Are Elixir Strings Nickel Wrap?

[bobalu]

I came up empty on a search, even on the Elixir Web site! They say absolutely nothing about what their strings are made of, except for the Gore coating. Are they stainless steel or nickel wrap, anyone know?

[stflbn]

I belive Elixir's are steel wrap with their coating.

[Luckydog]

Several years ago when I first started using Elixirs, I read that under the Gore-Tex, they are D'Addario nickle wounds. Of course I don't remember exactly where I read it...so it could be wrong...or not.....Someone could autopsy an Elixir string and tell us, but mine are still going strong years later, so I aint cutting into them.

[Craig_S]

Stainless strings always seem to have a bluish gray hue. The nickels have more of a bright, silvery shine to them. I can only guess, but they look very much like a nickel string under the wrap.

[Warpeg]

Originally Posted by Luckydog

Several years ago when I first started using Elixirs, I read that under the Gore-Tex, they are D'Addario nickle wounds. Of course I don't remember exactly where I read it...so it could be wrong...or not.....Someone could autopsy an Elixir string and tell us, but mine are still going strong years later, so I aint cutting into them.

Back when I worked in a music store, a Kaman Music (USA Elixir distributor) sales rep. told me the same thing. They really are just D'Addario strings with Gore's coating on them. I don't know if they are D'Addario's nickel or steel, though.

[bobalu]

Thanks for chiming in on this one guy's. I just e-mailed Elixir and asked them, so we'll see if they respond. I find it really odd that they don't provide this information anywhere on their website. I'm interested because the string construction will obviously impact the character of the string sound, regardless of the coating.

I'll post back here when (if?) I get a response from them.

[NoFrets4Me]

I guess I can place a magnet against my Elixirs and see what happens. I'm assuming that SS will stick and Ni won't.

I'll try it when I get home tonight...

Never mind...I'm an idiot...

[greenboy]

Both types of strings obviously have magnetic-attracted properties or they wouldn't work with magnetic pickups.

I used to know which they were when I used them on fretless. I read it on their older site or in a mag. Hold on, I'll pull a Polyweb out of the package from years ago: looks like nickel.

[Luckydog]

Pretty sure its nickle. I agree on the SS vs nickle color thing and mine are clearly not grayish hued in the spots where the Gore-tex has chipped off.

[Ampeg SVT]

They sound very nickelish, they warm up like Nickels would and dont look grey and dull like SS strings.

[bobalu]

O.K, here's the official response I received from Elixir:

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your interest in Elixir® Strings along with taking the time to
write. Our bass sets are manufactured with a steel hex-core core wire and
a Nickel plated steel wrap wire. Let me know if there are any questions or
concerns.

Thanks and Regards

Elixir® Strings
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
201 Airport Road
Elkton MD 21921 USA
Ph: 800.367.5533
Fx: 410.996.8585
Reply to: elixirstrings@wlgore.com
To place an order: esorders@wlgore.com
ELIXIR, NANOWEB, and POLYWEB are trademarks of W L Gore & Associates Inc

Kudos to Elixir for reponding in a timely fashion.

[Luckydog]

I just wished they still made the poly's