Here at Sweetwater, we have access to virtually every major string manufacturer on the planet, including rare and hard-to-find products, yet many of us still choose Elixir for our own instruments. Why? Because these coated strings deliver the things that matter most to us: consistently fresh tone, superior playing comfort, and a full range of playing options. Once you get your hands on Elixir strings, you'll never go back to basic strings.
Even before 1995, when they established Elixir Strings, the founders were already laying the groundwork behind their coated guitar strings. The research team began by developing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) anti-oxidizing coatings for the internal wiring of guitars. In a moment of inspiration, these researchers decided to apply this same concept to guitar strings, and after a lot of trial and error, the first Elixir Strings products were born.
What makes Elixir Strings products so special? It begins with their coating process itself, which involves coating the entire string, rather than just the wrap wires. First, this process dramatically reduces the weight of the coating, allowing each string to vibrate freely. More importantly, it prevents moisture and grime from seeping in between the wraps, corroding the core wire and further deadening your strings.
On top of that, Elixir enlists thousands of guitarists to test their products. In response to the steady stream of feedback, they've tweaked each new formula to provide real-world artists with exactly what they need. Ultimately, this rigorous and responsive testing method has led to the development of three excellent product lines: Polyweb, Nanoweb, and Optiweb.
All three coating types provide the same protection and extended life. Where each coating differs is in the specific tonal qualities and playing feel. That makes it easy to find the ideal Elixir strings to match your style. In general, Polyweb strings offer a warm tone that brings out the natural lower mids of your instrument. They have a slick feel that fast technical players love.
On the flip side, Nanoweb strings have a smooth feel and offer a brighter sound than their Polyweb counterparts. Many acoustic players prefer this coating, since it enhances their guitars' natural articulation. Elixir's latest development is their Optiweb coating. Formulated to provide electric guitarists with an enhanced level of transparency, Optiweb strings deliver a crisp tone and a playing feel that's so natural, it's hard to imagine that they're coated at all.
At the base of it all lies Elixir Strings' extensive understanding of metallurgy. They use premium steel and bronze formulas to produce strings that would sound great even without their industry-leading coating technologies. What's more, they offer an extensive range of sets to make it easy to get the gauges you want. And when you put it all together, you end up with the kind of strings Sweetwater Sales Engineers are happy to recommend.
