Had medium elixirs on an American deluxe jazz bass for it's entire time I owned it. 6 years I believe. They still sounded good. They last a long time. Give em a go!
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I like them. I have heard some say they don't like the sound but I happen to think they sound great. My only gripe is the tension is a bit on the high side for my liking. But not at all unruly. I just like really low tension strings all else equal.
I swear by Elixirs. Both their nickel and steel strings are fantastic for me. My favorite sounding strings of all time are Ernie Ball Cobalts and Dunlop Super Brights (both nickel and steel). But I want that fresh string zing, lots of it, for as long as possible. The Cobalts and Super Brights lose their top end for me after about a week. If all of these sets were brand new, on my basses and in my hands... the Elixirs would likely have more zing after about 5 days. They stay that way for me for around a month or two. I kill strings much more quickly than most. The Elixir coating is conductive supposedly, but not enough for my liking. I actually switched out the electronics on my only passive pickup bass to a fully active EMG set up. Not only for tonal reasons, but so I can continue using Elixirs with zero hum. I just wish they offered their extra long scale strings in more options than just their 45-105 nickels. I'd like to try out lighter gauges and their stainless strings on my Kiesel Vanquish multiscale if they ever become available. I've tried LOTS of coated strings and the Elixirs always find their way back on my basses.
Yes, I always wash my hands before playing. Yes, my basses are very well shielded.
Yes, I always wash my hands before playing. Yes, my basses are very well shielded.
I play less aggressive finger style with Elixir Nano Nickel , i have a stock set on my previous SR 705 since 2009 and the coat stay in great condition plus keep the First-Day-Tone after 2 years.
Compare to fresh set of D'addario EXL160, the fresh Elixir has less freshen top end. Could sound a bit dry for some person.
Dont worry about the tone, she sound just right what Nickel Plated Round Wound tone. For brighter tone, get the SS Nano.
Pro . Keep Long lasting tone than others RW and great for sweaty hand player
Con. Nothing special with the tone, just RW tone. Coat easily get damage for heavy pick player.
Hopehelp
Compare to fresh set of D'addario EXL160, the fresh Elixir has less freshen top end. Could sound a bit dry for some person.
Dont worry about the tone, she sound just right what Nickel Plated Round Wound tone. For brighter tone, get the SS Nano.
Pro . Keep Long lasting tone than others RW and great for sweaty hand player
Con. Nothing special with the tone, just RW tone. Coat easily get damage for heavy pick player.
Hopehelp
I don’t care for the way Elixirs sound. I’ve tried them on several of my instruments and didn’t like them on any one. I’ve got a set of their acoustic guitar strings in my desk drawer right now and that’s where they’ll stay.
There is a tizziness to their sound that wears on me pretty quickly and it sounds artificial. I can’t vouch for their life because I’ve never kept a set on long enough to test that particular aspect.
There is a tizziness to their sound that wears on me pretty quickly and it sounds artificial. I can’t vouch for their life because I’ve never kept a set on long enough to test that particular aspect.
Ah, I'd forgotten about that. I saw a review a guitar player did & he had some super-zoom photos showing where the coating was destroyed from the pick & also from bends.
I tried out a set for my 5, and I must say, the price is worth it. They do last a long time. Personally, I find the coating makes it softer on the fingers almost, so playing for longer duration isn't that big of a deal for me.
I like worn-in (dead) rounds on my bass, so I've no need for Elixirs there, but I manage to kill a normal set of acoustic guitar strings in a matter of hours. Elixirs do the trick. I agree, maybe not the best out of the box, but they will sound good for a long time.
Once you use elixir , it is a difficult trick to try anything else.
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As a long time user only real drawback i can see is that they do (on some basses) lessen the grounding through the strings as the coating impedes the connection from your hands to the ground when you touch the strings. Most of my basses are fine but i find that a particularly noise passive bass works better with non-coated strings
... but on plus side, good consistent tone, and solid product support.
... but on plus side, good consistent tone, and solid product support.
I started using Elixirs when I played an Acoustic Bass in the tropics. I went through a little PA and needed something bright - and I was broke and needed something that would last.
Since then I've moved to electrics and out into a really dry environment with weather extremes, very hot in summer, under freezing during winter nights - nearly always flaming dry! I don't like them for the first three months and think, "Why did I do that for, why didn't I just stick with the old ones?" After 3 or so months they loose their over-brightness and settle down to a bright sound but not the twang that dominates the sound early on and the bass end of the spectrum is starting to come through a bit. On the Fender Jazz I roll off the tops on the tone control for that initial period (I normally run it at the mid setting) and the worst of the irritating twang is brought back under control. In the tropics I would get a year and a bit before changing but out here they can sit on my Fender Jazz for 3 years. By then they have a thump that suits some older rock and roll sounds but lacks the sharp start of the note I like. Rob the bass player reckoned they were just coming into their own. He likes his LaBellas between years 3 and 10.
Now bear in mind, no gigs (the odd one, maybe), 1 rehearsal a week and I mess about heaps to the stereo at home. I play light, running a 3 to 2.5 mm action at the 12th fret. I slap a little, pick a little and use fingers but try and do it all really light because it works better for me to get the tones I like. I don't play it hard. My Fender Jazz now has a set of 50 - 105 which I really like. I love the articulation of them once they've settled too, prefer it to almost anything else I've used.
