Strings made by Ernie Ball - the proverbial icing on the cake for a powerful sound with plenty of sustain. Since the early 1960s, the US company has been making strings for almost every stringed instrument. This vast wealth of experience is clearly demonstrated in every product, and it is not by chance that Ernie Ball remains one of the market's leading manufacturers to this day. The product range has expanded immensely over the course of several decades and now includes many accessories such as effect pedals, cables, straps, and high-quality picks alongside the company's extensive selection of strings. However, Ernie Ball's core business is and remains the production of all manner of strings, which set standards in terms of sound, tuning stability, and durability - and the company is still based in Indio, California.
The Ernie Ball 2153 Earthwood Phosphor Bronze strings for twelve-string acoustic guitars are made with a winding composed of 92% copper, 7.7% tin, and 0.3% phosphorus, which guarantees a clear and bell-like sound as well as plenty of volume and excellent durability. With gauges of .009/.009, .012/.012, .020w/.009, .026/.012, .036/.020p, and .046/.026, these strings produce the typical deep, shimmering sound which makes a twelve-string acoustic guitar as fascinating as it is unique. In addition, the 2153 Earthwood Phosphor Bronze string set offers impressively high tuning stability, which is particularly important for twelve-string instruments.
Thanks to its long playing life, loud and well-balanced sound, precise intonation, and high tuning stability from the moment the strings are put on the guitar, the Ernie Ball 2153 Earthwood Bronze set is particularly recommended as a reliable companion for ambitious acoustic guitarists who want a combination of great playability (despite having double the number of strings) and a bright, shimmering sound for chord work. The combined power of over 50 years of experience in string development at Ernie Ball also makes the EB 2153 Earthwood Phosphor Bronze strings the first choice for twelve-string acoustic guitars - and at a very fair price.
The Ernie Ball company was named after its founder and has its headquarters in San Luis Opisbo, California. Being a guitarist himself, Ernie Ball knew their needs very well. A major problem for him in the 1950s and 1960s was the lack of high-quality guitar and bass strings. In 1962, Ernie Ball invented the “Slinky”, a very flexible and therefore much more comfortable string, which also sounded better and was more durable. He specifically brought individual string gauges onto the market for a young clientele and touring musicians. The company’s success was unstoppable, and today Ernie Ball is the world's largest manufacturer of guitar and bass strings. Over the years, the range has expanded and now includes accessories such as cables, picks, straps, etc. Ernie Ball is also known in connection with the instrument manufacturer Music Man, which the company bought in 1984, but which continues to operate as an independent brand.
The Ernie Ball 2153 Earthwood Phosphor Bronze string set offers a warm and bell-like sound that brings out the best in your twelve-string acoustic guitar. The strings' precise intonation means that chords and voicings always sound bright and clear anywhere on the fingerboard. In addition, these strings feature outstanding tuning stability as well as a direct response, something that is crucial for twelve-string instruments. Those who instead go in for an extra-loud and more crisp sound may prefer the regular Ernie Ball Earthwood Bronze strings, which are available with identical gauges. A comparison between these two types of strings might be well worthwhile in order to exploit the guitar's full sonic potential and thoroughly explore your personal preferences in terms of playability.