Best Acoustic Guitar Strings? Real World Comparison Between Already Worn in Guitar Strings 

I feel like Elixir strings have this sparkling high end that makes you feel like “wow”, but at the same time this sparkling high end makes it so it lacks roundness and body. To my ears D’Addario ones sound more organic if it makes sense, and have a less “plastic” sound them

After attempting to tune my guitar, my string snapped. It hurts like hell in my forearm after the whiplash. As a result, I assumed RU-vid was just sitting docks; however, its algorithm recommended this video to me, and I must say it is so eye-opening to see how well you play the guitar that it reflects that the string is truly worth purchasing.

I’m in love with the elixir strings, I just bought them, so exited to try them out.

I would be cool to see you do this exact same comparison but with Elixir “Phosphor” Bronze nanowebs. That would be a “fair” comparison. Great sound clips and video

Nice info, which one is better strings brand or name for better resonant sound????? Warm sound

Good job. I usually just change every 3 months. But I’m goin to purchase my first elixirs on the strength of your interview

Great comparison video mate.

All modern strings are good, compared to when I started playing in 1959. But (as a non-professional) I find Elixirs a marvel. Played maybe 1-1/2 daily, they stay sounding good and simply NEVER go bad. I change strings for the heck of it, not because a change is needed.

Hi Dave. I just bought a new Martin D 45 and my first strings I put on the guitar the first day were the Elixir Nanoweb 80/20s. The D45 comes stock with titanium strings, and they really just don't sound that great to be honest. As soon as I got the Nanowebs on there the guitar started to sing like it was from heaven. After a bit I thought I might play around with the guitar a bit and thought I might give those D'Addario's a try. But after watching your video this morning, I'm sticking with what I already knew...... thanks man have a great day.

The elixirs shine thru everything you provided. I am a. Elixir user this style and gage. Thanks

Do elixirs keep their sparkle? I've used numerous Daddarios that lose it on my mahogany... Martin's models sound great and keep a small bit of sparkle, but lost a lot of it. Does the coating on the Elixirs help the sparkle stay longer?

definitely the Elixers sound brighter. Recording brings out the lows and that's just a few hours of added mixing I have to do in order to fit the acoustic guitar into is frequency niche. A brighter string brings out the articulation.

what's the last song you played? I like it. great video too. Thankyou

I choose Elixirs mainly for superior tone. Sometimes it's a question of what tone woods sound best with Elixir PB's or 80/20's. Now that would make a good review.

Elixir strings are my personal favorite because the strings are hella clean sounding and they bright especially playing corridos makes it sound so good

What do u prefer? Elixir 80/20 nanoweb or Elixir phosphor bronze nanoweb 😀

Wow I’ll never play anything other than Elixir again. I’ve used the D’addario for years and your tone was very comparable to mine. When I heard the Elixirs I was shocked. Wasn’t expecting them to be as sparkly

I always use the Elixir Polywebs.Nanowebs sound too bright for me. But on my dark sounding guitars I will use D Daddario XTs because they sound more active. But I purchased a Taylor 114e and will be restringing that with the Polywebs.

Can I put D'Addario XL ECG23 (Flat Wound) Chromes Stings (10-48) on an acoustic guitar? Would it still sound like an acoustic, but a little warmer?

Thanks for everything you did! appreciated ☺️

Very informative! Where did you get your mic though?

I feel like the elixir strings are by far better sounding. I mean just based on what I’m hearing in this video. They are so much more clear and bright and just makes more sense. I’m definitely going to buy those. Thank you.

Hey man are you still making videos? Also I like the DAddario slightly better. I’ve been using elixirs for a while but on my Martins I switched to the DAddario and just sound more full, warm, and bass and not as tinny.

I’m using the phosphor bronze Elixirs on my Teton. Also picked up some Martin & Co Phosphor Bronze. I have a feeling the Elixirs are superior but won’t know till I give it a try.

Elixirs for me. I've tried about every brand and always come back to elixirs.

yeah, seems like elixir is the best, but, in durability, how the elixir perform? how much time i can use it without buying another strings pack?

I feel like the Elixirs make the guitar sound kind of tinny, noticed that too when I bought some for my guitar a few years back.

Elixir are definitely brighter. Thanks for the demo!

Thanks dave for this video

I prefer Elixer polyweb, because I hate that scratchy string noise. I think when using a pick/plectrum, or playing with long nails, they sound a little bit too bright, but as I play with flesh / no nails, and fingerpick, they sound perfect.

Can I get some opinions on using elixirs for the high four strings and d’addario’s for the low two? Or would that totally mess up the tone? Has anyone tried it/can someone making a video trying it? I thought it sounded great when I tried it but I suck at guitar so it’s be cool to hear someone good do it.

Elixirs win by a mile!!!! Wasn't expecting that.

allow me to ask, I plan to buy new strinng now, does the D'addario XT worth it to give it a shot? I been using Elixer for last 5 months and have very very LOVE it. Just cerious of the new D'addario XT strinng so I wondering

D'addario have a clean sound but the second one Elixir's Sound is more beautiful .. The second one is good enough for any type of sound that u want .. I will choose the second one ...!☺️

what type of elixir do u use here?

