Developed with John Mayer, Ernie Ball’s Earthwood Bell Bronze Strings Provide Bold Tone and Solid Tuning

Ernie Ball may be best known for its electric strings—especially the Slinky series, an industry stalwart for decades—but the company also has an impressive lineup of acoustic offerings. The latest is the Earthwood Bell Bronze set ($12.99), developed in collaboration with singer-songwriter John Mayer, a player as fluent on acoustic as he is on electric.

Made with a proprietary alloy exclusive to Ernie Ball, these strings offer a distinct tonal character. I tested two sets: medium (.013–.056) on a 2000 Taylor 814-BCE and medium light (.012–.054) on a Cort Modern Black [see review in the March/April 2025 issue]. Light (.011–.052) and extra light (.010–.050) sets are also available. These strings promise a fresh tonal option for acoustic players, blending Ernie Ball’s innovation with Mayer’s discerning touch.

Strings That Sing

The Earthwood Bell Bronze sets come in Element Shield Plus waterproof packaging with corrosion-resistant envelopes, and they were pristine right out of the pack. One thing that stood out immediately was how quickly the strings stabilized once brought up to tune. The Taylor had a well-worn set of medium-light strings from a previous test, but it’s really better suited to the medium-gauge Earthwoods. Even with the gauge change, the guitar held tune right away.

I prefer the feel of uncoated strings, so I felt at home on these Ernie Balls instantly. The medium set had a comfortable tension on the Taylor’s 25.5-inch scale length—pliable enough for bends and expressive techniques but sturdy enough to support heavy strumming.

Big, Bold, and Bell-Like

The strings are aptly named: the tone is chimey, bold, and balanced, with plenty of punch in the lower end. The packaging’s tone profile suggests a slight bass boost over the mids and treble, and I found that to be accurate—powerful but not boomy. Strumming on the Taylor produced full, room-filling chords, and fingerstyle notes were articulate and resonant.

I especially liked the response when I snapped the lower strings. The Taylor tends to be bright for a rosewood guitar, and the Bell Bronze strings leaned into that balance, where a more traditional phosphor bronze or coated set might mellow it out too much.

Because I was replacing old strings, the tonal shift on the Taylor was obvious—but having played that guitar for decades, I’d say the Bell Bronze strings pushed it right into its sweet spot, making it a great fit for rock or country band settings.

The Cort was wearing relatively fresh strings, so I restrung gradually for a side-by-side comparison. The Bell Bronze set sounded very similar to the stock strings but may have been a touch louder. As with the Taylor, tuning stability was immediate. The lighter gauge still had plenty of low-end presence and delivered a punchy bass response. With the 25.5-inch scale, the tension felt great for both lead and rhythm playing; I’d probably stick with the medium light set for flatpicking and lead work in a pop context.

With stable tuning, a strong and balanced sound, and a selection of popular gauges, Ernie Ball’s Earthwood Bell Bronze strings offer a fresh take on acoustic tone. They’re definitely worth a spin to see how they suit your guitar. ernieball.com