Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Topic started by: TaylorMate on August 30, 2014, 12:38:44 PM
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Finally convinced that the new (with Taylor developed) Elixir HD strings were truly doing fine on my 512 and 812 I decided to buy a couple of sets. But oh, oh, after playing them 2½-3 weeks an old nasty issue came up (I remember it now, but should have remembered earlier): the G-string shows unusual wear, certainly not in line with all the Elixir promisses of superiority. And apart from the wear the string sounds muffled and shows 'thinning' so that I am afraid I will break on my next gig (tomorrow). Single strings are not yet avalable so I have to plunder my other sets. But anyway this should not happen! See my picture attached. With the naked eye you see even more damage. >:(
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When I broke a wound g on a brand-new 12-er set and I emailed Elixir, they were promptly apologetic and sent me a full new set. They also included a self-addressed envelope and asked me to send back the old string (which unfortunately I had already tossed). My guess is they're trying to figure out if something is amiss, but at least they're stepping up to the plate and taking care of their customers.
Edward
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Thanks Edward! I have mailed Elixir. I hope they look into the problem for the benefit of us all. And oh yeh you reminded me of the fact that my first new G-string (0,25) I put on broke! But my dealer was so kind as to send me a new set.
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My Elixer G's last a lot longer now that I have worn the crown off the frets under it.
You can buy single Elixer strings from www.stringsbymail.com
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Get cleartones, problem solved ;)
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Could it be a problem with the guitar? I've never had a problem over many years of using Elixirs on my Taylor guitars.
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It isn't the guitar... it is the strings.
This may look familiar to you... ??
This was after less than 1 hour's playing on my mandolin.
They fray!
I promised myself that I wouldn't use Elixir strings again, but since my new Taylor Custom came with them I am giving them another shot. So far, so good.
(http://www.rod-neep.com/rod/instruments/mandolin-odds/elixirnanoweb-fluff.jpg)
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Elixir Polywebs are well known to fray off the Teflon coating at wear points like at frets or where picked. That is why they came out with the Nanoweb version which has less coating, or coating only down in the grooves and not on top of the windings. You get much less fraying with Nano's as a rule, plus they tend to be a bit brighter in tone. You also get more string "squeak" with finger movement as compared to Polywebs. The photos all look pretty normal to this long time Elixir user, but the fraying does really bother some people.
Remember that the G string is the tightest string on the guitar. If any one is going to break, it will be the G string first.
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It isn't the guitar... it is the strings.
This may look familiar to you... ??
This was after less than 1 hour's playing on my mandolin.
They fray!
I promised myself that I wouldn't use Elixir strings again, but since my new Taylor Custom came with them I am giving them another shot. So far, so good.
(http://www.rod-neep.com/rod/instruments/mandolin-odds/elixirnanoweb-fluff.jpg)
hence using cleartones. They wind the wire BEFORE winding onto the core, they are WAY more balanced, never fray, and last for WAY longer. The Martin sp lifetime strings are great too, in fact usually a little cheaper, esp @ stringthis.com
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Elixir Polywebs are well known to fray off the Teflon coating at wear points like at frets or where picked. That is why they came out with the Nanoweb version which has less coating, or coating only down in the grooves and not on top of the windings. You get much less fraying with Nano's as a rule, plus they tend to be a bit brighter in tone. You also get more string "squeak" with finger movement as compared to Polywebs. The photos all look pretty normal to this long time Elixir user, but the fraying does really bother some people.
The photo I posted of my mandolin strings with the fraying were Nanowebs.
Note that the fraying happened under the fretting fingers!
Rod
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It isn't the guitar... it is the strings.
This may look familiar to you... ??
This was after less than 1 hour's playing on my mandolin.
They fray!
I promised myself that I wouldn't use Elixir strings again, but since my new Taylor Custom came with them I am giving them another shot. So far, so good.
