weird plastic-ish coating coming off some Elixir round-wounds

hanx · #1 06-10-2010, 07:30 AM

firstly, yeah i know it's probably a sign i'm over-due to change my strings...

i'm mainly just curious what it is, and also wondering if there's some way to care for strings better in future etc.

the bass still has the strings it came with, elixir roundwounds, it's a 2008 model Ibanez and i've had it since about April 2009

a few months ago i noticed what i thought was fluff or dust stuck to greasy-finger residue or something, i don't play after eating greasy food or anything but i'd been leave my bass out uncovered in kinda humid weather, so i started keeping it in a gig bag to keep dust off

then i didn't play it much or a while (because i had a couple of new toys competing for my attention), but i just got it out then and i noticed that what i thought was dust is a kind translucent film pealing off the strings. I can only really see it happening on the E string, it seems to be worst in the bits that get the most wear, like right near the most used frets.

what is that stuff?

smogg · #2 06-10-2010, 07:54 AM

It's the "nanoweb" coating coming off. Common for coated strings to start losing the coating at some point due to friction. How quickly depends on playing style and frequency of use (ie: generally faster for pick players than finger players).

Strings are over a year old? Maybe time to restring.

hanx · #3 06-10-2010, 08:26 AM

do most strings have nanoweb?

mikezimmerman · #4 06-10-2010, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanx

do most strings have nanoweb?

No, it's an Elixir thing.

brenner182 · #5 06-10-2010, 08:36 AM

I've been using a set on my 5 string since January. Mine are torn to he'll and back. It's fuzzy all the way up til about the 12th fret and where my fingers strum. I'm prolly not gonna buy another set. I'm not too impressed with them.

hanx · #6 06-10-2010, 08:46 AM

weird... elixir have a relatively good reputation, or at least a sizable price tag, i would have thought they'd be a bit better made

what's the coating supposed to do, other than make a mess?

lbanks · #7 06-10-2010, 09:13 AM

I ran into that and though I knew what it was and the strings sounded OK, I had to change those strings, it was just too gross! Even though I couldn't feel any of it, when I looked at it, my mind would see... zombie skin!

mikezimmerman · #8 06-10-2010, 09:13 AM

Nanoweb is a polymer coating intended to lessen string noise, and/or to keep the string sounding new by protecting them from oil and dirt.

Elixir was one of the first string makers to popularize coated strings--it's their specialty. However, all coatings eventually wear out. It is just a bit of "plastic" on the strings, after all! I'm not sure why you'd assume that the flaking of the nanoweb coating is a sign that Elixirs are not "better made", expecially since you've had the strings on the bass for more than a year.

That said, coated strings are definitely not for everybody.

Mike

Luckydog · #9 06-10-2010, 12:33 PM

Its a coating made by Gore for Elixir. Its not expected to stay on forever, particularly where the strings are rubbing frets or rubbed by fingernails or picks. It does last a long time for me though. When it frays it looks funny but the sound does not change for a long long time. Has nothing to do with the quality of the strings (which I believe are nickel rounds made by Daddario). Eventually it just wears off thats all.

boomtisk · #10 06-11-2010, 02:43 PM

This happened to me like a week after I decided to try Elixirs to see what the hype is all about. I agree that it felt really gross. I quickly replaced them with some other brand and haven't touched Elixirs ever since.

SurferJoe46 · #11 06-13-2010, 06:24 AM

I got the kitty fur a week into owning a new SR500 bass and got all weirded-out too.

But they are still awesome and have the tone and feel I like - so much so that I bought a second pack and tried them on my Affinity P, and didn't like them so back they went into the box.

Now along comes my new Deluxe J and I didn't care for the strings on it from the factory, so I popped these Elixir Nanos onto it and it's a match made in heaven! I really wanted the ROTO 55s, but GC was out of them at the mo.

I don't mind the fuzz - and as long as the string play well and make the sounds I like - they are OK by me.

Great conversation piece for anyone else who notices it too.

GT: "Hey - your strings look all fuzzy! What's that all about?"

ME: "Their molting".

AltGrendel · #12 06-13-2010, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbanks

I ran into that and though I knew what it was and the strings sounded OK, I had to change those strings, it was just too gross! Even though I couldn't feel any of it, when I looked at it, my mind would see... zombie skin!

Considering your avatar, I find it very funny that you did this.

Floyd Eye · #13 06-13-2010, 06:56 AM

That is exactly the reason why the first set of Elixirs I bought were the last set of Elixirs I bought.

lbanks · #14 06-13-2010, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AltGrendel

Considering your avatar, I find it very funny that you did this.

Yes, sad, isn't it?

darkstorm · #15 06-13-2010, 07:47 PM

Luckilly most strings dont have those plastic coatings on them. Yes elxiers like other coated strings will start chaffing the coating after awhile.

SurferJoe46 · #16 06-13-2010, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Luckilly (sic) most strings dont have those plastic coatings on them. Yes elxiers like other coated strings will start chaffing the coating after awhile.

I don't get the 'luckily' part there.

The Elixirs are what they are and I don't see any luck or good/bad fortune in them at all.

I love them on my SR500, hated them on my Affinity P and now I re-love them all over again on my new Deluxe J Active.

Still have them on the SR500 and it would really have to be somethin' that totally blows me away to remove or replace them on my Deluxe-J - but I won't put them on my Squier A/P again.

So - where's the luck?

The coating is OK - not a problem - doesn't affect the playing, feel or tone - and certainly has nothing to do with luck either.

Attitude, desires, wants, dreams, usefulness or dislikes - but not anything else I feel.

hanx · #17 06-13-2010, 11:18 PM

they did feel nice and smooth i guess, before they turned zombie-string

TortillaChip520 · #18 06-13-2010, 11:35 PM

I love elixirs, they stay sounding bring for a very long time. The "chafing" wasn't too bad for me, i just peeled it away when it started to come off. I loved the sound and feel of the strings though.

Pickeral · #19 06-14-2010, 03:21 AM

I have the same thing going on, with my SR5000E. It still sounds good, though. Now I'm trying to decide if I wanta replace them with the DR DDT's since I'm down a step & a half.

notdavey · #20 06-14-2010, 12:16 PM

I have used Elixirs on and off (hard to find as of late and to be honest a little pricey) and love the Nanoweb coating. Really saves your finger tips when you play fast lines (at least for me). The coating has only come off for me after several gigs or lots of hours of play.