Are all coated guitar strings created equal? In a word, no. Elixir® Strings are coated in a unique and patented way to protect wound strings from contaminants and corrosion. A flexible, strong, yet micro-thin polymer tube defends the Critical Zone of Tone from invading enemies. You can think of it like a heat shrink tube that’s thinner than a human hair. Nothing (including the coating) gets between the windings. The result? Strings that sound and feel their best three to five times longer than ordinary strings. Other companies have tried different solutions like coating the wrap wire itself. Sure they stay looking shiny, but it does nothing to solve the contamination problem of gunk between the windings, and they go dead nearly as fast as ordinary strings. Still other string companies attempt to treat the strings with various materials and processes, claiming that they are somehow prolonging string life. The samples we have tested of this type of coated string either vastly diminish string tone or don’t appear to offer much improvement in contamination or corrosion over conventional uncoated strings. As you might guess, many people think coated strings are all the same. But as you have just read, only Elixir® Strings truly solve the problem and deliver on the promise of great tone and long life. back to FAQ...