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I think they sound dull and I don’t like the coating. I wouldn’t mind trying the stainless strings, but they’re expensive and I didn’t like the nickel strings, so it’s not worth the risk.
Love 'em.
I like the sound of nickel strings and these sound very similar. They're a tiny bit smoother in feel and sound. I've used them for so many months I lost count - they've never gone dead on me. Only time I change them is when the coating starts to wear - this happens where my right hand is playing (mostly fingers, occasionally a pick). Even then, they still sound about the same, they just don't look good. They are by far my favorite string. Sound great and last a really long time.
I like the sound of nickel strings and these sound very similar. They're a tiny bit smoother in feel and sound. I've used them for so many months I lost count - they've never gone dead on me. Only time I change them is when the coating starts to wear - this happens where my right hand is playing (mostly fingers, occasionally a pick). Even then, they still sound about the same, they just don't look good. They are by far my favorite string. Sound great and last a really long time.
So everything there is to say about these strings has already been said in this string and previous topics, but still.. here's my point of view:
they sound like a broken in set of strings. I didn't really dig the tone to much. Also these strings gave me blisters. I'm used to d'addario type N-RW strings, and can play them all day long, but the elixers would eat up my fingers in just about an hour of playing. Strange, I know, but true for me. Also for the price of these strings I can buy 5 packs of d'addarios so the elixers would have to last more than 15 months (I leave my daddarios on for about 3 months, since I also play other basses with flats at home). I'm not sure if they would manage that with my heavy pick playing. Also it doesn't really matter since I'm not a fan of the tone.
So there you go.
they sound like a broken in set of strings. I didn't really dig the tone to much. Also these strings gave me blisters. I'm used to d'addario type N-RW strings, and can play them all day long, but the elixers would eat up my fingers in just about an hour of playing. Strange, I know, but true for me. Also for the price of these strings I can buy 5 packs of d'addarios so the elixers would have to last more than 15 months (I leave my daddarios on for about 3 months, since I also play other basses with flats at home). I'm not sure if they would manage that with my heavy pick playing. Also it doesn't really matter since I'm not a fan of the tone.
So there you go.
Nickel or Stainless?
Aren't the Nickel & Stainless the same price?
I believe so. Just saying that Elixirs are too expensive to experiment with.
nano coated ss elixirs came on a new ibanez about three years ago. i never looked back. i love the sound and especially the feel. i put them on all my basses. my last set i just replaced i noticed the nano coating was starting to flake off like a snake shedding skin. i thought that was weird until i looked up the last time i replaced them. i had these strings on my main bass for almost 2 years. i was pretty surprised. so yes they last.
I love 'em. Been using them for nearly a decade.
They stay bright longer than other strings that I had been using and I like the smoothness. No cons here, but I am a big fan, so others might have some cons about them. I personally have never had the hum problems with the four basses I use them on.
They stay bright longer than other strings that I had been using and I like the smoothness. No cons here, but I am a big fan, so others might have some cons about them. I personally have never had the hum problems with the four basses I use them on.
Elixirs are great, if, like me, the acid in your fingers kills strings within a few days or a week. The tone is mellower than a fresh set of strings, but they can last 3-6 months for me and sound consistent and great.
For me, the price works - I would spend the same amount on non-coated strings within 2 months.
For me, the price works - I would spend the same amount on non-coated strings within 2 months.
When I didn’t like the nickel strings, yes. I liked the strings so little that I put them on, played for a few minutes, and threw them away. So, yes, $45 to try the stainless strings is too much of a gamble given the low likelihood of a positive outcome.
I have yet to change strings on any of my bass's so from that point of view I have nothing to say for I don't even know what kind of strings are on them.
However, I own 2 Taylor guitars which comes with Elixir's and replaced with them. I personally love them, and so what if they last a long time, doesn't mean you can't change them if you don't want to.
You have to try yourself and make up your mind.
