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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | BT - I agree with you. Coated strings will save you money because they last longer. But for me, I just don't like the sound and don't like the feel, so the extra effort and cost of changing more frequenty is worth it. Plus I like changing my strings! |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4230
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | My turn to be different.
[list]
[*]A. I prefer the polywebs to the nanos.
B. I also like D'Ads.
C. I like to use different guages.
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After playing my instruments for a while now (Eat your heart out Trader Jim. :cool: ), I've discovered that I prefer the sound of different strings on different guitars. It can actually get obsessively complicated, but I like what I hear. For example:
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[*]1. I put Medium Polywebs on my 97 Collector's. It adds volume to a guitar I primarily finger-pick in open tunings. They have a very mellow tone that seems to "fit" the aesthetics of a guitar that reminds me of instruments built in the 1800s. Even so, I have a set of silk-and-steel Martins waiting for the next string change courtesy of some previous comments on this forum.
2. I put light polywebs on my 2001 Collector's. They give the guitar an almost baritone-like resonance when finger-picked or strummed. They also serve to further differentiate its tone from the rest of my collection. This guitar is a real standout from my others soundwise, and sometimes I just want to here that particular sound.
3. It's medium phosphour-bronzes for the Ute. maybe it's the textured top, but the brassiness of this combination and the resulting sustain (It's nearless endless!) put this one in a category by itself. And again, at times, it's exactly what I feel like listening to.
4. Light D'Ads go on the 87 Collector's and the 1537. For those times when you need to blow a sonic whole through the mix (or the wall).
5. Light polywebs for the 2002 Collector's. I really like the subdued, yet confident tone evoked by this combo.
6. I keep one 12-string strung with light polywebs to keep it from getting too bright.
7. I put Martin light silk-and-steels on the other 12 for a very warm, folksy tone that really suits certain songs.
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I haven't exactly settled on strings for my others yet. But I'm working on it, if you get my drift. ;)
All in all, I consider strings another way of broadening my tonal pallet. I feel you can really zero in on the exact quality your looking for from one piece of music to another.
So how's that for "too much information"?  |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | 80/20 Bronze for me. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | "It's medium phosphour-bronzes for the Ute. maybe it's the textured top, but the brassiness of this combination and the resulting sustain ..."
+1 on phosphor for textured-top Adamas! |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | +11
The original custom light (.011-.052) Nanowebs are my favorite strings. I don't like the newer phosphor bronze though. I can understnd someone not taking to the slippery feel. EXP's are very grippy. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15670
Location: SoCal | I used to play Elixir medium poly's on all my 6 steel strings (sounds like I've got a lot -- not!). Now it's Elixir phos/bronze. Mediums on the rebuilt Legend and lights on everything else. They don't feel like coated strings, cost 2-3 times more than uncoated strings and last 3-5 times longer...... |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I feel so unworthy. For awhile I just used the extra sets that always seemed to come when I bought a new guitar. The 04CL came with Elixirs, but I can't remember what kind. The only thing I didn't like about them was I couldn't seem to wear them out and I wanted to change them to see if I liked something else better.
I've got bunches of free sets of D'Adds and a couple of sets of Adamas that Miles raffled off. I don't change strings enough, but I don't play enough either. |
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Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 61
Location: Montréal, québec, Canada | My string testing period is over ( for a while)
Martin SP (the ones whit bronze steel 1st and 2nd) are the ons I keep comming back to.
Elixir are nice to but I did not like the peel off of the coating.
Anyways it's fun to try différent strings to see the how your guitar can soud différent.
Keep on playing ! |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| I'll have to try the Martin SP's... it's been a while since I used those.
