Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 03:59 PM

You see? Half the people here love the Elixirs and the other half loath them. Now what more proof do you need that it's all in your head?

I remember reading an interview with one of Jimi Hendrix's roadies who said before each show Jimi would request a certain device box be brought out and plugged in. The roadie would bring it out. Jimi hated it, it sounds like shit, you know better than to bring me something this shitty sounding. So the roadie would bring another. Jimi hated it. This one sounds even worse than the first one, are you losing your hearing or you mind?? Get with the program and find me the right box! After 5 or 6 changes, the roadie decided that rather than go through all 30 boxes, he'd just bring out the first one that Jimi hated so much and plug it in. Viola! Jimi loved it. "You should have brought this own out the first time!" he'd say. Of course, the roadie never told Jimi the truth because it became SOP for him and made life on the road much easier.

I'll guarantee, I could do that with anybody here. I'll string your guitars and let you guess what strings they are and what strings they are not. 90% of you will get it wrong. The other 10% made lucky guesses.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Will Fly
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 04:11 PM

Josepp, after playing all kinds of guitars with all kinds of strings for over 45 years, I can assure you that I can certainly tell the difference between different strings in both feel, sound, tone and longevity - and I don't care what the brand name is. If you can't tell such differences, then your hearing is defective.

Furthermore, why spend £5 on a set that lasts me a day when I can spend £10 on a set that lasts me a month? Where's the sense in that?

And I don't give a rat's arse what anyone else says, either on Mudcat or anywhere else, about any brand of strings. I buy the strings that I know suit my ear, and I care not a jot whether they suit anyone else. They happen to be Elixir.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: JedMarum
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 04:13 PM

I found Elixers to be difficult when I first started using them. I just didn't like the feel. They sounded good but not great. Then I discovered the nanoweb version of Elxiers. I still wish I could use Newtone Masterclass strings year round ... but I live in very hot and frequently wet climate. So for most of the year I HAVE to use coated strings.

I make my living performing and I play many hours each week. I string my two guitars with Elxiers most of the year. I have done so for 12 years. I do so because they do NOT break much and they sound good for a long time.

Using uncoated strings I can a week of life, maybe two - but with Elixers I can get 6 or even 8 weeks. There is no contest for me. Elixers are the best choice.

I do try others from time to time, but Elixers are the best I've found , all things considered.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 04:53 PM

/// I buy the strings that I know suit my ear, and I care not a jot whether they suit anyone else.////

Nobody else will care. The only time the strings matter is when they're wearing out and sounding clunky. As long as they have life in them, they sound the same as any other strings with life in them.

They're strings. A string is a string. You pluck it and it vibrates. As long as it is not brittle from from wear and can vibrate reasonably well, it sounds like every other string in that same condition.

I think what it is with many people is that there is an undeniable difference in the way a newly-installed string sounds as opposed to one that's broken in. I've even read about guitarists who change their strings every few days because they have to have that very bright, crisp sound of a new string. But that quality is very fleeting, it's not the normal sound of the string. It's like popping a new piece of chewing gun in your mouth every five minutes because the flavor fades away. Waste of gum but the gum manufacturer thanks you. If anything, they'll make the flavor even more intense and more fleeting to keep you using up more gum faster and therefore buying more gum faster and increasing their profit margins.

But brand new strings after a week of stready playing sound the same no matter what brand they are. It's silly to argue it. It's like someone saying, "My gum still has more flavor in it after an hour of chewing than the other brands." No, it doesn't.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Bobert
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 05:49 PM

If it's not a mechanical problem then maybe it's playing style... Some folks play hard and others don't...

But like I said a couple three years ago, I don't use these strings because they just don't slide well...

B~

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Brian May
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 07:08 PM

Amazing how some of us feel the need to insist that only their view is valid.

It is sufficient to respect the exercising of personal choice.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Zen
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 08:24 PM

But brand new strings after a week of stready playing sound the same no matter what brand they are. It's silly to argue it. It's like someone saying, "My gum still has more flavor in it after an hour of chewing than the other brands." No, it doesn't.

Having been playing nearly every day on a variety of instruments for around 50 years, and having used pretty well every brand of string known to man or beast in that time, I beg to differ.

