D'Addario XS vs Elixir Optiweb | Which Coated Guitar Strings Are The Best?
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- Опубліковано 24 тра 2024
- D'Addario XS vs Elixir Optiweb guitar strings - which guitar strings do you prefer?
Also, check out my more recent video - "D'Addario Xs Vs. Elixir Optiweb: Which Strings Sound Better?" if you want to hear the difference between the two makes of strings.
• D'Addario Xs Vs. Elixi...
I have used Elixir Optiweb coated guitar strings for many years and thought I would compare them to D'Addario's latest XS coated guitar strings.
Elixir 19102 Electric Guitar Strings with OPTIWEB Coating:
amzn.to/3TnuDQ6
D'Addario XS Nickel Coated Electric Guitar Strings:
amzn.to/3Ft41ri
This video was recorded a while ago, although I did not upload it at the time as I ran another test with D'Addario XSE1149 strings. I came to a similar conclusion with my second test.
If you would rather read rather than watch, a transcript of this video can be found at:
paulhillguitarist.com/latest-...
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Sweaty hands and string life.
00:51 My experience of Elixir strings.
01:18 How often do I now change strings.
01:34 Different types of Elixir strings.
01:59 About this test, results and my thoughts.
03:30 Why did I need to change strings?
03:55 Would I buy D'Addario XS strings again?
04:55 What do you think?
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STRING UPDATE: Today I broke the high E string. This set of D'Addario XS strings have been on my guitar for 8 weeks. I wasn't playing particularly hard and I haven't played too many gigs on this set.
thank you for the update and the honesty
@@obicross No problem. Thought I would pass on my latest findings in the ongoing string experiments.
Thank you for such a detailed commentary. This is one of the most helpful videos I have ever watched in terms of providing all the necessary information on the topic
Thank you for the kind comment. Much appreciated! 👍
Thanks for this excellent review. It was really helpful.
Good to hear you found it helpful. Thanks for commenting! 👍
Thanks for this! I’ve been using nanoweb sim all my guitars for 20 years. I just put a set of d’addario KS on my tele, & it took me back to how great d’addario non coated strings felt. We’ll see about the life comparison. Guys-if you put a touch of alcohol in a cloth, wipe the strings hard pinching top & bottom w the alcohol, running the length of each string, zero gunk will build up, preserving the clean feel. Best to keep the alcohol off the fingerboard, cuz it’ll dry it out a bit. Works GREAT! I carry it w me always. I’m a session player in NYC
Thanks or the tip. I have microfibre cloths to help with keeping strings clean, although the alcohol idea could take this to the next level. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the D'Addario strings after you have used them for a while.
I use D'Addario XS on my Les Paul and Elixir Polywebs on my SG and Strat. I love both. I haven't broken a string since 1975.
Both makes are great strings. Out of interest, what is the reason you use the different makes on the different guitars?
A@@PaulHillGuitarist During the first year of the Pandemic, Elixirs were hard to get so I ordered 15 sets. They finally came but by then I started using XS on my Les Paul. When I use up all the Elixirs I will try the XS on my SG and Strat. I play with a light touch so I can keep a set of strings on a guitar for 4 months at a time or more with coated strings.
@@Frapzoid Ah, that makes sense. Both makes of strings are great and a huge improvement from the constant changing of uncoated strings. I'm just about to upload a sound test video of the two sets. I haven't listened to the results myself yet, so that will be interesting.
Currently im using Elixir,im not yet try D'Addario before.Which one you recommend for,thanks.
I generally purchase Elixir strings after my tests as they do seem to last slightly longer. Both strings are great and you might prefer the feel of D'Addario XS strings. Might be a good idea to try them if you see a good deal. Let me know if you do and what you think. 👍
I was under the impression that the d'addario XS coating is pretty much the = of Elixir's nanoweb. You have me curious to try "optiweb" which honestly I haven't heard of until now. But also curious on the XS, I hear they feel great, very slick, feel good on bends. I'm lucky enough to not have acidic hands and I try to wash before playing (or at least use hand sanitizer) so... not sure if it's worth it for me to pay more than triple for coated strings on electric guitars. I get Ernie Balls for a little over 4 dollars a pack when buying in 12 set bulk. Takes forever for me to see corrosion on my Ernie Ball strings.
I used to buy strings in bulk and that saved a fortune. One set of coated strings costs around three times the price I could get non-coated strings. For me, the length of time I now use a set of coated strings, keeping tone and intonation for all that time and not having to constantly change strings is a much better and cheaper option. My hands are so bad that the non-would strings from uncoated sets would be black after a couple of gigs and the intonation on the high E string would be way off. Give the Optiwebs a try and see what you think.
What about the tension, elixir optiwebs feel like half a gauge stiffer than most uncoated strings to me, are the d'addarios any different?
