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I first tried Elixirs on my guitar about 9 years ago on the recommendation of a friend. I loved the initial set and they lasted at least 5 times longer than any other strings i've used. At that time they cost around double a normal set of strings so when the next set went on and the coating of one string peeled off in a few days I wasn't exactly happy. I wrote to the US head office as well as the Australian importer. I got a response from the Australian importer within 24 hours asking what gauge I was using and what my address was. I had TWO replacement sets by the end of the week. Now THAT is what customer service should be. In my experience they really stand by their product.
In contrast I got a set of D'Addario flatwounds that had a quite rough A string. It took them 6 weeks to send a replacement string! They claimed that there was nothing wrong with the one I sent to them despite the fact that it felt considerably rougher, particularly on my fretless. I had to put it on another bass while waiting for the replacement as it was driving me crazy.
FWIW, tensions in pounds as provided by Elixir on their website match those in the old D'Addario tension chart pdf, rounded up to the nearest integer. So that's one piece of circumstantial evidence in support to Elixir being really D'Addarios, only coated post-winding. (D'Addario has since included tension figures in product web-pages, where they sometimes diverge significantly from pdf data.)
I haven't had them fray on me at all. I have used other brands that have frayed on me. The DR Black Beauties and Dragon Skins (? I think thats the correct name) come to mind, but not the Elixirs.
I love these strings and they work well on my basses with EMGs but I'm having grounding issues with my passive pickups.
Do all coated strings have the same grounding issue?
Do all coated strings have the same grounding issue?
My experience with Elixirs has only really gone as far as the stainless steels. For me they are the best strings I've used thus far, having used D'addario ProSteels, EXLs and NYXLs, DR Lo Riders, and Rotosound Swing bass 66s. They sound closest to (albeit a little brighter than) the Rotos to me, though not as bright as the ProSteels (then again no strings seem brighter than prosteels!). They've lasted me quite some time, which is nice considering that I usually kill uncoated sets in about a week.
I am however aware that the NPS ones are quite dull sounding for roundwounds as a whole, especially compared to other NPS strings. That seems to be one of the primary negatives that I would often hear about when looking at what people said about elixir strings in general, however with the stainless steel that does not seem to be the case for me.
I'm also aware of the hum that some seem to get in relation to the coating interfering with the grounding; again that does not seem to be an issue for me in the time I've used Elixirs! Your experience may differ however, this is just my experience with them.
I am however aware that the NPS ones are quite dull sounding for roundwounds as a whole, especially compared to other NPS strings. That seems to be one of the primary negatives that I would often hear about when looking at what people said about elixir strings in general, however with the stainless steel that does not seem to be the case for me.
I'm also aware of the hum that some seem to get in relation to the coating interfering with the grounding; again that does not seem to be an issue for me in the time I've used Elixirs! Your experience may differ however, this is just my experience with them.
Thank you for your post. I'm having the same issue. When you said it sounds 'artificial', that was exactly the term I was using to describe my sound. I tried playing through all different kinds of gear because I thought it was the head or the cab but now I'm thinking the issue is the strings. Can you please tell me what strings you are using?
Thanks! Dave
So I"m looking on those Elixir Strings...
Today they have 2 options: Stain and the Nickel...
I mainly use on my bass the Ernieball Slinky Strings (0.50) (the green packages)....
Which of those Exilir options I'll like more? Because I'm coming from the Slinky from EB..
Today they have 2 options: Stain and the Nickel...
I mainly use on my bass the Ernieball Slinky Strings (0.50) (the green packages)....
Which of those Exilir options I'll like more? Because I'm coming from the Slinky from EB..
I have never played EB Slinky, but I've been using Elixirs on several basses in the last few years.
My guess is, the Regular .050 .070 .085 .105 Ernie Ball Slinky would probably match the Elixir Nickel w/ Nanoweb Coating .045 .065 .080 .100 as the Elixirs are quite high tension and not so flexible (slightly stiff), while many have described the EB Slinky as not in the high tension territory and seem not in the stiff category. Again, these are only a guess.
My guess is, the Regular .050 .070 .085 .105 Ernie Ball Slinky would probably match the Elixir Nickel w/ Nanoweb Coating .045 .065 .080 .100 as the Elixirs are quite high tension and not so flexible (slightly stiff), while many have described the EB Slinky as not in the high tension territory and seem not in the stiff category. Again, these are only a guess.
I used them couple of years ago, then i got rid of them asap.
Pros: It retains its tone for a long time, if you are constantly up for gigs at bars and etc and dont want to spare your time to change the strings occasionally. So only advantage is it lasts longer.
Cons: It retains its tone for a long time is also its disadvantage, they wont have a more balanced tone after using them couple of times just like regular nickel roundwound strings. If you dont like the regular tone of the Elixir string, you will be stuck in to it for a long time.
