The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 07-04-2009, 05:33 PM
harryboss1 harryboss1 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 722
Default Elixir or Martin

Which strings do you like better, Elixir or Martin SPs and why..I have an HD28 and need some opinions. Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-04-2009, 06:01 PM
Martin_Nut Martin_Nut is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Boney Mountain, just up Sycamore Canyon From Malibu
Posts: 1,419
Default

On my favorite Martin dread I like SPs fine, as uncoated strings. They sound great. These days I usually use Elixir PB nanos as they last 2-3x as long between changes, and I don't play my Martin as often as I used to. A lot less work . Elixirs are nice enough sounding to me (a bit more bright, with less punch that the Martins, IMO). BTW I just tried some normal Bronze nanos (purchased by mistake), and they sounded very thin as compared with the PB Elixir nanos. I use John Pearse PB and DAddarios on occassion as well. I prefer the SPs and John Pearse these days, but have one guitar that really likes the DAddis. Takes some experimenting - another one to consider is DR PB Sunbeams. I hear a lot of guys like them on their Martin dreads - they are "roundwound" which makes them feel a little smoother to me - med set feel like lights. I tried them on an OM size guitar and really like the feel and sound. Life was OK too, maybe a bit better than average non-coated strings. I found the DR coated strings a bit bass heavy, but with a very good feel and a bit less life than Elixirs. Hope this helps!
__________________
Ryan MGC EIR/Sitka
Doerr SJ Legacy Select MadRose/German
Omega MJC EIR/German
Baranik CX Mad Rose/Western Red Cedar

Last edited by Martin_Nut; 07-06-2009 at 12:08 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-04-2009, 06:26 PM
OddManOut OddManOut is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Carson City, Nv (Want a jackrabbit? We've got extras!)
Posts: 3,203
Default

Between those two, I'd have to go with D'Addario EXPs.

Seriously, I really like the tone of Elixirs, but I break 'em. Not crazy about Martin strings.
__________________
Martin 00-18G; Waterloo WL-S; Furch: V1 OOM-SR, Green G-SR, Blue OM-CM; Tahoe Guitar Co.: OM (Adi/Hog), 000-12 (Carp/FG Mahog), 00-12 (Carp/Sinker Mahog), 00-14 (Adi/Ovangkol);

In the night you hide from the madman
You're longing to be
But it all comes out on the inside
Eventually
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-04-2009, 06:41 PM
skiltrip skiltrip is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: New City, NY
Posts: 1,585
Default

I love Martin SP strings and use them on everything I own at the moment. 80/20 on my all sapele 000, and PB on my spruce/hog dread.

I never liked coated strings. Even on my old Taylor I didn't use Elixirs. Most of the time I had John Pearse on that guitar.
__________________

2016 Fender American Standard Strat (Burly Slinky)
2015 Taylor 416e (Elixir PB Lights)
2010 Yamaha FG700S (whatever strings I have lying around)
'88 Yamaha FG405
'91 Washburn D-10N
Fishman Loudbox Mini
2001 Fender Standard Tele (Regular Slinky)
'94 Epiphone SG (Regular Slinky)
'90 Ibanez 540SLTD (Super Slinky)
Ibanez SR500 Bass (Ernie Ball flats)

Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-04-2009, 06:48 PM
emmonsh emmonsh is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: west branch,mi.
Posts: 1,064
Default

elixer nano are the only 1 i use. i do like john pearse but they only sound good on certain guitars. elixers sound great on all and have never broke 1.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-05-2009, 06:05 AM
rmyAddison rmyAddison is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Addison, TX
Posts: 19,007
Default

Coated string equals coated sound, I pass regardless of brand.

All my Martins get DR Sunbeams, but I Martin SP's just as much, they just don't last as long. I tried Elixers years ago, took them off the same day, warm guitars IMO don't need coated strings muddying them up, but coated strings work great on really bright guitars.

Experiment, see what you like, and enjoy that HD-28, nice guitar!
__________________
Rich - rmyAddison

Rich Macklin Soundclick Website
http://www.youtube.com/rmyaddison

Martin OM-18 Authentic '33 Adirondack/Mahogany
Martin CS OM-28 Alpine/Madagascar
Martin CS 00-42 Adirondack/Madagascar
Martin OM-45TB (2005) Engelmann/Tasmanian Blackwood (#23 of 29)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-05-2009, 06:44 AM
Me&MyGuitar Me&MyGuitar is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Italy
Posts: 339
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by OddManOut View Post
Between those two, I'd have to go with D'Addario EXPs.

