To coat or not to coat?

[gjatkins]

Do you prefer coated or non-coated strings and why?

[jimklein]

I (so far) have not seen an uncoated string that lasts for more than a few hours. (I consider my hands to be normal, not sweaty or acidy & take great pains to make sure my hands are clean & dry before playing)

Also, I do prefer the sliding action of coated & being able to play for longer periods of time.

[stringslowe]

I like the coated - no sliding noise.

[jira]

Non-coated strings for the simple reason they sound better, IMHO.

[Noflatpick]

Real strings on real guitars are metal and nothing else.

Plastic strings belong on your little crank-driven, pop-goes-the-weasel, plastic guitar.

[cotten]

For my purposes, coated. I like the feel, the sound, the lack of noise and the long life.

cotten

[meridian]

Coated!!!

What a blessing. Hated all those shredded green callouses of years gone by!

[Markr]

Longer Life !!

Strings aren't that cheap anymore, and nobody wants to have to change them every week or two

Originally posted by jira
Non-coated strings for the simple reason they sound better, IMHO.

Ditto.

[TaylorKid]

Originally posted by Markr
Longer Life !!

Strings aren't that cheap anymore, and nobody wants to have to change them every week or two

i do when i have some extra money, but im gonna have to agree that elixers do offer a better bang for the buck. I get a week out of Martin SP phosphors and those are the longest lasting uncoated strings i have tried. my vote- elixers

[DaveM]

Coated, definitely coated. They last much longer and there's no sliding noise. I either have an acid finger problem, or the fact that I have to humidify the crap out of my guitars to keep them near where they should be still makes em rust in about two weeks though. I prefer the Elixer Nanos ofer the Polys though. Much better sound and little or no fraying.

- Dave

[utah]

I am 100% sold on coated strings. For many reasons really, all of them mentioned I think.

I admit....it is possible for non coated strings to sound better for a day or so. But, after that....there is no comparison to me.

And I love the playability. So....to each thier own.

Now....I'd like to pose this question...and it may be answered somewhere else on the forum

Why does Taylor ship their guitars with Elixer strings? What is it about Elixers....that Taylor feels is so good, that they would want to have potential customers try the guitars with that brand of string?

Just curious really.

[Marge]

I prefer coated strings

....they are easier on my little fingers
....coated strings (Elixirs) last longer. I don't have a lot of time lately with my guitars. The little time I do have, I'd rather spend playing than changing strings.

I do have uncoated GHS PB mediums on my 12 string. I wish Elixir made a gauge closer to those. I'd be happier with a coated string. The GHS only last a few weeks. I do not like changing them so often.

MAKE it a GREAT day!!!
Marge

[Acousticado]

Although I voted "coated", my preference is really somewhere in-between -- and that's what I found with the new Dean Markley Alchemy (GoldPhos). Although they market it as a coated string, it's a different coating process that doesn't wrap the top layer -- so, no 'peeling' like what happens with Elixirs. And although they feel and play like an uncoated string, I find there is less string noise, less wear on my fingernail, but more volume and longevity than with uncoated. Best of both worlds, IMO. A fantastic new string -- you should try a set.

[martin82]

I like coated. They last longer and sound newer longer.