ELIXERS of death?

thatACEduel · #1 09-19-2007, 10:50 PM

eh that didn't come out as witty as i thought it was gonna sound..
well anyways i've had some of my friends elixer (lights) on my bass for..not even a month and they seem to have already lost their tone. I think i've had some ernie ball strings last longer than these... is this normal? should i tell my friend he might as well not even buy these "long lasting" strings? or maybe i'm completely wrong? i dunno.

73jbass · #2 09-19-2007, 11:37 PM

I have them on all my basses except 1.The first set I bought lasted about 7 months before they needed changing. They don't really have that fresh roundwound zing like a new set of DR's or Rotosounds,but they sound like a set of settled in strings,and stay that way for a long time.

coolrunner989 · #3 09-19-2007, 11:40 PM

+1

I've had them on my ibanez eda for about 5 months now, probably more, I'm not sure. Sound exactly like when I got them. If you've noticed a considerable change in the tone from when you first got them it might be a faulty set or something...I dunno.

but they definately last a while.

alexofc69 · #4 09-20-2007, 12:51 AM

I have them on my Schechter. Its coming up on a year of practicing and gigging with it and they still feel and sound new.

BellBottomBlues · #5 09-20-2007, 01:12 AM

I dont like Elixiers, you have long lasting crappy tone.

thatACEduel · #6 09-20-2007, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

I dont like Elixiers, you have long lasting crappy tone.

what do you prefer?

**jumbosilverette** · #7 09-20-2007, 01:43 AM

I think Elixers feel fabulous, especially on a 5 string. I believe Schecter ships their basses with Elixer strings.

Hawaii Islander · #8 09-20-2007, 02:01 AM

My Ibanez SR506 came with them on it. I like Elixir mediums. The lights don't have quite enough depth to them. The only other strings I use on bass are Fender tapewounds. They have a similar feel to them; maybe even a little slicker and they produce a slightly livelier tone. Overall, Elixirs last months (sounding good) and are worth the price.

elros · #9 09-20-2007, 02:59 AM

On my fretless Acacia, I used Elixir strings. They lasted for a long time, over a year, before the coating started peeling off and I changed them. Sounded great, and felt good too, all the time.

But these were the old Polyweb strings, not the new Nanoweb. I don't know if those are very different.

HMZ · #10 09-20-2007, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexofc69

I have them on my Schechter. Its coming up on a year of practicing and gigging with it and they still feel and sound new.

Thats because they sound dead when there new.

fcappi · #11 09-21-2007, 10:43 AM

I don't care for Elixirs due to that and they start flaking on the bottoms. They also feel too slippery which would be only good to me for fretless in which tape or flats are better.
DR's coated strings come off on the frets too.
I went back to Nickel plated and change them more often but try to wipe them off. The sound is soo much better.
Frank

PSPookie · #12 09-21-2007, 10:59 AM

Elixirs are high-quality strings. That being said, I don't particularly like the way the feel or sound.

fishtx · #13 09-21-2007, 11:14 AM

I use Elixir strings because of the smooth feel. I have used other strings that have a brighter zing (when new), but I have jsut gotten used to the smooth feel of coated strings, and prefer the Elixirs. I typically change them every 2-3 months...depending on the number of gigs I put on them...I always change them before they start to whisker.

prattguy · #14 09-21-2007, 11:28 AM

I dig the tone, but they get kind of hairy over time. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thunder_Fingers · #15 09-21-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

Elixirs are high-quality strings. That being said, I don't particularly like the way the feel or sound.

Agreed! I find em sticky and a bit anoying.

Thank god for Optima!

fishtx · #16 09-21-2007, 04:22 PM

i don't find them sticky at all..quite the opposite...very smooth..

now they do tend to whisker up on you if you keep them a while...I change mine before they whisker

Hawaii Islander · #17 09-21-2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishtx

i don't find them sticky at all..quite the opposite...very smooth..

now they do tend to whisker up on you if you keep them a while...I change mine before they whisker

+1

They take 3 to 4 months of at home playing before wiskering. They don't suddenly die tonewise when they whisker and can be used for a while until new strings are put on. I like them.

**Vorago** · #18 09-21-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

I dont like Elixiers, you have long lasting crappy tone.

+1 !

Akami · #19 09-21-2007, 04:38 PM

Elixirs are great for people that prefer their strings broken in for a few days as opposed to brand new zing.

That said, Elixirs have taken their place on every instrument I play; love 'em!

capnsandwich · #20 09-21-2007, 04:43 PM

I used to love Elixers until I tried the DR Highbeams and then I moved to the Sadowsky stainless steels. I wish Elixer had a SS string so I can get that same high end snap against my frets with the SS strings when I slap. Nickel just doesn't do it for me any more. I love the feel and the smoothness of the nanoweb but they just don't have the high end pop of the Sadowsky SS. I wish I could go back to them. I do, however, use Elixers on every acoustic guitar that I have, and that's a decent sized collection.