D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic
Light .012-.053
A coated string that does not feel or sound like a coated string
$15 - $30
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The short version
The old objection to coated strings was that you could feel the coating: a slight slickness, a slightly muted top end, and a dead spot where the plain strings should ring. XS answers that with a film thin enough that the string sounds close to an uncoated EJ16 while still keeping sweat and skin oil out of the windings. The plain strings get their own treatment rather than being left bare, which is where several rival coated sets lose their consistency after a fortnight.
How we rate it
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
- Brightness
- 8.0
- Sustain
- 7.0
- Durability
- 9.0
- Feel
- 8.0
- Tuning stability
- 8.0
- Value
- 7.0
Specifications
| Brand | D'Addario |
|---|---|
| Model | XS Phosphor Bronze Coated AcousticLight .012-.053 |
| Category | Strings |
| What it is | |
| Strings in the set | 6 |
| Materials | |
| Alloy | Phosphor bronze |
| Winding | Roundwound |
| Core | Hexagonal high-carbon steel |
| Coating | Ultra-thin film on the wound strings, with treated plain strings |
| Measurements | |
| Gauges | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 |
| In the box | |
| Sets included | 1 |
10 verified fields, taken from the manufacturer first and the Amazon listing second. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated.
What it gets right
- Lasts several times longer than an uncoated set for players with acidic hands
- Coating is thin enough that the feel is close to an uncoated string
- Plain strings are treated too, so the set ages evenly
- Same gauge and core as the EJ16, so nothing about the setup changes
Where it gives ground
- Roughly twice the price of the uncoated equivalent
- Slightly softer attack than uncoated phosphor bronze
- Pointless expense if you already change strings often
Who it is for
What owners report
Patterns drawn from published owner reviews. Summarised, never quoted.
What comes up most
- Longevity is the overwhelming reason owners give for buying them again
- Repeatedly described as the coated set that finally feels normal under the fingers
Frequent complaints
- Price relative to uncoated sets is the main complaint
- A minority find them slightly duller than an EJ16 when both are new
Recognised strengths
- The claim that the coating does not dull the tone is unusually well received
Recognised weaknesses
- The value case depends entirely on how fast you kill strings
The verdict
The right buy if you have acidic hands or you play daily and resent changing strings, because the difference in useful life is large - several times an uncoated set, on most owners' accounts. You pay roughly twice the price of an EJ16 for that, so the maths only works if strings are dying on you fast. If a set of EJ16s lasts you two months, they are the better buy. The tone is close to uncoated phosphor bronze but not identical: a shade smoother on the attack, which some players like and a few miss.
We do not publish prices, because Amazon prices change constantly and a stale figure helps nobody. Follow the link for the current price and availability.
Sources
Compared with
- D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic vs Belfort Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
- D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic vs D'Addario EJ11 80/20 Bronze Acoustic
- D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic vs D'Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
- D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic vs D'Addario Pro-Arte Nylon Classical
- D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic vs D'Addario EJ27N Student Nylon Classical
- D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic vs Elixir NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze Acoustic
Other strings
Belfort · Strings
Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
Light
Cheap phosphor bronze from a brand with no published specification
D'Addario · Strings
EJ11 80/20 Bronze Acoustic
Light, .012-.053
The bright, brash acoustic string the whole category was built on
D'Addario · Strings
EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
Light .012-.053, three sets
The default acoustic string, and the one to buy if you are not sure
D'Addario · Strings
EXL110 XL Nickel Wound Electric
Regular Light .010-.046, three sets
The electric string most guitars leave the factory wearing
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