FAQs about ELIXIR Strings

  • What's the difference between NANOWEB® and POLYWEB® Coatings?

    The difference between our coating "flavors" lies in the tone and feel. Elixir Strings with NANOWEB Coating sound and feel more like traditional, uncoated strings. They are bright and lively, and the coating is so thin that you can barely tell it's there.

    Elixir Strings with POLYWEB Coating have a warm, "played-in" tone.

    While our POLYWEB and NANOWEB Coatings differ in tone and feel, both offer a smooth feel, reduce finger squeak, and deliver extended tone life.

  •  Do you make taper wound bass strings?

    Yes! We offer taper wound bass strings for 4-, 5-, and 6-string sets – check out the bass product section to find out the details.

  • Do ELIXIR Strings sound different than ordinary strings?

    With NANOWEB Coating, strings sound and feel more like uncoated strings. They are bright and lively, and the coating is so thin that you can barely tell it's there. With POLYWEB Coating, strings sound warm, "played-in."

  • Where can I buy your guitar strings?

    Check out our Where To Buy page to locate a store near you or to shop online.

  •  Will ELIXIR Strings work on a resonator guitar?
  • How do I know it's time to change strings if the sound doesn't change?

    Elixir Strings last a really, really long time – but not forever! Typically it's time to change when the plain steel strings (high E and B) show signs of excessive wear. String life differs from player to player. With Elixir Strings players report their tone lasts longer than any other string, uncoated or coated.

  • I like bright sounding strings. Do you make any bright sounding strings?

    Strings with our NANOWEB Coating sound and feel more like uncoated strings. They are bright and lively, and the coating is so thin that you can barely tell it's there. NANOWEB Coating provides the brightest 'flavor' we make.

  • What causes ordinary guitar strings to go dead?

    The answer is simple. Strings go dead for two reasons: corrosion attacks the metal surface, and stuff on your fingers clogs the space between the string windings. With Elixir Strings the entire string is coated, protecting not only the outer string surface, but also the gaps between the windings. Elixir Strings is the only brand to coat the entire string. The result: players tell us their tone lasts longer than any other string, uncoated or coated.

  • What about other coated string brands?

    Sure, other companies make coated strings. But they coat only the surface of the windings, leaving the space between the windings exposed to dirt and debris. With Elixir Strings the entire string is coated, protecting not only the outer string surface, but also the gaps between the windings. Elixir Strings is the only brand to coat the entire string. The result: players tell us their tone lasts longer than any other string, uncoated or coated.

  • How should I care for ELIXIR Strings while they're on my guitar?

    The NANOWEB, POLYWEB and OPTIWEBTM Coatings on Elixir Strings serve as a protective barrier against tone-killing dirt and debris that builds up between the windings of a string. Although it is good practice to wipe off your strings with a dry cloth after playing to remove any loose debris or moisture, we do not recommend the use of any cleaners or lubricants.

  • What makes your anti-rust strings special?

    As you know, sets are made up of wound and plain steel strings. In addition to the NANOWEB and POLYWEB Coatings that protect all wound strings, Elixir Plain Steel Strings feature an innovative Anti-Rust Plating that prevents rust and corrosion and extends the life of plain steel strings.

  •  Do you manufacture custom sets?

    Unfortunately we do not manufacture custom sets, but you can put one together by purchasing the individual string gauges you need. All retailers can order our single strings. Visit the Where to Buy section of our Web site to locate stores or online retailers that carry our strings.

  • What is the difference between Acoustic 80/20 Bronze and Phosphor Bronze?

    Acoustic 80/20 Bronze and Phosphor Bronze guitar strings offer players different tone options. Both string types are popular and therefore selecting the right strings is a matter of personal preference. Here's what we can tell you:

    • 80/20 Bronze acoustic guitar strings offer a bright, bell-like tone. The 80/20 bronze name is a misnomer in the music industry as the metal wrap wire composition is 80% copper and 20% zinc, which is brass. Bronze is technically an alloy of copper and tin.
    • Phosphor Bronze acoustic guitar strings offer a tone with both warmth and sparkle. The strings are named after the wrap wire material, which is a copper alloy wrap wire with roughly 8% tin and a small amount of Phosphorous.

     

    Regardless of your string preference, Elixir Strings coats all of our wound strings, keeping tone-killing gunk out of the gaps between the windings. Our innovative Anti-Rust Plated Plain Steel Strings also resist tone-deadening corrosion, ensuring longer life for the entire set.

     

  • What is the difference between Nickel Plated Steel and Stainless Steel Bass Strings?

    Nickel Plated Steel and Stainless Steel bass strings offer players different tone options. Both string types are popular and, therefore, selecting the right strings is a matter of personal preference. Here's what we can tell you:

    • Elixir Nickel Plated Steel Strings deliver a rich rounded tone with greater clarity and heavier mid-range presence.
    • Elixir Stainless Steel Bass Strings combine concentrated growling mids with an articulate pop and punch.

     

    Our entire range of round-wound bass strings feature NANOWEB Coating designed specifically for bass raising the bar for bass performance.

  • Will your Bass Strings fit my instrument?

    Our Long Scale strings for electric bass are designed to fit most 34” scale length basses, whereas our Extra Long scale strings are designed to fit most 36” scale length basses. We do not currently offer a string set specifically designed for basses shorter than a 34” scale. 

    If you are still unsure which set will fit your bass, you can use the chart below to find the usable length of our strings and compare that to the dimensions of your instrument. The usable length is the distance from the ball end to the end of the first taper on the string. To determine what usable length you need for your bass, measure from where the ball end rests at the bridge to the nut at the headstock. If this distance is less than 36”, then we recommend our Long Scale strings. If this distance is less than 38”, we recommend our Extra Long Scale strings.

      Long Scale Extra Long Scale
    String Useable Length Total Length Useable Length Total Length
    [inches] [inches] [inches] [inches]
    B - 5 36 50 38 50
    E - 4 36 50 38 50
    A - 3 38 50 38 50
    D - 2 38 50 38 50
    G - 1 48 50 48 50
    C - 6 48 50 N/A N/A

     

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