Elixir Electric Bass Strings are currently on sale on Amazon US | Amazon UK.

Have you started to play bass guitar, and are wondering why you sound like a cat being pulled backwards through a hedge? True, some people actually think that’s how they should be sounding, but by getting the right set of strings, the Elixir bass strings, you may just begin to change your mind about the sort of sounds that you should be getting out of your guitar.

When people are just starting out they give very little thought to the strings that are on their guitar, and that can be a big mistake. You’ve probably paid a lot for your bass guitar, and are using the strings that came with it, but they aren’t always going to be the best for the music that you want to play. True, the manufacturer of the guitar should know which are the best for their instrument, but cost cutting on ‘minor’ items can mean that you don’t always get the best included.

When you change to them you’ll find that Elixir bass strings have a different tone to the electric bass strings that you may be using at the moment. If you start learning on a guitar that doesn’t have Elixir strings you may be learning to play slightly different to how you would if you had Elixir strings, and that’s not only because of the difference in the tone.

Some of the cheap strings on the market are going to cause you a lot of problems when you’re playing using your fingers. The materials that they use, and the way that they’re constructed can leave them coarse and mean they can start to make your fingers bleed, and that isn’t really a good sign. While some people like to ‘bleed for their art’, most sensible people will realise that doing that – especially when it comes to something like a guitar – is just going to slow down your development, and you may just give up.

Elixir bass strings have a long scale NANOWEB Coating, and that makes life far easier on your fingers. This coating means that you get a far slicker feel from the Elixir string, which, of course, doesn’t actually mean that your playing is going to be any slicker, but miracles can happen. You will find that you can play for longer, and that will help you to get better, and mean that you’ll enjoy learning a lot more, too.

Are there any drawbacks from upscaling to Elixir bass strings? Well, there may be a couple. You may decide that you should start all over again, now that you have Elixir strings that play in the tone that you want, and you may consider getting a better electric guitar to go with the new Elixir bass strings. Oh, and, no matter how good the Elixir strings are, they won’t turn anyone who would fail as an air-guitarist in to an Eric Clapton – sorry about that.

Is it actually worth upgrading the electric bass strings that you already have? If you don’t feel the tone is right, or the strings are causing your fingers problems, or you seem to be going through electric bass strings way too quickly, then upgrading to Elixir bass strings is the right move for you. In fact, for the price, and difference in quality, it may be worth trying them out even if you are happy with your old electric bass strings – happy with them for the moment, that is. Click here to read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Elixir
Model	14077
Type	Electric Bass Strings
Gauge	4-String Medium/Long Scale
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount Price on Amazon US | Amazon UK

My Overall Rating:

Elixir 12 String is currently on sale on Amazon US / Amazon UK

If you play a 12 string acoustic guitar then you no doubt have heard of Elixir guitar strings. These guitar strings are considered by some to be the best and long lasting guitar strings for acoustic guitars. Each Elixir acoustic guitar string has a thin coating to help protect your fingers while playing while still giving you the clear sound you like from those uncoated guitar strings.

Here are some of the features you can expect to find when you purchase an elixir 12 string package.

• Ultra thin coating that protects your fingers while playing
• Same tone as from uncoated strings and a traditional string feel
• These strings last 3-5 times longer than most other guitar strings

When you first pull your Elixir guitar strings out of the package there really doesn’t seem to be anything about these strings that really sets them apart from any other guitar strings. In fact, you really won’t see anything special about them until after they are on your guitar and you have used them for a small amount of time. It is then that the clear tone comes through which is surprisingly different than most coated guitar strings.

The thing I like about elixir guitar strings is how long these strings lasted when compared to most other brands. I found these strings lasted for up to two years without breakage. But I didn’t wait till they break- I purchase a new set due to the loss of sound quality and not breakage. For those who claimed had problems with elixir guitar strings breaking, I wonder if it was the guitar player and not the strings.

