Coated Strings?

I am enjoying my second new guitar day in as many weeks as I picked up a used Taylor 110 earlier this evening (I grabbed a MIK Epi Dot last week) but my NGD has brought up a question about coated strings as the ones on my Taylor are as dead as can be and must be replaced tomorrow.

I like the Elixir strings that come stock on Taylors, especially as there is less squeaking than there is with other acoustic strings, but upon checking the website of the store I shop at I discovered that the Elixirs cost about $15 per pack which is more than double what other strings cost.

Are they worth the extra money? Do they last long enough that it all evens out? If they do not last long enough for things to even out can anyone here recommend any other coated strings that cost less than the Elixirs? Or are coated strings simply not worth the extra cost?

If they aren't worth it I will find other strings (perhaps the Martin strings I had on my previous acoustic) but wanted to ask those who know more about these strings before I made a decision.

Come to think of it, can anyone recommend some decent but normal (ie. non-coated) acoustic strings that are not overly squeaky?

Personally I wouldn't buy them if they were regular price. They sound OK, but not any better than most uncoated, and not as good as some like Pearse, on my guitars anyway.
To me they'd have to sound a lot better and last a lot longer to justify the price.

coated strings last longer, but to me they don't sound as good as a normal set of strings ... if they last two or three times as long as regular string , you are still paying the same price for inferior sound ...

coated strings last longer, but to me they don't sound as good as a normal set of strings ... if they last two or three times as long as regular string , you are still paying the same price for inferior sound ...

I gotta argue this when it comes to comparing Elixir Phosphor Bronze Nanowebs with any other phosphor bronze string; I feel their tone is just as good as D'Adds, GHS, John Pearse, Martin as I have used all of these for years and switched to Elixirs a few years ago in search of a string with less string squeak noise (than D'Adds I have been using for 25 years)as well as longevity.

Now if you like 80/20 or bright bronze strings or the tone of Elixir Polywebs, I can't comment on those as I never use them, but I do think the Elixir is the best PB string I have ever used, and they can last months; the sound after playing one hour and weeks later is the same, just the right mix of rich and bright, IMO.

If u dont like changing strings, elixers are well worth 15 bucks. Ive never had a set that didnt last at least a month. But then again i can get a month out of non coated strings too. But i always wash hands before playing and they dont sweat much. Some people sweat more and have oily hands and can kill strings fast. Elixers are great for these people. Ive always used them on my more mellow sounding guitars, but NOT on my Martin D28. IMO the coating Tames down the volume and the complex tones of a higher end guitar. I hope this isnt un appropriate, but elixer strings are basiclly strings that wear a condom for protection lol.
The only other brand ive tried was the Martin SP Lifespan. They feel Like uncoated strings and dont have the slick feeling to them. I liked them but didnt feel they lasted long enough to justify 20 bucks.

I agree with most of this. FWIW, I play regular strings on everything but my GS mini, which gets the stock nano webs. I once got a deal on a set of dean markley alchemy strings for a laminate Yamaha f335, and left them on for a year-they still sounded fine.

I generally don't like the tone of coated strings, but liked the tone of my gsm so much that I see no reason to change it. You'll get fifteen bucks of play out of them unless you dislike the tone enough to change them early.

I'm no pro on babys, but the coated strings might add something good to the tone.

Martin SP Lifespan. They feel Like uncoated strings and dont have the slick feeling to them. I liked them but didnt feel they lasted long enough to justify 20 bucks.

I have the martin lifespan, my first pair of coated strings and only the 3rd or so time I have ever changed my acoustic strings ! (not been playing for long/very much)

I am very surprised at the price you paid. Even for me in the uk, I ony paid around $10 for them.

My only complaint is that they are EXTREMELY squeaky. But this may just be because they are new.

I have the martin lifespan, my first pair of coated strings and only the 3rd or so time I have ever changed my acoustic strings ! (not been playing for long/very much)

I am very surprised at the price you paid. Even for me in the uk, I ony paid around $10 for them.

My only complaint is that they are EXTREMELY squeaky. But this may just be because they are new.

Well your right on that one! The local guitar store is pretty steep on strings for sure, and dishonest ( i dont go back there). Not knocking the lifespans at all, just cant justify the local price for them. Kinda off subject but i blew my top when they tried to talk me into letting them install a bone nut and saddle on my 2011 D28 to " improve sound". I guess they didnt think i was smart enough to know it comes factory with bone!

I've never liked the coated strings, but one thing about Elixir strings used to really tick me off - they had a dodgy "G" string - mine would always break way before they should (which is ideally almost never). I've even had one break while putting new strings on. The folks at Taylor insisted I was putting them on incorrectly (as if 20+ years of doing it successfully meant nothing). I stopped using them and went back to my D'Addarios - SURPRISE! no broken 'G' strings since (though my bends have wiped out a few 'e' strings.

My most recent Tanglewood purchase came with coated strings and I didn't really like them much. I was looking forward to the time when they needed changing so that I could put some regular strings on. Even though I played it a lot, they never needed changing - they really did last for ages.

I actually took them off when they were still in good shape and put some regular strings on maybe three weeks ago. I haven't played that guitar much since but they have already gone pretty dead sounding - and I always wipe strings after playing.

So I'm in two minds on this. I like regular strings on that guitar after they settle in after two days, but then I feel they need to be changed a couple of weeks later. Keeping that guitar at its sweet spot is going to be pretty expensive!

I'm going to use a different brand of strings every time I change them now to see if there's an uncoated set that I like the tone of and that lasts a bit longer. (I used to have a favourite brand but sadly they are no longer made.)

