So, lately I've been experimenting with strings on my electrics and acoustics, and thought it might be beneficial for others to share my findings. For the past 15 years, I've been using Elixir strings solely (with the exception of freebee strings here and there), but their price, whilst reasonable for what they are and how they perform, does become a little hard to swallow with so many guitars and basses to restring, so I thought I'd take a look at the competition and try a few other brands out. I have stuck to coated strings only, as I need that longevity that the Elixirs have shown before loosing their tone (in some cases up to a year!). Just a side note, that I have no affiliation with Elixir strings, although I'd happily have one! ?
For acoustics, I so far have only tried Phosphor Bronze, and Electrics and basses I only use Nickel coated, as I find stainless steel strings bland, droney and toneless.
So far I have tried the following....
D'Addario EXP phospor bronze acoustic strings (.11) - Fitted on my Crafter PG-Maho acoustic. I love their tone, and they feel good under the fingers. Great note definition, bright and clear but well rounded, and forgiving of my shoddy playing style, although they can be a little squeakish when changing chords and dragging your fingers across the strings as you change (sloppy technique I know, but more notable with these strings than the Elixirs). Can't comment on durability or longevity of tone yet, but so far so good, and reports seem to indicate that their coating does not de-laminate like the Elixirs do. Time will tell?
Wyres PTFE coated Electric strings (.10) - I hadn't heard of these until recently, but my Carparelli Ivory Tower came with them fitted, so I recently strung it with a fresh set. I have to say that they really impress me with their tone so far, and are clear yet warm sounding (exaggerated by the hollowbody of the Carparelli). Good note definition is also apparent. Again I have not yet had them on long enough to speak of their durability or longevity of tone, but when I got the Carparelli (ex-Demo), it was around 5 years old, and had some very old manky wyres on, which may well have been the originals? Whilst they were old, discoloured and manky, they still sounded pretty decent, and not too far off the tone of the fresh ones. With this in mind, it would seem that they have potential for great tonal longevity. They don't quite feel as nice under the fingers as the Elixirs or D'Addario's, but are not bad at all.
Rotosound Nexus nickel coated electric strings (.10) - Currently fitted to my Carparelli Slimm. They have some form of polymer coating on them, but I am not sure what type? Appearance is interesting as the three low strings E,A,D, are black in colour, whilst the top three (G (plain not wound),B,E) are gold with a kind of black hint to them. I absolutely love the tone out of these strings, and they are perfectly suited to the wonderful tones the Slimm produces. Full, rich balanced tone, with good note definition and attack when required. Smooth as butter, but can be hardened up if required. Black coating appears to shine up as the plec strums across it, so I am doubtful of the durability of the coating, but again time will tell, along with their tonal longevity. Feel under the fingers initially was great, but after a week, they do not feel as nice as the above mentioned strings, and feel a little sticky or dragish.
D'Addario EXP 'Reds' - For the bass players out there, I recently received a set of these to try out on my bass. They are stainless steel core, with nickel windings, then copper coated before applying the polymer 'EXP' coating. This is designed to still offer great magnetic response, whilst improving their acoustic properties for basses fitted with Piezo bridge's (as is the case with mine). These have only been on for a short while, so its early days, but I thought they were worth noting whilst talking about strings. I find them tonally to sound just as nice as the Elixir Stainless steels that were fitted before them (I normally only use Nickel Elixirs, but had the wrong strings delivered when ordered!). I tend to find the stainless bass strings dull and somewhat lacking in definition, despite most peoples comments that stainless are brighter sounding. So the Reds are sounding very similar to the stainless Elixirs, with perhaps a little more higher end note definition. Not as much definition as the Nickels, but still reasonable. I cannot yet comment on how the copper has affected the Piezo sound. I've always found the Piezo to be a little too boomy to be of any use, so thought that these strings may solve that issue for me? Again, time will tell. I will be trying this out over the weekend, so hopefully will have some news to report back on then?
Still to try D'Addario EXP electric strings. Cannot seem to find anywhere with stock for a reasonable price. The only place I have found them offers them for more than the Elixirs, which was the point of the exercise to reduce costs. ?
Also have a set of Rotosound Nexus phosphor bronze to try out on my Crafter GAE18n, so will report back once I have some findings on those.
So far my impression is that I will most likely continue using Elixirs, with the exception of the Carparelli Slimm, which I will use Nexus on, unless their stickyness becomes a longer term issue, or their longevity is not adequate?!
