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Location: Reno, NV | We all have our string preferences. Out of the COATED variety, which are your favorite? |
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Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | After one hour of playing, all my strings are coated. I think I need a guitar tech!! |
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Location: Omaha, NE | I voted for Elixir Polyweb, but honestly I can never remember if I get "polyweb" or "nanoweb". Something like that anyway.
I like them because the aren't as bright. I like a little mellower sound, and they work. They do fuzz out big time where I strum, but other than looking a little wierd, that's no problem. I still get a couple of months out of a set. |
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Location: Reno, NV | Omaha,
Sounds like polywebs. Nanowebs dont have the fuzzing problem.
PS. For everyone else, please excuse the typo "Infintiy" .... :-( |
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Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Nanos are bright and seem to last longer for me. Me like! |
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Location: ms | I like the nanos but i`m getting away from them, they just cost too much. |
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Location: PDX | Originally posted by Goober:
After one hour of playing, all my strings are coated. I think I need a guitar tech!! Or a bar of soap :)
Anyway, i said "other". And that would be NONE. I really dislike the feel of coated strings. I tried to like them -- not for me i guess.
_____
gh1 |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Let me ask this question another way (crap, I SWORE I would never get involved in a discussion about strings...) The advantage of coated stings is supposed to be that they last longer, right? But what do you give up, anything other than $$$. In other words, if coated and uncoated strings COST the same and LASTED the same, would there be any reason to buy coated strings? is thre something about them that they sound better than uncoated?
Dave |
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Location: SoCal | coated strings cost twice as much and last 3 times longer.
as to the feel of them, that's a personal opinion. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Do coated strings sound better than non coated? |
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Location: big island | all i know about this topic is:
1) uncoated strings last me all of one gig. they corrode and sound dull after three hours of playing. consider that my gigs are usually on or near the ocean and i wipe my strings several times during play. i wipe the entire guitar after the gig.
2) when i use nanoweb elixirs, i get an average of three gigs per set plus many hours of practice time in between and they continue sounding fresh. i usually end up breaking a G string in the middle of a song if i attempt to get more than three gigs out of a set. if so, i'll replace the broken string then and after the gig replace the remaining ones.
3) playing music for a paycheck does give the added benefit of being able to claim strings, as well as guitars, accessories, etc. as business expenses on my taxes. |
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Location: Reno, NV | Well, in the case of the Polyweb, the lack of string squeak can be viewed as a big advantage. Others such as the Markley's which are more like treated metal dont have that "advantage".
But on the flip side, the polyweb coating can make them too slippery and its a disadvantage for heavy bending.
I think there is give and take in most strings. Im yet to find the holy grail in strings. |
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Location: big island | Originally posted by Tupperware:
Do coated strings sound better than non coated? to my ear, elixir coated strings sound better than all of the non-coated strings i have ever tried, even fresh out of the package. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | I'm begining to agree with Lanaki, the Elixir's do have a nice sound to them, and the first set I put on the 1115 lasted forever. The set on the Adamas now have a really nice, not too bright, sound to them. |
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Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by Tupperware:
if coated and uncoated strings COST the same and LASTED the same, would there be any reason to buy coated strings? I buy them for the sound alone. I don't really care about the cost. I just like the sound. Like I said earlier, I find them to be a little more mellow and darker sounding. I also like the reduced string squeak.
Yeah, they last a long time. To me, that really means that they stay sounding the same over time. I can't remember when I put the current set on my Taylor...probably at least six weeks ago or more. But I think of that as more of a convenience thing than a cost thing. Changing strings is a headache. I'd rather be playing. |
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Location: south east Michigan | Elixir nanos are great on the UTE but the same strings on the AD-II sound blah. What's up with that? |
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Location: NJ | It's all in the way it drives the top . . . |
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Location: chicago | I dont know if any of you know this,but you can negotiate the price and get exp's for $8 with tax so dont pay any more than that if you can help it.GC in my area does not sell Elixers any more they told me they wont give them a break on the price even though they buy larger quantities than any one else....so while i would rather use ELIXERS because they DO last longer, my local gc does not stock them anymore.
www.guitarsoffire.com |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | IMHO, coated strings do not sound as good:that said, if they are free or cheaper than uncoated strings, which occasionally happens, I'll use them.
