Elixir breakage

[6stringerguy]

I’ve been breaking elixirs left right and centre (8 or so in the last month) and just wondering if anyone else had this problem
I played daddario nyxl for 16 months ish and only broke a couple of strings
Looks like I’ll be going back to daddario despite me loving the feel of elixirs.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Elixir breakage

No.

The same string or different ones?

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Elixir breakage

No.

The same string or different ones?

Different ones, 75% it’s the 2nd or 3rd wound strings and it’s happened on 4 different guitar so unlikely that’s it’s a saddle issue.
Only broke 3 or so at the bridge, the rest broke at the tuners or nut, I’m going to try nyxl on the particular guitar that most recently suffered a string breakage and see if the breakage rate reduces

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Elixir breakage

Which Elixirs? (Nanoweb, Optiweb)

 

[Mincer]

Re: Elixir breakage

Are they breaking at a point where the string is touching something else? Sometimes strings actually break in the middle somewhere. Still, that is a lot of strings to break. I rarely break strings, and usually change them long before they'd get too old and break So I'd look into the contact points as well as your playing technique.

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Elixir breakage

They mainly break at the tuners, nut and bridge.
They’re nanowebs in a variety of gauges ranging from 9-46 to 12-68
It’s on multiple guitars with multiple bridge types ( trem locking, hardtail )

 

[greekdude]

Re: Elixir breakage

I never managed to break any string of gauge >= 11's .

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Elixir breakage

That is strange. If it were happening on one guitar I’d suspect a burr of some sort but the fact that it’s on multiple guitars makes it something of a mystery. Still,
can’t hurt to clean the saddles/nut and run a file over the metal parts.

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Elixir breakage

That is strange. If it were happening on one guitar I’d suspect a burr of some sort but the fact that it’s on multiple guitars makes it something of a mystery. Still,
can’t hurt to clean the saddles/nut and run a file over the metal parts.

I’m going to try Daddario NYXL for a little while and if I fall back in love with them I think I’ll just move back to them since the only reason I moved to elixir was the feel, I was happy with my tone and lifespan but wanted to try the feel of coated strings and loved them but at this point I’ve spent 30 bucks just on single strings to replace the ones I’ve broken

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Elixir breakage

Elixers last a long time for me. About 2-3 months of solid daily playing on nanowebs, maybe 4-6 months with optiwebs since they don't fray. Sometimes a high e or b pops at the saddle but never within a month. I always buy extra singles for those 2 strings. I replace the whole set once the upper ones start looking weathered. If you get the popping thing sorted out I highly recommend optiwebs for sound and durability. NYXLs don't break on me either but they tarnish after about 2-4 weeks. Perhaps the elixer strings are old or were improperly stored?

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Elixir breakage

Elixers last a long time for me. About 2-3 months of solid daily playing on nanowebs, maybe 6 months with optiwebs since they don't fray. NYXLs don't break on me either but they tarnish after about 2-4 weeks. Perhaps the elixer strings are old or were improperly stored?

I’ve been playing elixir for approximately a month, nyxl I could get 3 months out of before I felt the need to change them because they sounded dead

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Elixir breakage

I’ve been playing elixir for approximately a month, nyxl I could get 3 months out of before I felt the need to change them because they sounded dead

Yea some people have better sweat than others I guess. I cannot make a set of ernie balls last 2 weeks for the life of me.

 

[6stringerguy]

Elixir breakage

I have a mate of mine who’s sweat is so acidic that’s it rusts a set of EBs in a day or two

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Elixir breakage

A few years ago I tried he NYXL strings and broke one within a couple of hours. Granted, I’m sure the issue was a burr on the saddle and the issue was not the strings, but I’ve got it stuck in my mind that those strings are no good for me. Plus they are really expensive!
I’ve always used EB and have never had an issue. They are my go to.
I have Elixirs on my acoustic and love them there.