“They Make a Guitar Sound Musical”: Taylor Guitars Switches to D'Addario Coated XS Phosphor Bronze Strings

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Taylor and D’Addario join forces to create an “enhanced level of premium sound and performance”

D'Addario XS packet and Taylor acoustic guitar headstock
(Image credit: Taylor Guitars/D'Addario)

Taylor has announced they will be shipping new acoustic guitars with D’Addario's coated XS phosphor bronze strings.

Appearing on Taylor’s U.S.-made instruments as standard last week, these premium strings will also feature on Mexican-built Taylor guitars from this summer.

D’Addario says their XS strings are the “most innovative coated string ever created.” As the company’s most resilient design to date, XS strings are engineered to last as long as possible while maintaining a smooth feel and balanced tone.

Also available for electric guitars and mandolins, D'Addario's XS range comprises the following acoustic sets in both 80/20 and phosphor bronze formats: 10-47, 11-52, 12-53, 12-56, 13-56 and 10-47 (12-string).

“We’re excited for this new chapter of partnership with D’Addario,” said Andy Powers, Chief Guitar Designer, President and CEO of Taylor Guitars. “It’s the guitar maker in us that wants to be standing alongside the string maker in them.

D'Addario XS logo and Taylor acoustic guitar

(Image credit: Taylor Guitars/D'Addario)

“The XS strings are really consistent and produce a great response. They have all the metrics that make a guitar sound musical: pitch accuracy, dynamic range, feel, sustain. They work exceptionally well.“

“This is so much more than an iconic guitar company and string manufacturer coming together," added Jim D'Addario, founder, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Innovation Officer of D'Addario. 

"It's about what can happen when insatiably curious people get together for the sole purpose of elevating what's possible for musicians.

“Taylor truly embodies that ethos."

Founded within a year of each other (D’Addario in 1973, Taylor Guitars in 1974) the two companies have a long-shared ethos of acoustic guitar innovation. In fact, D’Addario and Taylor have previously collaborated on the nylon-core string that appeared on the award-winning GS Mini Bass in 2017, while the Pro-Arté Carbon strings currently feature on Taylor’s nylon-string models.

Visit D’Addario for more information.

Rod Brakes
Rod Brakes

Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Guitar World, Guitar Player and MusicRadar in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.