Sound quality was another thing that I’m enthusiastic about. Unlike most coated guitar strings Elixir strings had the same bright sound quality of uncoated strings. It was this clear bright sound quality that helped these guitar strings earn their excellent ratings and reviews from most guitar players. Also, Elixir acoustic guitar strings are gentler on my fingers and making for longer comfortable playing times.

Price may be the factor most guitar player having a second thought when they looking at Elixir guitar strings. It is a fact that these strings were priced somewhat higher than most other acoustic guitar strings. However, since they lasted so much longer and gave a great tone, they were well worth the price. I would recommend you to give these Elixir strings a try! Read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Elixir
Model	11152
Type	Acoustic Strings
Wrap Wire	80/20 Bronze
Coated / Non-coated	Nanoweb Coating
Gauge	Light
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount price on Amazon US / Amazon UK

My Overall Rating:

Elixir Acoustic Guitar Strings are currently on sale on Amazon US / Amazon UK.

Elixir acoustic guitar strings are the best-made strings I have ever played on. After burning through strings on my Taylor GA, I decided I had to try something new. Most acoustic guitar strings fall out of tune easily, sound tinny and artificial when you first put them on, and then just after they start feeling comfortable and sounding warm, they begin to rust, or the coating starts to fray around the soundhole.

I was beginning to get used to the idea of putting up with these facts for the rest of my guitar-playing life, and then I decided to give Elixir strings a try. These guitar strings sound wonderful from the get-go, so they’re especially great to have if you break a string halfway through a set, and they retain their vibrant sound for ages. I do think they sound best after a couple days of breaking them in though, like most strings.

Elixir uses a nanoweb coating on some of their acoustic strings, a super thin coating which makes them feel and sound like uncoated strings. They also tend to last longer than polyweb coated strings. In my opinion, nanowebs feel better on the fingers, and make playing far smoother and easier. Elixir makes their nanoweb strings without sacrificing tone, and that’s something that is hard to find.

The tone of these Nanoweb strings is crisp and rich, and differs with the type of acoustic string. For instance, the nanowebs give a brighter sound, while the phosphor bronze strings have a deeper tone to them. I like to alter the strings based on the type of music I’m playing—bluegrass vs. blues or jazz, for instance. I’ll want the brighter sound for bluegrass, and deeper for jazz. All of Elixir’s strings have that same wonderful playability and rich tone though, so there’s a pack of strings to suit anyone!

One of my pet peeves is guitar strings that won’t hold a tune. Few things are as annoying as playing a gig, and gradually falling out of tune with the rest of the band. Luckily, these particular guitar strings hold their tune longer than most others I’ve played with. That, if for no other reason, makes Elixir strings worth buying.

Elixir has excellent customer service, too. If there’s ever a problem with a pack of strings, or even a single string within a pack, if you let them know, they’ll send you a whole new pack! The company knows they have high-quality strings, so they have no qualms about making sure their customers are satisfied.

Now that I’ve tried Elixir strings, I won’t be buying any other kind. They’re the best deal I could hope for, for the price. They are a little more expensive than some other brands, but the fact that they last more than twice as long, not to mention that they play and sound better, seals the deal for me. Elixir acoustic guitar strings are the way to go for anyone who wants to get the most out of their guitar. Read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Elixir
Model	11102
Type	Acoustic Strings
Wrap Wire	80/20 Bronze with Nanoweb coating
Gauge	Medium: .013, .017, .026, .035, .045, .056
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount price on Amazon US / Amazon UK

Steven M.
I have over 15 years playing experience and I would not have any other strings on my guitar. I have messed around with many different brands and even the $1/pack I found online (which I wanted to change half way through a set) but there is simply nothing else out there at this price which lasts as long, sounds as good and makes playing such a pleasure as these. [Read full review]

A clip from YouTube on Elixir 80/20 Nanoweb acoustic guitar strings.

While we understand individual player may have personal preference in strings selection, but in general, there are two type of guitar strings we would highly recommended to all beginners.

