Ernie Ball Earthwood Silk and Steel Extra Soft 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings - 10-50 Gauge

To get back into my neglected hobby of guitar playing (never been more than a six or seven chord wonder, and absolutely CAN NOT play barre chords! I know my limits...) just before Chrimble I purchased a nice left handed Vangoa Semi Acoustic (see my review of that elsewhere for the low down on the lovely item). It arrived pre-strung with what felt like cheese wire designed to part me from my finger tips permanently.Now of course I understand that you have to, through regular practice, toughen up your finger ends - but I have an additional hurdle. Due to a genetic disaster, I have an auto immune problem that makes me prone to very soft skin and bouts of psoriasis. Toughening up the finger ends really is an uphill struggle. I looked into finger cap things (I believe they call them "cots") but apparently these are a CON and YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT BUY THEM.So panicking that I would never get anywhere, I wondered if maybe we could do something about the strings perhaps? Yes, we certainly can. There's the nylon option if you have an actual acoustic, but (a) I had a semi acoustic, so that's no good me, and (b) I hate how nylon strings sound anyway. A few of the old hands were recommending something cryptic "Earthwood". Science fiction book, Pagan Holy Site, old BBC radio series, or what?Well, it turns out that Earthwood is a special set of strings manufactured by one of my fave string companies, Ernie Ball. Indeed, they are truly special. These wonders have a layer of silk inside the windings, making them softer and easier to play for we sensitives. Apparently, according to the cognoscenti, they don't last as long as other types of string, and one has to be careful with their cleaning, but strings are the guitar's "consumables" - you have to change them often *anyway*, and it's not like they cost the earth!So I purchased a string multi-tool (see the review for *this* elsewhere too!) and a couple of sets of Earthwoods. As soon as I had a day where I felt strong enough, I restrung my Vangoa, and the difference was instantly noticeable. The Earthwoods have a smoother and more delicate tone that (according to what I had read) is not to everyone's taste, but I fell in love immediately. It's more folky, jangly, and nowhere near as brash and tinny sounding as the previous generic jobs. Although I've only managed a half hour or so of playing on them, I've found them so very agreeable. My other option was to get one of my electrics out of storage and get started on "the toughening", but an acoustic is so much easier to simply "pick up and play" anytime, whilst you have to locate your cables, your portable amp, connect everything up and fiddle with settings before strumming chord one.So in sum, Earthwood strings from Ernie Ball are a splendid addition to your guitar bag - whether like me you're fighting against everything (even my own collapsing carcass!) to get back into playing after a long hiatus, or you simply fancy a slightly mellower, toned down sound from your acoustic. They are not the cheapest strings in the world - who on earth would want *them*? - but they are not really that expensive for a decent set that's easy on the fingers. As I said, I purchased two sets. We've all known the horror of an overtightened G-string that simply explodes in your hands to the shock and dismay of all around, and as you wipe up the blood you're faced with that terrifying thought: "Where do I even get a spare G-string at 2am on a Sunday morning? Why didn't I just buy two sets?" But I suffered no such ignominy - indeed it's rare with decent named-brands - so I have a spare set to go in my Geetar Stuff drawer. I'm very happy with my Earthwoods, and maybe if you give them a try, you will be too!

I did question putting 10 gauge strings on an acoustic. To me, this is more like a heavy-gauge set of electrics. Also whilst I've always used "Ernie's" for electric, I've inherently trusted D'Addario for acoustic. So this was a big change for me.However these are beautiful.- The "springiness" is positively joyful bringing a depth of happiness to major chords like nothing I've heard.- For picking not only does it make life easier but they still have the sustain you'd expect from heavier set strings.- Barre chords are a sinch so it means you get a good sound (no involuntary "twanginess") even after a quick change.- Oddly the G is wound; meaning you end up with 4 wound and 2 "naked" strings (as opposed to 3/3 like you'd expect by default). I presume this to compensate for the gauge's thinness? However it means that you get less of the "cheese wire" effect on fingers after a while of playing.So far - these have been on for a month of everyday playing and - whilst they're definitely losing their initial lustre a tad - they're not dead yet. They seem to have the longevity of a decent set of 11s.Can't fault them.

Very nice strings, well worth the money

I gave these a try out of interest, and whilst they are perfectly fine I prefer my bluesier sounding Earthwood strings. I found these were easier to play, probably because of the silk content as well as being a 10 gauge instead of my usual 11. So, chords were easier to grip, and it was easier to slide through the frets when playing individual notes. Bending notes was also easier. However for my ear, I found the top two strings to be too bright, and on the loud side when striking a full chord. Also, maybe because of the silk content and light gauge, there was less base from the bottom strings. Still a good buy though for those that want a brighter relatively comfortable playing experience.

Utterly Beautiful. 7 Stars and Jupiter at Midnight. They are very quiet, very gentle and very beautiful. I played Heaven's Door at 3 O'clock in the Morning and they are so gentle, I nearly got in. I got carried away but they've got no volume and you can't wake the neighbours even if you lose control. If you're playing something very tender, you need these. Tears in Heaven, that sort of thing. They are qualitatively different. Vintage Port to your average Sherry Drinker. Mine went off after about 4 days, so I cleaned them and that was the end of them. Dowse them in string cleaner and I think the Silk must absorb it and it's not marketing or slick doublespeak, there really is Silk in these Strings. Velvet Underground and coated with a deeply resonant and deeply pleasing Steel. I've got some more on order because life's too short not to practice with the sweetest strings you can find. Thank you Earthwood. I've found my Strings, I just need to get between G and C a bit quicker.

I have bought Earthwood strings for years and always found them value for money, of good quality and long- lasting. Thank you for a good reliable product.

Nice product always

I use Earthwoods all the time and was excited to try these but they just seem a bit muddy in the bass. Other people may love the sound and feel of these strings, but not me.