Elixir bass strings.. Thoughts?? - Page 2

Hobobob · #21 01-18-2013, 02:43 AM

Not sticky at all. They're actually really slick-feeling.

Maz · #22 01-18-2013, 07:41 AM

Compared to DR coated strings, Elixirs are not sticky at all, they are nice and slick feeling. I had black beauties on another bass and didn't like the feel at all. My BTB570 came with Elixirs. I loved the feel of them and almost kept them on, but even with obvious wear on them the D and G just had too much boing for my taste. Like they just wouldn't quite "break in." Sweet sounding top end like someone else said, but too bouncy for me. I'm going to revisit them on one of my other basses sometime in the future.

Fender4stringer · #23 01-18-2013, 07:46 AM

LOVE THEM!

I went from changing strings every few weeks to twice a year.

DR has come out with a new coated string so I put a set on and they weren't as bright as my 9 month old set of Elixrs.

ACNick · #24 01-18-2013, 07:53 AM

I've never been a fan of Elixir strings. I had a set on my Ibanez SRX500 a few years ago; they didn't sound bad, but I didn't really notice a difference over the strings I had on the bass before the elixirs. After a few months of playing the coating on the elixirs started to come off, the strings looked like they spent all day under the sun and now their "skin" was peeling off in large chunks. They would shed their coating all over the fret board, body, pickups... It wasn't difficult to wipe off, but still, I don't want to be cleaning up after my strings. Again, they didn't sound bad, but they didn't sound great enough to offset the annoying peeling that happens later on.

Liam76 · #25 01-18-2013, 08:18 AM

Way back when I cared about how my basses looked, I didn't like the look of of the coating wearing away (same with the DR Black Beauties I tried). I play finger style and some slap, I can only imagine the wear is worse with a pick.

They still sounded bright a lot longer than other strings I've used before. If wasn't getting a good deal on the strings I'm using now, I'd probably buy another set.

4dog · #26 01-18-2013, 08:31 AM

Nah they are slick

Solarmist · #27 01-18-2013, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slngd

Are the Elixirs kind of sticky, like the coated DR strings?

I'm thinking about trying out a set, but if they're sticky, they would go right off the moment after i mounted them.

^ I don't think they feel sticky, but rather slick, and easier on the fingers than non-coated rounds.

DanJM · #28 01-21-2013, 07:18 PM

Been playing Elixirs on my Cort Artisan 5 for a dozen years or so, they go with that bass incredibly well. Tried them and never liked them on any of my Jazzes though.

mikecd1 · #29 02-03-2013, 09:30 AM

I loved the feel and sound of elixirs on an SR505 that I played and would like to try them on my Fender, but am hesitant from feedback I've heard from others. I use the GHS on my Lakland and love them, but tried the GHS (steels) on the Fender Jazz and put the DR Sunbeams back on. Hesitant to change from what's working. If anyone has feedback on elixirs on Jazz basses I'd like to hear your experience.

Toptube · #30 02-03-2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikecd1

I loved the feel and sound of elixirs on an SR505 that I played and would like to try them on my Fender, but am hesitant from feedback I've heard from others. I use the GHS on my Lakland and love them, but tried the GHS (steels) on the Fender Jazz and put the DR Sunbeams back on. Hesitant to change from what's working. If anyone has feedback on elixirs on Jazz basses I'd like to hear your experience.

I love elixirs on my Fender Jaguar.

phat5 · #31 02-03-2013, 08:34 PM

The Nanos are perfect for my Lakland 55-02; warm, clear and punchy in the iems and foh. A friend of mine has the same set on his 55-02 as well, and his bass is used daily. They are now 8 months old with no fraying of the coating and they have mellowed a bit; still sound great. You can hear his bass on YouTube...... Equilateral, Live and Pessimistic . His bass sounds great running through an old beat up SWR Working Mans 12. Check out "and so but anyway".

alec · #32 02-04-2013, 01:08 AM

They came on a Schecter that I once bought and I didn't like them at all. They felt slimy and sounded muddy. I replaced them with Circle Ks and never looked back.
I should say that although I bought the bass new, it must have been on the shelf for a couple of years going by the serial number.

Elixir ran a promotion a couple of years ago where they gave away strings in return for feedback. Opinions were wildly different - from too bright to too dark. Maybe they changed materials between production runs?

darkstorm · #33 02-04-2013, 10:26 PM

Not a fan, dont like the sound, & dont like them going fuzzy after awhile with use with pick.

Tunaman · #34 02-08-2013, 07:58 PM

Just got a set & put em on my Bongo. More mellow than I remember... a great sound but honestly wasn't what I was looking for personally. I just need to go back to Steels for aggression

45acp · #35 02-09-2013, 05:13 AM

I play them exclusively, but mainly because im broke and not so much because i love them. I can live with the super bright tone, but they're not my favorite string by far.

The thing is we gig 2-3 times a month, and i practice alot. So it's either $20/month for other strings, or $40 every 3-4 months for elixir's.

I never use a pick and they generally go flat before ive had any flaking issues.

zazz · #36 02-10-2013, 08:39 AM

Put a set on my wal.... So far so good ....very smooth on the fingers with a full tone.... They seem to just keep going....I will definitely get a couple more packs when I'm next at the store which is a flight away....can't see any reason to try other brands.

mrjim123 · #37 02-10-2013, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWPgh

They last FOREVER. I don't know everything that's out there. But these sound/play very nicely out of the box. They stay that way for a very long time.

This was not my experience. The outer coating began flaking off less than a year after I bought them. I don't think they're worth the hype.

zazz · #38 02-10-2013, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrjim123

This was not my experience. The outer coating began flaking off less than a year after I bought them. I don't think they're worth the hype.

A year is a very long time in the world of round wounds ..... I remember changing strings every 4 weeks.

Toptube · #39 02-10-2013, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrjim123

This was not my experience. The outer coating began flaking off less than a year after I bought them. I don't think they're worth the hype.

coating that lasts 8 months is definitely worth the hype.

Elixirs cost about double the non-coated strings that I like. But they last (keep a pretty bright tone) more than double the amount of time those uncoated strings last. that means they are worth it!

There are also other benefits to them besides lasting tone:

The don't corrode from exposure or from sweat.
You don't have to change strings nearly as often.
they are probably the slickest roundwound available. Some people actually say too slick. Which is funny, with all the complaints around here of "grabby" strings.

My only complaint with elixirs, currently, is that low E seems noticeably unbalanced/low tension compared to the other strings. and if you look at Elixir's tension chart, that is confirmed. Its a strange choice. Its a problem on a couple of basses I've strung up with them. But its not always a problem.

BearCave · #40 02-10-2013, 08:09 PM

I use nothing but Elixirs on most of my basses (those that have round wounds). I've been using Elixirs for a few years now and I love them. Long lasting.....the coating definitely keeps them from going "dead" a lot longer than conventional strings. Crisp, bell like sustain and I like their tone. Never had any issues with low tension and they're fast.