What strings are using ?? [Archive] - Anderson Guitar Forum - Sponsored By Northeast Music Center Inc

FFOGG

03-12-2009, 08:02 PM

I usually use Elixirs on my Electrics and Martin SP phosphor bronze on my Acoustics ....{ I usually change them once a year wh/ is probaly not enough by most of your standards but I am a Garage and Church Player with 12 guitars that usually get work once every 12 days except for my 12 String which I play almost every time I play out .

What are you using ??
and whats the best price you can find on them ..

I have some Ernie Balls ,Jimi Hendrix and Fenders sitting around I was thinking about putting on ...but rally don't want to change them in 2 months

Stys

03-12-2009, 08:11 PM

I like SIT Power Wounds but, recently got one of my Anderson's back from the shop that was strung with Elixers. Now, I am thinking switching.

Ahess86

03-12-2009, 08:58 PM

Something about the Elixir plain strings just doesn't work with my fingers. Maybe it has something to do w/ my skin oils?? Don't know, but my fingers just seem to stick to these things, hate it.

I put a fresh set of daddario's on every guitar for every gig (which equals like 20 sets a month, depressing).

dannopelli

03-12-2009, 09:16 PM

I used Daddario on electric for years. Martin coated on acoustic. Recently switched to Elixir for electrics. Very happy with them.

10's on all the electrics and 12's on acoustics. I'm pretty vanilla when it comes to strings.

hollow3

03-12-2009, 09:33 PM

Cleartone and Thomastic-Infeld. Elixirs keep shredding where the pick hits the string.

LearnedHand

03-12-2009, 09:48 PM

Elixirs keep shredding where the pick hits the string.

I think the shred issue is particular to the pick used and the attack on the strings. Yes, after awhile (I am talking many months) the coating on these wound strings shred. Whether the treble strings are still good is upto a debate that I am not going to get into.

I am personally happy with what the Supreme Commander strings these guitars with before they go out the door.

To me, if it ain't broke, don't fix it ... and with the Elixirs, it ain't broke.

FFOGG

03-12-2009, 10:24 PM

Whats the best price you guys have seen on Elixir's ?

Nanoweb or Polyweb ...my recollection is Polyweb

dannopelli

03-12-2009, 10:44 PM

Whats the best price you guys have seen on Elixir's ?

Nanoweb or Polyweb ...my recollection is Polyweb
Usually around $10-$11. You may want to try the Nano's. They feel and sound more like uncoated strings and do not flake.

morty

03-13-2009, 01:30 AM

I use Elixir nano on my electrics.. I didn`t think i was going to like them at all and tryed them first on my Fender, but i realy like the feel and punch they have.. on my Accoustic i use Elixir poly. Some have stringbrakage problem, but i never brake strings. Maby because of gentle right hand and i always get sure to have perfect setup all the time on my guitars!! Before i was changeching strings every month, but now it can go up to 3 months before changeching

Pietro

03-13-2009, 06:12 AM

I've been using polywebs (80/20) on my acoustic since they first shipped.

I've been using nanowebs on my electrics since they first shipped.

I've been using nanowebs (80/20) on my Crowdster Plus since I got it.

I have tried a few others that are great since. Curt Mangan in particular.

But I always come back to the Elixers, they are 3 times the price and last me 5 times as long... which means they're cheaper... unless I break one, which is rare.

Pietro

03-13-2009, 06:12 AM

Is this thread sponsored by elixir?

:p

dannopelli

03-13-2009, 06:28 AM

Not a product endorsement for me. But I am happy with the switch to them.

I like the way Daddarios sound for the first day, but they sound like Elixirs the second day and dead therafter. I can keep a set of Elixirs going strong for a bit over a week.

I do miss the colored ball ends...

FFOGG

03-13-2009, 07:03 AM

What about 12 String ??? Can anyone pm the cheapest place they found to get them ???

Ahess86

03-13-2009, 08:22 AM

(this is not an attempt to slam elixir or promote another company...)