Seriously, I really like the tone of Elixirs, but I break 'em. Not crazy about Martin strings.
Not all Martins are good or bad the same.
It is very strange: almost nobody talks about the Martin FX flexible core phosphor-bronze, u can find them at 4.5 $ . I used the custom light .11-.52, they were great but recently went to the light gauge .12-.54 and i will never go back! I play about 1 hour per day and the set lasts for at least a month; many say that the Elixirs last 3 months (but usually nobody tells about the mean playing time...); *if* really so, the Martin FXs still cost less than Elixirs. Great tone, and very very good playability: going to higher gauge required minor relief and action adjustments and gave me no left hand distress.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-05-2009, 09:06 AM
Martin_HD28 Martin_HD28 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3
Default

I also play an HD-28. I bought it new a few months back, but before that, played a D-35. Actually, after playing the D-35 a few years, I took a too-long break from playing, and then I bought the HD-28 and so now I'm almost back to square one. Anyhow, right after I got the new Martin, I broke the high E string, and so I just replaced them all with Elixers. They were OK, but I knew from previous experience that I like the Martin SP's, so after a couple months experimentation with the Elixers, I bought a new set of Martin SP 4200's, and on my HD-28, I prefer them to the Elixers. I had intended to try the SP 4150's, but the music store didn't have any, & I didn't want to wait for them to arrive by mail order, so I bought the 4200's. To me, they're well-suited for the HD-28, but I guess it depends on what sound you're looking for. I like the "traditional" Martin sound. I grew up in the Carolinas and several of my relatives played guitars, fiddles, mandolins etc. in bluegrass groups, so that's the sound I love. Can't say I'm any good at playing it, but I love the sound. To me, the sound of a Martin is distinct. I may be bias, though. Martin is the last name of my mom's family. I'd like to say I'm related to CF Martin, but as far as I know, I'm not. How great would that be??? lol!!!

Last edited by Martin_HD28; 07-05-2009 at 09:12 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-05-2009, 04:00 PM
harryboss1 harryboss1 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 722
Default

Great info guys.
Thanks Harry
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-05-2009, 05:11 PM
imwjl imwjl is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: My mom's basement.
Posts: 8,674
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by harryboss1 View Post
Which strings do you like better, Elixir or Martin SPs and why..I have an HD28 and need some opinions. Thanks
Neither for my HD-28. My HD-28 sounds best with EJ and EXP-17s or round core phos bronze. SP are not really bad but just expensive strings that don't last long so I buy better US made cheaper strings.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-06-2009, 11:36 AM
grayn grayn is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: East Lancashire, England.
Posts: 962
Default

I'd say go with Elixer PB nanowebs. The Martins sound great for a couple of days, then go dead very quickly.
__________________
http://www.myspace.com/gjpike
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-06-2009, 12:09 PM
Jeff M Jeff M is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Not where I thought I was going, but probably where I need to be.
Posts: 18,603
Default

Try both and see what you like.
Some like Elixirs, some don't.

Try John Pearse, D'Addario, DR's....a bunch of others while your at it.
Guitar strings get changed pretty frequently. Experiment.

(I hate coated strings....so I'd go with non-coated Martin's. But I tend to prefer John Pearse...so I'd go likely go that direction.
However, different guitars tend to sound better with different strings....so.......I'd experiment to see what worked best.)
__________________

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."
Henry Van Dyke


"It is in the world of slow time that truth and art are found as one"
Norman Maclean,
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-06-2009, 12:24 PM
HD18JBGuy HD18JBGuy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 690
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rmyAddison View Post
Coated string equals coated sound, I pass regardless of brand.

All my Martins get DR Sunbeams, but I Martin SP's just as much, they just don't last as long. I tried Elixers years ago, took them off the same day, warm guitars IMO don't need coated strings muddying them up, but coated strings work great on really bright guitars.

Experiment, see what you like, and enjoy that HD-28, nice guitar!
Agree with everything said above. Coated strings just don't work that great on Martin guitars. I have experimented with them and find that, if it has to be coated, the D'Addario EXPs seem to work best.

Last edited by HD18JBGuy; 07-06-2009 at 05:43 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-06-2009, 05:01 PM
mikerofone mikerofone is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 66
Default More on strings...

I just got an HD 28...2006 in mint condition. The bottom end is a cannon as you would expect, to the point that it almost overpowers the g, b and e. Does anyone mix the e, a and d string from a lighter gauge set, say an .011 set with the g,b and e string from a .012 set? Or the low end of a .012 set with the high end of a .013 set?

It's an expensive way to string a guitar I admit but I want a bit more brightness (and relative volume) fro the g, b and e.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 07-06-2009, 05:14 PM
Tony Burns Tony Burns is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: middle of no where
Posts: 8,030
Default

I like elixars as well as Dadarrio EXP"S -depends on the guitar as well as wether i put on PB's or 80/20's - with the buy one get one free on the EXP's you cant help but stock up on them - but then again the free T-shirt Elixar is offering makes it temping to get elixars.
__________________
---------------------------------
Wood things with Strings !
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:45 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=