Elixir...

[Dave Caulkins]

Hello 'gain,

Allright, most of the time someone posts when they really like something. This is not the case here...

I needed strings, I live in Vermont (land of no music stores within one hour). So I ordered some from Musicians Friend (feeling too cheap to get the TIs I wanted). I decided that Elixirs might be a good thing for my first string change on my Rigel A+...

I was wrong...

They are tone suckers... Ick! Poopie! Anything would have better tone I'm afraid - maybe they will break in, maybe they won't. The mando still sounds good, but the stock D'Addarios were a 100% better. Nearly $12.00? I don't want them to last 3x as long... I want them off!!!! Their guitar strings are decent, but I really don't care for their mando strings...

Carpe Diem,

Dave

[Scotti Adams]

..that was my general perception of them too

[b.pat]

[QUOTE]
They are tone suckers... Ick! Poopie! Anything would have better tone

Come on Dave, Tell us what you really Think. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

Oh, and buy the way, I don't care for the "Poopie" things either.

B.Pat

[Kevin K]

I really like the Nano's for acoustic but... did not like the mandolin Nano's at all but there are some players who like them. To me I lost a lot of volume, tone and just wasn't worth the change.

[mandoJeremy]

I also agree about the yuck and poopie describing them.

[neal]

Leshii, I think you meant "caveat emptor"....

[Steve Farling]

Personaly, I like them! They work real good on my Morgan Monroe MCM-TB. The only thing is, I just play around the house, and I'm a fairly new player. I got the light Nanos. My Mando came with Medium GHS's and I didn't like them at all. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Dave Caulkins]

Ahh, Latin, its been way too long...

Yes, I did...

I'm out of it today!

Dave

[Bradley]

Try the Daddario coated strings they are much better

[Drew L]

Yeah... they sound kind of muddy. I'll agree with that. Unfortunately, I have ridiculously corrosive finger oil/sweat. It's in my genes! My grandfather couldn't wear leather watch bands because his sweat would eat right through. If I don't use coated strings, I'll get maybe a week out of a set and I *hate* to change strings. So I consider them a blessing.

So even with all the negatives about them, they have their place in my world. And for the record, I prefer Elixirs over D'Addario coated.

[Stephanie Reiser]

For my .02 worth, I had been using J-74 D'addarios. I felt they were better than the martins that I tried first. I liked them. Then I was at the music store and saw the Elixirs and tried them. I felt they were the best I have ever used. I should qualify this by saying that I have only been playing mando since febuary.
Stephanie

Elixir makes great stings but they might not of sounded or played right with ur mando. I personally use D'Addario right now and they work and last and sound great.

[ManjoMan]

I just put a set of Nano's on my Pag and they don't
impress me at all. I haven't put TI's on my Pag, but
I have used them on my Buckeye and they sound good
on it. My favorite so far are the D'Addario EXP's -
to me they are the best for my mando's. It's hard
for me to get totally switched - I have used GHS
strings since 198? and have had great service from
them. I don't have a big problem with the Ph balance
in my hands so my strings last a long time anyway.
Just my opinion, but I think that the choice of strings
that you use should depend upon your mandolin. Keep
trying different brands and types until you find the
ones that work the best (overall) in sound and durability.

[Steve G]

Yea, like Drew, I've got string death sweat and can't wear leather watchbands either. So Elixirs are a God send. In the summer I can kill a new set of regular strings in thirty minutes. In the Winter I can use D'Aquisto on guitar and mandolin (give them a try Drew, they actually hold up a while and I've tried them ALL) As for the Elixirs I prefer the Nanos way more than Polys and I wish they'd make the Nanos less bright, but they are acceptable over the mic with an EQ. Yes, overall, they kind of suck. I used to change strings every set and could never enjoy my break. And string death sweat is EXPENSIVE!!! I've spent a fortune on strings. The problem does'nt get talked about enough.

[Dave Caulkins]

Wow,

I thought I was alone in acid death sweat... That's why I tried Elixirs in the first place. If I don't religiously clean my strings, they are gone in a rehersal (or sometimes too, if I'm not sweating).

Dave

[Dagger Gordon]

I like Elixirs. Only used them twice I think, as I questioned whether they were worth the extra money (typical Scotsman!). Daddario has always done OK in the past.

I don't normally have a big problem with sweat or breakage, but I decided to try them again after Ian MacLeod (ex Shooglenifty) told me they had made a big difference to him.The present set has been on for a few weeks, and I have found that they're sounding better now than when they first went on. In fact I don't think my mandolin has sounded better.

Another thing is that I think my on-stage sound through a pick-up (Vanden magnetic sound-hole Rare Earth type) has been better recently, which is an unexpected bonus. I'm not sure how much to put that down to the strings, but I think there maybe is a mellower sound generally which is even more apparent when it's amplified.

I realise that my sound might not be what a bluegrass player is after, and that pick-ups are not an issue for many of you, but since Elixir seem to mostly be getting a slagging here, I felt I should give my positive experience.

[steve in tampa]

I tried them on guitars because we live blocks from the ocean and regular strings do not last long.

They are on my capfire/travel/beater mando, and I like the feel, thopugh the sound is a little weak. I will try the D'Addarios next.

They last longer, and are comfotable to play. That's 2 out of 3 in my book......

[sunburst]

And string death sweat is EXPENSIVE!!! I've spent a fortune on strings. The problem does'nt get talked about enough.
My experience indicates that you "string death" people are the ones that like the elixirs, and few others do.

