Guitar Strings: D’Addario EXP < Elixer Nanoweb

In 2008 I started playing Elixer Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze medium gauge strings on my acoustic guitars. I really like them. I wrote a post about them a few years ago (see post here). The downside to playing these strings is that they are expensive. A normal retail price for them is around $15.99 a set [1].

A few thoughts:

Medium Strings

I play medium gauge acoustic strings. If I could go heavier I would, but my Martin has a medium gauge limit. I like the sustain they provide and that they do not bend as easily. To someone accustomed to playing light gauge strings a guitar strung with medium gauge strings might feel rough on the fingers. I’ve been playing medium gauge strings exclusively for fifteen years, so my fingers find light gauge strings disturbingly lacking in substance. I’d be more inclined to think about dying my hair blue than changing to light gauge acoustic strings.

Manufacturer

I have already stated that I am a big fan of Elixer Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze medium gauge strings. I decided to try a set of D’Addario EXP Phosphor Bronze medium gauge strings on my Martin this month. From an economic standpoint they are a better deal than Elixers, running around $10.95 a set. For three days they sounded wonderful. But they did not hold up over time. It’s been two weeks and I’m considering taking them off because the bass strings are so lifeless. Not cool.

So I think Elixer Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze > D’Addario EXP Phosphor Bronze

As a side note, you might be wondering what the phosphor bronze contributes to the strings. You’ll find mixed reports on this. Here is what Elixer Strings says on their website:

They claim phosphor bronze contributes warmness to the tone. You’ll also find many people who swear phosphor bronze strings maintain their tone better over time. This was my conclusion years ago, but I have not tried Elixer Nanoweb 80/20 Bronze strings yet (they are a couple of dollars cheaper).

My loyalty to Elixer has been reinforced.

[1] Today I purchased six sets of Elixer Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze medium gauge strings from Strings and Beyond for $59.98. They have a buy three get one free promotion going on. If you spend more than $35 you get free shipping. Picking up my favorite strings for $10 a set is awesome!

A New Guitar: Dean Exotica Zebra Wood

For the past year I have been intending to pick up an electric acoustic guitar to serve as a back up and travel guitar. I watched Craigslist, eBay, Musician’s Friend, and the local guitar shop, waiting for a guitar to step up and capture my attention. Last weekend a guitar did just that. It was a Dean Exotica Zebra Wood electric acoustic that had been designated cosmetically blemished by the factory.

My zebra wood guitar in the wild.

The imperfections are merely a few subtle glue stains, which are only noticeable under close scrutiny. I think they are endearing (plus they saved me a lot of money). The guitar was delivered on Wednesday while I was at my Spartansburg experiment site. When I got home the guitar was leaning against my door, waiting for me.

Beautiful wood grain and inlays.

The guitar plays and sounds very good for its cost. Sure it cannot compete with my Martin, but that’s not a fair comparison (the Martin is worth more than 3x as much). The action is relatively soft, the intonation is good, and there is no fret buzzing. On Thursday I picked up a strap pin at the local guitar shop and installed it. I’ve already spent hours bonding with my new guitar; we will spend many more hours together.

One closing note. When I saw this guitar for sale I fell in love with it right away. As I weighed the decision whether to purchase it or not I suddenly visualized my guitars sitting on stage on a Sunday morning. This shiny new Dean sitting beside my trusty Martin. The headstocks side by side: Dean and Martin. Dean Martin. And I bought the guitar.

Elixer Nanoweb Strings

Playing the guitar is a relatively cheap vice. While there are always new toys (like better guitars, different guitars, effects, amps, pickups, etc) that beckon, you can maintain a six string habit on a budget. The biggest regular expense is guitar strings.

I play medium gauge strings on my acoustic guitars. I’ve always been partial to D’Addario phosphor bronze and Martin phosphor bronze strings. I have three acoustics:

1. Aria AW 110 – This was my first guitar, and it is the guitar I play the most. I consider it a friend. I play this guitar while I’m studying, watching movies, praying, cheering for the Phillies, eating dinner, and procrastinating.

2. Ovation Celebrity CC 057 – This poor guitar is neglected. I bought it to have as a cheap backup guitar. This is my Esau.

3. Martin DC1E – This is my baby. Sure it’s not a high end Martin, but it’s still pretty sweet. I play this guitar once or twice a month in church services, at home when I am recording things, and sometimes when I am practicing.

I haven’t changed the strings on my Ovation in more than a year. Like I said, it gets neglected. Several months ago my friend Paul picked it up to play something, and the first word out his mouth was: “Eww.” A response to the corroded strings.

My Aria sounds pretty good with Martin or D’Addario strings and they last a few months. I’m not concerned if the tone drops off a bit on this guitar, for I rarely play it in public. It’s just me and my neighbors who get to hear it.

It was my Martin that caused me to explore more options for strings. When I strung it with Martin or D’Addario strings it would sound great . . . for one week. Then the tone would suffer, especially the bass. Within three weeks it would sound bad. This really bothered me.

Several years ago my brother started playing Elixer Nanoweb strings on his Taylors. He recommended them highly. As my discontent with my Martin’s tone grew, I decided to pay the higher price and try Elixers. I quickly realized that they are worth every penny.

Martin and D’Addario strings cost around $6.00 a set, while Elixer Nanowebs cost around $15.00.

As soon as I switched to Elixer Nanoweb strings I noticed a marked improvement in my Martin’s tone. The lower end stayed crisp for a full two months. I’m now nearing five months with the same set of strings on, and the tone is still solid. I am planning to change the strings later this month, but they still sound better than the strings I’ve used previously after three weeks.

Tone quality (in General Awesomeness Units)of guitar strings on my Martin over time.

So what makes Elixer Nanoweb strings so special? Magic. Well, magic and one micron of a mystery patented coating that prevents “contamination and corrosion from invading the string’s Critical Zone of Tone.” Whatever it is, it works.

I do not think the coating on the strings makes them difficult to play. In fact, I really do not notice it. What I do notice is improved tone.