Elixir strings

Powerfibers

I saw on the Rosenberg Trio site that Stochelo is now using Elixir electric strings on his guitars. Anyone try this yet?
http://www.therosenbergtrio.eu/

I have been going back and forth between Argentines and D'Addarios, and this interests me in that sick deviant sorta way. (Plus I can get the Elixirs about anywhere). Any first hand knowledge would be appreciated.

Thanks, Bob

Fopa

Famous players may endorse a product, but do the always use them? I saw an endorsement recently in a guitar magazine for Saga guitars by Paul Mehling of the HCSF, but I've never seen him play anything other then a Dupont. Endorsements are sometimes more about the money then loving the product.

MichaelHorowitz

Stochelo mostly used Galli or D'Addario silk and steel over the years. It would interesting to try the Elixirs, but at $12 a set I think most folks will stick with Argies, D'Addario, or Galli which are about $4 less a set.

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Powerfibers

Good point about the endorsements, Fopa and the price, Michael.
I have never used any form of the Elixers, but I wonder if they last longer like they say. I always keep some electric sets in the gig bag in case I break a string between orders of gypsy strings.

richdaigle

Did I just hear Michael right? $4 a set? I'll take 20 packs of Argies lite loop ends!
Stat
RD

richdaigle

$4 LESS a set....bummer

I'm so old I remember $4 a set strings....snif

frater

I use Elixir on my Taylor GS8 (incidentally I can't tell you how great this guitar is... if you have a chance to get one, do it!). They definitely DO last longer and I think they're worth the extra cash. I've also tried the phosphor bronze type, but they sound kinda funny to my ears.
That said, on my Dupont only Argies are allowed.

Jeff Moore

Coated strings like elixers really do protect the string from moisture in the air, and salt, oil, dirt, and moisture from your hands for a long time.

If your practicing GJ very often and with a thick hard pick, your probabaly learning to picking harder than you used to. In this case your also loosening and breaking the windings on your strings long before your strings are deteriorated chemically.

Bob Holo

I haven't used Elixrs for a few years - when I used to play flatpick guitars I tried Elixrs. When they first came out, they only had the thick coating version and it was just a bit too dead sounding. Later they came out with the nanoweb version which sounded much better but the coating shredded. They may have solved that.


Be careful about putting regular strings on Gypsy instruments. You might get away with putting 12's on a short scale Mac because it has a big neck and a short scale length - but you'll toast your 670 or 675mm scale GJ instrument putting big strings on it. And trust me, you will. This is not a "maybe" kind of a thing. I've seen (and worked on) several GJ guitars owned by people who ignored the "only use light strings" warning. They just aren't made for it. 10's and 11's are fine - 12's you're really pushing it and 13's+ should come with a guitar suicide' note.

Roll these numbers around in your head:

Gibson Byrdland - 23.5" scale... and you put 12's on it (12-56 light mediums) ... you exert 150lbs of force on the neck. Not a bad load.

Martin Dreadnought - 25.4" scale... same strings... 175 lbs.. pushing it - and it says right on the Martin backstrip that this is the Max you should ever use on it... and these guitars are built much heavier than a good GJ guitar.

Longscale Gypsy guitar - 675mm scale... same strings... about 200lbs.. and on a much more lightly built guitar.

But if you put Argie 10's on the same guitar... 120 lbs... with Argie 11's... 140 lbs.

Scale length changes string tension a lot. I've seen people up their high B & E strings... that's not too bad because generally those are lower tension than the big strings and so it doesn't add a bunch - and it doesn't really unbalance things. But if you start upping those wound strings... it's just a matter of time - and a matter of guessing whether the neck, the heel or the soundboard will get FUBAR'd first.

pallopenna

Here are the Elixir electric gauges (according to their site)

Electric Guitar Strings with ultra-thin NANOWEB™ coating

PN Gauge E-1 B-2 G-3 D-4 A-5 E-6
12002 Super Light .009 .011 .016 .024w .032w .042w
12027 Custom Light .009 .011 .016 .026w .036w .046w
12052 Light .010 .013 .017 .026w .036w .046w
12077 Light-Heavy .010 .013 .017 .032w .042w .052w
12102 Medium .011 .014 .018 .028w .038w .049w
12152 Heavy .012 .016 .024w .032w .042w .052w
12302 Baritone .012 .016 .022 .038w .052w .068w

-Paul

richdaigle

Guys,
I just strung up my Collins Oval with a set of Elixer .10 - .46 electrics(blue pack...the Stochy choice) and was shocked at the tone! The nano web gives them a slick feel that's funky at first, but I think I could get used to it, maybe love it.
I remember years ago, in a bind, I used a set of electrics on a selmac and it was just awful tone, and the silk and steel thing never did much for me either.
Like Michael said, they cost a bit more but if web fights corrosion etc. for longer life maybe it will even out a bit. The real upside is that they are available at every corner guit shop, in case of emergencies.
It'll be interesting to see how long they hold the brightness, my other experience with coated string is they last really well but,when they do die, they die big.

Ciao
Rich