Elixir Strings
Elixir makes coated strings, and effectively created that category — the Nanoweb and Polyweb treatments keep sweat and grime out of the windings so the strings hold their tone considerably longer than uncoated sets. Players tend to have firm views either way on how coating affects feel. In our archive Elixir appears in maintenance guides, gift round-ups and the specs of factory-strung instruments.
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- Guitar strings
- Bass strings
- Nanoweb
- Polyweb
- Optiweb
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Elixir Strings FAQ4 questions
Who makes Elixir strings?
W. L. Gore & Associates, the American multinational best known for developing Gore-Tex. It is a privately held company headquartered in Newark, Delaware, founded in 1958 by Bill and Vieve Gore, and its expertise in fluoropolymers is exactly what the strings are built on.
What is the difference between Nanoweb, Polyweb and Optiweb?
Coating thickness and feel. Polyweb is the thickest coating with the smoothest, slickest feel; Nanoweb is thinner and feels closer to an uncoated string while lasting nearly as long; Optiweb is the thinnest, aimed at players who want the brightness and grip of a plain string with coated longevity.
Are coated strings worth the extra cost?
It depends on how quickly you kill strings. The whole argument for coating is lifespan — Elixir strings cost several times an uncoated set and are sold on lasting several times as long, particularly for players with acidic sweat. For someone who changes strings for the feel of new ones anyway, the maths is less favourable.
Do coated strings sound different?
Slightly, and it is the main objection to them. A coating damps some high-frequency content, so a new Elixir set is a little less bright than a new uncoated set — though it stays where it is for far longer, while an uncoated set is dulling from the first session.