Elixir strings - up close and personal

Misterg

When @bluchargeboy changed his strings for these new fangled Elixir ones we had a look at them:

0.053" acoustic string

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh143/werdnayarg/webstuf/Elixir053coated.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh143/werdnayarg/webstuf/Elixir053cutend.jpg

Where the coating ends near the free end of the string - you can feel this point by sliding your fingers along the string.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh143/werdnayarg/webstuf/Elixir053endofcoating.jpg

Clever stuff...

ICBM

String in a condom.

Explains pretty much everything I hate about them .

Bucket

If possible, I will never use any strings other than Elixirs.

They're the best strings out there by a mile.

Chuffola

Pfffft.  Feel all wrong to me.

However, I can imagine those of you who "shred" might like the slipperiness of them. Would that be a fair comment?

Sporky

I don't shred, but I do like Elixirs. They sound consistent for months at a time and they feel sleeker than uncoated strings.

digitalscream

Chuffola said:

Pfffft.  Feel all wrong to me.

However, I can imagine those of you who "shred" might like the slipperiness of them. Would that be a fair comment?

Yes.

Sporky said:

I don't shred, but I do like Elixirs. They sound consistent for months at a time and they feel sleeker than uncoated strings.

I do shred-lite a bit, and these are the main reasons I like them. I prefer the sound of strings when they're a bit broken in - Elixirs are pretty much at that point out of the packet, and they stay like that for at least 4 months for me. I hate changing strings, so this is a huge plus point.

Of course, there are other coated strings out there which don't do this. For example, Rotosound Nexus strings take it to the extreme and sound as dead as normal strings do after 9 months of constant playing, yet feel like they're wrapped in cotton. Horrible things.

D'Addario EXPs are somewhere in the middle for me.

DrBob

Bought some to try once, couldn't get on with them, went back to the shop the next day to buy some normal strings. Bloke behind the counter who often comes across as a bit 'wisdom of the ancients' commented, "Yeah, everyone seems to try those Elixir's.......Once'.. Are the D'addario's any different ?

stickyfiddle

I first tried them 10 years ago now and wouldn't go back- to the point I really hate using anything else. They're not traditional, but I had a set of "something else" on my Tele from it's recent refret and after a month they felt noticeably "draggy" under the fingers. If I'm not gigging heavily I can run a set of Elixirs for 6 months at a minimum and they sound 95% as good as day 1 after that long.

ICBM

DrBob said:

Are the D'addario's any different ?

Yes, they're worse. Instead of feeling horrible and sounding thin and tinny, they feel horrible and sound dead and muffled.

Actually I'm not sure - they sound worse but don't feel as bad. Swings and roundabouts...

Longtallronnie

I've never felt much difference between Elixirs and regulars tbh but use them on my 335 and acoustic because they last so much longer.

I buy Rotosounds for the backup guitar mainly because you get an extra top E string in the pack.

 

Tried D'addarios once, hated them, felt horrible.

bertie

Chuffola said:

Pfffft.  Feel all wrong to me.

However, I can imagine those of you who "shred" might like the slipperiness of them. Would that be a fair comment?

no

[Deleted User]

I like and use Elixirs exclusively on acoustic.

I'm still trying to find my ideal electric string.

Adam_MD

I started using Elixirs when I got my taylor. Tried a set on my prs and have used them on every guitar since. Great strings.

bertie

BigPaulie said:

I like and use Elixirs exclusively on acoustic.

I'm still trying to find my ideal electric string.

this, more or less

Jalapeno

Sporky said:

I don't shred, but I do like Elixirs. They sound consistent for months at a time and they feel sleeker than uncoated strings.

Big ol' +1 to that

bluechargeboy

I am using them for my acoustic, and so far they seem pretty good. D'Addario EXP didn't last long enough to justify the cost, but Elixirs seem to. I bought a load of packets cheaply in that America. Can't quite get my head around gigging with 2-month-old strings though! :-S

When they fail (by becoming hard to tune accurately and losing sustain), it is usually the plectrum area where the coating has worn away.

I am intrigued by the electric version of these....

wordy

The first couple of years I played guitar I used exclusively Elixirs, just for the longevity.

Then I bought my second acoustic, which went for a full setup, and of course came back re-strung.  When I played the guitar properly for the first time, it was a real wow moment - it sounded so woody and punchy compared to my old acoustic, which seemed trebly and metallic sounding in comparison.  At the time I just thought I'd bought a better acoustic.

Since then I've done a string change to Elixirs on the same acoustic, and gotten back to that trebly sound I dont like - so I figure that for me, the Elixirs have been a mistake.

Maybe to someone elses ears my 'woody and punchy', is dull and lifeless?  Its pretty odd that someone else thinks Elixirs sound broken in, and its the total opposite for me.

marauder

I'm guessing that string is a Polyweb, not a Nanoweb?

bluechargeboy

They sound new and shiny to me, but for my band that works well. I got a cedar top guitar which is a bit less strident than a spruce top (generalising), so it all balances out.

Having said that, I've never tried "proper" strings on this guitar, perhaps I am missing out!

wordy

marauder said:

I'm guessing that string is a Polyweb, not a Nanoweb?

Hmm... I'm just looking at my past orders, and I certainly ordered Nanoweb so far as I can see, but I may have had others too - couldnt swear to it.

Phil_aka_Pip

BigPaulie said:

I like and use Elixirs exclusively on acoustic.

I'm still trying to find my ideal electric string.

I also tried them on both, like them on acoustic, but not on electric. My ideal electric string is still the Dean Markley's Vintage.