Why doesn't Gore / Elixir make...

[Phil O'Keefe]

12 string sets?

 

I mean really - the one guitar that is the biggest PITB of all the ones I own to swap strings on is my 12 string electric. And since I have corrosive hands, that means if I play it a lot, I have to CHANGE them a lot.

 

I've been swapping out the strings on all of my guitars to Elixirs. I know some people don't really like them, but for me they're great. I can actually go about 4 times longer without having rust and grunge all over my strings and the dead tone that comes along with that. I like the "feel and tone" of them too. Of course, YMMV on that, but any slight changes in feel with the Elixirs when compared to standard strings is more than offset by their ability to withstand my toxic hands.

 

But please Gore - make some 12 string sets!!!

[Dylan Walters]

I think that you are onto something, Master Yoda . I *love* their strings. I can't for the life of me think why they haven't made a 12-string set yet. I don't have a 12-string, but on occasion I'll do the poor man's 12-string "Nashville tuning" by stringing up a 6-string with the upper octave set of a 12-string set o' strings.

[daklander]

Phil,

You're pretty much stuck with other means.

You can use something like Pledge as long as it's silicone free and I think you'll find Fret Ease will help considerably. There's also something called Finger Ease out but I've never tried it.

I think there is also a product called Fast Fret that works the same. I haven't tried it yet either.

Fret Ease is too slick for me and when I use it there is a tendency to slice my fingers. That's probably because I have a fairly hard/heavy fretting feel/grip on the strings.

 

I would think any of those sprays would do as well in protecting the strings. You'd just have to spray and wipe down each use.

[Phil O'Keefe]

There's also something called Finger Ease out but I've never tried it.

 

(snip)

 

I would think any of those sprays would do as well in protecting the strings. You'd just have to spray and wipe down each use.

 

I'm never without a can of "Finger Slease". Seriously, I use it all the time, and I'm very good about wiping down the strings (undersides too ) after playing. Believe me Dak, I still kill non-coated / rust inhibiting (ie Elixir) strings.

 

I certainly do appreciate the suggestions! ...but I would STILL like to see Gore make 12 string sets of Elixirs...

 

...oh, and after that, you guys should work on a set of bass flatwounds.

[60hurts]

"Why doesn't Gore / Elixir make 12 string sets?"

 

Because you'd have to mortgage your house to afford a set!

[flemtone]

I'm with ya, Phil, but from the other direction...

 

I love these strings also, and use them exclusively on my acoustic. My wish is that they would make a 5-string ABG set that I could use on my M. Kelly fretless 5-string ABG. They make 5-string electric sets, but I'm hesitant about how they would sound. Having a set designed strictly for ABG would 1-last longer, 2-be smoother on the fingers, and 3-not cut up the inlay or the finish of the fretless neck.

 

Maybe if we baked them some cookies...?

 

peace,

Tim from Jersey

[Kendrix]

Phil,

I also have extremely corrosive hands.

I stopped wearing watches with leather wrist bands cause i rot them out so quickly. If I dont wipe the stings this black crud builds up in a matter of a few hours of playing. Its ridiculous.

 

My taylor came with Elixirs & I stayed with em for some time.

However, ive recently switched to Martin phosphor-bronzes.

 

I am definately trading off longevity - however, these babies give better overtones/sparkle. Over time the cost is about the same cause the elixirs are so expensive. I dont play the acoustic on every tune/every week- so its not that big a deal.

 

The sound takes precendence IMHO.

 

I thought the finger ease was meant to reduce string squeeks and to reduce friction as you slide your hands up/down the strings. I did not know it was intended to improve string life.

Does it?

[60hurts]

"I thought the finger ease was meant to reduce string squeeks and to reduce friction as you slide your hands up/down the strings. I did not know it was intended to improve string life.

Does it?"

 

I've had the opposite experience. It tends to decrease my string life!

I need it during the summer though, my hands just stick the necks of my guitars!

[doug osborne]

James Goodall ships his guitars with Elixirs, and uses and recommends Fast Fret, so I comply.

 

I just restored my old Yamaha 12-string, and it sounds sweet, but I, too, would use Elixirs on this if I could.

[60hurts]

According to Elixir's website, they DO make 12 string sets:

 

11152 Light

11172 Medium

11162 Heavy

[doug osborne]

Phil was asking about electric 12-string sets.

 

I was just being cheap!

[60hurts]

 

Originally posted by doug osborne Phil was asking about electric 12-string sets. I was just being cheap!

 

 

Whoops, didn't see the "electric" in the original post.

Couldn't you make a set? Get a regular set and then use individual strings (if Elixir has the gauges). Also, They don't coat the plain strings, right? Most of the octave strings on a 12 string are unwound (no?).

[daklander]

Those string lubes are not designed to enhance longivity but my though is anything that's on the strings will then come between the fingers and the strings and so should protect, somewhat, against the corrisive action some people have.

 

Once you're finished playing a guitar that has had the lube used on it, the strings and fretboard should be wiped down.

[Robman2]

They need facking flutwounds as well...

[Phil O'Keefe]

Yup - 12 str. electric and bass flatwounds. Need 'em both!

 

I may just have to drop them an email.

[blue2blue]

Yeah... I don't normally use them, but like a lot of folks I've got a few pair in the mail over the years and they really do hold up well, they don't seem to stretch as much yet paradoxically they don't seem to break as much, either.

 

A 12 string set would be a natural, and I'd certainly put them on my old beast.

[philbo]

Elixir makes 'em, I have a set on my old 12 string Ovation Custom Balladeer. They are the best strings I've had.

 

(from juststrings.com)

 

I do wish they'd make thinner gauges for them though - - With a thin set I can tune it to regular pitch.

 

With the ones I have (their thinnest 12 acoustic gauge) I don't dare tune it above D - - the neck starts getting too much 'relief' if you know what I mean.

 

[EDIT] - sorry, I also missed the word 'electric' in the original post. My bad...

[MrKnobs]

Does Elixir even SELL individual strings? The GC where I live doesn't have them, which is a huge PITB when you break a string.

 

Terry D.

 

P.S. I would say Finger Ease makes the strings last a little longer, maybe, but then again so does wiping them down after a set. Anything to remove acid/water/fingerfunk and deny oxygen to the string will inhibit corrosion.

[Phil O'Keefe]

For me, Finger Ease helps the rusted out strings feel a little slicker and more along the lines of what newer strings feel like. It also helps pull some of the dirt and crud off the strings when you wipe them down. It might make them actually last a little longer, but really it just makes playing strings that are past their pull date a bit more tolerable. And it does help reduce finger squeaks, which can be handy in the studio sometimes.

[MrKnobs]

Originally posted by Phil O'Keefe For me, Finger Ease helps the rusted out strings feel a little slicker and more along the lines of what newer strings feel like. It also helps pull some of the dirt and crud off the strings when you wipe them down. It might make them actually last a little longer, but really it just makes playing strings that are past their pull date a bit more tolerable. And it does help reduce finger squeaks, which can be handy in the studio sometimes.

 

Yep.

 

Sometimes even FingerEase isn't enough. I recorded someone playing acoustic the other day that had some of the worst sting squeaking going on I've ever heard.

 

I mean, a little might make the recording sound more "organic" or whatever, but this was over the top.

 

I spent a very long time editing out all the squeaks.

 

Terry D.

[Kendrix]

FWIW - I just saw a brand new ad for Elixir phospor-bronze strings.

They advertise the tone of phospor-bronze strings and the life of the coated elixirs.

Ive got to try these.