AC113 Plectrum Acoustic Guitar Strings - .013-.061 Medium Review

Keep it in Standard

I loved the sound of these strings. I got a set of Plectrums and Spectrums for a solo gig at a coffee shop. I put one set on my performance guitar and the other on the guitar I use to teach and practice. Both sets broke in less than a week and before my gig. I'm sure playing in four or five alternate tunings probably had something to do with it, but I wonder if another brand may… read more have held up better. Very pleased with the sound of these strings, but I'd be cautious about them if you play very much in alternate tunings.

---

Cancel Comment

Issue with the G string almost immediately.

So, my initial impression of these was that they were very cool sounding on my Martin. I was recording a funky/guitar solo-y part and these had a perfect amount of body and really sounded "beefy". However, I spent much of the day after putting these on in my recording studio working on this one part. How I didn't notice this earlier, I can't tell you, but after a few hours of… read more recording and listening back I was hearing some distortion. Frankly, it sounded super cool for the part and I thought it was from my 1176. Then when playing without headphones and other music going on I realized it was the g-string having this bizarre low-level buzz at the bridge that was sounding like distortion. It was almost like a slight palm mute or the sound of putting foam by the bridge on a bass. The strings weren't buzzing at the frets so it wasn't an action issue, the buzz came from the bridge. I tried loosening the string and resetting the string under the bridge pin, cleaning out the bridge hole, even was about to sand the bridge, etc and then retightening without ruining the string, but nothing saved it. To test, I put on a Martin Retro string and it sat and played perfectly without the same issue. So to me that sounds like something is messed up on the string - definitely not ruling out human error but I've changed thousands of guitar strings over 30 years and can't remember this specific issue coming up. So I'm going to mostly blame the string or possible a quality control issue. That said, they sounded pretty cool so I might give them another try, although for the price I'm not too happy.

---

Cancel Comment

Nice.

you know how you put on a fresh set of acoustic strings, they settle in, stretch, re-tune and a day latter you wish they would sound that bright forever ? well these you put on and the highs are so loud you can't even hear the low frequencies for a while, and a day latter they sound just a touch bright yet...first impressions? worth the extra $.

---

Cancel Comment

Worth it!

From the packaging to construction material and method these strings are exquisite. The texture of the roundwound strings and the silk wraps on the peg ends spoke to the craftsmanship. These medium gauge strings are soft to the touch due to the polished round wound surface and have absolutely the warmest sound one can imagine. Most of the mass produced strings on the market come… read more out of the package bright and twangy. Thomastik-Infeld strings are round, very balanced and warm. They do not lack anything in brightness but the higher registers are not harsh. This will be my go to fingerpicking string moving forward. I could see how one might want a bit more of the high end wash if only strumming was going to be used, but these strings actually sound very even and swishy strummed with a flat pick. Are they worth the money? In my opinion, they are absolutely worth the investment.

---

Cancel Comment