My strings last a long time, so I can't speak from experience, but I know a music store owner who sells lye soap, the home made kind, to her "string death" customers to wash their hands with. People report back that it helps.

[London Al]

This thread seems to go off at a tangent about 'String death sweat" so I'd like to put my 2 peneth in from london.
I once lent a telecaster for one number in a live gig to my bandmate who was notorious for sweating lots of toxins during a show. I forgot to clean the instrument immediately before putting it back in its case. Two weeks later I open the case and the chrome has fallen off the control knobs and the strings are covered in rust.
The moral I learnt was clean off toxic sweat straight away, whatever you play.

[Mike Bullard]

Like them, use them and they do great on my Flatiron F-5.

[Steve G]

Thanks for the lye soap tip. I'll certainly give that one a try. I just did a session with Elixir Nanowebs on guitar and they are way, way, way too bright. We eq'd the edge off a little but boy, I don't think I'll record with these again! They're not quite as bright on mandolin, not sure why. Also just a note: "string death sweat" is not about sweating toxins. It's about an excessive amount of amino acids in body chemistry and is entirely genetic. Only about one out of ten players has this problem. And I agree this can cause damage if left on the instrument too long, especially on the back of the neck.

[Ancient]

Has anyone tried the SIT mandolin strings? I think they are pretty decient sounding.

[bjc]

I've had good luck with Exlirs, but they do sound VERY bright right out of the box...it takes a while for them to get broken in...had the same issue with their guitar strings...they last longer, but still I do wonder about the cost/benefit since I don't have "Toxic Death Sweat" (which would be an EXCELLENT name for a death metal mando band)...still I don't use them all the time...I still enjoy D'Addario and oddly enough Webstrings (which are under $3 a set)...that's just my $1.50...

[Yonkle]

Mine were off in 1 Day. (Yucky Dew)
If you want a loud bluegrass string, try the Gibson Bill Monroe Strings, I dont ever hear anything about them here but I like them a lot.

[MandoFando]

elixirs sound bad when you put them on, but they sound that way for a long time.

[Flatpick]

When you get tired of trying all the rest, come back to the tried and true J-74's. $5 a set. Get em on Ebay 10 sets for less than $50. I've used them on all my Mandolins.

Anyone else like em? Flatpick

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

J-74's are good, but I like the J-75 just a little more.

[Kevin K]

Good ole J75's

[Steve Farling]

Well Guys, You got me listening to my mando a little bit closer and now I'm not so sure I like what I hear! Anyway, I bought a set of Gibson Bill Monroe strings today and I will see if I was wrong about the Elixirs. The bass strings just didn't seem right. There's quite a difference in the guages .034 to .041. I'm just old, not set in my ways! I'll get these new strings on tomorrow and give them a couple of weeks. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Steve Farling]

Hey, I can't believe no one else has left any more comments about the Elixirs! Anyhow I'm more than pleased with the Gibson Bill Monroes. My Bass is back, and it's as deep and full as it should be. I don't know if the Elixir mediums would have done the trick, and I don't think I will probably ever find out. They're kind of pricy, and I really don't have the "ACID HANDS" problem. So I think I will just stick with the Gibson's.:D

[Doug Edwards]

ACID HANDS, I've been told they are predominately found among red heads? I don't have them, but I'm more of a faded red.

[lightningbug]

I have used Elixers on my nice guitar for the last year and they sound great (or maybe it's just the guitar working in). I put them on my mandolin (my second set ever) and noticed that the volume wasn't as good. I put on a set of J-74's and they sound pretty good and the volume is better. What are TI's.

BTW, does the Death Sweat affect other parts of your life? Do your cars rust out early. Do you have to replace silverware more often?

[Steve G]

You know what? I quit smoking six weeks ago and it appears that my string death sweat has disappeared. For the first time in my life I actually got two weeks plus from a set of D'Addario. Same with guitar. I knew cigarettes were bad for you but I did'nt know they were corrosive. I'm surprised I have bones left if that's the case. I think I'll try the J75s now.

[hotpick]

Elixir Nanoweb lights sound awesome on my Collings MF5. The sound is bright and full. The only draw back is when they die, it's sudden - with no warning. They are the best feeling strings I've ever had. If you're not getting the sound you want out of these, try changing your pick.

[TeleMark]

ACID HANDS, I've been told they are predominately found among red heads? I don't have them, but I'm more of a faded red.
I've got hands of death. Regular nickel guitar strings last me about 2 hours before they are tarnished. I bought an Irish sterling silver ring, and it turned BLACK over night.

I'm blonde/brown haired. I do have some red highlights when I grow my beard out, but not really a redhead.

I'm dealing w/ Elixers. I haven't been playing long enough to notice a sonic difference. I'll manage.

TeleMark

[Luthier Vandross]

I play strings that are taken out of the wrapper before installing.

;)

M

[BluegrassPhilfromFrance]

D'Addario J75 & J74 for my Monteleone Grand Artist and J80 on my Coufleau Octave ... definitely a GREAT choice ! I also like the Gibson Bill Monroe but cannot stand GHS for mandolin. Only tried once the Elixir but a friend of mine told me about coated strings: "it's like making love using rubber ..." he's a well-experienced man ! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[Hubert Angaiak]

I tried them once and removed them right away. I thought they would sound good and last a long time, but they sounded like an old set of dirty strings. The idea is good, but the coating seemed to kill the tone. I hope they continue to work on it. Maybe they just work on certain type of instruments.