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 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Elixir Strings


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.mandohangout.com/archive/19256

1gametime - Posted - 01/21/2011:  09:55:44


Do any of you Bluegrass folks play Elixir Strings? Any pros or cons?

ccravens - Posted - 01/21/2011:  13:45:35



I really like the Elixer lights for my flattop mando.

D'Addario XP's for my Flatiron.

Rob - Posted - 01/21/2011:  14:00:43


I find Elixirs to be too bright on my f5, D'Addario XP's give me the best tone and string life.


Edited by - Rob on 01/21/2011 14:01:50

mandogryl - Posted - 01/21/2011:  17:25:46


I tried both the Polywebs and Nanowebs on my F-5, but I am sticking with D'Addario Ft-74 with the wound A's.

Bob Nyberg - Posted - 01/21/2011:  17:34:39


I use Elixir light nanoweb strings on my Washburn M118SW F-style mandolin. They are great.

un5trung - Posted - 01/21/2011:  20:04:35


I brought up Elixirs over at the Cafe and got royally thrashed! Yes, I like the J-74s and that's what I use most often, but I'm not averse to the coated variety. I've used Elixirs on both guitar and mandolin; the tone is fine and they last longer. I know D'Addario has a coated string out now -- I think Rob mentioned the XPs, and while I haven't tried them yet I probably will. One thing though, I don't know if anyone makes coated strings for the banjo, but I just can't picture myself playing traditional clawhammer with a polyweb. May be silly of me as I don't mind them on the other instruments, but there you go.

kencollier - Posted - 01/22/2011:  09:50:50


After trying lots of different high-end mando strings I've settled on Elixir Nanoweb mediums (.011) for my J.Bovier F5. They sound warm and full, and they last forever. In fact, they sound better after a week or two than when you first put them on. An added bonus is that string slides are much less noisy with Elixirs than non-coated strings.

FWIW I also have Elixirs on all of my acoustic and electric guitars. Hope this helps.

1gametime - Posted - 01/22/2011:  14:20:25


Thanks for all the responses. I like the Elixir mediums on my Gibson A1 and I like the D Addario J75 on my F5 ok but I want to try the Elixirs. I'll know soon enough.

Curt - Posted - 01/23/2011:  10:40:42


I like 'em and use 'em. Yet I've heard others say they think the Elixirs sound too bright.

Gerry Cassidy - Posted - 01/23/2011:  12:10:23


I've used Elixirs both on my mandolins and my guitars and had the same experience with both: Very clean, polished sound but a bit too sterile.

I'm liking a bit more character from something like a D'Add Flat Top, or actual flatwound string these days.

I just put some flatwounds on my Arches flat top and man-oh-man do they ever sound great!

All that being said, I think the Elixir's are a very nice string and if you like the way they sound the extra couple bucks per set is worth it.

mandodan - Posted - 01/24/2011:  06:30:25


love em and use em. mediums. i also use them on guitar and banjo.

SDenizen - Posted - 01/24/2011:  08:50:03


I have never tried them, but I will when I finish my Stew Mac flat top kit. \A couple of my guitar playing friends love them though!

TimK - Posted - 01/24/2011:  09:05:37


My Taylor guitar came with Elixir strings. I loved them so I replaced the John Pierce mediums on my mando with Elixir lights. Much easier to play and no more squeaks. Won't be switching any time soon!

willie shepherd - Posted - 02/13/2011:  07:41:15


I use the Nanoweb mediums they are the only strings that I use on my Weber.Have tried them all but these are the best to get the sound that I've been looking for.I've started using them on my Martin guitar and really like them.Very happy with the life of the strings.

Tom Andre - Posted - 02/15/2011:  07:47:34


I tried them on my F5 and one of the D strings broke while I was playing on the second day out. That was the first time this has happened to me with any brand. I went back to EXP74s and life is good.


Edited by - Tom Andre on 02/15/2011 07:58:57

1gametime - Posted - 02/15/2011:  12:00:01


Well I finally put a set of Elixir Mediums on my Voight F5 this last week and I really like them more better than the J-75 D'Addiario's

shandygaff550 - Posted - 02/16/2011:  18:17:17


I really like them on the Breedlove (original equipment, I think) but have to use GHS Bobby Osborne's on The Loar 500.


Edited by - shandygaff550 on 02/16/2011 18:19:04

mandoteacher - Posted - 02/22/2011:  06:26:40


I'd like to try them. I"ve been a D'Addario fan for years

tony - Posted - 02/23/2011:  15:11:53


I use Elixers on my F5, my Martin guitar, and on my Fylde short scale bouzouki. The main reason I started using them was most others strings I've tried went mushy very quickly and lost their tone. Elixers last quite a long time for me without losing much of the tone that I like. It must have something to do with my sweat or something. However I did change back to GHS for the bouzouki. They sounded too bright for my taste. But that was the only instrument that I didn't care for them on.
tony

Bassora - Posted - 02/25/2011:  09:40:30


I've used Elixir strings way in the past. They seemed to bright.
Sounds like they have more choices now. Need to check them out.

banjoman56 - Posted - 04/26/2011:  12:33:38



This is my first post on mandohangout, so hello everyone. I've used Elixer strings on all my instruments for several years and love them. They last longer than anything else that I've tried and give less tuning problems. Some people says that since banjos have only one wound string that they're not worth the difference in price but I wont use anything else on my banjos. I love the sound of them.


dmcowles - Posted - 04/27/2011:  06:10:37



My preference list for mandolin strings is :



1. Elixir nano



2. EXP75



3. Gibson Sam Bush



4. D'Addario  J75



I've used Elixir Nanoweb PBs on my guitars for years now, and I love them.



Dave


5stringabuse - Posted - 04/29/2011:  22:54:31



i'm using it on my eastman mando, banjo, guitar



for me the best choice after trying several types


banjoman56 - Posted - 06/09/2011:  00:04:59



I like Elixir strings so good, that I'm planning on coating my beans with a nano-webb coating to see if I can get them to grow Elixir strings. big


un5trung - Posted - 06/09/2011:  07:39:32



quote:


Originally posted by banjoman56




I like Elixir strings so good, that I'm planning on coating my beans with a nano-webb coating to see if I can get them to grow Elixir strings. big






Good one, Jack!  May your beanstalk grow through the clouds and in through the castle gates!


Bill McClellan - Posted - 08/08/2012:  13:19:18



I've been using Elixir med nanos on both my Givens A2 (A-type f-hole, stands up to almost anything) and my Martin D28.  They both get a 5-hr workout every Sunday when my 5-piece band plays at the Hollywood (CA) Farmers Market.  Band: fairmarketband.com  Apart from Sundays, the band has occasional gigs, I teach a few students, coach a regular jam session, and play a mid-week public showcase with two friends who enjoy everytthing from swing to old-timey.  My strings get used.  When one breaks, I usually change the whole set.  Maybe after two months of hard playing a set (either guitar or mando) will show the frayed coating and the dull hard-to-tune tone, and I'll change 'em even if none has broken.  Yes, I like Elixirs.  I'm sure some other coated strings are as good.


JMalmsteen - Posted - 08/09/2012:  08:15:46


I really like how long the elixirs last but they don't feel like "normal" strings. They are really smooth and glossy. Sometimes I like this but othertimes I just want some normal strings. I have a set of elixirs that came with my Taylor guitar that I bought over ten years ago and just now the strings could be changed. They last that long. It's wild.

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