Does String Gauge Effect Your Tone?

[Pastasauce]

Oh man, did it just get hot in here or what.

Yep, from the Wellington store. Send it with love, Polar Bear.

[Pastasauce]

Since I'm sure everyone is just itching to hear more about my string experiments, here is another update....

The D'addario's lasted 2 weeks and 3 days on my SG before rusting past the point of usability. I found them to have a lot of string tension (I use 10's). I play for about 30 mins a day on average, and always wipe down the strings (including underneath) after each use. The guitar lives in a guitar stand in the open air of my study/music room.

The Ernie Balls felt lighter. I even noticed a bit more fret buzz. After 2 and a half weeks they definitely had a bit of grit on them but nothing like the D'addario's at that point. Still very useable. I decided to change them though because I wanted to try a set of Elixir Nanowebs that had arrived (also 10's).

The Elixirs: what a disappointment. I put them on the guitar on Monday, and by Saturday they are more gritty than the Ernie Balls were after the same period of time. I wipe them down before each play too, and a rusty substance comes away which looks a lot like pencil lead. They don't feel slinky at all, like the EB's did. In fact, I'm getting tuning "pings" from the Elixirs at the guitar's nut, which I assume is because of some increased thickness from the "special coating"? Either way, it hasn't happened before.

Maybe the Elixirs will last longer before becoming truly unusable. But since they're about $10 more expensive, they'd have to last a lot longer to make them worthwhile to me.

I'll probably try some other brands before making my mind up, but at this stage I've learnt this much: the Ernie Balls feel the best to me and last a decent length of time, at least in my acid-sweating hands.

[Bg]

wear surgical gloves.

[Pastasauce]

Maybe I should only drink bottled water.

[Bg]

that too.

[dc]

Reminds me. Must be due for my yearly string change!

[mr_sooty]

I absolutely swear by Elixir Acoustic strings, but I'll admit to being slightly underwhelmed by their electric sets. I wouldn't recommend wiping them down after use though, certainly not with Fast Fret or anything like that. As you say you'll rub the coating off which will do more harm than good.

I've been switching between Elixir 11's and my usual Power Slinkies for the last year or two, and I find the Elixirs slightly dull when you first put them on compared to the EB's - however they keep that tone for a long time, where as the EB's will be duller than the Elixirs within a week or two. I do notice the difference in tension too, even on the unwound strings, which is slightly odd - it's like Elixir's idea of an .011 is different from Ernie Balls. I stick with the EB's now because I like the guage better (maybe I should try Elixir .010's).

As I say though, I'm totally sold on Elixir Acoustic strings. They sound like new strings for months and months. The last set I had on my acoustic stayed on there for about 8 months, and sounded great right till the end. I find Martin's et al sound dull after a week. I play my acoustic pretty much every day and I won't put anything else but Elixir's on it now. We put them on the guitars in the shop too even though they're more expensive - it works out cheaper because we're changing strings far less often.

[Pastasauce]

I absolutely swear by Elixir Acoustic strings, but I'll admit to being slightly underwhelmed by their electric sets. I wouldn't recommend wiping them down after use though, certainly not with Fast Fret or anything like that. As you say you'll rub the coating off which will do more harm than good.

I've been switching between Elixir 11's and my usual Power Slinkies for the last year or two, and I find the Elixirs slightly dull when you first put them on compared to the EB's - however they keep that tone for a long time, where as the EB's will be duller than the Elixirs within a week or two. I do notice the difference in tension too, even on the unwound strings, which is slightly odd - it's like Elixir's idea of an .011 is different from Ernie Balls. I stick with the EB's now because I like the guage better (maybe I should try Elixir .010's).

As I say though, I'm totally sold on Elixir Acoustic strings. They sound like new strings for months and months. The last set I had on my acoustic stayed on there for about 8 months, and sounded great right till the end. I find Martin's et al sound dull after a week. I play my acoustic pretty much every day and I won't put anything else but Elixir's on it now. We put them on the guitars in the shop too even though they're more expensive - it works out cheaper because we're changing strings far less often.

I'm just using a tissue, not fast fret. But I've got a mate at church who plays acoustic and swears by Elixirs too. When Sarah and I pick up that nice acoustic in a couple of months (come on, tax return), I'll go with Elixirs for sure.

[Polar Bear]

I've had the same set of Elixirs on my electric since may last year, they still look and feel like new.

[Vorbis]

Blessed are those who are without acid sweat, might have to up the tithe a bit to enable weekly string changes.

[Pastasauce]

Haha - I'm almost at that point, aren't I?