Martin MTR13 Tony Rice Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings - .013-.056 Bluegrass

.013-.056 Bluegrass Gauge, Nickel Alloy Acoustic Guitar Strings

Write your review

Item ID: RetroMTR13

Martin MTR13 Tony Rice Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings - .013-.056 Bluegrass

In Stock!

Add to Cart

MTR13 Tony Rice Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings - .013-.056 Bluegrass (3-pack)

$23 and 97 cents

Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

(800) 222-4700

What is a Sales Engineer?

Martin MTR13 Tony Rice Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings - .013-.056 Bluegrass

In Stock!

Add to Cart

Add to list

Most Popular Accessories & Related Items

Q: What makes Martin Tony Rice Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings unique?

These strings stand out due to their Monel (nickel/copper) winding, a material popular in the 1930s and 40s. This gives them a distinct "retro" sound, offering a warm, balanced, and clear tone that allows your guitar's natural voice to shine through. Developed with bluegrass legend Tony Rice, they feature specific gauges (.013-.056) optimized for flatpicking and powerful projection.

Need additional help?

Q: Who are the Martin Tony Rice Retro strings best suited for?

These strings are ideal for acoustic guitarists, especially those playing bluegrass, flatpicking, or seeking a vintage-inspired tone. The Monel winding provides a less bright, more fundamental sound compared to bronze strings, making them perfect for players who want their guitar's natural wood characteristics to be prominent. They offer excellent clarity and sustain for intricate playing.

Need additional help?

Q: What kind of tone can I expect from Monel strings compared to traditional bronze?

Martin Tony Rice Retro Monel strings deliver a warm, woody, and balanced tone with less initial brightness or "zing" than phosphor bronze or 80/20 bronze strings. They emphasize the natural resonance of your acoustic guitar, providing clear note separation and a smooth, articulate response. Many players find their tone remains consistent for a longer period.

Need additional help?

Back to navigation

This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

Vintage-tone Acoustic Strings from Martin

The MTR13 Retro acoustic guitar strings represent yet another quality, vintage-inspired set of strings in Martin’s Retro line. Encouraged by legendary bluegrass player Tony Rice, Martin was inspired to bring back the tone of 1930s strings, when nickel ruled the acoustic world. Made from Monel, a solid nickel/copper wrap, the MTR13s let your acoustic’s natural wood tone ring through with a full low end, a high-end snap, and a solid midrange. The proprietary wrap on the MTR13s is corrosion-resistant and impressively strong for long life and uncompromised tone. Martin MTR13 strings are a favorite among acoustic guitarists here at Sweetwater.

Martin MTR13 Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings Features:

Vintage-inspired acoustic strings deliver superior acoustic tone
Monel nickel/copper alloy wrap wire is super strong and generates a cool vintage sonic vibe
Strings produce a crisp sound that mellows quickly to a warm, woody tone

Back to navigation

Tech Specs

Guitar Type: Acoustic Guitar
Number of Strings: 6
Coated: No
Gauges: .013, .016, .026, .034, .044, .056
Core Material: Steel
Winding Material: Monel (nickel/copper)
Winding Type: Round
Manufacturer Part Number: 41Y19MTR13

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

(800) 222-4700

Contact Your Sales Engineer

Back to navigation

Reviews

5.0

Customer Photos & Videos

This product doesn't have any review media yet!

Truly outstanding and superlative service on an order that was initially incorrect. This company earns their reputation every day, with every transaction. They truly go the extra mile for the customer. Cannot say enough good things.

I just removed my first set of these Tony Rice Monell strings from my D18 modern deluxe because they are over 4 months old. I play every day. I thought they still sounded really good, but 4.5 months? I put on dadarrio 80/20 and was really disappointed. Took them right off and put on martin sp's. They sound alright. I can't wait for my Tony Rice strings to arrive in 4 days. I wish I left the old ones on. I might bother to put them back on. Those strings raise the fun factor of this guitar.

Great strings for bluegrass, folk, country and acoustic rock!

I can see why these were Tony Rice's favorite strings. So resonate and so smooth to play. Amazing bass and balance. I hope Martin never stops making them. They last a long time as well.

I've been using exclusively strings with nickel in them for a couple years now, and Martin really has a great formula with these sets. The advantages of nickel plated strings are all present: great tuning stability, warm, vintage sound, and boy do these things seem to last forever compared to copper plated strings. Another plus I've found in my playing is they can withstand plenty of heavy beating even down close to the bridge. The only real negative is occasionally while flat picking I've noticed a bit of ringing from the second string exclusively while playing with the Tony Rice Bluegrass set.