Elixir guitar strings

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: bbelle
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 10:28 AM

Since Tallahassee is acoustically deprived, I buy everything online. marsmusic.com and musiciansfriend.com have the best prices on strings (there may be other online companies with good prices, as well, these are just my personal preferences). I pay $12+changed for my Elixirs, but I try to order several items at a time to justify the shipping costs.

BTW ... My Larrivee came with Elixir mediums and I changed them to Earthwoods, which I found corroded very quickly. I've got a set of Dr. Rare I'm going to try next, but I do like the Elixir's. My strings usually last a long time, so the Earthwood test surprised me. It could very well be, though, that the cause is that I'm playing more than ever before and it's not the strings, but that fact.

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: JedMarum
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 09:08 AM

lol@jen - Clinton; yer right, of course, by the time you pay shipping on a set of strings you've paid close to the $20 or so that yer local store sells 'em for. BUT if you can buy several sets, yer shipping cost is about the same and your overall cost is closer to 15/set - so if you think the strings are worth it, then it's a good way to buy 'em.

I am lucky to live in a big city where competition among the music stores ahs kept string prices dopwn pretty low. I can't buy Elixers on-line any cheaper then I pay in the store. Acoustic bass guitar strings, on the other hand, are much much cheaper on-line and I have a better choice. I can buy Martin Bronze medium guage for under $25 ... and the stores charge closer to $50. I bought several sets (I expect to last a year) and saved on shipping. Worked out pretty well.

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: bbelle
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 12:54 AM

I like Elixir's very much. The way they sound and the way they feel and I've tried several different brands.

A flatpicking friend has this feeling about them ... "I don't like the way condoms feel on my penis and I don't like the way they feel on my strings."

I'm just a wimmenpicker and wouldn't know.

jenny

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Bert
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 12:37 PM

I tried them once, they were a free sample. They didn't last any longer 'cos 'Number one Son' broke one of them. The coating began to wear very quickly and they looked really dirty.

I don't buy them.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 12:27 PM

nope... that $15 is american right.. so by the time i translate it into MY money, I'm actually getting ripped off... Cheaper for em to drive across town and get 'em if I want 'em...

But thanks fer trying anyway eh!

[~`

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: JedMarum
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 09:31 AM

I found a good commercial link for Elxiers. They have some good info on how they are made, why their different and what their froends say about 'em. It is commercial, but you can judge for yourself.

They sell 'em on-line for just under $15. Soif you buy a few sets at one time, add your shipping charge your still gettig a good price (for Elixers, that is).

The link is here.

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: JedMarum
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 09:13 AM

I am certain you can get Elixers for $14 or so, on the web. That is also what I play for 'em at the local music store here in Dallas. I go look for the link where I found 'em on-line and post it later.

I have had a love/hate relationship with these strings. They only sound pretty good, but they sound pretty good for weeks! This alone makes 'em worth a serious consideration. I hated the feel. They feel small, and they do have a bit of a 'slimey' feel. I found them vey hard to get used to, at first. But I stuck with it because the positives are too strong;

They last for ever and they have significantly reduced the string noise when you move up and down the neck. I agree that it is frustrating when you break one because you cannot buy the strings individually, so in essence you've blown a set - BUT, I've simply gone out and bought a bunch of the ones I usually break (D and G) and use the cheap replacement strings. I end up with a mixed set, but it works.

At the end of the day, expensive as they are - it is cheaper for me to use Elixers - and my strings sound good, longer. For me, they were worth the effort it took to adust to them.

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 08:56 AM

As I noted in a previous thread, I have mixed feelings about Elixirs. But as for Larrivee, Taylor and other makers choosing to put Elixirs on their new guitars when they ship them out, there's a very practical reason -- the strings last a long time (nobody disputes this). A luthier or manufacturer has no way of ensuring that the folks in the store will change stings regulatrly (or at all), so the Elixirs provide at least some insurance that the instrument hanging on the shop wall will be wearing strings that still have some life left in them. It doesn't necessarily mean that Jean Larrivee or Bob Taylor like Elixirs best -- just that they don't want their instruments to be marketed with months-old strings that DON'T have a protective coating.

