problems with elixirs

[dmb66]

I have been playing only elixirs recently, I forget the nanoweb or polyweb version offhand but they come in purple box and are medium guage. Anyway, my problem has been with the G string. Often, when I tune up when stringing (which i do slowly to let them stretch out) this string snaps right at the point where it starts to wind around the tuning head. I even have had this problem with light guages of the same make which either snapped right away or after like a day of light to medium strumming. I have checked the nut and saddle, and there are no grooves or anything that needs filed down that might effect the string. I have never run into anything like this with Martin SP's or DR's. Has anyone else run into a problem with these breaking? It's making me wonder if there are flaws in the string or if I am doing something wrong. These things are suposed to last and they aren't cheap either. By the way, I know I tune correctly (A 440 Hz) and am playing a Fender DG-11 Dread if that makes a difference.

[kmsracer]

hmmm... i have used nanowebs on my martin back home for years, and have been using one set of nanowebs currently on a cheap ass crappy polish guitar here in europe for a few months (to tide me over so i didnt have to cart my good guitar over while i study abroad :- ), and have NEVER heard of something like this happening with those strings.

My experience with them has been nothing short of a dream come true in terms of guitar strings...

Perhaps you should contact the manufacturer if you are positive that everything you are doing is correct... they not only cost a lot of money because they're good, but the maker also backs up their product very well...

let me know what happens either way!

greg

[marlin1805]

I know what you mean. I stopped using elixirs cause they break too much when I play. I would hate it when I just put on new strings and after 3-4 days, one string breaks. They sound so good and look so sharp, but their strength is one of the worst.

[cj4258]

I've run into this problem just tuning the G string "up" at all. I always use the Polyweb .11s on my dreadnought and rarely anything thicker. I find that when tuning up to Open D5 (DADADD) which brings my G to A, it'll only tune up to that a couple times until it finally breaks. D'Addarios las a lot longer than Elixirs from what I've found.

My dreadnought has (what some would call) a shorter string scale of 24.6". If your string scale is closer to the 25" it should be, then tuning and strecthing up your G is probably a bad idea. You can just tune it to G and it should only fall out of tune a maximum of three times, sometimes not even twice.

[dmb66]

[QUOTE=cj4258]I've run into this problem just tuning the G string "up" at all. I always use the Polyweb .11s on my dreadnought and rarely anything thicker. I find that when tuning up to Open D5 (DADADD) which brings my G to A, it'll only tune up to that a couple times until it finally breaks. D'Addarios las a lot longer than Elixirs from what I've found. QUOTE]


yea i am talking not even tuning it up past standard, in fact i didn't even reach that standard g the last two times before it snapped on me

[SeaneeRo66]

I just started using Elixirs, after doing to standard play what Dave plays routine for two years, and love them. I broke my G string (haha, i know) the other day, but that's the first G I've broken in 4 sets. They're definitely more delicate than Martins, but they sound and feel a lot better. Just take your time and let them stretch. Even after they've been on a while, don't tighten the string more than a 1/4 turn at a time. Easy does it. Good luck - once you get used to them, you'll really like them.

[Rob]

Never had any problems, and I haven't had to baby them...

[RaynorC]

I've been through probably six sets of elixirs and broken only one string, I think it was my b. Great strings, I really like them.

[Play_Like_Fonz]

The two guitarists in my band both were using elixers for a while, and both had em break a few times on G. I don't know if thats just coincidence or what. As for me, I don't use elixers bc for a bass theyre $45.

[PilotC150]

I've never had any problems breaking Elixirs, even with some mind up-tuning.

Although, just for the record, the G is the most likely string to break on any set of strings because of the way that particular string is constructed.

[deercreekdmb]

i have never liked elixers... the coating makes it feel like i'm playin nylon strings.. anyway, i have switched to D'Addario's EXP strings. they are coated like elixers, but they are coated before they are wrapped, so you still feel the strings as if they were not coated.. get the phosphor bronze, i think they sound a heck of a lot better too. FYI: Dave uses D'Addario EXP phosphor bronze extra lights...

[marlin1805]

i have never liked elixers... the coating makes it feel like i'm playin nylon strings.. anyway, i have switched to D'Addario's EXP strings. they are coated like elixers, but they are coated before they are wrapped, so you still feel the strings as if they were not coated.. get the phosphor bronze, i think they sound a heck of a lot better too. FYI: Dave uses D'Addario EXP phosphor bronze extra lights...

Extra light ... are you sure?

[Rob]

It might also be worth noting that since the change Dave has been breaking more strings then ever onstage.

