Guitar Center v. Elixir

[Grilled_Cheese]

i guess it's all in what your used to hearing.....

I guess so.

I've been playing for about 20 years, worked in a guitar shop most of that time...I've used my fair share of strings.

To each his own I guess.

I'm just saying, just because they sound like ass on your guitar doesn't mean they do on mine.

Maybe you have an ass guitar.

 

[Monkey Allen]

$40 a pack for elixirs and $27 for a 3 pack of D'Addarios where I come from. I still haven't really made up my mind on Elixirs yet.

 

[Zaphod B]

I've never used the Elixers.

In my experience, it's the crud buildup in the wound strings that determines a set's life - the unwound strings are easy to keep clean. I can't see how coating any guitar string would not result in some damping.

Each to his own, I guess...strings are like religion.

A quick search on American Musical's web site shows Elixirs being about twice the cost of the strings I normally use.

 

[sile2001]

Making generalizations about what strings are better is a stupid thing to do in the first place. It depends both on people's taste in sound and on the guitar on which they are being placed. For my Taylor 614, it sounds far better (in my opinion) with light gauge Elixir Nanowebs than with any other string I have ever tried on it. Meanwhile, Elixirs sound like crap on my Takamine F360. Just feed the guitar what it likes to eat and stop arguing over something stupid.

 

[TelePaul]

Taylors come with elixirs as standard....but theres no 'rip the piss outta taylor' thread. Its funny that people think they can categorically decide what is good and bad when it comes to tone.

 

[ausrock]

For people who have acid persperation, Elixirs are a godsend as the coating delays the onset of corrosion. For someone who may be gigging a few times a week, this can mean getting more than one gig out of a set of strings which means saving dollars.

 

[ez_willis]

I have never put a set of Elixers on any guitar ever and I never will.

Then how do you know you don't like them?

 

[VSpaceBoy]

I like Elixers alot. For me, I'm NOT a fan of the overly bright sound of new strings. I like how they sound when they've been played a bit and broke in. Elixers start off that way, then they don't die.

Think of it this way, from the second you put on regular strings, they change sound throughout the course of their life. Sure they can sound great in the time period AFTER they are broke in and BEFORE they go dull. Elixers stay in the sweet zone.

at least to me ..

 

[philboyd studge]

$40 a pack for elixirs and $27 for a 3 pack of D'Addarios where I come from. I still haven't really made up my mind on Elixirs yet.

Holy crap! I get 'em for $10 out the door from my friend's mom and pop store.

 

[Zaphod B]

For people who have acid persperation, Elixirs are a godsend as the coating delays the onset of corrosion.

That's a great point.

A bass player I used to work with was a "ruster" - his finger oils and persperation were really acidic. He could kill a set of strings in 5 minutes. No one would let him play their guitars.

 

[therage!]

Because they sound like shit. Dead, dead, dead from the second you put them on the guitar. Who cares how long they last if they sound like shit.

Agreed, they don't do anything for me either.

 

[Booda]

For the people who are being so sarcastic " " ...
Why don't you tell us what guitar we should be playing too? or How our action should be set and what room we should play in.

Some people actually Like Elixir strings... Get Over It!

But to sit there and insinuate that a person must know nothing about tone is fukin ridiculous. Taylor is in the business to sell guitars not strings... what comes on a Taylor? Taylor is not my choice but it is for many. & that's all I can say... or I could say "Gee, if you play a Taylor you must have cotton in yours ears you dumbass, get a real guitar because I'm so smart & my ears are those of a Tone god".

I like Elixir but I stopped playing them on my main acoustic because in the past couple years it seems like I have been breaking strings way too often. I do blame the Elixirs because I haven't been breaking strings when I use D'addario or Martin... on my Martin. It also pisses me off that you can't buy single Elixir strings. So when you break a string it costs $15. On my Seagull that I play 3 weeks a year, I still use Elixir. The thing about my 2 guitars... the Martin still sounds decent with deader strings (2 weeks of playing) but the Seagull sounds like cardboard w/ dead strings. & Yes the Elixirs help the seagull sound good for a long time. I also have Acidic hands and don't like the bright sound of Fresh strings (non-Elixir) but it goes away after a day of playing. So for me Elixirs do what and sound what I like but I don't use em because of the string breakage.

Good Luck,
B.

 

[Monkey Allen]

Holy crap! I get 'em for $10 out the door from my friend's mom and pop store.

Yeah, but I'm in Australia, all the prices are more on paper

 

[TelePaul]

uhmmm my reference to Taylor was that they make reputable guitars. I can't see us having a debate as to whether Taylor are shit anytime soon. The fact that their guitars that sell for up to 10K come with Elixirs is indicative of the fact that they are regarded, by quality instrument makers anyway, as top quality strings.

Sorry if ya didnt get that.

 

[Monkey Allen]

They string up their guitars with elixir because elixir lasts longer right? So when their guitars sit in a shop the strings don't become crusty, making the guitar seem less attractive to people who might pick it up and have a play.

 

[sile2001]

but theres no 'rip the piss outta taylor' thread

Oh people are just taking a temporary break from that. Another one will pop back up shortly. Personally, I think it's a case of sour grapes syndrome, but that's just me...

 

[Booda]

uhmmm my reference to Taylor was that they make reputable guitars. I can't see us having a debate as to whether Taylor are shit anytime soon. The fact that their guitars that sell for up to 10K come with Elixirs is indicative of the fact that they are regarded, by quality instrument makers anyway, as top quality strings.

Sorry if ya didnt get that.

Actually that's the point I was trying to make. I guess I was not so clear. I'm not Bashing any Co. just the Ears that Know tone. I was trying to say that Taylor, a very Highly repected guitar company, uses Elixirs to Show off their Great sounding guitars. They are Most likely not trying to advertise and sell Elixir strings. So the fact they use them says something. I was reiterating your point exactly.

When I said Taylor is not my choice... it didn't mean I think they suck. I do like Taylors. They are Sweet! My Seagull is known as a poor mans Taylor. Same feel on the neck and somewhat tone characteristics w/ the Taylor being much richer. On my search for my 1st nice/expensive acoustic I just wanted something w/ a little more low end and body (too my ears ) If I had tons a money I'd probably have a Taylor too... especially since they come w/ Elixir strings I guess I should have said not my 1st choice.

Sorry for the confusion. If you re-read my post it might make more sense.

B.

 

[TelePaul]

gotcha gotcha, been a long day. Yeah its funny, you can't pin down 'good' tone....its like saying a 'pretty' girl; opinions vary!

 

[boingoman]

Taylors come with elixirs as standard....but theres no 'rip the piss outta taylor' thread.

Hey, there's an idea, I'm sick of Taylors. And DW drums. And Nord keyboards.

 

[boingoman]

They string up their guitars with elixir because elixir lasts longer right? So when their guitars sit in a shop the strings don't become crusty, making the guitar seem less attractive to people who might pick it up and have a play.

That's part of it, for sure. It takes a lot to maintain thirty or forty acoustic guitars in a shop. Using Elixirs certainly takes some pressure off the retailer and lets the maker relax. Nothing like taking a guitar off the wall and finding black strings on it. Nobody is happy in that situation.

Plus, if they sound good to you with the guitar, those are the ones to use. Me, I don't like them, but that's just me.