For those who use coated strings . . . collecting your thoughts?

[DanleyJ]

Over the past year I've tried several of the coated strings out there, Martin, EXP, DR Dragon Skins and Elixir. I have dry finger tips and un-coated strings are quite noisy when I play. All the above mentioned strings except Elixir were either too squeaky and rubbery or just plain sticky. Even the Elixir Poly strings felt like they had a fur coat on them and after a short while they even looked like they had a fur coat from the flaking. So, I use Elixir Nano lights (12-53) only at this point as they have a nice full tonal quality that I like plus they are not sticky or rubbery. But most of all the slide noise on wound strings is greatly reduced which is the top main selling point for me. Some say they are too slick feeling but I say it just increases my speed on fast passages. I had a set of Elixir Nanos on one guitar that didn't get played much for over a year and they never picked up any dirt and looked and played like new the entire time. I find that non-coated strings have the tendency to tarnish and pick up dirt even if they don't get played. Heck the magnified pictures on the Elixir web site show the coating reduces picking up dirt and dead skin that kills the sound. That's why they coat them! Anyhow, Elixir strings for me. The only coated strings that I've found to fit my need.

[marit]

I'm actually going to be putting on Dean Markleys new Blackhawk coated strings tonight - 80/20's in .12 gauge, the code number for them is also 8020 which is quite funny.

[tippy5]

I like Lifespans and Dr. Rare's. But whoever the metallurgist/alchemist that came up with Elixirs should be congratulated.

[MichaelD23]

I'm liking the new Elixir set that runs 12/56, rather than their traditional 12/53. It gives a beefier bottom to the low E and A that balances the sound nicely on my Santa Cruz OM/PW. About to put a set on a '95 Taylor Koa backed GA that sparkles in the upper registers but lacks a bit down low. Hoping for a similar positive effect.

To the OP, overall I'm a big fan of the coated strings. They simply last longer — or at least the Elixirs with which I'm familiar — and if you watch for sales, you can ameliorate the effect of their higher unit price.

[rick-slo]

Just the wound strings are plastic coated. The plain strings may be flash coated with some agent or another for increased corrosion oxidation resistance (stainless steel strings do not actually rust).
I like the sound of Elixir Nano right out of the box and they usualy last me many months.

[Earl49]

I've happily used Elixir's since they came on the market many years ago. The originals were the Polywebs, which has the entire string -- windings and all -- coated in Teflon. Nanowebs have the grooves between the windings coated, but the winding itself is exposed and discolors with surface corrosion from finger contact. I've never paid much attention to the unwound B and high E strings.

Polywebs cut down on finger squeak, but the coating frays where your flat pick hits them, and sometimes even where finger nails hit them. That is purely cosmetic, IMO. They can sound somewhat "dead' even when brand new. Nanowebs don't fray and sound a bit brighter in general. I now use PB's instead of the 80/20 version, and more often the Nanoweb.

Experiments with other coated strings such as the EXP and Cleartones have been inconclusive. I've found no compelling reason to switch from my primary Elixir strings. I use uncoated strings on certain guitars that get re-tuned a lot. Re-tuning up and down kills a string quickly due to metal fatigue, so I swap out cheaper uncoated strings more regularly.

[Swamp Yankee]

I have tried some others - but I've always been very happy with Elixir PB Nanowebs since meeting them as OME on my Taylor guitars.

They sound wonderful to me. They also feel great whereas many non coated strings seems to really chew up my fingertips a lot more - especially the D'addarios so many here seem to prefer.

There's also less slide noise, as others have noted, when I move my fingers up and down the neck, than there is with non-coated strings.

AND THEY LAST. I can get 4-5 times the amount of life out of Elixir PB nanos that I can out of any non-coated string I've tried.

[CT77]

Originally Posted by Earl49

Nanowebs don't fray.

Alas, they do. Maybe not as easily as the poly's, but they do in time if you abuse them right

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by dmckean44

Coated string get dirty and look awful after a couple weeks so I don't really see the point in using them. Unless it's on guitars you rarely play.

Hi dmck…

I've never experienced that, and have used Elixir Nanoweb (Phosphor Bronze) as the main strings on my 4 acoustic guitars for well over a decade, and they get played plenty.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by CT77

Alas, they do. Maybe not as easily as the poly's, but they do in time if you abuse them right

Hi CT77

I think your point 'if you abuse them right' has a lot to do with shedding.

I'm an all flesh finger style play and mine never fray. My gigging partner is a flat picker and his do shed.

[Larry Pattis]

The amount of mis- and in-correct information in this short thread is goofy.

Question everything.

I don't have time.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Larry Pattis

The amount of mis- and in-correct information in this short thread is goofy.
Question everything.
I don't have time.

Hmm. Seems like good, thoughtful, thread comments to me. I agree with most of it. Regarding the coating
flaking off, it has never happened to me but I don't doubt for a second those who say it has happened to them.

[Swamp Yankee]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi CT77

I think your point 'if you abuse them right' has a lot to do with shedding.

I'm an all flesh finger style play and mine never fray. My gigging partner is a flat picker and his do shed.

I've never seen nanos shed, either...
but as with you, I use my fingers only.

[MichaelD23]

I never noticed the fraying until I took an extreme closeup photo of a guitar I had for sale, trying to get a good shot of the label inside the body of the guitar. Then I saw all kinds of bizarre dangly things on the strings, and until I realized what they had to be, I was baffled. So, yes, they do that, but it does not seem to affect the tone.

[JP-]

"Originally Posted by Larry Pattis
The amount of mis- and in-correct information in this short thread is goofy.
Question everything.
I don't have time."

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I am the OP of this thread, and I was seeking to collect peoples' thoughts on a string-related topic.

I appreciate everyone's constructive input.

Mis- and in-correct information?

I am not sure that I have ever encountered rust on a non-wound stainless string? Others, earlier in this thread, mentioned that they have been troubled by this.

Does this count as mis-information?