My most recent Tanglewood purchase came with coated strings and I didn't really like them much. I was looking forward to the time when they needed changing so that I could put some regular strings on. Even though I played it a lot, they never needed changing - they really did last for ages.

I actually took them off when they were still in good shape and put some regular strings on maybe three weeks ago. I haven't played that guitar much since but they have already gone pretty dead sounding - and I always wipe strings after playing.

So I'm in two minds on this. I like regular strings on that guitar after they settle in after two days, but then I feel they need to be changed a couple of weeks later. Keeping that guitar at its sweet spot is going to be pretty expensive!

I'm going to use a different brand of strings every time I change them now to see if there's an uncoated set that I like the tone of and that lasts a bit longer. (I used to have a favourite brand but sadly they are no longer made.)

I use the D'Addario 80/20's; usually get about 6 gigs or 3-4 weeks out of them. They are about $5US/set if you buy in bulk, so that's not bad at all...

I think you have to break down and just try them...D'Addario EXP's (phosphor bronze) were the 'standard' for my now traded Gibson J-30...perfect sound and playability...used to change them twice a year. They were AWFUL on my Guild D55, as were DR Extra Life (now Dragon Breath or some other wierd name...the strings, I mean). But those DR's were wonderful on my "little" Guild GAD30PCE, a Grand Auditorium size cutaway. So some are good on some guitars and ya just gotta try 'em out...

I put Elixers on my dreadnaught, and the low strings just went THUD. Totally unacceptable to me. Something that I have noticed with most coated strings is that the way I play, I shred the coating and I get tattered coatings all over the lower portions of the strings.

All in All, I think I prefer inexpensive Ernie ball strings. If I play a lot, I change them every couple weeks, and if I don't 6 weeks.

Not a big fan of coated strings.

Martin SP Lifespan Phosphorus

These strings changed my life.

I LOVE John Pearse mediums. I think I found that sound on a long lasting string. Worth every penny of the $18.95 for me. They record very well too.

The Elixer strings do last a lot longer. As for the tone, it's a funny thing, I've played guitars that just hated them, and then there's my Larrivee D-03, which sounds better with them than any other string, coated or not, that I've tried on it.

Tim

Big fan of Elixir Nanoweb/Phosphor Bronze (Mediums) on my Martin D-1 for about 3-4 years now.

They impart a very similar tone as the D'Addario's did for 10-12 years, but last so much longer, hold their tone (with my guitar just what I call a 'balanced mix of warm, bright and volume'), and produce much less string noise. No 'thud' on my low strings with these.

Come to think of it, can anyone recommend some decent but normal (ie. non-coated) acoustic strings that are not overly squeaky?

I like round core strings. They have the best feel and longevity as well as nice ringing tone.

I usually get DR Sunbeams because they're cheapest in US. Newton and Pyramid are good but more money in the US. I want to try Guadaloupe next. I learned about Guadaloupe Custom Strings from Paul Hostetter's site.

Those sites if you're interested:
http://www.lutherie.net/
http://www.guadalupecustomstrings.com/

Remember to follow instructions if you try round core and don't cut them early.

I've had (uncoated) Newtone strings on my Lowden for a few weeks now and they still sound very good. Round core I believe, which is supposed to reduce the build up of dirt on the wound strings.

I have had really good luck with the Dean Markely Alchemy GoldPhos strings. They are electroplated rather than Teflon coated. I teach with my acoustic, and I put them on my students' guitars because they easily last a year. :shock: I was really surprised myself, because I hate their electric strings.

They do not sound as good as the John Pearse phosphor bronze strings, (which are my favorites), and they are quite expensive. Still, I get a year out of a set rather than 6 - 8 weeks, and so if you do the math, they really don't cost that much.

Big fan of Elixir Nanoweb/Phosphor Bronze

+1 These sound great and last for ages with no drop off in tone.

DR rare, non coated
DR dragon skins coated. Dragon skins are soo nice. Go get some and be done with it.

I put Elixers on my OM-21. They are, in my opinion, ok. They do last. I don't mind that they aren't as brilliant bright as a brand new set of uncoated strings; that works better for me with metal fingerpicks. There is something subtle in the tone I don't like; for some reason it reminds me of a piezo pickup, which I also don't like. I'll be going back to PBs next string change. If only they didn't last so damn long.

steven

I agree with the comments that it just comes down to what the guitar likes. I've played around with different brands, and just finally settled on what sounded best (for now). Probably this changes over time:

Elixir nanoweb mediums on my 310Ce
D'Addario phosphor/bronze lights on my old D-18 (had it set up for lights instead of mediums)
Elixir nanoweb lights on tele.

Oh yeah, and then there is the beater Ibanez PF which sits in my office always ready to pick up. I haven't changed its strings in 4 years. I pick that up almost every day and I actually like the tone I get from those crusty, grimy, nasty strings

Elixir Nanos sound better than any string I've tried on my Larrivee. The Ball Titanium coated were great sounding for about 3 hours. Cleartones go dead faster than non-coated strings for me - whicxh is fast ( I sweat, I play A LOT, and I play aggressively). My biggest beef with them is the fact that they shred in no time, and the g also breaks quickly on me - mind you, it lasts longer than most. The only other strings I like on that guitar are the Pearce 80/20 12-56.

I hated Elixir electric guitar strings, but I swear by the Nanowebs for acoustic-electric work. The Nanos sound more brilliant than the Polywebs with the thicker coating. 11-52 on my Larrivee (I used 13-56 for years, but chronic hand health issues eventually put a stop to that).