- Gauges: .013 - .056
- Bronze alloy for brilliance and long life
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Product Description
Martin MSP4200 Phosphor Bronze Medium Acoustic Guitar Strings use a winding alloy that is ideally suited for making strings that deliver deep, rich basses and clear, bright trebles. Martin strings are high-quality strings designed for daily use. Core and wrap wires must meet strict requirements to make the grade. Martin acoustic guitar strings are wound to precise specifications.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By BluesKid
Amazon Verified Purchase
These are medium strings, which means they're a heavier gauge than light. Heavier gauges will have fuller sound and sustain longer, but they're more difficult to fret and bend and will hurt your fingers more. So if you're just starting out with a full size dreadnought guitar buy some lights instead.
That said, these pair very well with a short scale parlor guitar. The shorter scale means that the string tension is reduced, so medium strings will be more comfortable to use. Parlor guitars are smaller and have less natural power and projection than their larger cousins, so heavier gauge strings like these give them more presence. Just check with the manufacturer to make sure the bracing can handle medium strings. That goes for all acoustic guitars.
That said, these pair very well with a short scale parlor guitar. The shorter scale means that the string tension is reduced, so medium strings will be more comfortable to use. Parlor guitars are smaller and have less natural power and projection than their larger cousins, so heavier gauge strings like these give them more presence. Just check with the manufacturer to make sure the bracing can handle medium strings. That goes for all acoustic guitars.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Most guitarists I know tend to buy the typical 80/20 phosphor bronze strings. These are 92/8 phosphor bronze and it really does make for a nicer sounding string. The unwound E and B strings are bronzed. If you aren't into the nano-webb strings (I'm not)to get long life out of your strings, try these, the do last longer than the 80/20's. I use these on my D style as well as a Martin OOO, sound great on both for bluesy, fingerstyle playing.
Keep on pickin'!!
Keep on pickin'!!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
These are very good strings at a very low price. Although now I know I should have gotten light weight for beginning.........these are high quality strings and will last.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Caleb
Amazon Verified Purchase
I've been playing with these strings for several years now, and I absolutely love them to death. First heard of using medium-gauge phosphor-bronze strings after looking up that Elliott Smith used them on an old, cheap Yamaha guitar. I couldn't believe it. His strings had such an incredibly bassy, warm tone to them that I assumed it had more to do with mic quality or placement, but no, amazingly, it really is just the strings.
Besides the tone, the heavier gauge also allows for a few perks while playing. For one, they're so thick that you sort of have to try to knock them out of tune, and they endure the general wear-and-tear of constant playing far better than lighter-gauge strings. Secondly, as with any heavier gauge, they resonate more, and that translates into sheer volume. If you slammed your pick down on strings like these in an apartment, there is absolutely no doubt that all of your neighbors would hear you loudly and clearly. Of course, this also means that you can fingerpick without using your nails and still get a very pleasant, subdued, medium-volume tone. Honestly, light-gauge steel strings sound almost tinny to me by comparison.
The biggest and perhaps only problem with these, as others have pointed out, is that, yes, they hurt. If you're new to guitar, I would really not recommend them until you at least have very solid callouses on every finger. I play guitar every day for at least an hour, and my hand still has a tendency to go slightly numb from using these. In fact, even switching guitars and playing lighter, steel strings and coming back to these makes me feel like a complete beginner, when even fretting a chord would sting until it burned.... Read more ›
Besides the tone, the heavier gauge also allows for a few perks while playing. For one, they're so thick that you sort of have to try to knock them out of tune, and they endure the general wear-and-tear of constant playing far better than lighter-gauge strings. Secondly, as with any heavier gauge, they resonate more, and that translates into sheer volume. If you slammed your pick down on strings like these in an apartment, there is absolutely no doubt that all of your neighbors would hear you loudly and clearly. Of course, this also means that you can fingerpick without using your nails and still get a very pleasant, subdued, medium-volume tone. Honestly, light-gauge steel strings sound almost tinny to me by comparison.
