Elixers for bass

[Amnshall]

Hey there,

I've been playing bass for about 12 years or so and I'm new to the bass forum community, so I thought I'd start my first thread about the strings I really enjoy using: Elixers. To me, nothing outlasts the tone or life of them and I usually swap them out once every 6 months or so. I have abnormally sweaty hands, so rotosounds, ken smiths, DRs, and other good/popular strings become dead after about a month or so, but Elixers will usually maintain that piano-like thud for at least 4 months depending on use and climate. I will admit I'm not a fan of how they sound fresh out the pack, but with a week of two of intense playing, they hit that "sweet spot" of tone for me and stay relatively there till about that 6 month mark. I own three different basses and I string elixers only on my Rickenbacker 4003 which sounds perfect running through an ampeg rig for rock and pop gigs. I'm sure everyone has their own opinion (either positive or negative) of the strings, and I'd just like to see what the general consensus is of them and what other people think about using them. Again, this is my first post, so please go easy.

[jonas_24112]

I always used Elixers on my regular guitars, and on my Ibanez SR 650.

I just got a MIM Fender Jazz and can't wait for the stock strings to wear out enough to replace them.

I can't speak for tone of them, since I rely more on pickup selection and tone knob for that, but as far as being pretty easy on the skin of my fingers, that's what I like about 'em. As far as life, I do believe they last longer than conventional strings.

[lethargytartare]

I use elixirs on my guitars and basses -- except for my projects and beaters. I keep lots of cheaper sets around for emergencies, but elixirs (nanos) are my preferred strings. I think Larrivee still uses them as their factory-installed strings.

[darkstorm]

I dont like elixers. Dont like their sound, feel or look. Also dont like that they go all fuzzy after awhile with pick use. For extended life excellent sound strings that are coated my fave is dr neons. No coating wear off after several months of pick use either. My other fave string is rotosound swing 66.

[steamthief]

Originally Posted by darkstorm

I dont like elixers. Dont like their sound, feel or look....
... My other fave string is rotosound swing 66.

+1

[Rick Blanc]

I've been using Elixers for about 5 years now. So that means like ten or eleven sets. I love them. To me they sound like a nicely broken in set of rounds and stay that way for what seems like forever. Love how they feel. Very smooth and I can get around the neck easily. Since I don't use a pick I don't get the fuzziness. Grat strings IMO. YMMV