(http://www.rod-neep.com/rod/instruments/mandolin-odds/elixirnanoweb-fluff.jpg)
hence using cleartones. They wind the wire BEFORE winding onto the core, they are WAY more balanced, never fray, and last for WAY longer. The Martin sp lifetime strings are great too, in fact usually a little cheaper, esp @ stringthis.com
I have been playing Coated Elixirs for years now. Never have I seen this happen before, except in pictures on the "internet"haha. No really. My Elixers last for months with no wear and I only change them because of tone.
Cleartones are the strings I use on my M36, they are nice and good strings, they are what Martins puts on them at the factory and they service me well. To say that they are better balanced, sound better, and last longer in my opinion is not true. They seem to be equal to Elixers, but just not any better.
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Up until I found cleartones, I used elixir nanos, and had the fray phenomenon happen every night, causing deadening of tone immediately, forcing changes of strings way too often(gigs 5 nites a week)
Given the price, not worth it. I was changing strings twice a week. (ouch)
With cleartones, I only had to switch sets once every two weeks. Now that I'm mostly a livingroom player, it's once a month, if that. Now, I understand some(like me) may have more acidity in our sweat causing a breakdown of the elixir coating, and some don't. But if I'm going to pay top $$ for strings, I want them to at least perform as advertised. Hence, cleartones. Problem solved. ;D
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Elixors are way over rated as well as over priced
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Just did some research on the Cleartone strings. Discovered they have a new gauge that mirror the HD Lights from Elixir.
Only available at Sam Ash as of today but it looks like they will be stocked at all the online stores soon.
The challenge video was very impressive. I must give them a try!
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Ugh, here we go again ...don't feed the troll!!! :o
Have a good Friday, all, despite the abject silliness ;)
Edward
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I get that exact wear as the the OP. I get it from fingerpicking, not at the frets. Always shows up around 3 weeks of steady play.
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It isn't the guitar... it is the strings.
This may look familiar to you... ??
This was after less than 1 hour's playing on my mandolin.
They fray!
I promised myself that I wouldn't use Elixir strings again, but since my new Taylor Custom came with them I am giving them another shot. So far, so good.
(http://www.rod-neep.com/rod/instruments/mandolin-odds/elixirnanoweb-fluff.jpg)
OK.... on my *new* Taylor ... 12 August (and two weeks not being played in the period since then due to being away on vacation)... I considered that it needed a string change as the Elixirs were starting to lose their edge, especially the G string which was now lacking decent tone and sustain.
On inspection the G string was well and truly "fluffy" in the section of the string where I pick it the most. (And I am a fingerpicker).
So... that's it.
I won't be using Elixir strings again. Not ever. At the (high) price, they really should be better.
So I am back to the tried and very trusted D'Addario EJ16 (Phosphor Bronze Light Gauge) strings that I use on my other guitars.
Rod
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Had the same problem with my new 114CE when I first got it. Elixer sent me replacements but they still frayed quickly. On a lark I tried some Earnie Ball Earthwoods. They have been on since last March and still show no signs of dulling, either visually or acoustically.
I play about 15 min. a day and a couple hours a day on weekends. ;)
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Elixir sent me a replacement set some two weeks ago. This is what Elixir answered me by e-mail (I am not sure whether I am reassured...):
Dear Karel,
Thanks for your interest and support in Elixir® Strings, along with taking the time to write us. I apologize for the experience you are having with our strings.
While it is not out of the ordinary for our coatings to fray, normally it happens over an extended period of time.
The frayed coating will not affect tone and the strings can remain bright long after the strings begin to fray.
Acoustic and electric guitar players typically see little particles or flakes in the areas that get the most abrasion.
Also comparatively heavy picks, specially out of metal, may prematurely cause damages on the coating.
While not pretty, the worn coating does not impact the string tone as long as the fingerboard is in a good condition.
Because there the strings are more often in contact with sweat and dirt and were well protected as long as the coating is intact.
Thanks and kind regards,
Elixir® Strings