Coated Strings

[Jeremiah]

I've been using Elixirs, and found them to be pretty good - a different feel to uncoated, and slightly different tone, but definitely worth it for the longer life.

However, I've noticed this on the Elixir website:

"Because of a disruption in the supply of key materials for our Anti-Rust plain steel strings, we restarted production of sets using our original plain steel strings. Just to be clear, this change does not affect our wound strings with POLYWEB® Coating or NANOWEB® Coating."

So currently, only the wound strings are coated. It seems a bit pointless using a string set where only half the strings have the coating, so I'm wondering what anyone here thinks of any of the other brands of coated strings on the market: How do they compare to Elixirs, and to standard uncoated strings.

 

[guitarkid]

Re: Coated Strings

Oh wow, I didn't know they did that. Eilxirs are all I use, and I have to because of the way my sweat is. That kind of sucks! I just ordered 6 packs a few days ago, but I went and looked at them and luckily they are all coated.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Coated Strings

DR makes a string called "Dragon Skins", where all the strings are coated. I've used the acoustic version, and they are really nice sounding strings...none of the dullness that is often talked about with Elixers...and the DRs are much less expensive.

They just sent me a couple sets of the electric Dragon Skins, but I haven't tried them yet. Not sure if this is a new product or not, but I'm looking forward to trying them.

I remember being a teenager and having my strings corrode really fast. Wish we would have had coated strings back then...

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: Coated Strings

Yeah, I just ordered 3 packs of Elixirs and found they were the ones with the uncoated plain steels.

I didn't like the DR strings with coloured coatings as I found them much duller than standard strings. Haven't tried the dragon skins, they don't seem to have made it to the UK yet (at least the electric version.)

I've been wondering about Cleartones and the Ernie Ball titanium coated.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Coated Strings

Cleartones are for me, the same as elixir. No better no worse.

I love both brands and am addicted to coated strings now.

Ok maybe now cleartone is better if they're still anti-rust coating the plain strings and elixir is not.

With a 5 dollar thing of string cleaner, I can make coated strings last 2 or 3 months of 10 hours a week, and I have really sweaty hands. Regular strings last me 2 weeks if I'm fortunate.
The string cleaner is key tough. My sweat will rust up coated plain strings in a month if i don't wipe that crap off there as soon as I put the axe down. The cleaner really lets me get a good lifespan out of a set.

I don't notice any feel difference between cleartones and nanowebs, vs regular strings like GHS, EB, d'addario, etc. The elixir polywebs feel a little akward, like there's some tackiness that wasn't there. The sound looses just a little top end sizzle but at least once they settle in they sound the same until 2 months later.

 

[gilaltom3]

Cleartone's all the way.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Coated Strings

WTF. The only three strings that I need the coating on are the lighter three.

 

[QuailMan]

Re: Coated Strings

I went with Cleartone since they have the gauges I wanted as a set already, the C# set. I never liked coated strings before them but its been a few months and they still sound great, hold tune, and feel pretty close to uncoated strings.

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Coated Strings

I am currently using the Ernie Ball coated strings on my AT3000 and I am really impressed with the feel and tone... I may be hooked.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Coated Strings

I am currently using the Ernie Ball coated strings on my AT3000 and I am really impressed with the feel and tone... I may be hooked.

I dig the titanium slinkys too. Thes sound better than standard slinkys and last MUCH longer.

I have had pretty good luck the DAD EXPs too, but I like the Slinkys better overall.

 

[PRSfan nym 1985]

Re: Coated Strings

personally I felt that Elixirs were overpriced junk. I don't care if my strings are coated or not they have no tone to them from the moment you put them on. I find that all the coated strings tend to just be marketing hype if you practice/perform regularly you should change your strings. It takes a couple minutes to change strings.

If you must go with a coated string DR would be my vote.

Personally I use DR Rare Phosphor Bronze (13-56) on my acoustics and DR Pure Blues (12-52) on my electrics. My 12 string uses a custom set of Hi Beams (9-48).

