• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

*Elixir Strings*

I have them on my 78 PBass & it sounds GREAT. The sound is pretty even & has been since I put them on. They have a decent stiffness to them, and do not sound really awful & bright, like new strings usually do. I hardly ever play my PBass anymore, in favor of my Pedulla, but these are great strings, and have been on for about a year and a half now. They will fray a little bit, especially if you are using a pick for an extended duration.

I am considering using them to help tame my G&L L2500 as well, although considering the price as well as the fact that the G&L sits in a closet means that it has not yet happened.
 
I really like them.
I had them on my Jazz and really liked the sound and they lasted a long time. I'm on my second set of Lo-Riders on that bass right now but I may go back to them.

I use the Elixers on my fretless as well. They not only sound good but also help to reduce finger noise.
 
I'm happy with the stock ones on my Ibanez SR500. I find that the "zinginess" of new, uncoated strings can be dialed in with an active EQ. I don't like zinginess, but I can closely approximate it when I forget how much I dislike it.

That said, I really like them. And as far as I can tell, fraying the coating over the pickups doesn't seem to deaden the strings. Mine have been frayed a bit for a good several months, and are getting worse now that I do alot of fingernail strumming when I am practicing at home. But they only look bad. They sound absolutely fine.
 
I've never tried them on an electric bass, but I did not like them at all on my Guild acoustic bass. I tried them because the usual phos.-bronze strings go dead so quickly on this bass. They definitely keep a brightness waaay longer than the phos-bronze d'addario strings, but there is a kind of shallow tone to them. I don't know, it's kind of like the "fundamental" or note "center" is poorly represented. Maybe they just didn't agree with this particular bass. I'll have to try them on an electric some time. Of course this is all IME, YMMV & IMHO
 
I have used Elixirs for some time now and I find that the money I save on buying fewer sets of strings easily outweighs any tonal differences.

I have them on all of my basses except those that I play with a pick. The coating really wears off fast if you use a pick on them. I also really like the "slick" feel. I find them easier to play because there is less finger resistance when I slide and there is also less fret noise when I record.

I find them to be a cost effective and innovative solution to the generally high cost of string replacement.
 
I'm late to the game here, but I just experimentally bought a 130tw low B Elixir for my Fender MIA Deluxe Jazz V, and it's a perfect match! Not too zingy, not too boomy, and better-seeming "tight feel" and "focus" than other B's I have tried recently on this bass. I had posted before about being disappointed with the low B of this bass, but the Elixir has solved whatever difficulties I was having! FWIW I usually use flats because I like a dark tone with no clank; this Elixir has that darkness and lack of clank, yet it also is more lively and growly than flats.

Short version: :bassist:
 
I was pretty dis-satisfied with the sound of my Fender BG 29 Acoustic Bass until I pulled off the originals and put Elixirs on. World of difference! sounded great! I replaced the strings on my cheapie Archer acoustic bass and had the same great results. I don't care for the sound the of bronze stings on these basses.
 
Interesting.. My new Ibanez SR-505 came with Elixers, but I really don't like the sound of them. For some reason I get some kind of chorus effect on the D & G string. It's sounds similiar to the "sub harmonic" effect on my Ashdown amp. And it's not the electronics, I can hear the same chorus sound without even plugging the bass in. My other bass is strung with D'Adario Nickels and it has a very smooth and pure tone.

John
 
Any one elce use them?
:bassist:

Yep. I use the medium set, adding a .130 tapered B string because I play fivers. I love 'em. I can kill a set of uncoated rounds with sweat in the course of one summer outdoor gig. But last year I played Elixirs through three straight >90 degree gigs and they still sounded fresh. So IMO they are well worth the extra $$ if you like the tone.

Speaking of tone: Elixirs do sound a little different than uncoated strings... mostly noticeable in the treble range. But I like bright tones and the Elixirs sound just fine to me for fingerstyle and slap. I also like the smoother feel.
 
They came stock on my ATK. I think they are fantastice strings, I just didnt care for them on that bass. I plan on putting them on something else. I love how well they maintain their "new" feel.

Great strings.
 
For those of you that balk at the cost of a set of Elixers,do the math. Say around 50.00 for a set,comared to 3 or 4 sets of any uncoated string at 25.00/set. I have a set on my main gigging Sterling that I'm finally ready to change. I put them on 10 months ago. And they have sounded exactly the same the whole time. Plus you're saving time not having to change strings. What's not to like?
 
Curious.... what is the winding color on Elixirs, if any?

Here are Elixirs on my Ibanez Musician:
_IGP1697.jpg


Mike