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Elixir Guitar Strings

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Musket	16 Jul 11 - 09:16 AM
GUEST,999	17 Jul 11 - 08:03 AM
GUEST,shayleen	07 Nov 13 - 06:56 AM
Betsy	07 Nov 13 - 07:23 PM
Will Fly	08 Nov 13 - 03:57 AM
GUEST,Shayleen	08 Feb 16 - 09:04 AM
Brian Peters	08 Feb 16 - 10:11 AM
Will Fly	08 Feb 16 - 10:43 AM
Brian Peters	08 Feb 16 - 11:00 AM
Will Fly	08 Feb 16 - 11:44 AM
Mike Strobel	22 Jul 20 - 12:57 PM
GUEST,Sol	25 Mar 21 - 07:15 PM
Backwoodsman	26 Mar 21 - 02:47 AM
GUEST,Nick Dow	26 Mar 21 - 03:42 AM
GUEST,Sol	27 Mar 21 - 08:55 AM
gillymor	27 Mar 21 - 09:32 AM
Fred	29 Jul 25 - 12:14 PM
GUEST,Ray	29 Jul 25 - 05:08 PM
GUEST,DonMeixner	29 Jul 25 - 05:59 PM
Fred	29 Jul 25 - 06:55 PM
Backwoodsman	30 Jul 25 - 12:53 AM
Backwoodsman	30 Jul 25 - 02:38 AM
Fred	30 Jul 25 - 06:39 AM
wendyg	30 Jul 25 - 09:23 AM
Fred	30 Jul 25 - 11:42 AM
GUEST,Ray	30 Jul 25 - 12:29 PM
GUEST,gillymor	30 Jul 25 - 12:37 PM
Fred	30 Jul 25 - 02:11 PM
GUEST,gillymor	30 Jul 25 - 04:03 PM
Fred	30 Jul 25 - 05:19 PM
GUEST,Ray	30 Jul 25 - 05:28 PM
Sol	30 Jul 25 - 06:19 PM
wendyg	31 Jul 25 - 05:41 AM
Fred	31 Jul 25 - 12:07 PM
GUEST,Ray	31 Jul 25 - 05:37 PM
Backwoodsman	01 Aug 25 - 03:16 AM
GUEST,Ray	01 Aug 25 - 03:48 AM
Backwoodsman	01 Aug 25 - 05:14 AM
Fred	01 Aug 25 - 07:50 AM
Fred	01 Aug 25 - 08:51 AM
Backwoodsman	01 Aug 25 - 11:57 AM
Fred	01 Aug 25 - 06:40 PM

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Musket
Date: 16 Jul 11 - 09:16 AM

I started using them when I bought my Rainsong, as a new set came with the guitar, (plus the ones on from the factory were unused.)

Since then, I have found them excellent on every guitar other than a Jim Harley dreadnought I use occasionally. For that, they are too bright. Also, as this is the only acoustic I use a plectrum on, I like a heavier string. Elixir seem to shine better on the lighter strings, or is it just me?

The longevity is one aspect, but I also find they squeak less when sliding up and down the frets. Some feel the squeak is part of the music, I don't. Hence I love them.

I buy quite a few strings and although they last a long time, I still get through a few sets a month all told and have found a supplier on Amazon seems to give best price / delivery.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,999
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 08:03 AM

Mark, your memory's better 'n mine. But those were the days of Marlboro being $.35 a pack when ice still covered much of North America . . . .

Zen, many thanks. I'll give them a try. Appreciate the input.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,shayleen
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 06:56 AM

I agree with Murray over Elixir though etring preference is a personal thing. I use La Bella and /Gibson strings. Elixirs in the Uk cost around 16 pounds a set for the nenowebs :-)

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Betsy
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 07:23 PM

I've got a couple of Martins - wouldn't dream of buying Martin Strings as I think they go dead too quickly. Tried Elixir they're OK but don't have the crispness of D'Addario 11 > 52 Phosphor bronze which suit me in all departments of sound ,price and longevity.
Horses for courses I suppose - what suits one may not suit others , but the price is also fairly restrictive so the manufacturers may need to think again.
I am reminded of an old mate of mine who used to used to sell Christmas trees during THAT particular season.
When asked by older women (Mams and Grandmas) why he charges slightly more for his trees ,he replied "They've been specially treated to avoid the needles falling off".
What do you treat them with asked the old ladies ," Ah " came the reply
" It's a special chemical which is not dangerous in the household setting - and it's called H 2 O ".
Notwithstanding water , I feel that Elixir might be a fad that is being totally overpriced / marketing.
I won't be buying anymore

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Nov 13 - 03:57 AM

I've said this on other threads regarding Elixir strings, but I'll repeat it here.

