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Finally bought an acoustic/electric and am now looking for strings. My friend uses Elixir but dang they're $14 a set.Any other recommendations? The lightest gage possible and good longevity.
BTW I bought a Washburn WD10sce & case
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John,
The Elixirs are worth every penny. Not as bright as bronze, but you can EQ them. Very easy on the fingers. Try a set - I bet you'll like them.
Second choice would be D'Addario (for me).
Regards,
Bob
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Quote:
John,
The Elixirs are worth every penny. Not as bright as bronze, but you can EQ them. Very easy on the fingers. Try a set - I bet you'll like them.
Second choice would be D'Addario (for me).
Regards,
Bob
+100
The Polyweb version will cut down on string squeak as well, not so much with the nanoweb - technique of course is the best control, but everytime I think I'm going to save money by not buying Elixir, I end up using the non-coated strings shorter because I'm so hooked on the feel of Elixir and sloppier technique that I can get away with using them!
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+200
And, Elixirs can LAST longer, as well.
I haven't kept any empirical measurements, but the Elixir strings seem to be lasting up to maybe four times longer as compared to other types.
Do the arithmetic, the fourteen dollah becomes a bargain IMO.
Now, why a Bass Player would want as light a gauge as possible is another story. And a puzzlement.
Me, I like a string that has enough mass to drive the guitar's top crazy...
And I find more speed when circle picking the larger gauge strings as well. Can dig in with the plectrum, as it were.
Big string = louder guitar.
louder guitar = a guitar that is easier to play at medium or soft volume levels.
And a bigger sound.
--Mac
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put me on the list of people who prefer Elixir strings. For me its not only that they last longer, but I think they have a brighter sound. For acoustic I buy the phos bronze. http://www.nextag.com/elixir-phosphor-bronze/stores-html#!
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+ 400 or wherever we are now. Anyway, come on John we spend boat loads of money on instruments, gadgets software or anything else we think will make us sound as good as possible . . . . here it comes, why would 14.00 bucks for good strings cause you to pause? Ducking, bobing and weaving!  Later,
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I use Musicians Friend brand at $1.99 a set and they sound good too. It's not that I don't think Elixir's are great, I'm just a cheap date.
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A friend of mine plays a lot and he always buys cheaper strings by the case. His theory is all strings sound good when first installed and then a couple of weeks later they all are starting to get dull (he plays a couple of hours a day). So he buys the cheaper strings and changes them much more often than most people.
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I will go with the Elixirs.Sounds right.As far as the price,not being familiar i just didn't want to be buying hype is all. I'm always willing to pay more for better.
Mac,
You hit the nail on the head. I'm a bass player.I bought my first guitar less then a year ago.Been playing bass 50.Have a chance to play rhythm acoustic in a good country band. I'll figure out the right gage I suspect. Heavy strings = sore fingers as well until conditioned. It's odd but my bass plays so easily that I really don't have calluses on my fingers & I play a lot.I use heavy gage on the bass.Folks always remark about my tone being so good.
Thanks all.
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Something I didn't mention in my +100: Many of the higher end, mass producers of acoustic guitars outfit their axes with Elixir. I'm not talking boutique brands, I'm talking brands like Larrivée - which can be found at Guitar Center. Why do you think they do this, when they can put $1.99 strings on their guitars? Longevity on the wall. If they work for them, they work for me. Haven't yet switched over my electric guitars to Elixir, because I haven't found the need - but on my acoustic, they are my go-to string.
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Good point. I'm sold.My friend gave me a set as a gift for my new guitar.
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Me too! I have Elixir nanoweb 11s on my Yammy APX6. They keep their tone a long time. I tend to change mine when they get "furry"!!! (you play it long enough and the nanoweb coating wears and creates a furry looking string where you strike with the pick - lol!)
cheers
ian
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Quote:
Haven't yet switched over my electric guitars to Elixir, because I haven't found the need
I have Elixir 11s on my Strat (my sound files are in the "Showcase"), having gone through all the Ernie Ball, D'Addarrio ranges etc etc - BORING!.
I wouldnt put any other string on my guitar now. Havent had a single string breakage in 5 years. I change my strings every 6 months - whether they need it or not - lol !! (often they don't - the TONE is still there.)
cheers
Ian
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Quote:
Havent had a single string breakage in 5 years. I change my strings every 6 months - whether they need it or not - lol !! (often they don't - the TONE is still there.)
cheers
Ian
Good point. I can't remember when I last broke a string.
Later,
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Elixirs save you money in the long run. You don't have to change them as often. I use a .012 set on my Martin 000-28 and they sound great. Martin also has a series of strings that compete with Elixir but I haven't tried them yet.
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