D'Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze .012-.053 Light 3-Pack

D’Addario’s most popular acoustic set, with warm, balanced phosphor bronze tone and easy playability.

If you’re not sure which strings to put on your acoustic, the EJ16s are about as safe a bet as it gets. This light 12-53 set is D’Addario’s most popular acoustic gauge, and it’s easy to see why. It hits a sweet spot between comfort and tone that works on just about any guitar and in just about any style.

D’Addario introduced phosphor bronze acoustic strings back in 1974, and it’s been the standard ever since. The EJ16s show why, with a warm, balanced voice that has plenty of clarity on top and a full, even low end. The wraps are wound over a hexagonal high-carbon steel core that grips the winding tightly, which helps with tuning stability, intonation, and string life. They’re made at D’Addario’s facility in New York.

At around 160 lbs of total tension, they’re noticeably easier on your fretting hand than mediums while still giving the top plenty of energy to work with. That makes them a great everyday choice for fingerstyle and strumming players, and a comfortable fit for a wide range of guitars, from small-bodied parlors and OMs to dreadnoughts. If you’re after more volume and punch, especially on a big dreadnought, the EJ17 mediums are worth a look.

This package includes 3 complete sets of EJ16.