I have always used heavier gauge strings and I play acoustic guitar quite a bit, so I tend to adjust to string tension. D'addarios did feel nice for bending, although I haven't used uncoated strings for many years, so I don't know how they compare. Give the D'addarios a go as they are great strings and you might prefer the tension.
I am 100% on that case, heavy hand, sweat a lot and low pH made my problems with strings non stop. I tried daddario EXP, daddario NYXL (which NEVER broke but lost all tone after a couple gigs, I even tried a set of Gibson's on my Strat and sounded awesome for a couple gigs. When I tried Elixir's for my acoustic it was like entering heaven, my strings lasted 4--7 weeks and rarely broke one. After I decided to give it a try on electric and it was the same result. Just something in the tone that always sounded non natural for me, kinda compressed. Anyway I am giving a chance to the XS series on both, acoustic and electric. The sounds awesome, killer sound and feeling.After three weeks the wear start to shown a bit but still nice playing. Anyways about durability is not as good as Elixir's
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Sounds as though we have been on a very similar string destroying journey. A friend of mine was once complaining about how he was struggling to play on an extra hot summer gig as his hands were sweaty. Made me chuckle as I have no idea what it feels like to play with dry hands. 😀
Do your strings break that often on other guitars or is it just your tele?
Every guitar I have ever played suffers the same fate. It is not a setup thing, just hard playing and corrosive hand sweat. An expensive and frustrating problem, although Elixir strings have helped a lot.
@@PaulHillGuitarist it helps to wipe down the strings after playing with a quality cloth. It does make a difference. There are also a handful of good string cleaning or life extending products. Music nomad’s string fuel is pretty good.
@@GlobalTossPot I have tried many of the cleaning products, although I have found the best solution is to keep an old T-shirt in my studio drawer and rip pieces off that to wipe the strings down. The combination of coated strings and wiping has extended string life from days to over a month.
thank you for this video!
I just put Daddario XSE1046 on my Strat. They feel a little "less coated" than the Elixir Optiweb.
I hope they will last for some weeks/months.
They should last a while. I have my second set of D'Addario XS strings on now and just completed another busy weekend of gigs. No breakages, although they look pretty tarnished. Let me know how it goes for you as I would love to hear the results.
So my understanding from this video is that both sound good brand new but maybe a slight edge to the XS due to you using them for live performances. But longevity the optiwebs sound less dull over time? To me, I care about longevity and not having to keep spending money so I think the right option is the optiwebs
Yes, that is pretty much how I see it. The last few times I have ordered strings, they have been optiwebs. longevity is also my main requirement, although the D'Addarios do also last a while. Taylor have swapped from Elixir to D'Addario, so I will try a set of acoustic strings at some point. Once again, the last few acoustic sets I ordered have been Elixirs as I know they work well on my Taylor, so I have played it safe.
Perfect timing, lol. Just put D'addario 11-49 on my new strat and they're dying. Mainly the unwound. The Elixir polywebs are still going strong on the guitar I bought the year before
It does seem to be the unwound strings that are the most problematic. Do you have seriously sweaty hands too? Good to hear of another 11-49 user. Strings with tone!
@Paul Hill Yeah, I have the sweat problem, and while both strings have a unique tone, I think the D'addario sounded the most natural while they lasted.
@@Bairov The reason I didn't upload the video when it was recorded was because I wanted to try the D'addario strings one more time as I wanted to experience the tone of a fresh set of strings again. There is always a compromise! Have you tried Optiweb?
@Paul Hill I have not, but I'm curious. The optiweb are probably closer to the D'addario as they are lightly coated for a "barely there" feel. I would imagine they wouldn't last as long as the poly, but we shall see.
@@Bairov I use Optiweb on electrics and they work well for me. I worked part time in a music shop when I was younger and the other staff would jokingly open the door for me as they said that my sweaty hands were so bad that I would rust the door handle. 😀
No sound test?
Not for this video, just sharing my opinion and experience. An ongoing test, so a sound test video is a great idea.
As you asked the question, I decided to record a sound test video - ua-cam.com/video/Ep_vyQUBiBY/v-deo.html . Thank you for the idea!
I think Daddario dropped the ball on this one. I bought one just to try, so disappointed all the strings came in one bag and woven into each other. The instruction is printed in gray on a white background, making it hard to read, not to mention they put instruction of 8 strings for 6 strings. I just feel like they didn't even try. I'm back to elixir nanoweb.
The packaging for Elixir strings does make string changing easier having each string in a separate paper case to keep them separate. I did have D'Addario strings pinging onto the floor when separating them. And agreed that the print is difficult to read on the D'addario packaging.
That sounds like a you problem and quite frankly a pathetic thing to complain about. Especially considering thousands and thousands of others don’t complain about the damn package of all things because you know, the strings are the important part.
D’addario have colored ball ends that are clear as day to tell apart. If you can’t read what string is what color on the packaging I suggest get your eyes tested. D’addario have always been about less packaging with their strings, it’s nothing new. It’s astonishing that their are people like you that actually complain about such petty bs