I have my own personal favourite brand for my own reasons but it isn't worth saying what it is as others will have their favourite brands for their own reasons. As for Elixirs, I think they're a decent string.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 08:33 PM

////If it's not a mechanical problem then maybe it's playing style... Some folks play hard and others don't...////

I used to play with a guitarist who broke electric guitar strings all the time. When I watched him playing lead runs, I noticed that he cocked his pick and would play with the edge of it--kind of dig it into the string for volume. I told him that he was effectively sawing his strings apart and that's why they were breaking. I really didn't know this for certain but that's what it seemed to me was happening. That turned out to be the problem because he trained himself to use the flat of the pick and the problem went away. He never had the problem when he strummed because he used the flat while strumming but he cocked the pick when playing leads. He never would have noticed what he was doing if I hadn't pointed it out.

So there's all kinds of things that people do that wreak havoc on their strings and they probably don't know it and blame it on the strings.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Bert
Date: 25 Feb 12 - 09:09 PM

I tried Elixirs once and they started looking ratty after a couple of days. Then the G broke. I didn't notice much difference in sound because I have some serious hearing loss (of course not enough to stop me singing).

But reading this thread, I wonder if the coating makes the G too thick for a standard nut slot?

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Brian May
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 02:08 AM

I have 5 guitars in total - all acoustic.

I generally play everyday. I cannot remember when I last broke a string - of ANY manufacture. I had a Newtone unravel once about 5 years ago.

So the assertion it's mechanical or style of play seems reasonable. In the 70 s I used to break strings as tuning was more haphazard ( for me) and I was playing a 12 string so went through octave G strings quicker than a fox through the hen house.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 09:18 AM

I once opened my clasical guitar case and the small E was broken. I had barely played this brand new set of strings and the E broke while the guitar was in the case. Sometimes they are just defective. But this is unusual. I generally don't change strings on a guitar more than one every two or three years. I alternate between my many guitars so no one gets used more than the others and I usually play only with my bare fingers and only use picks on occasion which is much easier on the strings. And it doesn't matter which strings I use--they last.

But generally if you're breaking the same string over and over and over again, you have to ask yourself, "Could it be me?" It's hard to believe anybody could go through 6 G-strings in a set and still blame it on the strings. If this is happening to you, OBVIOUSLY, you're doing something wrong. Have another person watch you play and offer pointers. Yes, even YOU might actually be doing something wrong, Mr. I've-been-playing-for-75-years-24-7-and-know-what-I'm-doing.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: JedMarum
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 09:33 AM

Elixers feel a little bit different, especially when you first start using them. It is possible you are playing a little different, whether consciously or not.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Musket
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 12:07 PM

I love my Elixirs.

Especially since buying and playing a Rainsong. They have a very loud bass, and the Elixirs damp it down a wee bit without muffling. Many other strings sound metallic with this particular guitar, although to be fair, I am not quite so wedded to them for my other guitars.

I don't know about stinking. I have a decent sense of smell, and they smell just like any other string to me.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Brian Peters
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 03:19 PM

I've used Elixirs for several years now, and am sticking with them. They're particularly good for staying fresh at festival gigs in hot summers, where sweaty fingers can kill ordinary strings in half an hour. I must admit that I probably keep them on for longer than I ought (i.e. sometimes beyond the point when the coating begins to fray), but I've never had problems with breakages - occasionally I lose the A or D on dance gigs where I'm hitting them very hard with a heavy plectrum, but that's down to me, not the strings.

I must say I foundnd Guest josepp's last posting gratuitously offensive to someone who actually does know what he's talking about.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: GUEST,Chris Newman
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 02:18 PM

I played a guitar with Polywebs a few years ago and really didn't like the feel or the sound. However, a year or so ago I tried the Phosphor Bronze Nanowebs and I was hooked. My main guitar is a Collings and I'm now on my second set - since last April! The only reason I changed them in October was that I was concerned they might break due to old age - they still sounded ok after 6 months. (I put the old set on another guitar and they're still fine.)

I think they're terrific. More expensive perhaps, but absolutely worth the money as changing strings has always been on of my unfavourite things!

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Will Fly
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 02:32 PM

Exactly my experience, Chris - I never got on with Polywebs, but the Nanowebs are excellent, and the Phosphor Bronze Nanowebs are perfect for the guitar I use at sessions and for accompaniments to other musicians. I buy them in multiple packs for discount.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Brian May
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 06:09 PM

Yes, if you can afford to, you can save a lot of money by buying in packs of ten - but not for my 12 string as that's just too much in one go.

Love 'em, they stink really nice . . .

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 12:08 AM

Exactly my experience, Chris Newman.