[nrpappas]

strings should never break anywhere then where you strick them with ur pick. if a string breaks anywhere else check for any rough edges, if it is breaking all the way up by the tunning knob then check around there, there might be a lit pice of metal sticking up that is "cutting" the string once is has enough tension pushing on it, sometimes it only takes the smallest little thing to cut the string

[deercreekdmb]

Extra light ... are you sure?

not 100% sure that he uses the 15's, but www.dmbtabs.com (http://www.dmbtabs.com) says so... i always thought for sure that he used medium strings cause it looks like he plays on em so hard, but then i saw what dmbtabs.com had to say and went back to my central park dvd and watched and listened closer, you can hear and see a difference if you are and experienced player. i use the exp17's, they are med's and can tell for sure now that he is using lighter strings.

[AcE25]

I work at a Taylor dealer, and we sell a lot of Elixir strings and the G string breaking is a common problem. We even contacted Elixir and they said that they are aware of the problem and they are working on it right now so that they dont break as easy.

Dave uses the D'Addario EXP16

[dmb66]

I work at a Taylor dealer, and we sell a lot of Elixir strings and the G string breaking is a common problem. We even contacted Elixir and they said that they are aware of the problem and they are working on it right now so that they dont break as easy.

Dave uses the D'Addario EXP16


well, i guess i am not crazy

[TurboPGT]

Well I've never broken my G-string during normal play....i use Elixer polyweb .12^ on a Dean Exotic Wood and have never had a problem tuning them or practicing. During a show is different, I break a string almost always during a long set, and its usually the B. Sometimes the G. But unless I'm really pushin it I've never lost a string under normal circumstance.

D'Adario strings a probably better though, im just use to the E's, so i keep buyin 'em.

[Dancing Ants]

never was an elixir fan. D'Adds, Martins, and DRs are what I use.

[marlin1805]

Martins are the strongest I've used - they never break

[crozetiga]

I have only broken one string ever and that was cause i was just starting out and I tried tuning the guitar to itself and the Low E was already up about 2 steps. By the time i got to the D string, it snapped.

To be more on the on topic, i have never had any problems with polys or nanos. I bang on the strings and i dont play delicately either. I know what could be the problem. Is this just a one set problem? Or has it been several sets? If it is just one then try another. If its more then maybe it is your technique for restringing. Maybe the elixers highlighted a problem that the other stings could withstand. Review how you are restringing. I am just throwing out possibilities. Who knows it could be a fluke or two flukes or whatever. Well i hope this helps. Good luck

Josh

[PilotC150]

i have never liked elixers... the coating makes it feel like i'm playin nylon strings.. anyway, i have switched to D'Addario's EXP strings. they are coated like elixers, but they are coated before they are wrapped, so you still feel the strings as if they were not coated.. get the phosphor bronze, i think they sound a heck of a lot better too. FYI: Dave uses D'Addario EXP phosphor bronze extra lights...
I've never thought they feel anything like nylons, but what you don't like about Elixirs is exactly what I do like.

I tryed D'Addario's and I really didn't like how they are coated before they are wound. I find slides and just overall movement much smoother with Elixirs, just because of the way they are coated after winding.

I also found the D'Addario's to "gunk up" quicker, and they got to sounding dull much sooner than any of my Elixirs ever have.

Another thing I've noticed with Elixirs that I never found with any other kind of string is the lack of retuning necessary after stringing. It's usually only once or twice after I string it and play a bit. And that's only a quarter or half step adjustment usually. With some other strings, the B and E would need a full step or two adjustment once or twice, then the quarter step adjustments for a week.

[dmb66]

I have only broken one string ever and that was cause i was just starting out and I tried tuning the guitar to itself and the Low E was already up about 2 steps. By the time i got to the D string, it snapped.

To be more on the on topic, i have never had any problems with polys or nanos. I bang on the strings and i dont play delicately either. I know what could be the problem. Is this just a one set problem? Or has it been several sets? If it is just one then try another. If its more then maybe it is your technique for restringing. Maybe the elixers highlighted a problem that the other stings could withstand. Review how you are restringing. I am just throwing out possibilities. Who knows it could be a fluke or two flukes or whatever. Well i hope this helps. Good luck

Josh

I suppose I could be restringing incorrectly but all that i have read or ever been told to do i followed correctly to my knowledge. This happened with two sets in a row actually, so that is why I bring it up. I love the sound of new strings, they really sound like you get a new guitar for a while so when they snap two times in a row and I'm being careful it pisses me off and I think understandably so.