ELIXIR STRINGS (Page 1 of 2)

I play the Polywebs. I have tried D'ardario (?sp?), and I recently tried a set of Martins, and don't feel like I get as full or rich of a sound. I'll be going back to the elixirs. I think they are worth it.

Don't know about the nanowebs, never tried them.

Oh - and they feel as good as they sound, which is nice.

I just got elixir because my last set of D'Addarios got badly corroded. If you play regular then your playing will keep the strings rust free but since I'm playing more bass now I thought the anti-rust coating on the Elixirs was worth a try out. Didn't notice a huge world of tone change...

Geoaguiar, and my other beloved chordians.
I never tried ELIXIR strings, everyone tells, in their comments that Elixir strings ARE the best strings, and in particular NANOWEB strings
About the price: a package of Elixir strings = 27€ = 41$ YES 41$!!!
On EBAY you pay 55$ for SIX packages of 6 acoustic strings (0.10....) extralight

Try them I think you'll love them. I was sceptical at first. I'm not one to try the new and improved stuff just because. A good salesman told me to try them so I did and I'm glad.

Doc, another great thread

Wow...my first post on Chordie! I've been playing for years but I only recently found this site...IT'S AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyways, I've been playing with Elixers for years. They are the best...and most expensive. But you'll recoup the extra cost by not going through as many strings as they do last a lot longer. I prefer the polywebs as they last longer than the nanowebs and I've heard of and experienced breakage issues with the nanowebs (g strings seem to always break). Plus I think the polywebs sound better as well. However, the polywebs are slippery (which is kind of the point) which makes their playability a little more difficult. The nanowebs felt more like a "normal" guitar string. Give em a try...you'll probably like them.

I concur.  I too have been singing the praises of elixir strings, people wonder if I own stock in the company.  I bought a guild accoustic a few years ago, and it came with elixir strings (the shop puts them on all their guitars because they help them sell).  I loved the guitar, but when I changed I put on di adario phosphorus bronze.  The sound, and playability of the guitar was noticeably diminished.  I was dissappointed.  If it had the di adarios on it when I played it in the shop, I wouldn't have bought it.

What about that ad that I keep seeing in guitar mag's showing the elixer's up close after a few plays.  It shows that coating a flaky and falling off of the strings?

I have played Dean Martin Blue Steel for about 17 years and love them.  LOL, I actually used to boil them before putting them on my electric because I read that it made them play better, stay in tune while bending, etc..

edit:  i think that should be dean markley blue steel

Here in Ireland, 21EUR, about 26USD at today's rate. 3 times the price of normal strings, I hope they are 3 times as good!

Try 'em Doc. I've never used the polys only the nano's. I have heard the polys are slippery. IMHO worth the extra money.

Cameron that "wirey" sound yu get is the sound of new strings, all new strings will sound wirey. I think you get a clearer tone from the wirey sound and elexir strings keep that sound longer than other strings. If you dont like the new sound of string the nthese Elexir strings are not for you.

ken

I know what you mean about getting used to a sound.
I never changed any of my strings before because I got used to the sound, as they gradually got duller in sound I never noticed as it happens slowly. It wasnt until a few friends told me after changing strings that the guitar sounded better, after a few years and a few other guitarists giving me advice I started to heed. And now I am loving the sound of new strings even though I thought, like you , the wirey sound was awful.

But each to their own and all that, whatever you like is right for you.

I will be tring other strings also just to hear the difference in sounds and price etc to relate price with sound. This will take a long time so no post on my findings for a while.

Ken

My Advice: In a nutshell, try D'addario EXP instead. Available in Phosphor (!) Bronze, and 80/20 Bronze (also Mandolin and Bass strings).

My Experience: The coating makes a BIG difference, and coated strings DO last me much longer than non-coated (easily 3 times longer; I play a lot). I suppose because the finger-sleaze doesn't clog up the windings causing uneven decay after the string is attacked. I've never tried boiling my strings to clean them up, but some of the old-timers (older than me!) swear by this practice.

I have tried the Elixir, both Nano and Polyweb, and experienced the dreaded shredded coating scenario previously mentioned. I have NEVER had this problem with the D'Addario EXP coated strings. Perhaps because D'Addario coats the wrap wire BEFORE winding it around the core...maybe Elixir doesn't do that, so bending the string snaps the coating after awhile.

My Opinion: D'Addario Acoustic Phosphor Bronze Guitar Strings are the finest strings available on the planet at any price. And now, they're COATED!!!

Over the last 35 years or so, I've tried countless types of strings, looking for "that sound" (this is, admittedly, a subjective quality), preferably at an affordable price. I've tried $3.00 Darco strings, ridiculously expensive Gold-plated strings, and everything in between, including Dr. Thomastik. Some years back, a bluegrass player I admired suggested I give the D'Addario a try (he used the 80/20 Bronze), and I was really impressed. Then they released the Phosphor Bronze, and I was ASTOUNDED at how good they sounded to my ears (warmer than the 80/20), and by how long they lasted (we're talking uncoated here - it was years ago). At one point, I had month old D'Addarios on a plywood Yamaha, and that guitar sounded better than my friend's Guild with 3 day old Martin Marquis strings. I wish I could recommend Martin strings, but they're just not as good as their guitars.

Anyway, when I saw that D'Addario had made a coated string, I was pretty excited, but wondered if they would shred like the Elixirs had, and more importantly, if the beautiful tone I had fallen in love with would be compromised. I am happy to report that the tone is REALLY still all there, and as I mentioned, no shredded coating to report.

I'm currently running the EXP-26's (gauges: 11-15-22-32-42-52) on my Martins, and the EXP-17's (gauges: 13-17-26-35-45-56) on my Resonators. Slightly heavier for the Resonators, as more slide tone is derived that way, and custom light on the Martins (top 3 strings a little lighter than their normal Light Gauge set), to improve bendability (is that even a word?). I order mine from Musician's Friend; currently $12/set. They also have the J-16 Light Gauge for $6.00/set, or $50/10 sets, which is a fabulous price, and even uncoated, the D'Addario Phosphor Bronze last a long, long time.

Anyway, that my 2 cents worth, and yes, I accept PayPal.