Jeff Buckley’s Dean Markley Blackhawk 80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings

According to the official Jeff Buckley website, he used Dean Markley (Brass) strings on his acoustic guitars. When they mention “brass,” they’re likely referring to 80/20 brass, which is more commonly marketed as bronze in the string industry. These strings are made from an alloy of 80% copper and 20% zinc—technically brass, but typically labeled as bronze by most manufacturers.

It’s difficult to find detailed information about the exact model or branding Dean Markley offered in the 1990s, but today, their 80/20 brass strings are sold under the Blackhawk 80/20 name. The most common set—Regular Lights—features .012–.053 gauges.