Does no one else have a problem with the feel of Elixir plain strings? I honestly don't know what it is, I like everything else about them, but I can't play them because of those plain strings. Its like my fingers struggle/skip when I slide up and down one of them, instead of a nice smooth feel with other brands.

I honestly want to use them (if I don't wipe regular strings down, they're black in 2 days) because I see a lot of positive features. Just can't get past the actual feel of their plain strings...

Ray K.

03-13-2009, 08:57 AM

Long ago I used Ernie Ball Slinky's for many years, then switched to D'Addario .009's for quite a long time.

Only about a year or so ago a shop that I did business with was closing their doors for good. They had Elixir Nanoweb Super Lights (.009) for $6.40 set! I bought a bunch of sets and got hooked. My only regret was not buying more. But, I wasn't sure how well I would take to them.

I sill like D'Addario and would use them in a pinch, but the Elixir's feel and sound great within 2 minutes after stringing them up. And, they hold that same feel and sound for so much longer than other brands I've used. I think the extra cost works out about even.

And I agree with Dano, as silly as it seems, I wish they had color coded ball ends for quick ID. :cool:

FFOGG, I just purchased another batch of Elixir Nanowebs from an online store that sells only strings. They were running a promo for 15% off their already competitive prices. The promo is over, but if you're still interested, PM me.

Ray K.

SonicGator

03-13-2009, 09:12 AM

I'm using Elixir Nano .11's. I've tried other strings, but keep coming back to the Elixir's. I do a lot of hybrid-picking as I play with a thumb-pick and the Elixir's just have the right feel and responsiveness to what I'm playing.

dannopelli

03-13-2009, 09:24 AM

I just recently switched to the Elixirs and I really have not had a breakage nor the "stickiness" issue. Could it be the polys feel different than the nanos on the plain strings?

Ahess86

03-13-2009, 09:32 AM

Could it be the polys feel different than the nanos on the plain strings?

Its possible I suppose, however my understanding has always been that poly and nano are identical, with the exception of the coating. I'm glad they work out for so many because I do think they're a great string... but hey, different strokes for different folks right?! :)

santellavision

03-13-2009, 09:33 AM

My favorite strings are Pyramid Strings (http://www.tone-man.com/pyramid.htm). I found them through the Tone Quest Report Magazine. ToneQuest.com I love them, they seem to last longer than anything else I've tried as well as sound incredible.

http://www.tonequest.com/pyramidstrings/p-bstring2new.jpg

tom

03-13-2009, 10:19 AM

just to be clear, the plains are not coated on either poly or nano. every time someone sends their own brand for a build iand i'm test playing the guitars i do a double take as if something is wrong. like the strings fel dirty or gritty. i personally love the slickness of the elixirs.

FFOGG

03-13-2009, 12:17 PM

So you put plains on the ones that come from your place ???

markus

03-13-2009, 12:29 PM

I'm playing Elixir Nanoweb .10s on my TAGs.
I used to use the Elixir 80/20s on my Taylor, but had a lot of issues with string breakage recently, so I'm now trying out the Cleartone acoustic strings - so far so good.

SonicGator

03-13-2009, 12:56 PM

So you put plains on the ones that come from your place ???

I took Tom's statement to say that the unwound strings are plain in all of the Elixir string sets (poly or nano); just the coating on the wound strings would be different.

Janine Doubly

03-13-2009, 01:33 PM

I've tried Elixirs and the Gore-tex coating is too slippery for me. I kept having the wound strings slip out from my fingers. They are great strings, though and a great company, just don't work for me.

I was a Gibson Bright Wire guy for years, due to the fact they were, at the time, the only company that had an .011 - .050 set that used, IMHO, the right proportioned D and A strings (.028's and .038's). Then D'addario came out with their Medium top/Heavy bottom .011 - .052's and I LOVE THEM. Not only do the A and D strings feel beefy enough, that extra size on the low E is awesome. Its like piano wire. Playing riffs on the low E is like listening to the piano riffs on "Spanish Castle Magic" and "Crosstown Traffic".