I struggled with the feel of the Polywebs but the Nanowebs feel and sound much better. I've never gone more then a couple of months with them. Maybe I could, but I worry about their age - so I change them about every six or seven weeks now on my primary guitar. The longer I go the more likely I'll break a string. I can put a new string on quickly and tell a story while I'm doing, but I'd rather not break them on-stage.

By the way Chris didn't we meet in Dallas a few years ago? Where we were both playing the North Texas Irish Festival?

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Will Fly
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 04:54 AM

Forgot to say, Chris - very much looking forward to hearing you bashing the Elixirs at the Hawth in Crawley on April 12th.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: GUEST,Singing Referee
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 06:35 AM

I've used Elixir for years now. Like others I didn't like Polywebs, but I use Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze all the time now. I've used all the standard sets from extra light through medium as I've experimented with differnt tunings and pitch. I sometimes tune up 3 semitones using exra lights with with a replacement plain third as the wound just won't take the higher pitch.

I should say that I'm almost exclusively a finger picker so I should be easy on the strings, but the only time they break on me is after I've been switching between tunings. If you leave them alone, just keep them in tune, they are indestructable, but if you continualy raise and lower (or vice versa) the pitch to alter tunings the repetition of relaxing and tightening the tension in the string is bound to induce metal fatigue, so eventually they breaks. The only ones which ever break are the 1st and 3rd, as they are the finest and therefore most susceptible. The wound third actually has the finest core, so that's why it's always the easiest to break.

They sound great and last for months!

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Trevor Thomas
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 09:07 AM

I've had mixed results. I break strings very rarely, but using Elixirs I've had several G strings break when they were still new, and one D string. This was several years ago, and they may well have sorted this out since then.
Some people have corrosive body chemistry, and their strings get in a right state. If my friend uses conventional strings, they last him about three weeks. After four weeks they look like they've been on for 20 years. For people like him, coated strings are a boon. I don't have that problem myself so coated strings I can take or leave.
I think elixirs are perfectly OK, once you get used to the feel of them, (so long as the Gs aren't breaking) but I still think Newtones are the best, in terms of sound, feel, and durability. Also, they are made relatively locally to me, about 25 miles away, which is something I like.
Newtone don't do coated strings, I don't think; but for me they last just as long, if not longer, than elixirs, and they also do a double -wrapped set that reduces squeaking.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: JedMarum
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 01:22 PM

I love the Newtones too ... and use them for the winter months, when I can. The last two years I bought a year's worth of Elixers, so I've stayed with them year round but I love the Newtone Masterclass strings. They last OK for me, except in the very hot summers.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: GUEST,Phil B
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 02:49 PM

With the greatest of respect, I must comment on this one. as far as I'm concerned, there are no 'good' strings anywhere on the planet. There are in my experience only 'less bad' ones. I have embraced the elixir thing simply because they are utterly consistent. They sound a little dull when they go on but maintain their tone for a long time. I'm pretty sure that I fall into the corrosive body chemistry category as regards conventional strings. Whatever happens here happens within the first half of a show with the finest phosphor bronze strings. They are simply stuffed and dead as a (whatever). They can occasionally be revived by a vigorous rub with something like a chamois leather cloth which creates great friction and presumably melts the sweat/body detritus out of the windings enough to give a further 10 minutes of life but otherwise thats it for me. The elixirs were a revelation. I can make a set last three or four shows after which the coating starts to fall apart at the picking end. Also have had zero success with any of the other Elixir alternatives. They simply don't work at all for me.

I'm afraid if anyone is breaking strings regularly, its simply to do with set up or the way they play. I can be heavy handed sometimes but always maintain my set ups well. I've broken one guitar string onstage in the last 5 years.

Will admit to putting on a new phosphor bronze set to record with but same things apply. They're dead in 20 minutes!
Don't ya just hate it?

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Fortunato
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 05:20 AM

After many years of using D'Aquisto Nickel plated strings on my Gallagher DW and D'Addario Phosphor Bronze on my Gibson J-45 I have moved entirely to Elixir Phosphor Bronze Nano strings on these and Susette's Gibson L-48 and my '31 Supertone.
    Perhaps there have been improvements in the tone and feel over the years, this being 2012, I don't know. But I get those 'best three days' one associates with Phosphor Bronze and Nickel plated with the Elixir and many more days of nearly equal tone. I find the texture and feel of the strings to be superior also.   
    In fact, on our guitars there is a noticeable increase in warmth and depth, even more so on the Gallagher, and less so on the Supertone which is all birch and a less responsive tone wood, I believe.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: banjoman
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 06:11 AM

I remember playing with Cathedral Strings many years ago - Remember them - and how they broke regularly. I have been using Adama strings since I bought the Ovation in 1983 and despite cries to the contrary have never had any problems. When I bought the Taylor about a year ago it came fitted with Elixirs and I have since tried them on all my guitars with no problems. Its really a matter of personal preference at the end of the day.
PS I havn't broken a string since the Cathedral days and thats over 50 years, but I do change strings regularly

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 06:15 AM

Cathedral Strings - now that takes me back!

