Elixir strings on steel?

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 28 Dec 2002 8:51 am

Anyone tried the Elixir strings on pedal steel. I just restrung my dobro with them and wow, that teflon coating is slick. I may call them and piece together a set and see what happens. If people dont know what the elixirs are, they are a strings with a micro-thin teflon coating around the wound strings. This keeps the strings from oxidizing and getting dirty. The tone on an acoustic or electric guitar will last maybe 4 times longer. I used to change guitar strings weekly and now it's longer than monthly. The dobro was the first time I put a bar on them and they are the quietest, slickest strings ever, by far. I wonder if they would hold up from heavy use though.

Brad Sarno
St. Louis, MO

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 28 Dec 2002 10:29 am

I use them on my mandolin. They're great.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 28 Dec 2002 10:39 am

I love 'em on my Taylor 710 acoustic!
I tried to buy a set for steel but they don't sell single strings (as far as I know).
Let us know what you find out Brad... I'd like to give a set a whirl on S12U!

Looks like a guy could piece together a set from a few packs of 6 string guages. http://www.gtrheaven.com/accessories/elixir_strings.htm [This message was edited by Pete Burak on 28 December 2002 at 10:49 AM.]

Jim West · Post by **Jim West** » 28 Dec 2002 2:09 pm

I use them on all of my guitars both electric and acoustic. I thought about putting a set on my steel but when I went to www.juststrings.com and priced the singles I changed my mind right away.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 28 Dec 2002 6:40 pm

Pat and I have been using them for a year or more now, but only on our 6 string guitars... I WILL try them on the steel and post my findings..... If they work on the steel anything like they do on the accoustic and electric 6 stringers then we could be in for a revolution. !!
Baz www.waikiki-islanders.com

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Steel players do it without fretting

http://www.waikiki-islanders.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

RON PRESTON · Post by **RON PRESTON** » 29 Dec 2002 4:35 am

Good Lord, Pete,
You could buy a set of "Black Diamonds" and that 710 Taylor would STILL sound GREAT.
Taylor "RIPS" when it comes to touch and tone. I love those Guitars, BUT, the price tag can break a man, you know?

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 4 Jan 2003 4:59 pm

I've got them on all my acoustics, and have become a complete convert. They sound great, and they last a long time under any conditions.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 5 Jan 2003 1:03 pm

[This message was edited by Bob Blair on 05 January 2003 at 01:04 PM.]

Tyler Macy · Post by **Tyler Macy** » 5 Jan 2003 5:18 pm

I personally think they sound terrible- too bright and metallic sounding. Doesn't let the sound of the wood come through. It is true that they last a long time and the tone is more consistant as they age, but if the tone stinks the whole time, who cares??

I prefer a richer, woodier, warmer sound. I guess that's why I also prefer Gibsons to Taylors.

For steel they might be a good thing, though. I like a nice bright shimmery glassy steel tone. Mooney all the way.

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 6 Jan 2003 9:02 am

I found that for acoustic guitar they sound like week-old strings but keep that tone for a long time. I think they work great for electric-acoustics with piezo pickups but I wouldn't use them on a mic'ed guitar.
I would be very interested in checking them out for pedal steel and other slide guitars.

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 6 Jan 2003 12:43 pm

I use them on acoustics. I play fingerstyle, no picks. These strings do make my guitars sound good and I generally like them. One thing to note - they get 'fuzzy' quick. The poly coating comes off where I pick. I suspect with metal fingerpicks on steel, this coating easily will shred in one session. It does affect the tone slightly. I'm torn between the price for these, vs. other capable strings.

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon"
www.seldomfed.com