The first beginner friendly string you may try is D’addario EJ16 Light. These phosphor bronze strings always produce nice and sweet tone. Their price is very reasonable with the quality they delivered. For gauge selection, always choose the light gauge. Although the lighter the string is, the easier your finger to press, but extra light gauge will normally break easily. So choose the light gauge, instead of the extra light would be more ideal.

Another beginner friendly string you can consider is Elixir Nanoweb Light. These strings may not be the cheapest in store, but they are the toughest you could get. Elixir’s strings durability is definitely unquestionable. They are as tough as stone!

Acoustic guitar strings are consider as low cost accessories. Therefore, we have good reason to buy a few packs of different strings to test on their playability and tone. This is why we always suggest readers to invest a little money into both D’Addario and Elixir to make a experiment themselves.

That won’t hurt our pocket too much.

 

Question

I found the sweats from my hands seem to be very acidic as I tend to wear out guitar strings rather quickly. I put on a new set of strings and play my guitar for about 2 hours. I can see rust forming and strings started to discoloring. This is very annoying. Is there any way to make it a little more manageable?

 
Answer

Everybody has different body chemistry. Some people has sweaty palm and their hand will corrode a set of strings within a week of playing. This is because they having the so called ‘Acid Hand’. You may try the below tricks:

1. Use coated strings. Most acid hands kill un-coated string pretty fast if compare to coated one. You may try Elixir Polyweb Coating which has been highly recommended to guitarist who has acid hand.
2. Wash your hands with soap before you play.
3. Use guitar string lubricant to prolong your strings life. Spray it on clean cloth and rub the strings down before and after you play.

My Overall Rating:

Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 is currently on sale on Amazon US / Amazon UK

I was looking for new strings for my Yamaha acoustic guitar. I had played on Ernie Ball and D’Addario acoustic strings, and I wanted to try something new and different. So I decided to give Elixir Nanoweb coating 80/20 with a try, after browsing through some good reviews online.

Generally, Elixir acoustic strings come in 3 major types: Polyweb 80/20, Nanoweb 80/20 and Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze. I opted for Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 after being told by a friend that Polywebs are a bit dull in tone and that Nanoweb coating is not as thick as the Polyweb. You will get a brighter tone, and the coating doesn’t peel like the Polyweb.

So I put these strings on my Yammy. I found that they sound great and lively! The Nanoweb coating is so thin that it feels no different from playing an uncoated string. My guitar sounds beautiful; the tones are soft and bright. It is simply amazing!

Another great feature of Elixir Nanoweb strings is their consistency. They sound great when you first play them. And they still sound that good months later! Other strings may sound good at first, but after a couple of days, they start to sound dead. I’ve been using my Elixir Nanoweb strings for almost two months now, and they seem to maintain their original tone.

These are the best strings I’ve ever tried. You should try them out, seriously. Read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Elixir
Model	11052
Type	Acoustic Strings
Wrap Wire	80/20 Bronze
Coated / Non-coated	Nanoweb Coating
Gauge	Light
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount price on Amazon US / Amazon UK

Other user’s comment on Elixir Nanoweb 80/20:

O. BLGN

I have a 25 year old Yamaha FG-200D(Domestic model, made in Japan) acoustic guitar. When I bought it, it was around 200 – 250 USD. I always liked the way it sounded. It was always loud, bass rich, but a little dull in high tones. Recently I purchased a set of Elixir Nanoweb Light strings. Afterwards, it sounded so great that I won’t change it for a thousand dollar worth Martin. I realized that the difference was not in high strings, it was the coated low ones which now sounds crystal clear and still rich. I strongly recommend to any acoustic player. [Read original review here..]

A clip from YouTube on Elixir 80/20 Nanoweb.

I got a guitar which my mum stored it for a long time and I’m thinking to buy a set of new strings. I didn’t know anything about guitar strings and I’m just started my guitar lesson. I think I need something easier to press, so that my fingers won’t hurt so much. What strings should I choose?

