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Post by samspade on Oct 23, 2022 11:39:02 GMT -5
Just wondering the opinion on these. I tried Elixirs, a loooong time ago. Actually, they might have come on a Taylor I bought. My main concern was the string started to get fuzzy/frayed. Like the coating visibly coming off. Is this still the case? Also wonder about the coating substance constantly in contact with my skin, flaking off, etc. The DR Black Beauties look cool, but what is the coating made from? Edited to say, I know it's some type of Teflon which we've probably already ingested tons of  , but just looking for more insight. |
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Oct 23, 2022 13:03:14 GMT -5
Some people have gotten used to the sound/feel and don't like switching back.
I'd rather buy more sets of a non-coated string for the same price and change them more often. Better tone, comparable life. Elixir acoustic strings are about $20 a set right now.
Coated strings work great if a guitar is untouched for a while. So, you're an electric player and the acoustic sits in the case until you pull it out once every other month. It'll be fresh when you pull it out with coated strings, maybe not with regular strings. It also is great for showrooms, which is likely why Taylor likes them so much. Their guitars are much more likely to have fresh strings on them when they're hanging next to the competitors. Not many people are going to try guitars in showrooms anymore, though.
tl;dr if you like them, great. If not, you aren't missing much.
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Post by samspade on Oct 23, 2022 13:29:07 GMT -5
ah ok, I kinda have the same take on it. I rather have strings I have to change, vs a 'tiny' film over my strings, that I notice/hear, etc. I have the same attitude towards compression and how it removes stuff, but there are players that know how to use it, but I haven't mastered/understood that yet.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Oct 23, 2022 13:35:22 GMT -5
Elixirs came stock on the Taylor Mini GS I once had and found them good enough to keep using. I now have a Yamaha CSF1M that I used them on for a while but have switched to John Pearse 200L's.
I don't think I've ever tried coated strings on an electric though.
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DrKev
Wholenote
It's just a guitar, it's not rocket science.
Posts: 424
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Post by DrKev on Oct 23, 2022 13:42:41 GMT -5
The first Ekixirs were awful, with the horrible plastic coating that frayed. But we've come along way since then. Ernie Ball and D'Addario both do strings with an ultra thin nanotech coating that you'ld never know was there that makes the strings keep their tone way longer. I can happily recommend either of them. They don't last longer against breakage but I think the longevity of tone is worth the extra money, IMHO.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Oct 23, 2022 15:31:16 GMT -5
Yeah, for some people changing strings is an afternoon project, and will even take it in to a repair shop just to have them changed. It makes sense to change them less for those people, but if you know how to swap strings and you're playing them, the time/money sacrifice to change more often is negligible.
My gut feeling is that if 100% of your string wear is from playing and not just sitting around, the coated strings aren't much longer lasting. It seems to only help with sitting around.
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Post by reverendrob on Oct 23, 2022 16:46:10 GMT -5
The only ones I've ever used are the ones that came on the oddball Les Paul HPs a few years back, and I've stuck with them.
They last as long as my usual stainless strings, but I'm not a "like new string squeaks/sounds" guy, and only change when they feel awful, don't hold tune, or rarely break.
Gibson for a short while on those models was using ClearTone oddballs, and I love them enough I don't want to change a damn thing.
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Post by LTB on Oct 24, 2022 2:15:44 GMT -5
I like And use Elixer Phosphor Bronze .012’s on my 1979 Tak with Mahogany body as they really woke that guitar up but they don’t sound so good on my Yamaha Acoustic Electric.
Don’t care for them on electric guitars and basses
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gbfun
Wholenote
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Post by gbfun on Oct 24, 2022 5:22:46 GMT -5
Hmm...I can't comment on acoustic performance but I noticed the Elixers I tried on an electric with a synth pickup had a significant reduction in magnetic interaction with the electric pickups.
In short, coated strings didn't work well for the synth pickup and it had slightly less output using magnetic pickups.
But maybe, with super hot pickups, coated strings might cool them down a bit.
YMMV.
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Post by LeftyMeister on Oct 24, 2022 11:09:45 GMT -5
I tried them a couple of times but didn't like the string poop that collected on the guitar under the strings.
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Post by LesTele on Oct 24, 2022 15:32:21 GMT -5
Like a lot of people I’ve kept using them on my Taylor. I tend not to end up with tremendously fuzzy or bald strings - unless someone borrows the guitar for a song or two - and literally shreds.
I think they sound fine and they last well when I play them or leave them sitting unplayed.
I tend to use non-coated strings for all other acoustics - d’Addarios, Ernie Ball and Martin.
I get weirder with mandolin and banjo string manufacturers.
But never coated. Never.
Just realised that my fiddle strings are coated too - and eye-wateringly expensive.
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Post by Leftee on Oct 24, 2022 15:53:26 GMT -5
Yeah… but what does Barry use? 🦒
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Oct 24, 2022 17:48:21 GMT -5
Yeah… but what does Barry use? 🦒 I would imagine "Nashville Straights". 😄 Remember those? |
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Post by rdr on Oct 28, 2022 11:43:52 GMT -5
I never wanted Elixers because they sounded dull to me. But the newer "Nano" Elixers came on my Yamaha acoustic and they sound great. Had em on for about a year with occasional use and still good. No fuzz.
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, but just looking for more insight.