Acoustic -- D'addario Phospher Bronze Medium gauge on my Collings D1. Sometimes GHS Phospher Bronze for recording, a little more mellow, but my skin oils kill them after a single session.

marsodude

03-13-2009, 01:38 PM

I use Polys here in Singapore on both the Atom and the C+. The high humidity here is terrible and they last a lot longer than the Nano.

I even use the Polys on the Taylor.

Pietro

03-13-2009, 02:33 PM

marso,

I've heard that the polys, as they shed, can be a problem with the C+'s piezo. Tom, is that true?

tom

03-13-2009, 04:41 PM

haven't heard any piezo issues with polys, but we have not used them here. i used the polys when they first came out on my real acoustics and didn't have any pickup issues. they sound enough darker that i don't care for them as well as the nanos.

csd

03-13-2009, 05:36 PM

i have always used daddario 10's on electrics. i don't get 2 wks, 3 wks max, before i need to change them. i like the coloured ball ends too! i have never played elixir's on an electric. i look forward to trying them on the classic when it comes!! as fare as acoustic strings, my taylor had polys, and i did not like their tone at all! they were dead sounding, had no snap and shredded with the pick. i play with 1.5 mil picks, there's the shredding! i use john pearse 12's. i like to hear that snap.
do nano elixir's sound diff than the poly's on an acoustic??

mdrs

03-13-2009, 08:27 PM

I use Ernie Balls......a hybrid set with 9's on top, and 10's on bottom, on my old guitars.....seems to make playing with those low frets easier.

My day in day out strings have been D'Addario 10's. I occasionally use 11's on Les Paul scale length guitars, especially when I've been playing a lot.

I really like the Elixir nanos that came on my two Andys. I've bought some more sets, and will be checking them out further. I'm impressed that they feel, play, and sound really good. And, they do seem to last.

tom

03-13-2009, 09:26 PM

nano's sound way different than polys.

picnic

03-14-2009, 09:59 AM

mdrs

03-14-2009, 11:08 AM

Tom, am I correct in think that your guitars ship with Nano's??

Does anyone know of the best source for buying Elixir strings in bulk at the best price?

tom

03-14-2009, 12:47 PM

nanos on the electrics and acoustics.

mdrs

03-14-2009, 07:21 PM

Thanks, Tom.

I never used them until my Koa HDT and the Atom CT. I really do like them. I still have a bunch of D'Addario to use up, but I'm gonna get some Elixirs to keep in the rotation.

Thoth105

03-14-2009, 08:55 PM

Electrics: Elixir 9 or 10's depending on the guitar, except on my Super Duper Part-O-Caster, which gets D'Addario pure nickles.
SS Acoustics - Elixir 11's or 12's depending on which SS.
Classicals - Galli Genius, Normal.

marsodude

03-15-2009, 03:20 AM

marso,

I've heard that the polys, as they shed, can be a problem with the C+'s piezo. Tom, is that true?

Pietro, I have not had any problem with the piezo.

gotGASbad

04-20-2009, 03:46 AM

I use Elixir Nano 10's. I bought a dozen packs last summer and change them about every four months or so. Nice slick feel, stay crispy longer than others and the price for a dozen was below $8-9 a set IIRC.
I did have a problem two years ago with the Nano's breaking on my Classic and HTC. Light strumming, not hitting hard. Weird, thought it might be my TA's. E's G's and D's were the culprits. The strings all broke around the bridge on my TA's. Since I got the new shipment, I haven't had a problem. Looks like Elixir had a bad batch of wire.

