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Elixir strings finally wore out

Sometime back in early September, I put a set of Elixir strings on my Strat. Sunday they finally reached the point that I cannot tolerate their sound any longer. :cry:

So that's about four months life, not bad, I guess. This time I am going to go back to GHS Boomers, 10-52, and see how long they hold up.


Usually I play Sunday, with a praise team, rehearse once during the week, for an hour, maybe a little longer, and then the guitar stays in its case.

Not a real scientific study but interesting.

Comments

  • Interesting non-scientific study.

    I've tried Elixers a few times. I bought three sets of them along with three sets of the Dean Blue Steel strings. On each set of Elixers one string broke within a week - and it was three different strings - a B, G and A. I have three electrics and put one set on each and it was a different string on each guitar but one from each. I've not had that problem before and I've not had it again since going to the Blue Steels.

    There is something about my fingers that tends to wear out strings fast. I don't know if I have acidic sweat, high skin oil level or what, but my strings get dirty quickly. The Blue Steels stay cleaner longer than any others I've tried. I used to use D'Addarios then I went to Slinkys, but I've found the Blue Steels hold up best for me.

    Also non-scientific, but my observation. YRMV.
  • I put Elixirs on my Acoustic, and they are going strong 5 months later. My friend stopped by last weekend, picked up the guitar and said \"Wow, new strings I see.\" He was floored when I told him that I NEVER changed the strings since the initial setup.

    The Elixirs on an acoustic make it sound sweeter.

    I didn't notice any benefits of Elixirs on electric guitars. Maybe it was the feel, maybe I was just pissed that they didn't have the same effect as the acoustic, but I actually changed them rather quickly.
  • I use Elixir 9's on all of my axes. I tried Snake Oil Brand for awhile and they were okay - but lots of cleaning to keep them up to snuff...

    The new antirust plain strings work like a charm for me. I also ruin normal strings very quickly... but now I can go months and months with consistently good tone on each guitar.

    Love 'em.
  • Ernie Ball \"Classic Rock n Roll\" in the gauge of your choice, now as a repairman I HATE ERNIE BALL STRINGS, but it's a totaly different thing when the strings are PURE NICKEL. now here`s the key,DON'T buy them from Musicians friend or the like , cuz there not the same thing as gettin them at a reputable store..... Most of the strings from these warehouse Companies are bought from the manufacturer as \"B\" stock (meaning past there SHELF life) may be ok with you n that's fine.


    Now, I L0ve GhS Boomers,BlueSteels and the like but usually after a week of being on my guitar as the tinny shrillness has subsided, CLASSICS don't have this just big warm tone from the first moment, they last for me for about a month, they stay in tune longer intonate truer and I just generally love those things all around. and they work for most all playing styles

    So, if ya feel`in experimental some day grab a set or 3, I usually sell them buy 2 get 1free
  • D'addario makes a great coated set for acoustic. Shrillness wore off in about 2 sessions, and has maintained a nice earthy tone. I like the feel of these over Elixer's. Good for hammer-on work and percussive chording. If the electrics have the same feel, I may switch to them.
  • Elixirs acoustics cant be beat. I played two identical taylors in guitar center, one was strung with martins, the other elixirs. They sounded like two totally different guitars. I was sold on them from that point on.
    On my electric I use the 10-46 gauge b/c they seemed to have a more balanced tone than the 9-46. 11's on acoustic.
    I keep telling myself to try out some new brands but always keep getting the elixirs. Ive been using them exclusively since 01 and have nothing but good things to say, never broke one, and on average they last about 4 times as long as any other ive tried.
    In an old issue of guitar world with alot of advice from different players in it Tom Morello said \"always wash your hands before you practice......make it like a ritual\" -- Good advice.
  • Hi dudes, I've been using the elixir nonowebs on one of my electrics and they've already outlasted a couple of sets of other brands i've previously used. I'm another one of those people that can tarnish a set within a couple of days, it's the acid sweat thing again. Generally I'll pick up the guitar and mess about for an hour or two daily. I will have to try the washing of hands before practice tip.

    TY

    shando
  • OK the clock has started on the GHS Boomers. Brand new today. Jan 12, 2006.
  • I think the string manufacturers should put an expiration date on their packaging - that's the only way the consumer will know what he is getting. I wish I had a white/gold trim Gibson Les Paul SG with the vibrato tailpiece - like the one Hendrix had.
  • Funng thing,

    I was working on an SG a couple of years back. I knew I would be ruining the strings tightening and slacking them over and over to get at the electronics under the pick guard. When I went to the music store, I asked if they had a cheap set of strings so I could save a few dollars while I tried different wiring / pickup configurations. The owner suggested using the $1.99 set of Darco strings made by Martin. I sarcasticaly mentioned that those probably would sound really great at $1.99 a set. The owner told me about another musician in town that always used them. I joked and told him that he was so cheap that anything under $2.00 would sound good to him.

    I went home and put them on my SG. They didn't sound bad at all. Not what I had expected. When I was finished wiring the SG, the strings had taken the abuse in stride and sounded very good. Naturally, I thought it was just the guitar. {The SG was the 3 pickup Les Paul Custom, as it was called in the 60's} So I also put the Darco strings on my Standard, and another set on my Strat. All these guitars had not been re strung for a while. They ALL sounded great. The strings were vibrant, easy to bend, they didn't break with abuse, they kept their intonation, and I loved the tone. And I do abuse strings. I was so hooked on them that every time I went to town, I bought at least 1/2 dozen sets.

    Well, all good things come to an end. They went up in price to $2.25 per set. But the truth is, if they were $6.00 a set they would run circles around most high priced sets. I love them, and will NOT change brands. I haven't found anything that does the job as well for my style of picking. Since I started picking again, everything I have recorded so far has been with Darco strings.

    That's my story and I'm stickin to it. Hail to the Darco.
  • So, Thaaaaaaaaaat's what's wrong with yer sound!!!!! *snicker* just Razz`in ya you knew it was comeing right? lol, nice pickin Slacker G.
    If Darco works for you So be it.
  • LuredMaul,

    Yup. It's them strings fer sure. When I pick, I hit all the right notes, it's them strings and that wandering intonation that make me sound bad. lol { I hit all the right notes but they may not be the right ones for what I'm pickin at the time. } And thanks.
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