Elixirs vs. Normal Stainless Steel

moopants · #1 01-28-2007, 09:03 PM

In general, are normal noncoated stainless steel strings deeper than Elixirs? I love the smoothness of Elixirs, but the tone drives me insane. I have some normal ss strings for when these break, but should I just go ahead and change them now to get a tone difference?

rsautrey · #2 01-28-2007, 09:14 PM

Elixirs are nickelplated steel which is not as bright as stainless steel to begin with, then the coating dampens the high end even more. With that said, the uncoated stainless steel strings should give you more of everything.

moopants · #3 01-28-2007, 09:16 PM

My problem is too much of a trebly and clicky tone from the G and C strings. I don't want anything higher than that. It's not my settings, because I have a lot of bass, no treble, and about half Mid on my EQ.

rsautrey · #4 01-28-2007, 09:18 PM

Too much treble with the Elixirs? The uncoated stainless steel strings will probably shear your ears off then.

**BFISHER1970** · #5 01-28-2007, 09:22 PM

I know what you're saying & I agree that Elixirs have a wierd high end that you can't eq out.....I have tried them on several basses & never heard a good sound out of them. For the record, I use stainless steel strings (Sadowsky) on a couple of my basses & much prefer the high end of them to the Elixirs.

moopants · #6 01-28-2007, 09:26 PM

So, do you think I should swap out strings now instead of wait until the Elixirs break? I've used normal SS strings, and I liked their tone. But, this is my first 6 string bass, so I've never used a C before.

**BFISHER1970** · #7 01-28-2007, 09:28 PM

I would personally, but the Elixirs are kinda expensive to just toss, but it's up to you. I have 2 5 string sets sitting in a box cause I really don't like the sound.

moopants · #8 01-28-2007, 09:29 PM

I wouldn't toss them. I would save them for a later use. Plus, they were stock, anyway. I wouldn't lose money.

**BFISHER1970** · #9 01-28-2007, 09:30 PM

Go for it.

All_¥our_Bass · #10 01-30-2007, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsautrey

Too much treble with the Elixirs? The uncoated stainless steel strings will probably shear your ears off then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFISHER1970

I know what you're saying & I agree that Elixirs have a wierd high end that you can't eq out.....I have tried them on several basses & never heard a good sound out of them. For the record, I use stainless steel strings (Sadowsky) on a couple of my basses & much prefer the high end of them to the Elixirs.

Hmm... I'll try these sometime when I have money , I love trebly tone!! I know when to stop though. I know the difference between just, trebly, and truly piercing, tone.

moopants · #11 01-30-2007, 09:57 PM

Well, my bass's pups have a natural clean studio tone. I'm sure with a passive bass or a bass that can get REALLY deep that they won't sound so bad. The clean tone of them combined with my bass didn't sound good for what I mostly play. It sounded great for solo bass, but I play more than that, so I needed a tone that can be trebly when needed and deep when needed. I just bought Curt Mangan strings, and I love them.

Kickin'Fruit · #12 01-30-2007, 10:14 PM

I think the nanowebs are like a wine inthat they get a deeper warmer tone as they age, if you don't abuse them of course. Right now I have blood on mine from a blister that popped a couple shows ago, I'm going to try and boil them.

I don't think they are too trebly after you break them in, I had Ashdown Stainless Steel strings on my Fender Jazz and it was piercingly trebly no matter how I EQ'd it.

73jbass · #13 01-30-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moopants

So, do you think I should swap out strings now instead of wait until the Elixirs break? I've used normal SS strings, and I liked their tone. But, this is my first 6 string bass, so I've never used a C before.

If you're breaking bass strings,then you playing way too hard.I have never in my 20+ years of playing,broken a bass string. I just changed the strings on my main Kubicki from Elixers,to D'adarrio EXP's. The Elixers had been on there for almost 9 months,and finally gave out. However,the elixers are brighter than the EXPs.I'm going back to Elixers. In your case,I'd recommend getting some heavy gauge DR Hi Beams or Low Riders for your technique.