Question 1

Which artists use D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Medium (.013–.056)?

Accepted Answer

Billy Strings (Solo) has cited D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Medium (.013–.056) in a sourced interview. See "These artists use this product" above for the full citation.

Question 2

What gauge is D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze XSAPB1356?

Accepted Answer

.013, .017, .026, .035, .045, .056. Medium gauge, the heavier of D'Addario's two most common acoustic gauges. One step up from XSAPB1253 Light (.012-.053). D'Addario's own tension chart lists the low E at 27.8 lbs and the high E at 27.4 lbs, a nearly balanced set across the six strings.

Question 3

Is this really the set Billy Strings plays?

Accepted Answer

Yes, per D'Addario's own artist page, which names XS Phosphor Bronze 13-56 under the heading Billy's String and quotes him directly: gotta have that medium gauge, gotta have that coated, cause we sweat like crazy. And they don't break! That's a manufacturer endorsement statement, not an independently verified live rig-tech confirmation, but it's D'Addario's own claim about their own artist.

Question 4

What's the difference between XSAPB1356 and EJ17?

Accepted Answer

Same brand, same gauge, same phosphor bronze wrap alloy, same hex steel core family. The difference is the coating. XSAPB1356 adds D'Addario's XS ultra-thin polymer film, which D'Addario calls the longest-lived coating in its acoustic lineup. EJ17 is uncoated and typically lasts 3 to 8 weeks of daily play before it goes dead. XS costs more per set but needs replacing less often, which is the trade heavy-sweating touring players like Billy Strings make.

Question 5

How long do XS Phosphor Bronze strings actually last?

Accepted Answer

D'Addario doesn't publish an exact hours figure. Its own product copy calls XS the longest-lived string in its acoustic lineup, thanks to the ultra-thin film coating. In practice that means a heavy-gigging player restrings every few weeks rather than every few days, and a casual player can go months. Sweat acidity, humidity, and how often you wipe the strings down all shift the number in either direction.

Question 6

Is Medium gauge too heavy for my acoustic?

Accepted Answer

Depends on the guitar, same as any Medium set. Most modern dreadnoughts (Martin D-28, Taylor 800 series, Gibson J-45) handle Medium gauge without adjustment. Smaller-bodied acoustics, parlor guitars, and vintage instruments built for Light gauge should generally stay on Light to avoid extra neck stress. If you're used to Light gauge, stepping up to Medium adds roughly 30 to 35 lbs of total tension across the six strings.

Question 7

Coated or uncoated for bluegrass flatpicking?

Accepted Answer

Both are common in bluegrass. Coated sets like this one win when you play hard, sweat a lot, or gig often enough that restringing every show gets expensive and time-consuming. Uncoated sets like EJ17 win on raw brightness out of the pack and cost less per set if you're already restringing frequently. Billy Strings' own stated reason for going coated is exactly the sweat problem.

Question 8

What's the difference between XS and D'Addario's other coated Medium set, XT?

Accepted Answer

Both are current D'Addario coated Medium sets at the same .013-.056 gauge, but different coating methods. XT uses a treated wrap wire (the coating is part of the wire itself) across all six strings; XS uses a separate ultra-thin film coating applied over the finished wrap. D'Addario's own support page says XS lasts even longer than XT. XT is the mid-tier pick; XS is the premium tier for maximum string life, which is why D'Addario built it around Billy Strings specifically.

Question 9

How does XS Phosphor Bronze compare to Elixir Nanoweb?

Accepted Answer

Both are coated phosphor bronze acoustic strings built to outlast an uncoated set. Elixir's Nanoweb line has the longer track record and ships in a lighter Light gauge (.012-.053) in CYS's catalog; D'Addario's XS uses a thinner film bonded closer to the wrap wire and pairs it with the NY Steel core and Fusion Twist plain steels that also anchor NYXL. Players who already like D'Addario's core and Fusion Twist tech reach for XS; players who want the longest-established coated acoustic name reach for Elixir.

	D'Addario XSAPB1356	D'Addario EJ17	Elixir Nanoweb PB	Martin SP PB
Gauge	.013 – .056 (Medium)	.013 – .056 (Medium)	.012 – .053 (Light)	.012 – .054 (Light)
Coating	XS polymer film	None, uncoated	Nanoweb	None, uncoated
Core wire	NY Steel hex	Hex high-carbon steel	Hex steel	Tin-plated steel
Tone character	Warm, smooth, balanced	Bright, articulate	Warm, balanced	Warm, articulate
Lifespan	Longest in D'Addario's lineup (no exact figure published)	3-8 weeks daily	8-24 weeks daily	2-6 weeks daily
Price tier	$$	$	$$	$

D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Medium (.013–.056): Billy Strings' coated set

What this set is

Anatomy

Why a heavy-touring flatpicker plays coated

Compared to the alternatives

Best for

Worst for

Verdict

XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Medium (.013–.056)