Strings - Anyone tried the new Martin "Lifespans"?

Hi Ast I've been useing Martin meds and haven't been happy w/ them. I just put on a set of Elixer nano lights (turns out they are the same gage as the Martin mediuns) they were $16.00 and are suppose to last 3-5 times longer, so far so good

I have Martin mediums on also, but I may be willing to give the new ones a try.  Let us know after some serious use how they are.

bolleauxp - Butch said he paid $16 for his Elixir Nanowebs ... mine were $15 something... so about the same.  I've heard if you buy them online, a few packages at a time, you can get them for much cheaper (in the US at least).  I am really surprised at the cost there for you.  I was looking around online one day and saw that one could get a room at a bed and breakfast somewhere near where the Phil harmonic was playing in the UK for around $40 US - I was BLOWN away by that as B&B's here are generally way more expensive than a hotel room.  Hotel rooms run between $60-$140 depending on where you're staying.  I'd expect if I was near somewhere that the Phil Harmonic was playing, I'd be paying closer to $140.  Very interesting stuff.

Hi Mekidsmom

Have found a UK website that does the Elixir nanoweb strings for £11.98 but there is a UK delivery charge of £6.00 for orders under £200.00 so I may just have to accept the price I am being charged.

You might have to look at the difference in the definition of bed and breakfast between the USA and the UK.  I've seen some b&b places in the US and they are more like plush hotels.  In the UK you will find most b&b establishments are in town centre locations and are likely to have from 3 to 8 bedrooms and a communal bathroom.  Most of these are run by husband and wife teams or families and while they are usually clean and pleasant places to stay they are certainly not like US b&b's.  Other b&b offerings are made by hotels and generally such a place an hour from central London would cost around $70 for a single room per night.  Obviously the nearer to central London you get the higher the cost.

Just as an illustration - in an earlier life I managed a conservatory fitting team and had to book them into a b&b near Liverpool at around $20 per night.  These guys worked hard and liked their food - provlem was when they arrived they were put up in the spare bedroom of a Jewish family and were treated to a kosher diet for 4 days - No eggs and bacon for breakfast just cereal and prunes.  Those guys loved me. 

Ian

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Do yourselves a favor and check out John Pearse strings. The best sounding, longest lasting string for my dollar and I have tested dozens of different string brands / flavors.

I recently tried the new Dean Markley "Helix" strings and they sound good, but just didn't last as long as the JP's. I don't care for the feel of coated strings and had a huge problem snapping the Elixer G strings. The John Pearse last as long as elixer's, feel better, sound better and cost 1/2 as much as Elixer.

I always use Elixer lights Nanoweb, but like most people I found the cost very high. I now buy them online. There is a great site at    www.stringsandbeyond.com    they currently have great deals on right now on Elixer and those new Martin lifespan strings. I tried cleartone and did not like them. Also at strings and beyond, the shipping is free, if your order comes to $35.00 or more. Same deal in Canada for shipping and no tax! They are based in North Carolina, US. Check them out! I love that site, mostly they just deal in strings and small accessories and picks etc.   Their service is great and I have never had problems with orders from them, and they often throw in something small for free as a gift!
Oh, and like Topdown said, I also have snapped several G strings....lol but I love the slippery smooth feel of the strings! Using a heavier string would help, but I like the lights and my guitar is setup for them. I just can't get to carried away banging on them hard....lol

Life isn't about how to survive the storm, But how to dance in the rain...

Sounds like a great site... bookmarked for later use!  Thank you very much Vxn!

Ok. Again, this thread drives me crazy.  Martin SP 92/8 phosphor bronze strings cost $4.94 per set. How much are you paying for Elixers ? How much longer do they last??  Do y'all really think a plastic coated string sounds better than a pure alloy string at 1/4th the cost?  Really, I want to know. Please sound off on this.  If you think I'm wrong, tell me I'm wrong because I am convinced that all this fancy coating stuff is just a way to make you spend more money for no good reason.
Thanks in advance for participating.

LOL tan I would of changed my strings 2 or 3 times since I put the new strings on. But, it comes down to changing strings a real PIMB!!!

I have tried and will keep trying new type strings but I find that plain round wound strings on both my acoustic and electric guitars are cheapest and sound better longer.
toots