+12 on the Nanos, except the Rohrbacher Titanium are also excellent, but expensive. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by Bernard:
Martin SP are the ons I keep comming back to. Isn't it amazing how different we all are? I went through a dozen Martin SPs on different guitars and didn't like them at all. D'Adds are my uncoated strings of choice
I like the economy of Elixers. My beater at work has had them on for 7 months now and they're still bright. I reckon new Elixirs sound like 2 day old D'Adds. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 972
Location: PDX | Ahhhh! finally took those P'soS off my new guitar and put on my std EJ16's -- perfection! Heck this guitar is screaming for mediums. Maybe next set.
i don't know how you folks that like those coated strings do it. But, oh well, to each his own, as "they" say. i am definitely not their target market.
Cheers all!
_____
gh1 |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by gh1:
Ahhhh! finally took those P'soS off my new guitar and put on my std EJ16's -- perfection! _____
gh1 BINGO. |
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Joined:
February 2009
Posts: 5
Location: Czech Republic | What about Cleartone strings?
http://www.cleartonestrings.com/
They looks really nano-coated not as Elixirs nanowebs. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4061
Location: Utah | I have really liked the ClearTone strings on a mid depth bowl 6778LX. They sounded nearly as good as uncoated. I'd say they are 99% compared to uncoated strings. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I don't like them.
Regular old Daddario EJ17s or 16s for me. My body chemistry does not kill strings.
The coating just makes them last longer.
I do use them on a National when I'm using a slide but that's the only place. |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I usually go with the EXP16's, as they just do it for me. Elixirs are too slick and sound brittle to me.
I tried a set of GHS that I really liked on my Tacoma - I think it was their coated ph/b - and that was very nice, and for less than the EXP's.
I bought a set of Elixirs for my 1869 when they first really came out big in the late 90's, and immediately had to have a fret job...took that as a sign. On the other hand, my 12-string always was strung with them, and they sounded great.
As a side note, I have a set of D'ad XL nickel lights on my Viper which I keep trying to wear out so I can change them and simply can't! Gotta say I'm a fan of D'Addario strings. |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Well, like I said in another post, my baby (Elite-T) is back with a fresh setup and Elixir Nano Phosphur/Bronze 10s. Keep in mind I have had EXP16 (12s) on her since I got her. My Celeb has Martin SP Phospur/Bronze 10s.
The Nanowebs are very different than the others. We you guys said they were slick, I had no idea. Now I do. I kinda like it. Less sting squeak. She is a bit brighter, but sweeter sounding. I like it.
Makes me wonder about polywebs. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by auriemma:
Makes me wonder about polywebs. The Polywebs have a much thicker coating which peels off at the areas where a pick hits the strings. It doesn't effect the sound but makes the strings look worn. I think that's the reason that the thinner Nanoweb coating was developed.
The real issue with Elixir strings, other than the slippery feel, is that when you first put them on they don't sound as bright as new uncoated strings. The uncoated strings will lose that bright sound quickly, whereas the Elixirs will maintain a close to new string sound for a long time. |
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Joined:
February 2009
Posts: 119
Location: New York | + 10
I/we can get a solid 4-5 months of playing time (real good tone the whole time) I agree whole heartedly
Hoss |
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | I just took the plunge - putting Nanowebs on the Applause after years of just asking for a light gauge set and taking whatever brand the shop has. At 3 times the price, they'd better be good.
The guy who sold me the Pacemaker gave me a set of Elixir 10's for that and I like them. |
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Joined:
June 2008
Posts: 31
Location: alabama | I'm in love with Elixirs myself; it's all I've used for several years now, and mostly because that's what Taylor puts on their guitars, but I've found that they sound just as good on my angel-stepped Elite :p |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | Originally posted by Yak:
I can live with the slippery feel because it works both ways. Its easier to slide notes and chords on Elixirs. I went to plain uncoated strings for a while, but gave Elixirs another try and really like them. The long life is also a major plus now that Im out of my string experimentation phase. Ehhh... Changed my mind. For some reason I wasn't diggin' the tone from my last Elixir Nano PB string change. Went back my favorite Martin SP's and GHS Boomers (electric).
I prefer the tone and feel of non-coated. At leaast for now. |
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Elixer Nanowebs