The biggest and perhaps only problem with these, as others have pointed out, is that, yes, they hurt. If you're new to guitar, I would really not recommend them until you at least have very solid callouses on every finger. I play guitar every day for at least an hour, and my hand still has a tendency to go slightly numb from using these. In fact, even switching guitars and playing lighter, steel strings and coming back to these makes me feel like a complete beginner, when even fretting a chord would sting until it burned.... Read more ›
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Bob
Amazon Verified Purchase
I've been using the Martin SP PB series for over a year on my Taylor 310ce. I'm mainly a rhythm strummer, not a very good picker.
I've switched between the 4100, 4150, & 4200 and always come back to the 4200. They have a richer, warmer tone. To me the 4150's have too much of a ring/jangle. In my opinion there is little difference between the 4150 med/light and the 4100 lights. You may as well go with the 4100 lights if it's a comfort thing.
I play about 1-2 hours a day & the 4200's give me the sound I like for about 3-4 weeks. I probably could go a bit longer but at 6 weeks they start sounding dead I think, so for the cost of a burger I switch them out monthly. My Taylor sounds so nice with these at a fraction of the cost of other brands, all of which I have tried. Even my lovely wife who is tone deaf likes the sound of these. In her words..."they don't sound tinny".
One last thought, if you find Mediums hard on your fingers as I once did, give the 4150's a try for a while. It will help you transition to Med's and I think you find it was worth it.
Give them a try.
I've switched between the 4100, 4150, & 4200 and always come back to the 4200. They have a richer, warmer tone. To me the 4150's have too much of a ring/jangle. In my opinion there is little difference between the 4150 med/light and the 4100 lights. You may as well go with the 4100 lights if it's a comfort thing.
I play about 1-2 hours a day & the 4200's give me the sound I like for about 3-4 weeks. I probably could go a bit longer but at 6 weeks they start sounding dead I think, so for the cost of a burger I switch them out monthly. My Taylor sounds so nice with these at a fraction of the cost of other brands, all of which I have tried. Even my lovely wife who is tone deaf likes the sound of these. In her words..."they don't sound tinny".
One last thought, if you find Mediums hard on your fingers as I once did, give the 4150's a try for a while. It will help you transition to Med's and I think you find it was worth it.
Give them a try.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A great product. Has a good tone and strings last for a long time. Never had any breakage even of the G string that always seems to break
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By BuddEric
Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a professional player (80+ gigs per year). Because I often play near the bridge with full force (deep churning single and double string rythm rifs) I tend to break strings. D'addarios, for example, last me about 25 minutes on stage (if I'm lucky). These Martin SP's (mediums) last me from 1 - 6 hours on stage depending on the thickness of the pick I'm using. No other string that I've used is a strong as these, period...and the tone is excellent!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Danny
Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm not a guitar pro, but I have been playing for a few months. My old strings are awful compared to these. I love them.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Strings
I've used Martin Phosphor Bronze strings in the past, love them, and that's why I went with them again. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Samuel Saladino
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spot on
Came exactly as promised and with no defects. Sound great. On the whole solid strings so far. Would buy again.
Published 1 month ago by Alex
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice and bright
Can't beat Martin strings, and the price was right on these. My poor old Hoehner loved a new set of strings.
Published 1 month ago by William Kizer
5.0 out of 5 stars
twangy!!
Most guitarists I know tend to buy the typical 80/20 phosphor bronze strings. These are 92/8 phosphor bronze and it really does make for a nicer sounding string. Read more
Published 1 month ago by lvpoolguy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gret Strings!
I usually always forget to snag these when I go to the guitar store so I figured I'd start buying them online. Gives that Martin tone that we all know and love!
Published 1 month ago by Jack Sparrow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Martin medium guitar strings
Just recently bought a new set of D'Addario and installed. I believe these work best with a pick which I don't use. The last set I had was Martins and they have a softer feel. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jer R.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great strings!
These strings have a great sound and a great price. I would recommend these strings if you don't want to spend a lot of money for great sound then these are the ticket.
Published 1 month ago by Lawhitetailman
5.0 out of 5 stars
great sound
Love the strings.. been needing some new ones for awhile and found these. Now, the ole Martin sounds good again.
Published 1 month ago by Andy Pollock
4.0 out of 5 stars
good
TThe strings where good except for when they get exposed to lower temps they get more sharp than other brands
Published 1 month ago by mr.m
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good quality
Bought guitar strings for my husband. Martin is his favorite brand. Was a very good price for the quality. Dependable product.
Published 1 month ago by Jerrie S.
