SB111 Spectrum Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings - .011-.052 Light Review

My favorite acoustic strings

T-I Spectrum strings are a great sounding acoustic guitar option for those weary of the SOS off the rack at the big guitar store chain. They are a nicely balanced sound with great tone that settles in fairly quickly after restringing. These are not coated but they still outlast basic D'As or EBs or Martins, etc.I discovered T-I Spectrum by chance -- my guitar guy had a small rack… read more that included them. Not wishing to make a second stop for acoustic strings, I grabbed a pack of Spectrums before I left and have been a fan ever since.Perhaps the one downside of these is the cost. Twenty years ago they were a little bit more expensive, but not so much that it would stop me from using them. Fast forward to 2022 and I have to shop around online to find them for $/pack. Depending where you buy them, that price can go significantly higher. Then again, if you're choosing to use strings from Vienna, Austria, you won't find them on the bargain rack.

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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.

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Not Worth The Money

My passion for guitar playing solely rests with my acoustic guitars. Always on the lookout for the best sounding strings, I will pay the price for the best. My choice of guitars are Takamines manufactured in Japan; mainly an old FD360SC and an older EF341C. The FD360SC ALWAYS gets Elixers. The EF341C is the guinea pig for strings. Considering the cost and thinking these strings… read more would be great, I tried a set of Thomastik Enfeld SB111 011-052s on her. At first, the sound was good, not great. The tonal range while strumming was maybe a little better than the previous strings. Within a week or a little more the sound and reaction on the strings went South. The sound did not produce any vibrance that the guitar I've known for many years was capable of making. There was probably at most about 6 to 7 hours of playing time on them. I replaced the strings within a month of their installation. Went back to strings that really sound good on that guitar which were not the Thomastik-Enfelds. Based on my experience with these strings, I will say that the SB111s are not worth the extra money.

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