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March 2014
Posts: 19
| Well, that is really strange...
I used to perform with Elixir Bronze .11 on my Elite Standard and my Collector's '94.
Today I decided to buy an Elixir Phosphor Bronze set, same gauge, to test it on my Elite.
When I tuned my guitar, I found the bass sound much more different than what my ears were used to listen after a new set of strings.
No clean, pure, metallic sound, but poor, very deep, with no duration...
Also, because of the produced frequencies, the body creaks in the low notes...
Thought to replace them with Bronze but I decided to give them more time...
Any impressions about Elixir Phosphor bronze strings? |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Oddly enough, on several of my Ovations medium phos/bronze sound great and on some, 80/20 Bronze sound great. No one size fits all. Let's just talk about 2 of the guitars, an 87C (multi hole) and a 30th CL (round hole). On the 87C, medium 80/20's sound best. On the 30th CL, medium phos/bronze sound best. And with those setups, both guitars sound remarkably similar. Reverse the strings on the guitars and neither sound good. Go figure.
Don't compare the guitars. Just find the strings that work best on each guitar..... |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I use the regular Daddario strings on my acoustics. Only use Elixir on slide guitars, cuts down the string squeak
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | After years of trying many, many brands.. I just went back to Daddario.
That set of magic strings that parts the clouds with a choir of angels, just does not exist.
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December 2015
Posts: 287
Location: Katmandu | I used to string up all my Ovations with Elixir Phosphor Bronze (NANOWEB Coating) some ten years ago. They are probably still as good as any coated strings out there to-date. But about a year ago I, too, went back to trusty, old D'Addario (EXP16), and I couldn't be more content with the striking, precise, mellow tone that the EXP16 have to offer.
Edited by leonardmccoy 2016-08-02 2:02 PM
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I have had problems with the green ball at the end of the D'Addarios. It's only the green one for some reason. Several times the tension on the string has bent or broken the ball. When it broke, it's like any other broken string, except the string remained whole and the ball was missing. The first time I thought it slipped out somehow, but then I found the two pieces of the green ball. Recently, I put a new set of strings on and the string with the green ball (I think it's the G) was crushing the ball, allowing it to go flat. It's very possible this was a bad batch that I bought in bulk, but it was odd that it happened at least 3 times, only with the string with the green ball. I've got some Martins that will go on several guitars that need new strings and then will probably go back to the D'Addarios and see if the problem reappears. |
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Posts: 402
Location: New Hartford CT | I tried them and they weren't crisp enough, for my ear. I prefer a bright string like the D'Addarios but they seem to mellow out pretty quick, if that's your thing.
Someone on the OFC recommended Ernie Ball medium light (12's) aluminum bronze a couple years back...I love them. They don't 'go dead' for a long time. I play about 30-60 mins a day and they hold up for 6-8 weeks. |
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Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | DA EJ-16. Stay away from coated strings. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Standingovation - 2016-08-02 2:58 PM
DA EJ-16. Stay away from coated strings.
Oh. ok..... |
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February 2016
Posts: 1802
Location: When?? | Still sorely missing the days when you could just roll into any given music store in the land on any given day and they had plenty of Adamas 1818s in stock. |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | I always quote Phil Keaggy when I asked him what strings he liked best...He said "New Ones". |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | I always quote Phil Keaggy when I asked him what strings he liked best...He said "New Ones". |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Hey Beal: what gauge do you prefer on your Taks? |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I like the aluminum bronze strings from Ernie Ball the best |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Elgin, on my 760 I use EJ 15, a 10-48 set The others are either EJ16 or EJ24. I really like the 24, like a medium set with the feel of a lite set. I have also used GHS true medium sets. It is the same gauge as the EJ24 |
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Posts: 19
| Hey, thank you all for your replies...
Like yesterday, the sound remains poor - the 6th string sounds like it's 5 years old on the guitar - no brilliance, no sustain, no gain... the other strings are ok - smoother sound than the bronze, but sounds in an acceptable way.
I have never use D'addario - Elixir Bronze sounds really great on my acoustics and have long life - 3 months for sure, playing everyday.
But I will try D'addario, to check if they are softer for my left hand fingers.
Thank you! |
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December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | I'm diggin' on the new Nickel Bronze from D'Addario, but they're a bit on the pricey side. |
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December 2003
Posts: 848
Location: Canada | Damon67 - 2016-08-03 10:24 AM I'm diggin' on the new Nickel Bronze from D'Addario, but they're a bit on the pricey side. Strings & Beyond had 25%off deal last week so I ordered a set for each of my guitars, maybe the promo (25OFFNB) still works comes to about $8 per set. Last fall I got a set for testing and it was great - better sounding and longer lasting than the EXPs. |
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Posts: 190
Location: SW Mintsoda | Damon67 - 2016-08-03 10:24 AM
I'm diggin' on the new Nickel Bronze from D'Addario, but they're a bit on the pricey side.
I also like these NB's, and the Martin Retro Monels - I think they're of similar metal composition. And I've found that these strings last quite a bit longer than typical PB or 80/20 bronze sets, making the extra initial $$ worth it for their warm, natural, yet clear tone.
They take a couple hours (or less, usually) to "break in", but from then on their tone remains very consistent for - well, almost forever.
I'm using them on my '92 O L717 (a lefty 1717) and '83/'84-ish 1157 Anniversary, a Martin D-35, a couple Larrivees and a Gibson J-45, all with equally pleasing results.
Edited by 360Ovation 2016-08-03 1:26 PM
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October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | I've been around and around the carousel of different brands and types of strings. I've come back to Adamas 1818 (still have a few sets NOS) and EJ-16. I did like the Martin Marquis PBs but they seemed to go dead a bit quickly. The Thomastic sound great and last a long time. In the end, though, I don't think anybody else notices the differences in how the strings sound. |
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February 2013
Posts: 176
Location: Cologne/Germany | I mentioned it in another thread before, the Adamas strings are available over here in Germany in a newly designed package, all sizes 1616, 1717, 1818 and 1919.... Still not in the US?! BTW, five Anniversary models are available too, only the Folkore is mentioned as "on demand"....
Edited by red-twins 2016-08-04 3:45 PM
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | FlySig - 2016-08-04 1:14 PM
In the end, though, I don't think anybody else notices the differences in how the strings sound.
So you say to your non-playing friend,
"Listen how crisp and clear these new Phosphor Bronze and Steel strings sound?"
And your friend just politely nods his head and asks if you have any beer. 
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February 2016
Posts: 1802
Location: When?? | @Arthur-- "And your friend just politely nods his head and asks if you have any beer."
That sounds like my wife.. 'cept she asks for wine.
@red-twins-- "the Adamas strings are available over here in Germany"
Lucky you! Hope they make it back here to the USA soon, too. Go figure.
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February 2010
Posts: 72
Location: UK | I use Elixir Phos Bronze (Nanoweb) for all my Ovations & am very happy with them. I used to use D'Addario (EJ) and was happy with them but I thought I'd give coated strings a try. I found that tone of D'Addario to be brilliant on the first day of changing the strings but starts to deteriorate from the second day onwards. Whereas it keeps on going on Elixir. I decided to go for the consistency. |
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December 2015
Posts: 287
Location: Katmandu | I'll give the nickel bronze strings by D'Addario a shot and report back here in time. |
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Elixir Phosphor Bronze