I have hands that kill conventional phosphor bronze strings stone dead in a day - just skin acidity. Elixir Nanowebs last me 6-8 weeks, depending on the current playing level; even when starting to shred the coating down over the soundhole area, they still sound reasonable.

So, on pure economics alone - from my perspective - even if Elixirs are double the price of other strings (and the price in the UK has been affected by rising postage costs), I'm still getting better value from them than other makes. I've also tried D'Addario and they didn't last me either.

If you don't have the acidic skin problem, or you're happy with dead strings - which many guitarists prefer - then that equation might not work for you. But it does for me.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,Shayleen
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 09:04 AM

Elixir strings are good. I preter d'addario exp. Dr sunbeam are quiite good and work well on rosewood/sitka guitars like the martin d35 :-)

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Brian Peters
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 10:11 AM

I've used Elixir for years now (same reason as Will Fly)and been very happy with them, but in an attempt to cut costs I recently bought a pack of three sets off Ebay for something resembling a cut price.

The first set went dead after one gig. The second set nearly as bad. Not sure whether they are fakes - the packaging looks authentic enough.

Be warned.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 10:43 AM

That's odd, Brian - I've also bought a 3-pack set, from one of the usual Amazon suppliers, and so far the first set is holding up nicely. They were no cheaper after postage, though.

The pack was the .012-.053 Phosphor Bronze Nanoweb type.

For my smaller 0 model guitar, I use the .011-.052 set - also Nanoweb, but just Bronze, not Phosphor Bronze.

The Tenor guitar takes the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th string from a standard .010 Phosphor Bronze Nanowen set - but I use any old .009 as a first, as the .010 top string from the set is on the edge of snapping if overtightened. (Tenor tuning is CGDA).

It's always possible that quality control varies, even with the best of firms. There was a period some years ago when the 3rd and 4th Elixirs from the .012 set were snapping very quickly. I and several other players formally complained to Elixir's European office - and they seemed to improve, but probably coincidentally!

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Brian Peters
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 11:00 AM

I just did a search, Will, and it seems I'm not the first:

Counterfeit Elixir strings

Just to stress, they were bought from Ebay, not Amazon. I've never had a bad set before.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Feb 16 - 11:44 AM

Thanks for that info, Brian - appreciated, and I'll keep a watch out in future.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Mike Strobel
Date: 22 Jul 20 - 12:57 PM

Ah, guitar strings..............I've used Elixir strings ( both medium and lights ) for 20 plus years. They sound great ( in my opinion ) on 2 Taylor guitars , 716 CE and 410 and 1 Eastman Accoustic guitar I own. Currently , over the past 2 to 3 years I buy ELIXIR strings in 3 or 4 packs from Amazon for around $40--$43.00 in USA currency.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 07:15 PM

I bought a set of Elixirs of EBay(and yes,I know). Anyway, the top E string just wouldn't tune up. Whenever it reached the right pitch it stretched and went way out of tune.(Much more than the expected bedding-in stretch). After around a dozen re-tunes over several minutes, it snapped at the machine-head post.
I have emailed Elixir Customer Service four or five times since the start of the year for comment however, apart from two auto-replies of "We'll be in touch" I've had no reponse whatsoever. Even allowing for Covid, this is a pretty poor show re. customer relations. Has anybody else had the cold shoulder treatment from Elixir? I've been using their strings regularly for the past 10 years or so, but no more - finito.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 02:47 AM

”I bought a set of Elixirs of EBay”

There’s your answer. eBay is notorious for counterfeit guitar strings. Caveat Emptor.