Subject: Elixir strings
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 03:05 AM

Nope... $20.00 a pack is what I ment...

sorry...

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 01:23 AM

20 bucks a friggin string! I hope you're joking,Clinton.

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 01:13 AM

I've tried Elixir Strings.. I liked 'em a lot... but I hate the sound of brand new strings, and Elixir's never sound that bright...

My big beef with them is that I rarely replace strings becasue they wear out or tarnish... rather i replace 'em becasue I break 'em... Nothing sucks more than breaking a brand new $20.00 Elixir D string on the 3 song of the 2nd set...

So I'll stick to plain old $5.00 Martin Medium guage strings for everyday grunt playng and keep Elixirs for concerts and recording...

{~`

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Llanfair
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 06:10 PM

Patrish sent me some, I haven't fitted them yet, but I'll keep you posted.
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 05:33 PM

The elixirs have a goretex coating and the plug is that they last longer because of resistance to acids etc. They are still a steel core string unlike Silk and Steel and give the same steel sound as others. The quality of sound is getting mixed reviews as is the the "feel" of the string under the finger which some describe as "slimy." Jean Larrivee has now chosen them to come as the standard string on his guitars, so you can tell they are getting mixed reviews......I know of no one who doesn't respect Jean Larrivee's opinion.

Haven't tried them yet myself so I don't have a clue personally. I've only heard one person say they didn't last as long as they claim they should.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: WyoWoman
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 05:27 PM

I've just gotten Ernie Ball silk and steel strings, and finally can play without wincing. Well, except wincing at my playing, which still leaves much to be desired. Is the purpose of the Elixir to be softer on the fingers or what? I mean, what about these strings is allegedly so great, other than that they're a lighter gauge and have a bright tone (which the Ernie Ball do as well)?

and catspaw, I was just pulling your whiskers, honeybunny.

ww

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: MK
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 10:52 AM

The Twelfth Fret in Toronto, sells them LH. (The staff however are not big fans of them.) You'll have to decide for yourself.

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 10:48 AM

Yeah.....Must be..........I'll apologize just as soon as people start checking the forum for threads that might be refreshed instead of starting new ones.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Gary T
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 10:40 AM

Maybe it's the Vegemite?

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: WyoWoman
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 10:18 AM

Spaw is a poopy butt ...

ww

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 10:09 AM

Gee I'm so happy for you......If you had run any kind of search you would have found a lots of info and opinions and not much new came from this thread.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 09:44 AM

Okay, this is great. I will try to get one set somwhere, and give them a try. Thanks, all!

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Midchuck
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 09:38 AM

They are probably a good idea, but I can't get used to them. They feel slimey. Greezey.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Mooh
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 07:35 AM

Hey Hawk, take a look, we've talked about this alot! They're available all over, except where I live 'cause the local music store operator isn't convinced that they're any good. His judgement being more important than the customer's demands also lost us the local Fender dealership, but that's another story...I generally use D'Addarios, but I like to use Elixirs for recording because they're so quiet, string noise wise.

One thing which might not have been mentioned about Elixirs is that they don't catch in the nut as readily as other strings due to the coating.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 06:38 AM

I use nothing else now for fingerstyle guitar and also for mandolin. They last for ages. I live in Belgium and can get them readily here.

Peace

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: bill\sables
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 06:36 AM

I have not tried them but just last weekend Patrice over here in the UK offered me a set to try out Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Mr. Maysey
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 05:47 AM

I own two high end Taylor's, a Breedlove, and a 1957 Gibson J-50. I use all guitars extensively live and in the studio and I SWEAR by Elixir strings. They are especially good for finger style guitar. Hope this helps. PS I'm looking for an old Gibson F-5 mandolin, please email me if you know of someone or someplace that has one for sale. [e-mail]. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Elixir guitar strings
From: Metchosin
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 02:03 AM

Little Hawk, they are available in Canada, at least on the wetcoast here and if you can get used to the feel of them, they are good value and do hold their tone for a long time. There was a thread on this awhile back if you want to do a forum search.

Subject: Elixir guitar strings
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 01:42 AM

Erin Benjamin told me about these strings, which she says are only available in the USA. She said they're very good and long lasting. Has anyone on Mudcat tried them? Got any info on this?