The coating doesnt allow grounding when you touch the strings with your hand while playing.
Also as a personal matter i dont like the feel of the coating on the string.
Pros: It retains its tone for a long time, if you are constantly up for gigs at bars and etc and dont want to spare your time to change the strings occasionally. So only advantage is it lasts longer.
Cons: It retains its tone for a long time is also its disadvantage, they wont have a more balanced tone after using them couple of times just like regular nickel roundwound strings. If you dont like the regular tone of the Elixir string, you will be stuck in to it for a long time.
The coating doesnt allow grounding when you touch the strings with your hand while playing.
Also as a personal matter i dont like the feel of the coating on the string.
I put a set of the Elixir stainless 50-105 on a P-Bass, after changing the pickup to a Fender ‘63 reissue. Well, I’m not fond of the sound now, super bass heavy, and the tension of the strings is a bit more than I’m used to. I usually use DM Blue Steels, as well as some of the DR varieties. Unfortunately since I made two changes to this bass (pickup and strings) I’m not sure which change is the problem. I have read through this thread and some have discussed the tension of the Elixirs as being high.
Is there some chart somewhere that compares some of the common brands/types of strings and their tension ratings? So many choices of strings out there, and after many years of relying on the Blue Steels, I’m finding that the new Blue Steels aren’t for me. The only change in the DM Blue Steels is that they stopped putting the “silks”(?) on the tuner end of the string. All there is at the tuning key in the d and g is the smooth core. The G string needs to be wrapped a lot around the straight peg on my early ‘70’s fenders to ensure it won’t slip off. I know it’s s stupid thing, but I liked the way they were. At least most other strings are wound all the way to reach the tuner...
Is there some chart somewhere that compares some of the common brands/types of strings and their tension ratings? So many choices of strings out there, and after many years of relying on the Blue Steels, I’m finding that the new Blue Steels aren’t for me. The only change in the DM Blue Steels is that they stopped putting the “silks”(?) on the tuner end of the string. All there is at the tuning key in the d and g is the smooth core. The G string needs to be wrapped a lot around the straight peg on my early ‘70’s fenders to ensure it won’t slip off. I know it’s s stupid thing, but I liked the way they were. At least most other strings are wound all the way to reach the tuner...
How are Elixirs for string noise? I'm looking for the sound of round wounds with the feel and lack of finger noise of flats.
I've tried flats, ground/half rounds and they don't have the tone I want. I had Cobalt flats on a few of my basses - liked the tone, loved the feel but, like several other TBers have reported, the D strings broke. GHS Pressure Wounds are the closest I've found to what I'm after but on faster riffs still get finger noise.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Joe
I've tried flats, ground/half rounds and they don't have the tone I want. I had Cobalt flats on a few of my basses - liked the tone, loved the feel but, like several other TBers have reported, the D strings broke. GHS Pressure Wounds are the closest I've found to what I'm after but on faster riffs still get finger noise.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Joe
Been there, done that... Tried this , tried that and I still find the GHS Pressurewounds to provide the best possible blend of what I want and need, ie a roundwound tone with a smoother feel and less finger noise.
Every time I try any kind of flats or half-rounds, I end up missing the roundwound tone, and every time I try any rounds, I end up missing the smooth feel of the Pressurewounds.
By the way, I've never tried and have no interest to try any of the coated strings or tapewounds.
I used to have both Elixir Nanoweb NPS and GHS Pressurewound (and actually also its closest cousin, Ken Smith Compressors) installed on several basses in the same time period. Honestly, they all are good strings. They all have sleeky feeling, thus could reduce the string squeak, though not as dramatically as flat wounds. But now I've taken all the Pressurewounds off (and have sold the bass with the Compressors on), although I do still have another version of Pressurewounds, which is the Pressurewound Bronze, on my acoustic electric bass. OTOH, I still have a bass with the Elixirs on.
In terms of round wound sound, no doubt the Elixirs are the real deal, cause they clearly are round wounds. The Pressurewounds (and Compressors) also has round wound sound, with more mid bump. In terms of retaining the same sounds, the Elixirs last longer. I've used all the available sets of the Pressurewounds (L7200, M7200, ML7200, on 6 string bass configurations) and they deadened much earlier than the Elixirs.
Thanks for all your inputs re: Elixer Strings. I bought a set and have had them on one of my basses for a couple of weeks now. I like the sound very much but they are almost the same as uncoated roundwounds when it comes to finger noise IMHO. Pressure Wounds, which I have on 2 other basses, have almost the same sound and are much smoother with less finger noise.
Happy Holidays Everyone
Happy Holidays Everyone
