Low tension. The sound is Loud and Warm The RARE phosphor bronze acoustic strings are a departure from the standard, good quality bronze string currently available... not necessarily better, but possessing a new, different, and stronger "voice". When DR set out to produce a string with new characteristics, our goal was to redesign contemporary thinking about what phosphor bronze can do for a good acoustic guitar Hand-carved arch-tops and dreadnaughts and good steel string acoustic guitars of rosewood, maple, and mahogany seem to benefit from a distinct improvement in tone, depth, and sustain with RARE phosphor strings. Players who want a fatter, louder sound, a deeper bottom... (who like to hear their guitars ring out..) will appreciate the RARE phosphor tone, sound, and feel. According to our heavy-playing bluegrass friend, three-time national guitar picking champion Steve Kaufman, RARES last an unusually long time.