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Other than being a customer when they run sales, I have no affiliation with StringsandBeyond.com


tb

Do those strings sound acoustic? I'm used to phosphor/bronze and the first time I tried Elixirs - many years ago - they sounded a bit rubbery. Have they gotten better? Are they good enough to bring out the best in your guitar when playing into a microphone?

Dave, they come in phosphor/bronze, which is what I use. Can't comment on their microphone qualities. Never played in front of a mic.

tb

A friend recommended I try Elixir with the Nano web coating. I've played Daddario medium gauge phosphor bronze for deacades. But I gave them a try this summer and I like them. When I string the Daddario PBs, they sound "twangy" to me for about a week then sound good......but they don't last a long time. The Elixir strings sound slightly odd for a day or two then sound good for a long time. I've never liked the sound of coated strings but like the increased string life. The nano web coating is very thin and has the least impact to tone of any coated string I've tried. They do sound a bit different than the Daddario PBs but sound good in their own right. Last time I re-strung I went back with Elixar PB with the Nanoweb coating in medium gauge.

I say it's worth trying.

PS I've had guitar center match pricing on strings so it may be worth a shot. Other may as well.

I think I'll give them a try. Thanks for the tip.

While I was on that website, I saw this link and listened to a lot of his music - I like it a lot, but I've always loved the Eastern sound.

http://www.ancient-future.com/serenade.html

Elixir strings are one reason Taylor guitars are so popular (there are others). Not necessarily because they sound better, but because they sound good longer. In every Guitar Center I've ever been in, the Taylors always play and sound "better" than most of the other guitars (this is a general observation - and there are obviously exceptions). My take on this isn't that Taylor necessarily makes better guitars than Martin or Gibson or Breedlove, etc... but that the strings on them sound better, longer. Most of the guitars in GC have crusty, grimy old strings on them that sound like crap, and no one there seems to care. Bob Taylors decision to put Elixir strings, which are twice as expensive as what most new guitars come with, was a stroke of genius.

As far as their sound, there is no doubt that a good quality non-coated string is probably going to sound... brigther, crisper, etc.. right out of the box, but for me, and my acidy, oily, grimey fingers, Elixirs are a god-send. I have nearly a dozen guitars, and if I used an uncoated string on all of them, I would be changing strings more than I play trying to keep them sounding good.

I have a little 30th anniversary Taylor XXX-RS (Grand Concert) that has had a set of polywebs on it for over a year, and the thing still sounds amazing (this is a nearly daily player for me). I keep telling myself I'm going to change them.. then I pick it up and play it, and change my mind.

I have a set on a Martin D35. I am not crazy about the tone but I will admit they last . This is one of those things where your ears tell you what you like . They are high quality . I like the life span martins.. Still this is a good value for you to try these out , you may like them

Elixers are mot my thing. Too slippery feel. I'll use d'addario's forever.

I have been using the Elixirs for a few years and have liked them. My skin does not produce much in the way of corrosive oils, however, my Indian son-in-law and his brother are terrible, and even the Elixirs start to fuzz and darken in short order when they play. I now have a set of Ernie Balls on my #1 dred and I really like the tone and playability, with no squeaking either. At 1/3rd the cost I am very pleased with them.

Kevin

I swear by EB Slinkies on my electrics.

Acoustics, I'm still looking for that Holy Grail... however, Elixirs are just not my cup of tea. Don't care much for that coating that they do.