Elixir bass strings

[tmoney61092]

hello once again, so at around the beginning of January i decided to put some Elixir Nanoweb medium strings on one of my basses. I play a bunch of different styles(finger, pick, slap) with the bass that these strings are on. well today while i was jamming i noticed some unthreading of the coating on the strings. I was under the impression that these strings lasted a long time, in fact it says 3-4x's longer than other strings, and at how much they cost, they should. so my question is, did i get a bad batch of strings or do these just not last as long as they are said to? and also, is this coat just meant to help the strings last longer and not add any tone and will the strings still sound the same as this coat wears off? to try and clear this up, am i being a little overreactive to this coat wearing off and will these strings continue to last for a couple more months with a similar tone?
 
i love the sound they give me but i'm just not looking to spend $40 every month on a pair of strings that will last as long as cheaper brands. if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated
 
~Taylor

[Glynn]

Can't add a lot other than used Elites Stainless for loads of years, Stadium 40- 100.  Cheap and last 2/3 months or so (12/13 gigs).  Around ?14 a set in UK. Give as good sound as I've found.  Glynn

[richbass939]

I have had Nanowebs on my 5 string for a few years now (same set).  They still sound good.  If I did an A/B test next to a new set, maybe I wouldn't think so, but to my ear they are still okay.  
Is the unthreading by where you play with a pick?  After all, it is thin plastic and could be torn by a hard edge.  I mainly play fingerstyle although pretty aggressively.  My strings have little short hairs all over the place.  Other than looking a little fuzzy they seem to be fine.
The way I understand the theory, the coating is just to keep finger gunk from getting packed down around the windings and core wire.  The gunk deadens the string.  I may be assuming a lot, but that's the way I understand it.
Science and all the technical stuff aside, I like the sound of them.  Not so much on the bright side but I have been pretty happy with them.
Rich

[tmoney61092]

yes! it looks like short hairs! it's so strange when i look down and see it. well it's good to know that the string will still sound good. probably going to try Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Hybrids next to see what those can do for my sound. probably put Elixirs on my new Fender i'll be getting soon enough since i don't plan on playing it with a pick. thanks for the help
 
~Taylor

[bsee]

I like the idea of coated strings. I am hoping to try some of the new DR Neons when they are available in my area. I used Elixir strings once before, but I don't remember which set. They were pretty good and a nice compromise tone. I tried the DR Black Beauties and they sounded very thin, so they are out of the running. I have also read good things about the EXP coated strings, and I probably would be looking to try a set if it weren't for the novelty factor of Neon-colored strings...
 
-bob

[tmoney61092]

i had the DR Neons before my Elixirs and loved them! here is a thread on them and there is a picture of my Gibson Victory Artist bass under a blacklight with them on on about 3/4 down the page, very cool!  
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/86732.html
 
i bought them off musiciansfriend.com  for like $38 something with free shipping if i remember correctly, they lasted me at least 3-4 months before i decided to change them(not that they had lost quality or anything, just wanted to try different strings)
 
~Taylor

[lbpesq]

I played my Ferlembic guitar at rehearsal last night and seeing this thread (and the link to the previous one), I am reminded that I put the Neons on the guitar early last October.  Here we are 4 1/2 months later and I have to admit the Neons sound pretty good for 4 1/2 months old.  That's impressive as I never go that long without changing strings on a player guitar.  And they haven't discolored at all, unlike regular strings.  Also, I don't see any coating coming off.  Of course they haven't been played constantly as I've been playing a few different guitars during this time.  I think the real proof will be when I swap them out for my regular GHS Boomers and see how much of a difference it makes.
 
Bill, tgo

[briant]

I had a set of medium Elixer Nanoweb strings sent to Alembic so they could cut the bridge/nut on my new Essence specifically for those strings.  I've used them for years on all my basses and they sound great and last a good long time.
 
Rich's assessment above is how I understand these things to work as well.  I've had nothing but good experiences thus far.  Mica can attest to how great they sound on an Alembic.

[tmoney61092]

i love the sound of these babies, i just wanted to make sure they were going to keep going, and going......and going :p thanks for the help
 
~Taylor

[cozmik_cowboy]

I think you can count on that, Taylor.  I think I've told this before, but when my son went away to college - and found to his amazement that no, he wasn't taking my accoustic - he bought a guitar that came with Elixers.  I didn't much care for the tone, but when he broke a string 3 years later (this is not a bass, remember) they sounded about the same as new - and his campus job was bicycle mechanic, and he was in the middle of a hygene-is-bougie phase.  I believe that the impetus behind Elixers was to make a string that might not sound great, but would never sound crappy in the store, no matter how many people tried the ax, thus saving stores the cost of constant restringing, which does really add up (when I worked at GC many moons hence, I used to piss the boss off no end by restringing with Markleys instead of house brand).
 
Peter