What is the difference between Bronze or Phosphor Bronze strings? This is a label I see on Elixr strings.
Why does Phosphor Bronze cost more ?
Bronze or Phosphor Bronze Strings
Bronze is bright sounding. Phosphor Bronze is slightly more mellow and has more mid range. PB is the most common choice.
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I think the bronze strings usually contain about 80% copper and about 20% tin (actually brass rather than bronze?), and the phosphor bronze contain about 92% copper, less than 1% phosphorus, and the balance being tin. Copper is more expensive than tin, and the addition of phosphorus makes it more corrosion resistant, likely making the sound quality more consistent over a longer period of time, thereby making it a more premium product. Copper is softer than tin, so it stands to reason that the bronze strings are likely to be brighter, at least initially before corrosion sets in. I’m not a string expert, but know enough about mechanical engineering and metals to be convincingly dangerous after reading up on them a bit.
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If it matters…all my martins sing very well for longer with Broze classics. Never going back to 80-20 again…
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