Dead Elixir strings

azzyrazzy · #1 10-11-2006, 05:55 AM

These strings, while great when new, become incredibly bad sounding when dead. I almost started to believe my bass sounded bad, but I put on a regular fender string and we're back to good sounding notes. Just wanted to point that out, if you're planning to keep a string on for a long time. Anyone else noticed it?

Ibanezzer · #2 10-11-2006, 06:09 AM

i haven't noticed a problem like that but I've only had my set of elixirs on for about 6 months now (first time using them), though I do notice that the coating stuff is peeling off overwhere and its getting really annoying. Do people usually replace them once the coating wears off or do you just ignore all the particals hanging on the string and keep using it? I hate to replace it so soon since elixirs are so expensive.... not sure if i'm putting them on again.

Enden · #3 10-11-2006, 06:15 PM

I've had Elixers on for about 10 months, and you can definitly here a hugely significant difference. The biggest problem I have with the strings is the wearing off of the coating, so my strings look like they're breaking apart due to pieces of coating hanging off.

tplyons · #4 10-11-2006, 06:25 PM

For my seldom played basses, I've kepd Elixers on for almost a year and they're still sounding decent. I'm not a fan of the feel, but the tone is at least partly there.

azzyrazzy · #5 10-12-2006, 03:16 AM

Yes the coating peels off after prolonged use, and it looks and feels a bit "icky". Maybe it's when the coating starts to wear off that the tone degrades rapidly.

Swimming Bird · #6 10-12-2006, 09:36 AM

Heh, I just sort of assumed some of the krazy glue I use on my fingers just got onto the strings -- it didn't really occur that the coating would peel off and quickly at that. I didn't really like the slippery feel, but when I got that bass, they came stock so I decided to give 'em a try.

The strings died pretty quickly for me, and while I usually prefer the sound of dead strings I just couldn't stand these any more and switched back to DRs.

Fuzzbass · #7 10-12-2006, 01:19 PM

I play fingerstyle with a fairly strong touch, and my Elixir sets have lasted months on one bass and a year on another. On both sets the coating is flaking off over the pickups (it's not as bad on the younger set, of course), but I don't notice significant wear over the fretboard. Both sets still sound good, too: probably not brand spankin' new, but good enough for aggressive tone and bright slapstyle playing.

Now, I do rotate between five basses, only two of which have Elixirs. But my Sadowsky has Elixirs and it gets the most gig time. So, both sets have been given a good workout, and have lasted much longer than any other strings I've used.

nad · #8 10-12-2006, 04:16 PM

I use Elixirs for well over a year most of the time, I find that they age great. Even their "dead" tone is still pretty good.

slowhand mike · #9 10-13-2006, 05:06 AM

was wondering what type of elixirs come on the ibanez SR basses, are they nano webs or polywebs, really like the feel and tone of these and would like to get a spare set.

Ibanezzer · #10 10-15-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowhand mike

was wondering what type of elixirs come on the ibanez SR basses, are they nano webs or polywebs, really like the feel and tone of these and would like to get a spare set.

I've got an Ibanez BTB bass and I think it came with Elixir nanowebs, though I'm not 100% positive on that.

slowhand mike · #11 10-16-2006, 09:28 AM

cheers ibanezzer, do the polywebs have a very noticable coating as mine don't seem to have much of a coating on them?