John Pearse Strings

Overview

John Pearse Strings produces guitar strings manufactured in-house in Pennsylvania, known for phosphor bronze sets in various gauges and tensions. The brand stems from John Pearse's research into durable, accurate intonation strings, initially developed in collaboration with British Music Strings in the 1960s. It operates under Breezy Ridge Instruments, which also produced hammer dulcimers, positioning it as a niche supplier for acoustic guitar players seeking custom-tension options.¹²³⁶

History

English musician John Pearse began string research in the mid-1960s with British Music Strings and moved to the US in 1978 to work at Martin Guitars. In 1980, he and Mary Faith Rhoads founded Breezy Ridge Instruments in Pennsylvania to produce hammer dulcimers, expanding into John Pearse strings shortly after. John Pearse died in 2008, with Mary Faith continuing to lead the company.¹²³

Product Lines

Manufacturing

John Pearse strings are manufactured in a small in-house facility near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, by Breezy Ridge Instruments. Production emphasizes designs from John Pearse's specifications for longevity and intonation. Armrests are imported from a subcontractor in India.²

Notable Products

• 200L Light Gauge - Light phosphor bronze set for six-string acoustic guitars.
• 250LM Bluegrass - Light-medium gauge set suited for bluegrass playing.
• 310NM New Medium Even Tension - Even tension set optimized for fingerpickers.
• 300M Medium - Standard medium gauge phosphor bronze strings.

Reputation

Enthusiasts appreciate John Pearse strings for consistent quality, playability, and unique tension options like even-tension sets for fingerstyle. Professionals and forum users on sites like Acoustic Guitar Forum confirm in-house US manufacturing, countering occasional doubts. The brand maintains a loyal following among acoustic players despite its small scale.²⁵