Do Elixer strings last forever?

[TheShreddingE]

I am crruently using Slinkys (ernie ball) on my fender jazz. They have great punchy funk tone but i have to keep replacing them. They die so fast...

Someone suggested Elixer strings to me. I might try them.

Olease reply if you know anything about them or any other long lasting strings.

[Deacon_Blues]

No, but they last significantly longer than most other strings I've tried. If you like the sound of fresh strings and think normal strings die too quickly, try a set. I used elixirs for many years and I was very happy with the sound and how long they lasted. That was when I still enjoyed the hi-fi sound of my Warwick (now sold).

Nowadays, I couldn't be happier than I am with my Steve Harris Rotosound flats. I've come to dislike the bright zing of roundwounds in favor to the more lo-fi and fat sound these strings provide, even for slapping.

The teacher I had a few years back (local bass god) uses Elixirs on his fretless fender jazz. That was a killer sound! I've been thinking of putting a set on my own squier fretless jazz as well, but now I have flats on it so let's see when that happens...

[KrispyJones]

but not if you use a pick.... then the coating comes of and "fuzzes"
the DR black beauties last a lot longer and also handle part time pick playing better....

just my 2cents

[capnsandwich]

They don't last forever but they do last longer than traditional strings. My experience with Elixirs, both on bass and acoustic guitar, is that they deaden over time but so subtily that you really don't notice how dead they are since your ear is continually hearing the same tone every time. Kind of like a someone you live with. They'll change over time but you really don't know how drastically until you look at a picture of them 5 years ago. Then you're like WOW, they've really changed. I get that feeling with Elixirs. I listened to the tone over and over again but really don't know how dead they are until I stick on a new set. Then I'm like WOW, those strings were dead.

One thing that will kill Elixirs faster is the use of a pick. The pick will scrape the coating off the string and expose the winds to the air and dirt. Really, you can make any string last longer simply by playing your bass only with clean hands, storing your bass in a case at room temerature, and every once in a while taking a cotton ball and rubbing your strings down with denatured alcohol. Some people even take them off and soak them in the stuff.

[FLWing]

I've had Nanowebs on for a couple of years and they still sound great. They are on a fretless and eventhough they may have deadened a bit, I don't notice. And I second the "Nix the Pick" comment - that slick coating is what keeps them nice - no sense in wearing it off with a pick...IF you have to use a pick, get a hard felt one and it doesn't have the issue.

[Halftooth]

They sound like crap...forever!

[Solarmist]

They [Nano's] came on my Ibanez SR I got a month ago. They still sound pretty good, and bright for coated strings. I love how "slick" they are. I use a pick, and they haven't started shedding yet, and I play kind of hard with a light nylon pick.

EDIT: Now they're shedding.

[slareman]

Elixirs have been my favorite string since they came out with the Nanoweb coating. I definitely agree with capnsandwich—they do change very subtly in tone over time, but we're talking months here. I switched from DR High Beams and Elixirs are not as bright sounding, but I then again, I don't have to change them every 2 weeks or so like the High Beams.

[73jbass]

It really depends on what sound you're after.I have them on every bass except one.They don't have that new zingy roundwound sound,but more like a broken in string,and stay that way for a long time.If you play a lot, 6 months is not uncommon.The first set I tried lasted 8 months of playing about 10 hours per week.They are worth trying at least once.

[Philbiker]

I hate the way the coating flakes off Elixers.

All bass strings last forever in my experience. That is if you like overly bright clanky strings. It takes months for new strings to "settle in" but once settled I use them until they won't tune anymore.

[Deacon_Blues]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I hate the way the coating flakes off Elixers.

All bass strings last forever in my experience. That is if you like overly bright clanky strings. It takes months for new strings to "settle in" but once settled I use them until they won't tune anymore.

The flaking is only a minor cosmetic flaw in my opinion.. doesn't affect the sound much.

And about the time it takes for them to settle in... Ever tried a set of flats?

[CraigG]

Have never used Elixers on bass, but did on acoustic guitar. Liked them and they did seem to hold up longer than traditional strings. But when they started to flake they got ugly... and felt ugly.

Tried DR color coated strings on my 5 string. Held up a bit better than others I tried. Of course they looked kinda odd as the color wore off at the frets. Reminded me of a coral snake.

Tried Fodera Victor Wooten Signatures. They're not coated but they actually seemed to last as long, maybe a tad longer than the DR coated strings. I stuck with them until I upgraded to a Conklin GTBD-7.

With the Conklin GTBD-7 I got Conklin's Snakeskin strings. Although they're not coated strings, I would have to say they are probably holding their life longer than anything I have worked with (coated or non-coated) up to this point.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

The flaking is only a minor cosmetic flaw in my opinion.. doesn't affect the sound much.

And about the time it takes for them to settle in... Ever tried a set of flats?

Many sets. They take even longer than rounds to settle in IMO. The only strings that have consistent tone from the time they're installed IME are nylon tapewound strings.

[Fuzzbass]

I love Elixirs. I don't always use them -- simply because I like variety -- but they last a long time. If I'm playing a hot, humid gig, particularly outdoors in summer, I'll grab whichever bass has Elixirs on it: my sweat can kill an uncoated set of strings in one gig, but the Elixirs can handle numerous drenchings and still sound fresh.

A couple of notes:
1) Coated strings do sound a little different than uncoated
2) The nanoweb coating does eventually flake, but I can't feel anything different, and it takes awhile after flaking begins for me to hear any degradation in tone.

[steve4765630]

They feel slimey. I like some grit to my strings, so Elixers don't fit the bill for me. Also, they are too expensive IMHO.

[ljazz]

I currently have a set of TI SA's on my G&L L2000, and while they've only been on a month, they still sound fresh. And that's a good thing with the SA's, because they're not quite as zingy right out of the package. I've read reviews where cats are saying they're getting a year out of a set before they start to lose clarity.

Ljazz

[rusty66]

I only use elixers now after trying lots of different strings, they last long, they sound great, you only have to replace them once every six months or so (i Play about 4 nights a week), the coating does fall off abit & look ugly, but they still sound great.

I wish d' dario would bring back slow wounds! They were the bomb!!

Cheers

Rusty

[Koki]

If you like EB slinkys try d'addarios, they are similar, and they are in the same price range. I had EB's on my bass couple of times and they die really fast, now with d'addarios it lasts for ever, I haven't changed strings 6 months and they still sound great.
I also had elixirs on my ibby when I bought it, and I took em off instantly, I hate the sound and the plastic on them

[Baird6869]

I like the sounds of Elixers but I just hate the greasy feel. I can't use them on bass.

I use them on my acoustic guitars though and I love them...

[jsingles]

I happen to love the greasy feel and high fi sound they have, and yes, they last SIGNIFICANTLY longer than traditional strings.

if you dont like a smooth slippery feel to your strings though, you probably wont like them