic guitar strings. Both the core and the plain acoustic guitar strings are plated with a smooth acoustic bronze finish. They stay bright, have long lasting tonal qualities, and look absolutely beautiful on an acoustic guitar.

Rating : - PERFECT FOR MY GUITAR
I own a Martin D-15 acoustic guitar (the all-mahogany dreadnought) and found that with the medium strings (the 13-56) I was getting AMAZING volume and tone but that they were exerting a bit too much tension on my guitar. It was a very tricky guitar to set up, and I didn't want to fool with it any more. I switched to the light gauge (the 12s) and found that I lost too much volume and tone and that they weren't exerting ENOUGH tension on the the guitar--the strings were "bottoming out" and rattling against the fingerboard. I despaired of getting my guitar set up the right way, (didn't want to spend the extra moolah for ANOTHER set-up) but then I found out about the "light/medium" gauge, which i believe goes from .0125 for the high "E" to .055 for the low "E." I ordered, they arrived, and they are PERFECT for me. They exert exactly the right amount of pull on my guitar (the tension is midway bewteen the lights and the mediums) and the tone and volume are FANTASTIC. These stings are bright, even, and somewhat chimey-sounding on my guitar, and nicely LOUD.

With this gauge, you get the booming, bluegrassy bottom (although nicely balanced overall) but with a bit more "play" in the strings--therefore, lead runs are a bit easier, less "stiff," especially high up on the neck. I would recommend them to anyone who finds mediums too stiff and lights too quiet. The best of both worlds. They are, it seems, easier to find on-line than in stores. Not many people are hip to these strings, but it is well worth seeking them out.

Of course, they are Martin strings, and people either like the sound of Martin strings or they don't. If you dig Elixirs (and I DO NOT) then these aren't for you. The treble strings (bronzed in the SP sets) have a very nice tone, slightly mellower and at the same time louder (less sharp and trebly/shrill) than the plain steel strings of the other Martin sets.

And they last. Two weeks so far, and they sound as good as when I put 'em on.

As far as I am concerned, these strings are the best I've used, and without question would sound GREAT on a Martin guitar, or any dreadnought for that matter.