@ the high price it's a gamble. I personally think it is always a trade off. They sound kinda dull out of the package to begin with. IMHO a regular uncoated string can have a similar very long lasting plateau. I personally hate coated strings. Most annoyingly is that the coating starts to desintegrate and leave a flakey mess on your bass and pickups. My nickel substitute are Dean Markley Nickel Signature Series, which can be had for 20EUR for a 5 string set, where I live. They last super long. 3 sets of those will give me way more mileage, sound and fun than one pack of elixirs. The most mileage I get out of TI flats, which easily last 10 yrs. That's obviously a total different sound. But TI flats can work in surprisingly versatile settings. I have no problem slapping them. That's the holy grail for long lasting for me.
If you want super bright piano-like response. I suggest you search for cheap long lasting uncoated sets. You won't be happy with coated sets. And even if the sound persists for along time I really had the desire to change strings because of flaking mess or fret marks.
It is also worth to consider, that the Bass itself has a huge impact on the longevity of the strings. A sterile HiFi bass like it was fashionable in the 90s maybe even with graphite neck will eat up way more strings than a vintage sounding Fender style Bass. It comes down how the bass guitar resonates. Some basses rely on the vast harmonic content of the string itself, whereas some other Bass keep sounding interestingly with kinda dull strings.
@ the high price it's a gamble. I personally think it is always a trade off. They sound kinda dull out of the package to begin with. IMHO a regular uncoated string can have a similar very long lasting plateau. I personally hate coated strings. Most annoyingly is that the coating starts to desintegrate and leave a flakey mess on your bass and pickups. My nickel substitute are Dean Markley Nickel Signature Series, which can be had for 20EUR for a 5 string set, where I live. They last super long. 3 sets of those will give me way more mileage, sound and fun than one pack of elixirs. The most mileage I get out of TI flats, which easily last 10 yrs. That's obviously a total different sound. But TI flats can work in surprisingly versatile settings. I have no problem slapping them. That's the holy grail for long lasting for me.
If you want super bright piano-like response. I suggest you search for cheap long lasting uncoated sets. You won't be happy with coated sets. And even if the sound persists for along time I really had the desire to change strings because of flaking mess or fret marks.
It is also worth to consider, that the Bass itself has a huge impact on the longevity of the strings. A sterile HiFi bass like it was fashionable in the 90s maybe even with graphite neck will eat up way more strings than a vintage sounding Fender style Bass. It comes down how the bass guitar resonates. Some basses rely on the vast harmonic content of the string itself, whereas some other Bass keep sounding interestingly with kinda dull strings.
I tried them... they did last a long time. However, never sounded as "new " as new strings. I am also a bit ADHD and after about 4 months ( I know I am cheap) I would be playing a gig and catch myself obsessing about tiny little thread like formations on my strings. I assume this was the coating coming off. I probably gig them 8 months and swapped them out. Considering that my guitarist changes his strings every gig or 2 and mine last 40 gigs bass strings are cheap.
Just thought I would put my two-cents in....I spent almost 30 years in the Phoenix area...When the Elixers first appeared on the market back in the mid/later 90s they ran ad's in Bass Player Magazine. The ad's always had a Flagstaff address and of course a phone number, so one day I called them and spoke with a really nice guy who first worked there. He gave me a lot of interesting info back then, such as back then they were first based out of Flagstaff Arizona and were a product associated with the GORE Company. You know the GORTEX Company. Gortex was and is a weather proof / water-proof coating which was and is used in hunting and hiking boots, camping gear, etc. So just so you know the coating on Elixer Strings IS Gortex, Still is today as far as I know. Another thing HE told me was that they didn't make strings and that the strings they used for their coating process were nothing more than D'Addario XLs and they would cot them and re-package them with THEIR Brand Name. I have used them many times over the years and once again just MY opinion, For mileage and wear probably STILL the best Bang-Per-Buck out there as far as "Coated" strings go. Anyway thats what I DO know about them and the company from the very beginning of their history.
