D'Addario NB1252BT Nickel Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings - Balanced Tension Light 12 - 52

I will have been playing guitar for going on 25yrs as of my next birthday. Until the last couple years, I always had my go-to favorite string sets that I usually picked based on a brand I had experience with and the gauges of the thickest and thinnest strings; however, in 2023, I discovered balanced tension strings, which do exactly what they claim to - set string gauges in such a way that the tension across each string is roughly the same from thickest to thinnest string. I have not looked back since, not because non-balanced tension strings are bad, necessarily, but because balanced tension strings make such a noticeable difference in playability. Regarding these specific strings, • Tone/feel - I first picked up a set of them last year and was very impressed by the clear tone of each string and how smooth they feel under my fingers. I have always had a very good experience with D'Addario's strings, and these acoustic-specific strings are no exception. • Durability - The jury is out on how often is best to change strings (I think it's a matter of personal preference!), but I personally have gotten several months' worth of use out of my first couple sets of these strings without a significant drop in tone quality after the initial break-in. I also have not had any issues with strings breaking or going significantly out of tune and have no concerns about their long-term durability. • Gauge - I personally find the 12 - 52 gauge range to give a perfect balance of richness while not forcing my fingers to work overly hard. Both of my acoustics are dreadnought-style guitars, and I feel like a majority of the heavy lifting in terms of volume/richness comes from the guitar, but there's still something to be said for this gauge range - any lighter, and I think the tone might start sounding thin, while any thicker, and playability would start to drop due to effort needed to press the strings down. Again, I think gauge selection is a matter of personal preference, but these strings feel perfect for me. That said, if you're in the market for a new set of light/medium-gauge strings for your acoustic, you owe it to yourself to give these strings a shot. Based on my own experience, they have the build quality to go the distance without breaking the bank, all while giving having balanced tension to give you that little "extra" in playability. #sweepstakes