I will add more info as and when it becomes available, but one thing that should be noted is that I have not tried all string types on all guitars, so I could very well find that the Nexus would be totally awesome or completely naff on one of my other guitars, so please consider all that with the above findings. ?
Thanks for reading!
Regards
G!
For acoustics, I so far have only tried Phosphor Bronze, and Electrics and basses I only use Nickel coated, as I find stainless steel strings bland, droney and toneless.
So far I have tried the following....
D'Addario EXP phospor bronze acoustic strings (.11) - Fitted on my Crafter PG-Maho acoustic. I love their tone, and they feel good under the fingers. Great note definition, bright and clear but well rounded, and forgiving of my shoddy playing style, although they can be a little squeakish when changing chords and dragging your fingers across the strings as you change (sloppy technique I know, but more notable with these strings than the Elixirs). Can't comment on durability or longevity of tone yet, but so far so good, and reports seem to indicate that their coating does not de-laminate like the Elixirs do. Time will tell?
Wyres PTFE coated Electric strings (.10) - I hadn't heard of these until recently, but my Carparelli Ivory Tower came with them fitted, so I recently strung it with a fresh set. I have to say that they really impress me with their tone so far, and are clear yet warm sounding (exaggerated by the hollowbody of the Carparelli). Good note definition is also apparent. Again I have not yet had them on long enough to speak of their durability or longevity of tone, but when I got the Carparelli (ex-Demo), it was around 5 years old, and had some very old manky wyres on, which may well have been the originals? Whilst they were old, discoloured and manky, they still sounded pretty decent, and not too far off the tone of the fresh ones. With this in mind, it would seem that they have potential for great tonal longevity. They don't quite feel as nice under the fingers as the Elixirs or D'Addario's, but are not bad at all.
Rotosound Nexus nickel coated electric strings (.10) - Currently fitted to my Carparelli Slimm. They have some form of polymer coating on them, but I am not sure what type? Appearance is interesting as the three low strings E,A,D, are black in colour, whilst the top three (G (plain not wound),B,E) are gold with a kind of black hint to them. I absolutely love the tone out of these strings, and they are perfectly suited to the wonderful tones the Slimm produces. Full, rich balanced tone, with good note definition and attack when required. Smooth as butter, but can be hardened up if required. Black coating appears to shine up as the plec strums across it, so I am doubtful of the durability of the coating, but again time will tell, along with their tonal longevity. Feel under the fingers initially was great, but after a week, they do not feel as nice as the above mentioned strings, and feel a little sticky or dragish.
D'Addario EXP 'Reds' - For the bass players out there, I recently received a set of these to try out on my bass. They are stainless steel core, with nickel windings, then copper coated before applying the polymer 'EXP' coating. This is designed to still offer great magnetic response, whilst improving their acoustic properties for basses fitted with Piezo bridge's (as is the case with mine). These have only been on for a short while, so its early days, but I thought they were worth noting whilst talking about strings. I find them tonally to sound just as nice as the Elixir Stainless steels that were fitted before them (I normally only use Nickel Elixirs, but had the wrong strings delivered when ordered!). I tend to find the stainless bass strings dull and somewhat lacking in definition, despite most peoples comments that stainless are brighter sounding. So the Reds are sounding very similar to the stainless Elixirs, with perhaps a little more higher end note definition. Not as much definition as the Nickels, but still reasonable. I cannot yet comment on how the copper has affected the Piezo sound. I've always found the Piezo to be a little too boomy to be of any use, so thought that these strings may solve that issue for me? Again, time will tell. I will be trying this out over the weekend, so hopefully will have some news to report back on then?
Still to try D'Addario EXP electric strings. Cannot seem to find anywhere with stock for a reasonable price. The only place I have found them offers them for more than the Elixirs, which was the point of the exercise to reduce costs. ?
Also have a set of Rotosound Nexus phosphor bronze to try out on my Crafter GAE18n, so will report back once I have some findings on those.
So far my impression is that I will most likely continue using Elixirs, with the exception of the Carparelli Slimm, which I will use Nexus on, unless their stickyness becomes a longer term issue, or their longevity is not adequate?!
I will add more info as and when it becomes available, but one thing that should be noted is that I have not tried all string types on all guitars, so I could very well find that the Nexus would be totally awesome or completely naff on one of my other guitars, so please consider all that with the above findings. ?
Thanks for reading!
Regards
G!