Don’t be a skinflint, buy your strings direct from a reputable dealer, help keep a genuine business up and running, and have certainty that what you buy is the Real Deal.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 03:42 AM

I was caught out that way, when my daughter bought some for me. I contacted the company and they had been broken in to, and packaging stolen. The boxes were changed some years ago after the break in, and have a new logo or what ever it's called that changes in the light. Is it Hologram ? Please excuse this old fart.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 27 Mar 21 - 08:55 AM

Thank you Backwoodsman & Nick for your comments. The Latin lesson was very welcome too - everyday's a schoolday. :-)

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: gillymor
Date: 27 Mar 21 - 09:32 AM

I tried Elixirs on an acoustic guitar some time back and didn't really care for the sound or the feel. I went through 3 sets over the course of about a year and was happier when I went back to Daddario phos. bronze. I had never done anything to my guitar necks apart for rubbing on some Fret Ease now and then and cleaning them with a Scunge until a few years ago a friend introduced me to Duck's Ax Wax which I apply to the neck and strings whenever I change them. It eliminates squeak, gives the neck and strings a silky feel and definitely prolongs string life. Just my experience.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Fred
Date: 29 Jul 25 - 12:14 PM

Was told today that Elixir take ANY strings and just add their coating.

If that's true, how can buyers be sure of the quality?

What do you think of this? It came from a source who should know. But, surely, they're having a laugh?

-F

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 29 Jul 25 - 05:08 PM

Sounds like an urban myth from somebody who doesn’t like them. I’ve always found them OK. If they were really bad, nobody would buy them. How exactly would your source know?

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 29 Jul 25 - 05:59 PM

I like Elixir Nanoweb strings just fine. But I like Martin Bronze Lite 80/20's too.

Don

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Fred
Date: 29 Jul 25 - 06:55 PM

Ray & Don

The source is a major string supplier in the UK.

However, I'm not sure that the comments were meant to be taken seriously, as they stock and sell Elixir.

I've bought Elixir in the past and, in fact, I'm expecting a set in the mail tomorrow. I don't recall having a problem with 'em.

-F

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 12:53 AM

My understanding (and I’m not sure where I got it from - tired old grey cells) is that Elixir’s strings come from Mapes Strings in Tennessee, the largest producer of instrument strings in the US, and the supplier of wire to a number of other string-makers.

Can’t guarantee that this is fact, but I’m pretty certain I read it somewhere, some time ago.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 02:38 AM

Should have said “one of the largest suppliers…”

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Fred
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 06:39 AM

BWM -

That is My understanding, too.

If Elixir just grabbed any from anywhere and added their coating, there'd be a quality issue and that would reflect badly on sales, as Ray there said

-F

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: wendyg
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 09:23 AM

I have tried them and liked them very much. But they don't add value for me over ordinary phosphor bronze because my hands don't sweat that much and that's not why my strings wear. My strings suffer because I retune a lot, and the Elixirs don't have any technical defense against that.

wg

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Fred
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 11:42 AM

Wendyg -

When you say "retune", do you mean you use standard and alternate tunings, or is it that your strings slip out of tune?

-F

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 12:29 PM

I assume you mean “alternative” Fred. Alternate tuning would be something like EAEAEA or BEBEBE!

I tend to use them on guitars that don’t get played very often and they last for ever - or at least until they go hairy. I never used them but they stopped selling mandolin sets a couple of years ago.

I get the impression that the coating is some form of Goretex which would make them part Scottish!

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 12:37 PM

Whatever happened to Nashville Straights, they came uncoiled in 3' packages and were the best and longest lasting I ever used.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Fred
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 02:11 PM

Ray -

I DID mean alternative tuning and thought I'd put that lol.

And yes, it is Goretex coating.

Gilly -

Heard of Nashville Straights but don't believe I've ever seen any.

-F

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 04:03 PM

They weren't on the market long, Fred. You can still get straight strings in bulk but I don't change strings often enough to make it practical.
I haven't heard that Elixir rumor but it seems like folks have been forever saying that all strings come from the same manufacturer, I don't know anything about that.
Down the page I gave Elixirs a negative review but when I tried them they had just come on the market, things may have changed since.
I did get some D'adarrio XTs for Xmas and I didn't like them as much as their standard Phos. Brnz.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Fred
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 05:19 PM

Gilly -

I tried D'Addario XT and, like you, didn't like 'em. Their XS I liked, though. DR Sunbeam is another I got on well with.

-F

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 05:28 PM

Nashville Straights sounded great on my D18 but, from memory, they were slightly more expensive than d’Addario. I suspect that the extra cost was to pay for the ridiculous packaging!

