Elixir vs DR vs Newtone strings

[Dlw19]

Nice comparison - I like the DR Rare’s. I’ve had a pack on the shelf for awhile but never tried them. Think I may do a string change this weekend and give them a whirl.

[hammer40]

Elixir, Newtone, then the DR’s. None were bad but the Elixer’s and Newtone sets were bright, crisp and clear, the rares just seem to be holding that guitar back, to my ears.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by Ryler

I vote Elixirs. They're was a crispness to them that I like. They have a lot of detractors. I'm just not one of them.

Originally Posted by R. Wayne

Elixir FTW.

Originally Posted by hammer40

Elixir, Newtone, then the DR’s. None were bad but the Elixir’s and Newtone sets were bright, crisp and clear, the rares just seem to be holding that guitar back, to my ears.

Despite my initial resistance to Elixirs, I started using them for bass, then acoustic and finally electric too. My favorite strings = Elixir Nano.

[mellowman]

I like the the tone of the Elixir Nanos about the same as a lot of the other brands, but their ability to dampen squeaks makes the difference for me.

[Mandobart]

Of those 3, DR, definitely. What's better than DR? Curt Mangan. Every set or individual string I buy from Curt Mangan - mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, guitar; even nylon ukulele strings - sound better than every other brand I've tried.

[Gordon Currie]

I've tried all three of those sets. They sound closer in this demo than they did for me.

For what I like in a string, the Elixirs had FAR more sustain and clarity.

The other two sounded smoother, but seemed to have significantly less sustain.

Well done comparison!

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by hyenik

Small comparison of three phosphor bronze sets

Based on THIS video, the answer is quite easy: The DR Rare. If has beef and it's not muddy. The Elixirs could sound good with a dark guitar, but HORRIBLE with a brighter guitar; the Newtones (I haven't played them) need a bright guitar. In this video, they sound too dense and muddy.

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Great no-nonsense sound comparison but it doesn't really matter how good Elixirs sound I just can't use a string that feels like it's been smeared with fried chicken fat.

They don't really sound that good to begin with. They make every guitar sound the same

[domen]

1-newtone
2- DR
still does not understand why elixir have so much fans...too much zing, confusion on mids and mid-highs...good strings are not based on volume and projection

[GeneralDreedle]

I've yet to have DR Rares sound bad on any of my guitars

[rokdog49]

Not an Elixir fan and this confirms it for me.

[Jay Menon]

One thing I have noticed time and again though - Elixirs sound very bright when first put on a guitar. Over the first 3 - 4 days they lose that initial brightness, and after that don't change and they retain that tonality for months and months...

So a more accurate test might be a week old set of Elixirs against these other strings.

Elixirs come into their own if you have a bunch of acoustic guitars - if you're not using Elixirs (or another long life string), you'll spend a lot of time and money changing strings.

I understand that with new D'Addario strings, the entire string is coated (like with Elixir). These I would like to try...

[LakewoodM32Fan]

Reviving this almost-zombie thread. My overall ranking was Newtone, closely followed by DR Rares, with Elixirs a distant third. Count me as one of those who feel Elixirs have such a strong sound signature, they have a homogenizing effect on guitars strung with them. Don't get me wrong, a cedar top will still sound different from an Adi top with Elixirs, but the differences won't be as pronounced as they are if they were equipped with other strings.

For strumming, which is my mode of playing most of the time, the gap between Newtone and DR was moderate in this video. For flatpicking and fingerstyle, the gap narrowed.

My SCGC OM Adi/EIR needs to be restrung, so I'm trying my first Newtone Masterclass 12-54s tonight!

[eyesore]

Well I just bought 6 sets of Sunbeam DR's. they seem ok but they don't last too long. Newtones I won't buy anymore because they kept messing up my orders. May try Elixirs again after I am done with the DR's.

[donlyn]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Great no-nonsense sound comparison but it doesn't really matter how good Elixirs sound I just can't use a string that feels like it's been smeared with fried chicken fat.

Hey Bruce,

And how do you think the chicken feels about that ?



Don
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