Thank you the opportunity to participate in yet another discussion on guitar strings. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Elixir polycoated strings seem less brassy to me. I don't care for strings that are too bright. |
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| I use nano's. Would like to try the rohrbacher coated, but right now they are way too expensive.. |
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Location: Wooster, Ohio | Since I am here in Ohio with about a foot of snow on the ground, the thought of someone who has to wipe their strings because of being too near the ocean is a bit depressing. Does anyone know a good repairman for a snowblower?
Steve |
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Location: Wheeling, WV | Shovelin' snow here too. I love the Elixer Nanowebs, especially the new Phosphor/Bronze. The Polywebs feel a little waxy to me, and they peel. Medium nano phosphors on my Martin solid wood jumbo, and its a wall of sound, with tons of bass and clarity. Lights on my smaller Martin sound sweet for fingerstyle. Lights in standard nano, not phosphor, on my Ovation Legend seem to sound best, not too bright, but lots of zing.
I sweat when i play, and cant seem to get a good week out of non coated strings. For twice the price, Elixers seem to last 4 or 5 times longer for me....and i believe they sound better too. I've been convinced for a few years now.
I havent tried the ones for electric yet....has anyone else??? |
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Location: Gardnerville, NV | I've got them on my Tele and they've sounded great for a long time. |
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Location: Lebanon, TN | I voted Elixi nano's as my workhorse strings. Was using custom lights but have moved up to the Lights (12's) more recently. I would, however, like to pimp a shout out for my other fave strings.
Thomastik-Infeld. I have a set of the flat wound steel on my mandolin and they are bliss to play. I enjoyed so much that I bought a set of their Plectrum bronze strings for accoustic guitar. Weird hybrids with plain E,B flat wound G, D A and round wound E. Very soft to pick so I put a set of extra lights on the 97 collector. Wonderful. Just need a second mortgage to buy them. The steel for the mando last a very long time though as they are Stainless
I have a set of the hybrid plectrum 12 strings waiting for the 1659 to make it back from the factory. |
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Location: ranson,wva | ive got elixer 13 p/b's on every thing execpt the academy and the gc12. i prefer DR. xtra life's but they are hard to find localy..ive found them to sound brighter than most coated strings...jason |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | I use coated strings for the reason that they last longer. I switched between Martins and D'addarios in the past, but I use EXP strings exclusively in the here and now. Unless my ears are playing tricks on me, 80/20 coated EXPs sound better for my Ovation guitar than the phosphor bronze. The phosphor bronze coated EXPs, on the other hand, compliments my other guitars very well. Strange, but that's what's going on with my guitars. |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | IGNIMBYTE You`ve got exellent hearing,as I pointed out in another thread,the inter-action of Guitar vs Strings Concludes a large portion of the Tonality,Picks even more so,I do some FingerPicking,and my fingers sound Different compared to each other,with the thumb being the "bassy" one,have U done some TRAVIS Picking lately ? :)
Vic |
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Location: big island | stuart, i love the thomastik-infeld classical guitar strings. have never tried their steel strings. |
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Location: Australia | For me, Dr Extra Life are the best sounding string on an Adamas coated or uncoated.
....and they last me ages |
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Location: ranson,wva | havnt tried dr's on the adamas yet but i got a set for each guitar ordered for the up coming string change...jason |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | Thanks Vic. I'm glad to know that I'm not alone with this dilemma, as I got used to picking both 80/20 and phosphor bronze [as per my guitars' preferences] from the shelves when I'm shopping for strings. I will admit that it was a little bit of an inconvenience in the beginning.
I play finger picking mostly and some strumming here and there, playing guitar as an accompanying instrument as opposed being the primary one. Pardon my naivete, but what is travis picking? I've heard of the term numerous times, but don't really have a clue what it's about? |
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Location: Wooster, Ohio | A counter poll to this one would be what strings have you tried. I know that I voted and I have not tried the DR coated strings which a couple of people really like?