Answer:

As a beginner, you may choose extra light gauge. These strings are the easiest to press. They won’t hurt you so much if compare to heavier weight strings.

I recommend Elixir Extra Light Strings. This string is easy on your fingers and has excellent durability. Elixir is one of the trusted name in America made better by Nanoweb technology. It is light weight, yet rugged for heavy duty use. A very good choice for guitar beginner. Click here for a list of extra light strings which you could choose based on your own preference.

A note is, light strings need to be replaced more frequently compare to heavy weight strings. So it’s always a good idea to buy a spare set, because you don’t want to have to stop learning just because you broke a single string. You may also want to learn how to restring acoustic guitar. It’s actually pretty easy than you think.

Have fun!

My Overall Rating:

Elixir Phosphor Bronze Strings are currently on sale on Amazon US / Amazon UK.

Phosphor Bronze Strings have unique sound and character. But these strings are prone to dull out quickly due to natural corrosion. When guitarists playing their guitars, the oils and other contaminants on their fingers will corrode guitar strings. This will shorten strings’ life. To combat these realities, Elixir Phosphor Bronze Strings had been introduced with Nanoweb technology – microscopic coating. They make your guitar sounds incredible in whatever extreme conditions.

I found Elixir phosphor bronze are above and beyond any strings I have played in the past. They can still sound the same even after 6 weeks of use. This had made them a very good choice for acoustic player like me who change strings often to keep that bright, clear and resonant tone. They may be a little pricey, but that’s okay because they last longer than other brands.

I’m a tone freak and won’t settle for anything less than that rich phosphor bronze sound. I’d tried earlier versions of Elixirs, though I liked the longevity, the sound wasn’t satisfactory in my opinion. But Elixir Phoshpor Bronze string is totally a great find for me! These strings give me more confidence in my playing. Because they simply sound better, which of course makes my playing sound better too. The string noise is minimal and my fingers will just slide smoothly up and down the neck. They are making my $400 Ibanez AE F18 play like a $1200 Martin!

You have nothing to lose by trying these babies out. I assure you, Elixir phosphor bronze strings will make you a better guitar player. Read more user reviews.
 

Brand	Elixir
Model	16052
Type	Acoustic Strings
Wrap Wire	Phosphor Bronze with Nanoweb coating
Gauge	Light:.012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053
Consumer Rating
Price Range	Discount price on Amazon US / Amazon UK

You can now buy this string at Amazon and save 55%!

If you ask me to pick the most durable acoustic guitar string, Elixir will definitely be my answer to you. These strings give bright and lively tone. They used ultra thin nanoweb coating which make them different from other traditional 80/20 bronze strings. They are designed to handle any toughest strumming.

Nanoweb coating actually cuts down unnecessary finger friction. It will keep strings last 3 – 5 time longer than regular strings. In other words, these are strings which you could count on their durability. You will see the quality yourself once you have them on your guitar. The difference will be dramatic – it will make your guitar sound completely different and totally awesome.

You gotta buy these strings!

Elixir is well known as the pioneer of long-life strings. This string is a symbol of durability and it sounds the test of time.

Back in year 2001, Elixir developed Nanoweb coating, which give us more advanced & anti rust strings. It gives guitarists even more longevity out of a set of strings than every before. These strings have a very nice, crisp and rich sound. The coating feels great on the fingers and probably makes slides a little easier.

Elixir strings may be a little pricey, but they probably will last much longer than those one dollar cheap strings. A small investment goes a long way. Treat yourself with something special like this and you will enjoy the value in return. If you would like to understand further about Elixir strings, here is one of our review on their best selling model: Elixir Nanoweb Light 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Strings.

Other than D’Addario & Elixir guitar strings, there are also some other strings recommendations at very reasonable price. For example like Ernie Ball & Martin.

