Today we’re highlighting an excellent brand of guitar strings that you should be aware of: John Pearse. John Pearse makes acoustic and electric strings, as well strings for bass and other instruments such as 12-string guitar, Pedal Steel, and Lap Steel. In this John Pearse strings review I will highlight three guitar string sets: Two sets of John Pearse acoustic guitar strings, and one electric guitar string set.
Who Was John Pearse?
The John Pearse story reads like one of the more colorful company histories; John was a real guy, and an interesting one. He was born in 1939, and played guitar throughout Europe. In the 1960s, while in London, he worked with a string maker to design what he felt was a superior string, one that provided, according to the jpstrings website, a “longer life and a more accurate vibrating and nodal pattern.” Pearse eventually moved to the U.S. to work for Martin Guitars. When he left Martin, he founded Breezy Ridge Instruments in 1980 to market strings and other accessories.
Recommended John Pearse String Sets
Below I have listed two sets of John Pearse acoustic strings and one set of John Pearse electric strings that I have played and can recommend.
John Pearse #600L Phosphor Bronze Wound (12-53 gauge)
I’ve settled on the John Pearse 600L Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings after evaluating a number of brands. The best way to describe them tonally is balanced. Compared to Elixirs, which came standard on my Taylor, they are smoother in the high end, and do not present as many overtones, especially in the high end. Lows are rounded and warm, and the highs are present but not “peaky.” Taylors tend to be voiced for a modern sound, and I found that these strings settled things down a bit, sounding just right. String life is good too, and they retain most of their sound for a long period of time without sounding dull.
John Pearse #160SL 80/20 Bronze Wound Slightly Light (11-50 gauge)
I use John Pearse 80 20 Bronze acoustic strings on an Ovation in Pearse’s “Slightly Light” gauge, 11-50. I use my Ovation as a practice guitar and it plays well. However, it has a laminated top, and therefore suffers from a lack of volume when played acoustically. This is a good example of where the more fundamental-focused sound of an 80/20 can be beneficial; these are not quite as warm as a phosphor bronze, but at a light gauge they are perfect for the type of guitar I am using them on. The extra articulation that they bring benefits a laminated top acoustic like the Ovation. String life is quite good in my experience, and similar to a Phosphor Bronze string.
John Pearse E Z Bend Nickel Wound Set #2500 (10-46 gauge)
John Pearse is better known for their acoustic guitar strings, but nonetheless I feel like John Pearse electric guitar strings are high quality, “under the radar” nickel strings. The EZ bend Nickel Wound Set is nickel plated steel, and while I prefer pure nickel strings on most guitars, the Pearse nickel wound E Z Bend set has performed great on my strats. They have a balanced feel and tension, and are indeed “EZ” bending, but not floppy. Tonewise they are a little more present than a pure nickel string, but they are not bright by any means. I know I keep saying there’s something “just right” about John Pearse strings, and there is, and the E Z bend is no exception. They stay in tune well and are reasonably long lasting. I recommend giving them a try if you are looking for a good sounding, reasonably priced electric string.
Conclusion
My experience with John Pearse strings has been positive. Colorful company history aside, the bottom line is that they are reasonably priced, consistent, and sound good. The downside is that their web presence has not kept up with the times, and the website does not offer direct online ordering. They are widely available from online dealers, however, so sourcing them shouldn’t be a problem. The company is independent and still run by one of the original cofounders, which is another plus.
Happy Playing!