Advice? If they're too bright and you gig heaps buy an old bass like yours to string them up to for 3 to 4 months and leave it under the bed (tune it once a month). Move them to your gigging bass then. If you want a bright string that lasts, give them a go.
And if you want something super-bright they might be a bit dull e.g. for slap etc.
I guess its like trying to explain how chocolate cake tastes but that's my two-bob's worth - hope it helps!
Since then I've moved to electrics and out into a really dry environment with weather extremes, very hot in summer, under freezing during winter nights - nearly always flaming dry! I don't like them for the first three months and think, "Why did I do that for, why didn't I just stick with the old ones?" After 3 or so months they loose their over-brightness and settle down to a bright sound but not the twang that dominates the sound early on and the bass end of the spectrum is starting to come through a bit. On the Fender Jazz I roll off the tops on the tone control for that initial period (I normally run it at the mid setting) and the worst of the irritating twang is brought back under control. In the tropics I would get a year and a bit before changing but out here they can sit on my Fender Jazz for 3 years. By then they have a thump that suits some older rock and roll sounds but lacks the sharp start of the note I like. Rob the bass player reckoned they were just coming into their own. He likes his LaBellas between years 3 and 10.
Now bear in mind, no gigs (the odd one, maybe), 1 rehearsal a week and I mess about heaps to the stereo at home. I play light, running a 3 to 2.5 mm action at the 12th fret. I slap a little, pick a little and use fingers but try and do it all really light because it works better for me to get the tones I like. I don't play it hard. My Fender Jazz now has a set of 50 - 105 which I really like. I love the articulation of them once they've settled too, prefer it to almost anything else I've used.
Advice? If they're too bright and you gig heaps buy an old bass like yours to string them up to for 3 to 4 months and leave it under the bed (tune it once a month). Move them to your gigging bass then. If you want a bright string that lasts, give them a go.
And if you want something super-bright they might be a bit dull e.g. for slap etc.
I guess its like trying to explain how chocolate cake tastes but that's my two-bob's worth - hope it helps!
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If you should have any coated strings it would be Cleartone strings. They're the closest one sounding to any uncoated strings, and lasts longer than elixir, by far. I tried early Elixirs, when they came around, and within a month the flaking began. Weeks even. Said, thanks but no thanks. They made up for that gaffe later on, but then it was too late for me anyway. They do last in TONE longer but definitely not in physical longevity and intonation. The dents from frets and their ability to break is about the same as any other string. This goes for Cleartone too. What's the point of using a string longer for its tone, when there's enough dents from frets in them anyway? You have to change them out because of that.
I don't get the thing with Elixirs these days, I think they have been left astern. Development occurs with others.
I don't get the thing with Elixirs these days, I think they have been left astern. Development occurs with others.
While this is excellent advice, one should also consider using the condensation that forms on the beer bottle in your hand. Drying is optional.
I've used them and liked them. I havent used them since I softened my touch but I would eventually tear thru the coating after some months of heavy use, I could see e it shred. I know a guy w a very light touch who gigs constantly and they last him over a year and he has a very bright sound on his active bass.
Not 100% sure, but I think that's the old polyweb coating. I have not heard of nano's fraying out like that and havent experienced it on my bass. I use picks and fingernails. But then I also don't shred like a guitarist.
Michael Schreiber
Commercial User
I do have stainless steel Elixir on one of my basses; I don't know if they are coated. The previous owner put them on - they still sound very very bright, even look bright as new, and for slapping I like the tone very much; the bright and strong attack drives the preamp so nicely (depending on the settings, of course). Basically, to me, these sound like my well-aged Rotosounds 66 just much brighter and with a sharper, louder attack.
I only found that after half an hour, they can feel a bit sticky; but it doesn't happen all the time, so it might have to do with my fingers, maybe how moist the calluses on the fingertips are?
Again, I am not sure whether these are nano-coated strings or not.
If it were my only bass, I'd switch to Rotosounds; theose feel a bit tighter, the Elixirs feel a tiny bit more wobbly (overexaggeratedly speaking) which I find OK for slapping. For picking (with a pick/plektrum), it provokes clacking of the strings against the fingerboard too easily, to me. For fingerstyle, though, I find it well controllable. So, for that bass, I'd get these Elixirs again.
Hope that helps a bit.
I only found that after half an hour, they can feel a bit sticky; but it doesn't happen all the time, so it might have to do with my fingers, maybe how moist the calluses on the fingertips are?
Again, I am not sure whether these are nano-coated strings or not.
If it were my only bass, I'd switch to Rotosounds; theose feel a bit tighter, the Elixirs feel a tiny bit more wobbly (overexaggeratedly speaking) which I find OK for slapping. For picking (with a pick/plektrum), it provokes clacking of the strings against the fingerboard too easily, to me. For fingerstyle, though, I find it well controllable. So, for that bass, I'd get these Elixirs again.
Hope that helps a bit.
I use elixir steels. Yes durable strings. I put it to ,firstly, Sire V7 and I really didn't like the bright tone. I had bad feelings about Elixir. But, one week later I changed elixirs from V7 to Fender american deluxe jazz and woww! Now I think Elixir is such a beast with my fender for my taste. I use elixirs more than 2 years with my jazz. You can see, I learned lessons, strings act differently for different guitars...
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