Phosphor Bronze
PB strings produce a bright, but slightly warmer and darker sound than bronze/brass strings. The small amount of phosphorous in the alloy helps them retain their new sound longer than bronze/brass. Most American made acoustic guitars are factory strung with PB strings. Unless you change strings a lot, PBs are definitely for you.

Bronze, also known as Brass, or 80/20
Bronze/brass is actually a mixture of copper and tin. An 80/20 bronze/brass string is made of an alloy comprised of 80% copper and 20% tin (or zinc). Bronze/brass strings produce a very brilliant, crisp sound when new but begin to lose their new sound after only a few hours of playing. Performers who change strings a lot typically love them. 85/15s are similar to 80/20s, but are a little less bright.


NB. Changing string gauges (or sometimes changing brands) may require truss rod adjustment.