Acoustic guitar strings consist of many type of gauges & brands. Guitar newbie often get confused as to what type of strings and brand to buy for his guitar. A very common question pop up in newbie’s mind is which is the best acoustic guitar strings brand for me?

As what we have learned from previous article, there are four main gauge options for Acoustic Guitar:

• Extra light 10 – 46. Easiest to play and least tension. Good for beginners but prone to producing a thin sound.
  

• Custom Light Gauge 11 – 52. Ease of playing maintained and produces slightly richer fuller sound.
  

• Light Gauge 12 – 54. Popular with professional musicians. Higher tuning stability. Not recommended for budget guitar due to higher tension.
  

• Medium Gauge 13 – 56. One of the highest gauges. Very big, rich tone but difficult to play on some guitars due to high tension.
  

For a guitar beginner, there are suggestions to opt for lighter strings because it’s easier to press down and simple to play. However there’s no “The Best Brand” in the market. Choosing a certain brand is more on personal preference.

You may want to check out these popular brands in the market: Elixir, D’Addario, Martin, Ernie Ball, etc. Try out few brands and test them to find the best suit you. Personally, I would prefer Elixir’s extra light strings because it is easier to press and last pretty long. Sometimes after you changed to light gauge strings, you still find it’s difficult to press the strings down. You might want to take your guitar to shops and have it checked. Your guitar “action” (height of strings off the fingerboard) might be a bit too high. This problem can be solved by getting guitar repair shop to lower the action for you.

Our next article: How to restring acoustic guitar

1. Composition
2. Gauge
3. Brand

Composition

Guitar strings made from material like nickel, stainless, bronze, phosphor bronze, etc. Acoustic guitar use steel strings and classical use nylon. Electric guitars usually use steel strings too. In this article, we will review steel strings instead of nylon, since they are the most common used.

Guitar strings types could also be classified as wound & unwound strings.

a. Wound Strings: A thinner wire wrap with a steel core (usually bronze, nickel or steel). Wound strings are thick and strong. It normally used for the lower registers.

b. Unwound Strings: Unwound strings (also known as standard strings) are generally used for the upper registers. It’s thinner with a higher pitch.

Different type of string and wrapping metals will affect the sound of the string. Bronze is usually considered to have a ‘bright’ sound, which steel is more mellow & softer, especially when wrapped in nickel.

How the string is wrapped could also impact the sound. Although ‘Rround wound’ strings are loud and vibrant, it can be hard on the neck of your guitar and produce noise when sliding your fingers over them. ‘Flat wound’ strings are not as crisp sounding and are easier on frets and fingers.

Gauge

Next, we look at the gauge of the string, ie the thickness or diameter. There are 4 main gauges for Acoustic Guitar strings:

• Extra light 10 – 46. Easiest to play and least tension. Good for beginners but prone to producing a thin sound.
• Custom Light Gauge 11 – 52. Ease of playing maintained and produces slightly richer fuller sound.
• Light Gauge 12 – 54. Popular with professional musicians. Higher tuning stability. Not recommended for budget guitar due to higher tension.
• Medium Gauge 13 – 56. One of the highest gauges. Very big, rich tone but difficult to play on some guitars due to high tension.

Thicker strings sound louder, but they are also under more tension to maintain the required pitch. This can make them hard to play, as the pressure required to push the string down behind the fret is considerable.

To avoid buzzing against the frets, thicker strings usually have to be mounted a bit higher off the soundboard than thin strings. This may slow down the “action” of the instrument, making it more difficult to play quickly.

Brand

So which brand to choose? That is up to your own preference & budget. Each brand has its own solid characteristics, but what works for one person might not sound right to another. The best thing you can do is buy 2 or 3 packs of strings from different makers. Test it and see which one sounds the best to you.

One thing for sure is, choosing appropriate strings will aid technique, enhance quality and improve confidence of the guitar player.

So by now you had basic understanding on guitar strings types, let’s move on to next article: When Should We Replace Guitar Strings?