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Silas
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 06:21 AM

Picato Ultra lights - used to use those on a Eko Ranger in the seventies - round pegs and square holes?

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: alex s
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 06:54 AM

Mohawk strings - made from grade 1 knicker elastic.
Guaranteed to break on every gig or your money back.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: banjoman
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 06:22 AM

It must be sods law or my Taylor heard me talking about strings. I just got it out of the case and broke the top string while tuning. How are the mighty fallen.
I found a label from Cathedral srtings amongst my junk. Interesting they were made by the Cathedral Music and Tennis string company. I think they got them mixed up from time to time

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: GUEST,shayleen
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 07:15 PM

Try la bella strings :-)

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: GUEST,shayleen
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 07:33 PM

Try la bella strings :-)

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Mooh
Date: 05 Jun 13 - 10:41 AM

I'm not a fan of coated strings, especially Elixir brand, which have an odd tone to my ears. There's something in the midrange of the wound strings that I can't quite put my finger on (I know, lousy pun). The only time I use coated strings is for extremely humid conditions during outside gigs, and then I use only D'Addario EXPs. I've tried the DR coated strings, they come in pretty colours, on a student loaner guitar, and though they're better sounding than the Elixirs, I'm still not a fan. Otherwise all I use is D'Addario phosphor bronze on acoustics and XL on electric.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: GUEST,David W
Date: 05 Jun 13 - 11:16 AM

To each their own, but while I don't dislike Elixir strings I didn't think they were worth paying more for. I've settled on Martin's FX strings for my old six and twelve string guitars (Simon & Patrick and Seagull respectively) and I like how loud they sound while still managing to be pretty flexible to my fingers.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Will Fly
Date: 05 Jun 13 - 01:58 PM

I can kill a set of uncoated strings - Martin Phosphor Bronze, for example - in a day. Elixir Nanowebs last me for weeks and suit my guitars perfectly. If I divide the price of the strings by the number of uncoated sets I would have to put on in their place - no contest.

I've had a set of Elixir .012 electric steel Nanowebs on my jazz guitar for over a year now - about due for a change - and they're still clean and in tune.

No more to be said, as far as I'm concerned.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: olddude
Date: 05 Jun 13 - 03:07 PM

Be honest with you, I break Elixir faster then I do dishes when I wash them.   I stopped buying them. The Martin's light bronze I never break. I tend to pluck hard for some reason when I finger pick .. I think it depends on how you play

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: cooperman
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 04:36 AM

I think D'Addario strings do sound brighter on my acoustic guitars when they are new but I have to use copious amounts of fast fret to keep them sounding good. I use nothing but Elixirs on my electric guitars, they last much longer. I once thought Elixirs were prone to breakage but I changed the saddles (on a tuneomatic bridge) and that cured it. There are so many factors can affect string breakage.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 10:51 AM

I'm not very particular about what strings I use on most of my guitars, but I insist on Elixir Polywebs on my Santa Cruz OM. It's my go-to guitar for playing swing, where string squeak is more of a problem than with the other styles I play. I've tried other strings on it and promptly gone back to Elixirs.

No, Elixirs aren't as bright as uncoated strings, but I don't necessarily want a lot of brightness for what I play on that particular guitar. Mellow and squeak-free works best.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: SunrayFC
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 07:49 PM

These strings are superb.

Subject: RE: Guitar Strings: Elixir rant - THEY STINK!
From: Don Firth
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 10:13 PM

For reasons too complicated to go into now, I've been using a small travel guitar (but surprisingly full and rich sounding, considering the size of its soundbox). Rather than the usual 25 1/2" string length, it's 24 1/2".

I should say that it's a classic, so I use nylon strings.

For several years now, I've been using D'Addario EXP 44 Coated, Extra-Hard Tension strings (to compensate for the shorter scale length), and they've proven to be bright-sounding and durable. They last a long time, and I've never had one break on me.

Don Firth