Mr-M
I prefer non-coated strings on my guitars, both electric and acoustic. I've always just found them to be a compromise in terms of tone, specifically a loss of brightness. Yes they stay fresher longer, but their version of fresh is compromised. Elixir, DR, Ernie Ball - I didn't like any of them. Heck I even tried Black Diamond coated electric strings (yeah, I know) and they were actually better than the Ernie Balls, but I still hated them.
On bass on the other hand, I love the DR Coated strings, specifically the Black Beauties. Very little effect on the tone of the bass, but easier on the fingers, stays bright enough to play slap on for like a year(!) when playing regularly and cuts down on string noise. I'd recommend them. On the other hand, I hated the DR coated strings on my electric because of how they killed the brightness of my guitar. Might it be because the bass is active, that it isn't affected as much by the strings tonally?
IceCreamMan
From a novice's point of view , i tried coated an did not like , went back to plain ole regular 79 ront a pack strings ...
chris77
I've had the Elixer nano's on for a couple of weeks and I like them. Gave the guitar plenty of playtime as well, not having an amp and all that. So my vote is Yay.
Warren
I'm probably going to change back from the Elixir nanos on my Epi LP, since they're very light guage (9s) and with the action set so low I find them to be a bit too slippery.
I've really liked the D'Adarrio EXP coated 11s and 12s on my Takamine, so will stick with those. They just feel good, and have a great tone.
Loving the 11s (non coated D'Adarrio Blues / Jazz Rock) on the strat. They're much heavier than I'm used to on electric, but I love their tone, and I'm persisting with them even though some bends hurt.
So yeah, coated on some, not on others. ?
Bob-Dubery
Coated strings are not all equal. There are different brands and different methods, so because we couldn't get on with Elixir Polywebs we shouldn't tar all coated strings with the same brush.
It's not even a case that all Elixirs are equal. I'm not wild about Polywebs, but I get on fine with Nanowebs.
The D'addario coated strings are coated via a different method than Elixir use (maybe a different material too).
Squonk
I battled with the Elixir nanowebs so have gone back to phospor bronze on my Acoustic.
I prefer the brightness and they bend a whole bunch better. I also play quite percussively and slap and tap, so the PB suits me.
On the the other hand , I only gave the nanowebs a month at the most!
Bob-Dubery
Squonk wrote
I battled with the Elixir nanowebs so have gone back to phospor bronze on my Acoustic.
You can get phosphor bronze nanowebs.
AlanRatcliffe
I just fitted a new set of .012 gauge nanoweb to my steel string (replacing the Ernie Ball Titanium coateds, which I really don't like the feel of). Yup, I still like the Elixirs...
Ray
If I may I would like to digress just slightly. Does anyone here have experience of D'Addario solk and steel for acoustic. I ask this because I saw on Roy Rogers site that he endorses these on his acoustics. Now, I am a bit bamboozled or maybe just kaksleg becasue I think these are not very how do you say "stiff" or rigid or what would you call it. So surely it would require a hellish light touch to play slide on? And he gets quite excited when he plays so not sure how that works.
Jack-Flash-Jr
Alan Ratcliffe wrote
I just fitted a new set of .012 gauge nanoweb to my steel string (replacing the Ernie Ball Titanium coateds, which I really don't like the feel of). Yup, I still like the Elixirs...
I actually like the feel but the strings started shedding (note nano, not poly) between my pups (and I don't strum THAT hard), +- 1 month in.
AlanRatcliffe
Ray wrote
If I may I would like to digress just slightly. Does anyone here have experience of D'Addario solk and steel for acoustic. I ask this because I saw on Roy Rogers site that he endorses these on his acoustics. Now, I am a bit bamboozled or maybe just kaksleg becasue I think these are not very how do you say "stiff" or rigid or what would you call it. So surely it would require a hellish light touch to play slide on? And he gets quite excited when he plays so not sure how that works.
They are very low tension thanks to the silk making up part of the gauge. Quite a nice feel actually, but they don't last very long in my experience - I was only getting two weeks play out of them before they went dead.
singemonkey
Did Hendrix use coated strings? Did Django? >☹
?
Hmm. This may work for me. I'm not even going to tell you how lazy I am about changing strings. For me it wouldn't be a case of changing less often, just having a playable guitar for longer.
Until my strings are so vrot that I stop bothering, I wipe them down with a micro-fibre cloth - which - given it's detergentless de-greasing properties, seems to keep the strings going for three times longer than when I used to use nothin' or a normal cloth. At least they seem less inclined to turn pitch black. It's also doing a wonder for the monkeyjam that used to build up on my fretboards too :? - so please no-one suddenly explain that this is the worst thing you could possibly use on a guitar...
Ray
Alan Ratcliffe wrote
Ray wrote
If I may I would like to digress just slightly. Does anyone here have experience of D'Addario solk and steel for acoustic. I ask this because I saw on Roy Rogers site that he endorses these on his acoustics. Now, I am a bit bamboozled or maybe just kaksleg becasue I think these are not very how do you say "stiff" or rigid or what would you call it. So surely it would require a hellish light touch to play slide on? And he gets quite excited when he plays so not sure how that works.
They are very low tension thanks to the silk making up part of the gauge. Quite a nice feel actually, but they don't last very long in my experience - I was only getting two weeks play out of them before they went dead.
Sol I bought a set of silk and steel and they are blind hey. I hate them more than anything and I'm gonna write a song like seventhson did about these strings.
Bob-Dubery
singemonkey wrote
Did Hendrix use coated strings? Did Django? >☹
Ag jirra NO!
I been doing some googling, and there's no reference to Jimi or Django using Guitar Rig, a tuner pedal, acoustic guitars with microphones inside or digital modelling amps.
I'm going to have to get rid of a PILE of stuff.
Warren
I just bought a pile of regular D'Addarrio strings for all of my guitars, and hell they start rusting almost immediately ☹
Back to coated it is, then.
Jack-Flash-Jr
Warren wrote
I just bought a pile of regular D'Addarrio strings for all of my guitars, and hell they start rusting almost immediately ☹
Back to coated it is, then.
That can't be right? Acid fingers? ?
I have had the experience of D'ads looking tarnished upon opening but hasn't affected playability or tone...
Warren
Jack Flash Jr wrote
That can't be right? Acid fingers? ?
I have had the experience of D'ads looking tarnished upon opening but hasn't affected playability or tone...
Ah, maybe just some tarnishing then. Sets on my LP and my Strat both look quite sad already, though they sound ok. Funny enough only the unwound strings too.
Squonk
Must be the East Rand climate ?
Mine dont rust at all, my Peavey has had a set on for at least 6 months :-[
AlanRatcliffe
It's sweat composition and everyone is different. I rust D'Adds pretty quickly too (within a week), but Ernie Balls last me three weeks to a month and merely go dead. I have a friend who is the other way round - If he plays one of my guitars, the Ernie Balls are shot the next day (and I mean shot - they turn black and start to rust overnight).
Warren
Alan Ratcliffe wrote
It's sweat composition and everyone is different. I rust D'Adds pretty quickly too (within a week), but Ernie Balls last me three weeks to a month and merely go dead. I have a friend who is the other way round - If he plays one of my guitars, the Ernie Balls are shot the next day (and I mean shot - they turn black and start to rust overnight).
I will maybe give the EBs another run, I haven't used them in a long time. Just struggle with the slimey feel of the Elixirs ?
