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Earl
`Olu`olu
USA
523 Posts |
 Posted - 01/19/2023 : 06:02:08 AM
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...so to speak. I'm in the middle of a trial set of Elixir strings and mostly playing my standard tuning repertoire this month. Tuning a string up and down repeatedly quickly kills the tone and would skew the test results, so I've avoided that. Plus my limited play time is focused on logging hours on this test set. Tonight will be a two-hour bluegrass jam. At the end of the month it will be a treat to go back to my slack key songs in various tunings.
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12toneman
Akahai
USA
97 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2023 : 07:09:00 AM
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| Are you test driving these for Elixir, or for your own observations? |
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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2023 : 4:52:00 PM
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| If you are testing strings, I've used Elixir Phosphor Bronze Lights and Mediums on 11 different Taylor guitars(Only have 2 now, Grand Concert and GS mini; ). I've standardized on HD lights to avoid the hassle of getting used to different gauges. I don't play professionally, but I play every day and I only feel the need to change strings twice a year. I've tried other coated strings, but I always go back to Elixirs. Maybe this wasn't the question? |
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12toneman
Akahai
USA
97 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2023 : 05:46:01 AM
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| I was hardcore Elixir for years, but recently I tried the D'Addario XS and I love those. (always on OOO-18) Ever try the XS, Terry? They have a bit more snap than Nanos. |
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Earl
`Olu`olu
USA
523 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2023 : 06:02:30 AM
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I am on a list with Elixir and they send me experimental strings to test once or twice a year. (No idea how I got on their list, and when they send inquiries I don't always get chosen). This test is: play them for a month, log your play time daily, remove the strings without cutting off the windings at the post, and mail them back in the postage-paid envelope, which is a little different. Usually they just say to keep the strings and respond to a survey with comments.
I use Elixir on several guitars and generally like them. Some other flavors of strings get used mostly on guitars where I might be tuning up and down, as in slack key. Tuning a string up and down repeatedly kills its overtones in a day or two, not months. That seems like a waste of expensive coated strings. Normally I use Nanoweb PB's in light gauge or medium-light (heavy bass, light trebles). This is a 53-12 light gauge set and appears to be 80/20 not phosphor bronze. It would skew the comments to put them in alternate tunings and kill their tone life prematurely.
I keep one guitar dedicated to alternate tunings with uncoated strings (D'Addario EJ-17 medium or EJ-16 light) but feel compelled to log most of the play hours *this* month on that test set of Elixir strings. I also use GHS White Bronze nickel strings on some guitars as they last nearly as long as coated strings for me, at less than half the price. I have dabbled with other string gauges and alloys, but those are my go-to sets. |
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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2023 : 4:31:55 PM
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| I've tried D'addarios, but not for a while. Never liked them; I thought they were more squeaky than Elixirs. Almost no one hears me play anymore, so I'm not interested in changing my comfort zone. It used to be that Elixir "G" strings would routinely break with regular up/down tuning. I used to have a whole bunch of string sets with G strings missing. Not a problem for years, at least for me. I still have some old John Pearse sets that I started with 20 years ago. I think the unwound strings are still good. Jeff Peterson uses D'addarios. I use D'addario nylons for my Taylor Nylon guitar. |
Edited by - chunky monkey on 01/20/2023 4:35:36 PM |
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Earl
`Olu`olu
USA
523 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2023 : 06:32:57 AM
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I never had that breakage problem with Elixir g-strings, but have heard the story before from others. D'Adarrio EJ's do squeak for me, but I work around it. I'm a cheapskate and don't want to prematurely kill the tone of more expensive coated strings by tuning up and down. I keep a couple of sets of Polyweb's on hand for rare recording sessions. They don't squeak as much as Nanoweb's and sound better on "tape", but I prefer the feel of the Nano's generally.
I have quite a bunch of strings on hand of different types beyond my usual go-to brands mentioned above. I bought a semi-custom carbon fiber guitar three years ago and it turned out incredibly bright and harsh, even compared to the nearly identical stock model from that builder that I still own and love. (I was just after a shorter scale length for playing comfort). I went through ten different string types -- and other gyrations -- trying to find an acceptably mellower tone before sending it back in disgust. I naively thought that two carbon fiber guitars *literally* coming out of the same mold would sound similar, but boy was I wrong! They must have changed something about the CF layup, or???? |
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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2023 : 07:50:17 AM
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| I've found that string noise is somewhat dependent on body composition and size. I have the same strings on my Taylor 522ce-12 fret (grand concert) and my Taylor GS-mini. Both are mahogany, but the GS-mini is really noisy. Could be the scale length (24.5 vs 23.8), could be the finish (glossy vs matte) could be lots of things. I just have to work harder on the GS-mini to keep the string noise down |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2023 : 10:36:24 AM
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| String "noise" is proof that a real person is playing a real instrument, not a synthesizer - like hearing someone breathe in between sentences. No stress, jus' press, alla way down. |
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Slacking off....