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Sol
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 06:19 PM

I bought a set of Elixir's several years ago on Ebay. (Yes, yes, I know!).
The first string kept on stretching until it snapped during installation. I wrote to Elixir and included the broken string. They sent me a new set of strings + a key ring + two 'Elixir' stickers for my case. I wrote back asking them if they tested the string to see if it was a fake however, they never replied. FWIW, I haven't bought Elixirs on ebay since.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: wendyg
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 05:41 AM

Fred, I mean changing tunings. As per here: https://www.pelicancrossing.net/tunings.htm.

wg

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Fred
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 12:07 PM

Ray -

You once asked me to comment on the Peterson Strobo-Clip HD.

I've always found it excellent. As well as its incredible 0.1 Cent accuracy, it has "sweetener" tuning modes.

It's an expensive bit of kit - and, of course, if you have a well-trained ear, some would argue that you don't need it.

That said, as a clip-on, it's hard to beat, and I have 3!

-F

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 05:37 PM

Thanks Fred, as I’ve probably said before, I have one of the earlier Stroboclips but I’ve never really got on with it. It’s not a patch on the big blue Peterson but I don’t have a guitar case pocket big enough to hold it and it’s fitted rubber boot.

I’ve been looking for a Polytune clip on for a while now but I’ve yet to find one. None of the few music shops we have left have them and anywhere on line semms to quote delivery dates a couple of months hence. Thankfully I’m not desparate.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 01 Aug 25 - 03:16 AM

TC Electronics Unitune Clip - chromatic, very accurate, nice bright display. The only drawback is that the clip doesn’t swivel, but I’ve found that in practice it’s no big deal.

https://www.andertons.co.uk/tc-electronic-unitune-clip/

I have both the original Peterson StroboClip and the StroboClip HD - both are a fiddly, expensive PITA, they are way too sensitive to use in any situation where there’s external noise (like, for instance, a session, or a club in a pub) and I never use either of them. AFAIC the TCE Unitune beats both into fits. Of course that’s IMHO, and YMMV.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 01 Aug 25 - 03:48 AM

Never tried the Unitune - I want the Polytune ‘cos I already have one.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 01 Aug 25 - 05:14 AM

Ray, I also have a PolyTune Clip but it doesn’t do anything I need that I don’t get from the Unitune. Apart from the PolyTune Clip’s ‘one strum’ thing (that doesn’t work and is crap), they’re no different, and the Unitune is cheaper.

Anderton’s have the PolyTune Clip

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Fred
Date: 01 Aug 25 - 07:50 AM

All I use a clip-on for is to get one string up to pitch, preferably the G. Once that's done, I rely on my ear.

No matter what tuner you use, you'll need to fine tune by ear to some degree.

To help me tap tune my banjo head, I use the red Snark. Why? Cos of its sensitivity. No other tuner (I know of) will register the note heard behind the tap, but the red Snark does it very well.

Cheers
-F

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Fred
Date: 01 Aug 25 - 08:51 AM

Ray -

To read up about the Peterson Strobo-Clip HD (and the ones BWM mentions above) try SixStringAcoustic.Com. it has a lot of interesting stuff.

-F

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 01 Aug 25 - 11:57 AM

I find the so-called ‘sweeteners’ of the Peterson tuners pretty useless - I’ve tried the ‘ACU’ sweetener (a.k.a. the ‘James Taylor’ tuning) on my guitars, and it sounded out of tune, likewise I tried the ‘mandolin’ sweetener on my Fylde mandolin, and it was pretty ‘sour’. I gave up on their ‘sweeteners’ and just used the ‘EQU’ (Equal Temperament) setting, which sounds the most in tune of the lot.

Re: tuning by ear…I frequently tune by ear at home - I’ve been doing it since 1961, so I’ve had a fair bit of practice! ;-) But that’s really not practical for gigs, sessions, clubs in pubs, etc., and I prefer the TCE PolyTune/Unitune over the Petersons because they’re simpler, more stable, and have a better, brighter display.

But we all have our own preferences, and all are perfectly valid - my ears and eyes aren’t your ears and eyes, and it’s quite rightly a case of ‘whatever floats yer boat’.

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Subject: RE: Elixir Guitar Strings
From: Fred
Date: 01 Aug 25 - 06:40 PM

BWM -

BTW, what happened with that McNally - all sorted now? Got a few Midlands Luthiers & techs, should you need 'em.

-F

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