Might have a go on some Elixir Nanoweb phosphor bronzes, I reckon.

[guitarfishbay]

I definitely prefer played-in - *not* dead - strings, but I don't think coated strings sound right at all even compared to brand new uncoated ones - thin and tinny rather than bright and zingy. Apart from the D'Addario ones which *do* sound dead!

They also feel horrible, like they're greasy or sweaty.

I won't argue that Daddarios are on the dull end - but the trade off is that they're cheap in bulk and they take next to no time to break in. I can have my guitar recording ready not too long after restringing, as I prefer broken in, not too bright strings. Some other brands never seem to be ready if I have to restring the same session as recording. If I was being less stingy I'd be using John Pearse strings on this guitar, they sound great on my instrument.

I agree that Elixirs are thin and tinny in comparison to other strings, and to my ears the PB Nanos were the worst for those characteristics. But they seem to work for some and there's no arguing with the fact a coated string holds its tone longer.

Ultimately the tone of string has to work with your instrument. I too don't think it is a low end instrument/high end instrument thing, I just think it is a right for instrument/wrong for instrument thing. The feel thing is also personal taste.

[AndrewG]

Love Elixirs and have used their 80-20 Nanos exclusively on everything (Martins, Gibsons, Bourgeois, SCGC etc), since they were first introduced. The only other coated string I'd give house room to is Yamaha's own FS50BT (12-52). I hate the sound of dull, thuddy 'worn-in' strings with a vengeance, much preferring the bright tonality of strings which properly demonstrate a guitar's tonal strengths and range.
I also used to have very caustic sweat, but not so much now I'm older. The rapid deterioration of uncoated strings was a constant source of frustration to me, and Elixirs came like manna from heaven. At last, a string which would sound largely the same from start to, ooh, months later in some cases.

[bandmaster188]

Love Elixirs and have used their 80-20 Nanos exclusively on everything (Martins, Gibsons, Bourgeois, SCGC etc), since they were first introduced. The only other coated string I'd give house room to is Yamaha's own FS50BT (12-52). I hate the sound of dull, thuddy 'worn-in' strings with a vengeance, much preferring the bright tonality of strings which properly demonstrate a guitar's tonal strengths and range.
I also used to have very caustic sweat, but not so much now I'm older. The rapid deterioration of uncoated strings was a constant source of frustration to me, and Elixirs came like manna from heaven. At last, a string which would sound largely the same from start to, ooh, months later in some cases.

me. this.
i've even put them on my national m1 tricone and they sound good and keep on going and going.............

[Big Paulie]

I hate the sound of dull, thuddy 'worn-in' strings with a vengeance, much preferring the bright tonality of strings which properly demonstrate a guitar's tonal strengths and range.

This muchly.

People talk of the sound of broken in strings.

IMO the best sound you get from a string is just as soon as it's stretched and the tuning stabilised.

I've just put a set of Martin Lifespan SPs on my new (used) Martin D-16GT and they sound great. Hope it lasts...

[ICBM]

I prefer the sound after a couple of days once that trashy brand-new sound has worn off. It's not at all the same as dead strings.

The problem for me with coated strings is that they don't sound even like new uncoated strings. They do probably maintain the sound they have for a long time, but that is not an advantage to me since I don't like them when they're new and they don't seem to improve in the same way.

[mani]

I can recommend Nanowebs for their clarity and long life, excellent bass response from a dreadnought style guitar.

[noisepolluter]

Hmmm. Interesting mix of opinions. I might hold off for now but would definitely be interested in trying them at some point.

[digitalkettle]

I'm ambivalent on them. For lower-end to midrange acoustics, I think they can be pretty good as they can add a certain amount of sparkle to the sound of an otherwise slightly muddy sounding instrument.

I don't use them on my Lowden though, I prefer Wyres or Newtones. Elixirs tend to lack warmth and can make the trebles sound a bit crunchy.

Went off Newtones for some reason. Lowdens ship with Elixir Nanos now...can't just be for shelf life...tried 'em and stuck with 'em.

Edit: they've also crept onto my electrics now.

[mellowsun]

Went off Newtones for some reason.

Was it the intonation? I picked up my Lowden last night after not playing it for a while, it had a set of Newtones on it that had been on a couple of months but had only about 12 hours of playing on them. The intonation was really off, sharp from about the 5th fret onwards, across most of the strings.

[digitalkettle]

I honestly can't put my finger on it

I think I'd been lucky with quality...was just time for a change.