I posted about breaking Elxir 10/46 nano strings a while ago . . . I changed to DR's and didn't break them but they sounded dead after a few gigs. Same with D'addario. Just this weekend I put a set of my fav Elixir back on and BANG! over 3 sets I broke the D, then the A string! My Elixir rep reckons it's not the batch as no one else has complained about them, but it can't be my HDT surely? The other two brands didn't break within 2 gigs. . . . . not sure what to do now.

monterosso

04-20-2009, 04:01 AM

I use EXL110+ by daddario which is between 11's and 10's ;] elixir were lacking a bit of bass, and were very bright too, my classic is Hollow Swamp Ash body, bright sounding so i couldnt go with nanos ;/

tom

04-20-2009, 11:06 AM

regarding breakage, if you're ot breaking other brands then it's probably not a sharp spot on the guitar. where are they breaking, at the top of the saddle, baseplate of the bridge, at the tuner, somewhere in between?
we did have a customer who was breaking string sall the time on his crowdster, which is unusual in itself. he tried using the big bends nut sauce on the saddle and has not broken another string. that might be worth a try for any of you chronic string breakers.

Ahess86

04-20-2009, 03:25 PM

Just thought I'd chime in here and give an update in response to my earlier post..

I don't know what Elixir did between 3-4 months ago and now, but I no longer stick to the plain strings and I absolutely love these things. I'm using a set of Elixirs for approx. a month and playing about 1 hr a day weekdays, 2 hrs a day weekends. Awesome strings.

tom

04-20-2009, 04:09 PM

their plain strings are now"anti rust". not sure exactly what they're doing. they aren't plated, but they are smoother and don't rust as easily as plain plains do.

GASMAN

04-20-2009, 05:46 PM

Tom, am I correct in think that your guitars ship with Nano's??

Does anyone know of the best source for buying Elixir strings in bulk at the best price?

So---anyone have a good source for buying in bulk?

tom

04-20-2009, 05:53 PM

Suriel Zayas

04-20-2009, 06:05 PM

www.stringsbymail.com has the nanoweb at $8.85 for 10's per set. they are very trusted source, as i deal with them continuously. best prices on strings i have ever found.

GASMAN

04-20-2009, 06:31 PM

Thanks guys. Will check them out.

tom

04-20-2009, 06:43 PM

nice site suriel! nice shipping too.

Suriel Zayas

04-20-2009, 07:31 PM

nice site suriel! nice shipping too.
i've been using them for years, especially with classical guitar strings that can be so costly. their one-price shipping policy has been the same in as long as i can remember.

Ray K.

04-21-2009, 11:58 AM

this was the winner of the quick search i did, at 9.95
http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/elixirstrings.html
but juststrings.com is also running a buy 5 get one free at 10.99 a set.
it may come down to shipping cost.
I've been dealing with Mike Griggs at Strings and Beyond. Free shipping on orders over $35, which is easy to do. He also runs good specials pretty frequently. I get e-mails from him about every week or so (you can opt out). When it works out that I'm starting to get low on supply and he's blowing out Elixir Nanowebs, I stock up.

Suriel, I'm going to check into Strings By Mail for comparison. You're a trustworthy source and I also know others guys that do business with them. Thanks for reminding me.

Ray K.

kurt1981

04-21-2009, 05:09 PM

Hey guys, I've been a long time thomastik user for years, but I've recently been breaking high E and B strings a bit more, and the thoms are so pricey, I'm thinking of trying out elixirs. Is it worth checking out, or am I just nuts? Even if I could save $4 or 5 a set, I'm just not sure. Thanks guys, hope someone has some advice,
Kurt

Suriel Zayas

04-21-2009, 05:17 PM

Murph

04-21-2009, 05:29 PM

www.stringsbymail.com has the nanoweb at $8.85 for 10's per set. they are very trusted source, as i deal with them continuously. best prices on strings i have ever found.

+1 on the stringsbymail site, I've been getting my strings there in bulk for a couple of years.
FWIW...I've been using Elixir nanos on ALL my guitars(except the DOBRO), both electric and acoustic ever since they came out. I prefer the nanos to the Polys--I think they sound and feel better. A good set of Phosphor Bronze probably sound better on my acoustics--for the first couple of hours...but after that the Elixirs sound better and STAY that way for many hours of playing. I think that's why we're seeing most of the string manufacturers coming out with coated strings.....