I've never found a coated string I liked i've tried Elixirs (nano and poly), D'Addario EXP, Cleartone, Dean Markley Alchemy, Martin SP+, and Ernie Balls coated strings. To me they all sound much duller and never really have that sparkle to em that uncoated strings have. I also don't prefer the feel of coated strings, especially the thicker coatings. I've actually had coated strings where the coating frays off and stuff. They are just plain stupid.

The difference to me is noticeable between my uncoated DR strings and other uncoated strings. When I compare my DR strings of choice to any of the coated strings I've tried it's no contest.

The few clients that have taken my advice and switched to DR haven't even asked to try other strings we carry.

 

[buckethead]

Re: Coated Strings

yeah i'm in the no coated camp. I think a lot of live players would agree that coated strings dont live up to the hype. Not to product push but ernies pure nickle are probably an industry standard.
Also if you are serious about strings like some people are. I would suggest getting a couple of sets of different manufactures and record your self and listen back within a days time and then you can probably make a more informed choice about the tone. Otherwise i think the longer you play X brand the more you may just become comfortable with said brand.

Thats just my 2.5 cents

:firedevil:argh::rocket::bad::cussing::haha::argue::drive:

 

[BEACHBUM]

Re: Coated Strings

So currently, only the wound strings are coated. It seems a bit pointless using a string set where only half the strings have the coating, so I'm wondering what anyone here thinks of any of the other brands of coated strings on the market: How do they compare to Elixirs, and to standard uncoated strings.

I used the Elixirs for quite some time until I finally came to the conclusion that it was pointless even when they were coating all the strings. The problem I found was that the coating didn't last long enough (especially on the unwound strings) to offset the cost. It became obvious to me that the money I was spending wasn't getting me any benefits and that I was far better off just buying more lower cost string sets and changing more often. Now I'm buying the D' Addarios by the 10 pack. Great strings and they run me a little less than 5 bucks a set.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Coated Strings

I love Elixirs. They last forever and sound great. I've gone through various string phases, but now I'm sold on Elixirs.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Coated Strings

The problem I found was that the coating didn't last long enough (especially on the unwound strings) to offset the cost.

I had this problem and then tried using a string cleaner as well. It definitely helped me get the full life-span of a coated set.
Coated strings are rust-resistant, not rust-proof, so I found it worth it to give the strings a little help. Now when strings die it's not so much because they've rusted and gunked up, it's the flat spots and intonation issues.

 

[formula73]

Re: Coated Strings

Oh. This sucks. I also just ordered a bunch of sets. I hope they're still plated plains. I used to use Elixirs when they first came out but stopped because the plains still rusted in a week, cleaner or not. Since they started plating the plains and using the Nanoweb coating on the wounds, I came back. Looks like I might have to be going back to the old Daddario 25packs and changing them every goddamned week, again.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Coated Strings

For one, that news report was from September.

Secondly the plain strings are only ever anti rust, not coated.

This too, from the website:

'Check the front of your Elixir Strings package. If the set has plain steel strings with Anti-Rust plating, it will be indicated on the box on the lower right side of the front panel.'

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: Coated Strings

Yep, and there has been no further update to that news report since September.

The packs of Elixirs that I just ordered do not have the anti-rust plain steels.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Coated Strings

The Cleartones are the best feeling and sounding ones I've tried out of the bunch, but I'm also in the non-coated camp. For the price difference, I'd rather change traditional nickel strings 3 times and have better feel and tone. With the number of guitars I have, buying coated strings would be a fortune...with no added benefit.

I only use coated when I get them for free on rare occasion.

 

[thespricket]

Re: Coated Strings

Cleartones are not worth getting. I've gone through a lot of coated strings. I used elixirs, daddario exps, and now Ernie ball coated strings. All on acoustic. They all seemed to sound good, and lasted a very long time. However, the cleartone strings I got didn't even last a month. They sounded just like the others, but they only lasted a month. Which is about the length of a normal pack of strings. It's lame because they are the most expensive strings we have at GC. Go with Elixir nanowebs or daddario exp's. The polywebs are the old school coated strings that flake up and sound dead.