Coated Strings?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrDan666
  • Start date Start date
MrDan666

MrDan666

Active member
Hey guys,

Who here uses coated strings? And which brand?

I have really extreme acid sweat and can often kill a fresh set of non-coated strings in one evening. So i have been looking at coated strings since it would be great to not have to constantly re-string my main guitar.

I tried Elixir 10-46 last year and found that i didn't like them. Extremely slippery feel which i hated, and their 10-46's felt more like 11's to me. They definitely felt heavier than the Rotosound and D'addario 10-46 i had been using before.
However, i strung the guitar up with the Elixirs last August and believe it or not they are still on the guitar and still shiny too. It's not been gigged since stringing it up with the Elixirs, but i have used it a lot at home though.

I recently tried Ernie Ball Cobalts. They sound absolutely killer but they don't last quite as long as coated strings do.. They have outlasted any other non-coated string for me though, so they're definitely an improvement over nickel plated strings for me.

I spoke to somebody who works in a local guitar store here and he recommended GHS Coated Boomers. He said that even though they are coated.. They actually feel like a normal non-coated string (none of that Elixir style slippery-ness). They apparently last as long as Elixirs. Anyone tried them?

Any recommendations/suggestions would be much appreciated!! :rock:

Cheers!
Dan
 
love elixirs.. tried eb coated, hated them, for what you didnt like abou the elixirs i like, and thus didnt like about the eb's, i'm used to the elixir slippery feel, the eb's were the opposite.
 
I don't use them myself, but funny you mentioned it because this just showed up in one of my youtube subscriptions;
 
I usually use non-coated D'Addario's, someone gave me a set of DR coated and I really liked them. I am not exactly sure what ones they were other than the coating was red. They lasted at least twice as long as a normal set for me, I am not a big sweater though.
 
Love the Nanowebs. Were better when they had the anti-rust plains, though.
 
I dug the elixirs personally. They sous and play like new strings after months of use. Indont really think they feel slippery IMO, they feel like any other string to me
 
From a fellow big sweat monster, I have never found a set of coated strings I preferred to traditional sets. If you can find any still around get a set of Skull Strings. They were formulated with chromium and actually used your sweat to prevent corrosion. I wish I had bought a box or two of them when I could because I only have a few sets left. I use them on certain guitars in my collection that I play infrequently and don't want to restring because they sat as opposed to being played out. They literally last until they break down physically. Some people seem to think the titanium line from Ernie Ball last longer but I found them to be a bit harsh sounding; however that may have just been because I used them on a single coil axe. If you can not find a set you like you can always get a few cheap cloths just for wiping your strings down as you go.
 
I use Elixir 9-42, have been for years. I rotate between 4 guitars and strings last 3-6 months compared to weeks with non coated. I did not like them at first either but I got used to them.
 
GHS Boomers are far and away my favorite strings and have been since '04. Which is almost unfortunate because I break them a lot easier than most any other strings I've used. especially on a Floyd setup up I have on an Ibby 320. I won't shy away from them though. Never easy being a tone snob.
 
I used elixir 11-49 nanoweb or whatever and they were excellent, best strings I've ever played. Sounded crisp for months.
I've also bought a pack of D'addario 10-46 that I'm yet to use, but will post again if I restring soon..
 
I put them on guitars that I don't gig with and rarely play. I like DR's coating better than any of the others that I've tried.
 
doesn't Dean markley have some new ones Helix or something that are coated respond tonewise like a heavier string but feel lighter

Anyone try those yet??
 
MrDan666":je2qduht said:
I spoke to somebody who works in a local guitar store here and he recommended GHS Coated Boomers. He said that even though they are coated.. They actually feel like a normal non-coated string (none of that Elixir style slippery-ness). They apparently last as long as Elixirs. Anyone tried them?

Any recommendations/suggestions would be much appreciated!! :rock:

Cheers!
Dan
Click to expand...

Funny, I was just at GC about 30 minutes ago and they had two pack of GHS coated boomers in the bargain box. Picked them up, looked at them for about 30 seconds and was too lazy to actually go and buy them. :lol: :LOL: I figured they would be there the next time i went in and would try them then. I have a little 3/4 size acoustic guitar that I bought new and came with Elixirs. Still have those original strings on the guitar and still sounds okay............12 years later. :lol: :LOL:
 
I have the Dean Markley Helix set 10-52 on my '97 Big Apple strat, which I used to use Rotosounds on. I like them very much. They have outlasted the Rotos and are have made such a good impression on me tone wise that I will be using them as that guitars go to set. The wound strings do actually respond as if they were thicker in gauge without the added tension. I also notice a touch less string noise while changing positions on the neck. The sound is thicker without getting dark in nature. Also they really are on the less expensive side of the string spectrum too. Oh BTW the axe uses Seymour Duncans 59 in neck position and a Pearly gates at the bridge.
 
memberzonly":13rnto2o said:
Love the Nanowebs. Were better when they had the anti-rust plains, though.
Click to expand...

The anti-rust plains are back. They had an issue with a supplier being short on stock for a bit but the anti's are on the shelves again.

Elixir Nano's for me. Love them.
 
I used the Elixir strings for a long time. They do last and sound great but there is a stiffness in the higher strings that I don't like as a feel, myself. I also find that the Elixir strings break more often. I switched and have been using the titanium coated EB strings for the last 2 years with great success. They sound fantastic, they last and they have a nicer feel. Again....IMHO on anything like this. Everyone has their preferences.
 
Hey Dan,

i use elixirs, i think i know what you mean about the certain stiffness, but it depends on the guitar and what not, i've got 46-10s on pretty much all my guitars, last ages and rarely change them out

i ran across this, i know you're more likely to buy something TUSQ from them, but could be interesting:

http://www.graphtech.com/products.html?CategoryID=21

ad looks like some slick lubricant heh, but could be something to try

PrePlayMainPicture.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top