Steve |
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Location: NW NJ | I like Markley's Gold Phos Alchemy's for the color, and they sound good, and they last...well...a LONG time. EXP's are fine too, but the color of the Alchemy's is SO nice. OK, call me shallow or uneducated, but good quality strings all sound fine to me. I'm sure that I don't have a discriminating enough ear to be able to tell a dramatic difference between the various extended life strings. I guess I'm cheap and wait for the strings to go on sale and ... well ... |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Hi Gil,TRAVIS picking was done (invented) by Merle Travis(He was BIG before and during Glenn Campbel),can be rather sweet sounding,I do it by using all fingers(pinky not so often though),and that`s how I Clearly can hear the difference in the sound caused by my fingers,it`s uncanny.. :)
But do not look at it as a dilemma,use difference in strings to enhance Your possibilities/capabillities,it rather expands Your Palette,and Perception,it does not allways require another guitar,now the collectors here will probably be scoffing at me,but try to set up 20 guitars on a 15ft.x 10ft. stage,and hear the sarcastic remarks from the Drummer/Bass/Keyboardist (He´s the one with all the junk & paraphernalia)So ,Welcome the differences in Sound that Strings & Plectra can give You,I often play my Acoustics through a yamaha RA-50 (mini leslie)it sounds fabulous,recently I got myself into home-recording,well ,differences are even more evident during play-back,Condensor Mics. pick up very small details,capable of recording the colours of Your Palette ,so Trust Your Hearing and keep on scratching ,Courage Mon Ami !! ;)
Vic |
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Location: SoCal | In a general term, Travis picking these days means fingerpicking with a pattern. But Merle Travis used a thumb and one finger. He would play the bass strings with his thumb, then play melody on the treble strings with his finger. Chet Atkins heard him on the radio and started doing the same sort of thing but using a thumb and 3-4 fingers. Search on youtube for Merle Travis. |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Hi Robbie ,I have heard a lot of Good about D Markleys,and yes,nice colours too,Good Quality strings are allways a plus,mostly because they are Polished,smooth to the fingers,I tried Cheap internet offers,they felt like sandpaper to me,still got 8 sets that I do n`t know what to do with,Playability is another point of difference strings in between,another point is String-Stretching,have You noticed how You need to tune/re-tune,after You have changed strings,that`s because new strings are n`t Straight,they`re Wobbly(wavy),and that can take several days before string-tension has corrected that,now,once every so often,someone remarks that strings have to be changed "often",However,Reality has it that it will Take at least Two (2) days before strings have "Set-in",they reach full potential in about a week,(wobbles/waves have to disappear,material has to be shakin`loose )they Vibrate,just like a Top,and You know that it takes time for a Top to reach it`s potential,same for strings,so there`s nothing wrong with Your Hearing,However,Finger-picking shows differences more clearly,Basically,if it sounds Good to You,then it`s because it Does Sound Good,and regarding the LifeSpan of strings...I`ve got a set of Tomastik Bronze 13 - 57 on my 1537 that got strung about four months ago,and I`m very pleased with the TonePalette of that combination,now Bronze Strings are supposed not to last very long,and yet..in the old days GuitarMakers said;" Go out and Try" Well,that was a good recommendation then,and still is,stick With Quality,Your Fingers & Ears will thank you, BTW,have You ever tried to use a guitar as a Bow using a Violin Bow as an Arrow??..the Bass-string of a Classical works particularly well,that`s one way to determine String-Quality. ;)
I am curious about the Alchemy strings,and will give `em a try
Vic :cool: |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Quite Right Detective :) so I`m actually doin`..Travis/Atkins style..(Schizophrenic person that I am) ;)
Vic :cool: |
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Location: Reno, NV | This thread inspired me to go out and get some Elixir Light Polywebs. I put them on and cut them off within a few hours. I didn't notice it before when I had less string experiences, but polywebs are dull and muted compared to non-coated strings. And to think at one time I thought they were the greatest thing since sliced bread. :-) |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Hi YAK ,have You considered the choice of Plectre,some sound bright,some dull,plectra are cheap,try a bunch,go on,treat yourself ;)
Vic :cool: |
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Location: Reno, NV | I've experimented with several different picks. from .50mm to 1.2mm. Regardless of picks used, you can just tell when a string has no tone. No pick in the world is going to solve that problem. I've tried cellulose, Totex, Ultex, Nylon and even those awkward "Big Stubbies". I wont go brass or metal though, Im too ruthless with the pick hand... Don't want to scratch up my baby. |
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Favorite COATED string