Elixirs are WAY too sparkly metallic right out of the gate for strumming. They almost overwhelm any woodiness the guitar exhibits.

I was excited to try the XTs, but hated them. Also hated the XS. But I love the D’Addario Nickel Bronze strings.

Tone is tone and wood is wood... also no one mentioned the sustain that the elixirs naturally possess. Although it does fade away quicker than most .. But, I'll gladly change them when necessary.. Yours truly, Tone Wood..

What guitar pic do you use?

on my experience elixir has that more clarity and is more tone consistent than the XT... both are great to have though

I have a fender squier sa-105 dreadnought guitar. It's original strings broke. Which strings should I go for?? budget strings

I think I agree with the choice to stick with the Elixirs. I've gone through a lot of guitar stings in my life as I've been playing since 1974. I cringe at the current costs for all strings, however the Elixir far outlast any other Acoustic strings I've tried. D'addario makes great strings, no doubt about that, my personal preference still always gravitates me back to Elixir for my acoustics. Not sure if anyone else has this next issue I'm going to mention, but I've found that most of my guitars actually have a brand preference of string as to getting the best tone (to my ears anyway). Currently I am using 4 different brands of strings for 7 different electric guitars. What brand sounds good on my Les Paul just doesn't cut it on my Telecaster. And what sounds great for the Telecaster just doesn't cut it for my Stratocaster! In a perfect world I'd use one brand for all of them and be done with it, but alas no, life is more complicated than that. Great review, thank you.

3:47 something like Olivia , what a great song by Mr. John Mayer ✨

Hey, what is the name of the 3rd song you are playing? I like exliar but for that one song I like the others

What was the last song?

Thank you for doing this! I will stick with the Elixir

What are you playing in 3:49

Very helpful

what the difference between 12/53 and 12/56 ?? 🥹🥹

Hi Dave, I feel that Daddario Xt sounds more deader, Elixir is more Brighter and Crisper, I have a (Taylor Custom 224ce-K-DLX), I use Martin Treated 2.0 Phosphor Bronze Light and Elixirs. Do you think it’s true that Daddario XT sounds dead right out of the package?

I use the same Elixir's as well as the Martin Lifespan 2.0 Phosphor Bronze 10-47 Extra Lights on my 000-15M to brighten up the more mellow middy-sounds of the all Mahogany guitar. The D'addario's I've tried seemed a little muddy (on my guitar, at least). I got a 3 pack of the D'ad's a couple Christmas's back so I tried to like them... no joy

Somethin ab thise elixir strings man, idk how to explain it but when they are brand new they sound like a soothing deep voice

Can i use Elixir on Yamaha f310? It sounds bright

I agree with you the Elixir strings have a much better ring and sustain the D'Adarieo strings much more mellow. Thanks for your video great information .

Yes, you have wise ears.👍

Very Good review

What do you recommend? 12/53, 11/52, 12/56 80/20 bronze or phosphor bronze for Yamaha FS800? I'm a noob beginner, and don't know their differences 🤣

This is pretty much why I will never go back to using any other brand of strings except Elixir.

Elixirs are my favorite. I have extra sweaty hands that rust traditional strings really quickly (within 2 weeks sometimes if I play a lot) and the elixirs stay like new for months. Great deal for the price.

Elixir!

I like the elixirs best

Elixir stay fresh longer and feel buttery smooth. I bought xt's thinking they are same thing as elixers but from daddario. Not at all they just regular strings without coating that coasts 2x. Even though they advertise one... My xt's died in like week. My elixers still sounds like new and e and b strings didn't darken and still shiny. And it's been a month of playing

What was that last song you played, do a tutorial!

I need to I get some new strings I think I am going to buy the Elixirs

Which strings should i use on my fender sa105ce

When it comes to elixars i had to quit useeing them because of string failures mainly the g string and i am not the only one my pastor had the same failure same string multiple times just like me i now use pb 80 20 clear tone which sound great and last with no string failures and i play 5 hours a day easy go through a set of frets every 18 months on my Taylor no strings last over a month for me and there dead as a mater of fact i dont like the way brand new strings sound i like them in about a week then they begin to deteriorate and I prefer to change them at 2 weeks but sometimes I'll go as much as a month and hate them by then

No doubt D'addario is warm but it is not justifying the price. But I would go with Elixir because it's bright, crunchy in the tone and worth at that price.

Even Elixir is too hard... to heavy for to play... the tone is amazing

Daddario xt sound muddy and dull??

Is that a John mayor tune

Elixir now and forever!🤠🤠🤠

What song is being played at 3:50???

Elixirs definitely

Very obvious that Elixir sounds much better.. Thank you!

how long before you change your strings?

Wow

Elixirs👍

Sick something like olivia

Elixirs sound new and the D'addario strings just sound dead. I was hoping that D'addario came up with something cool...but, nah.

Now maybe me preferring Elxirs Nanos has something to do with aging On about 6 decades or so in, ya start lose the highs... So I can really appreciate the Elixir's brighter, "present" sound. Don't get me wrong, D'Addario XT/XS are nice too, but to my ears they sound like the treble side of artist's instrument is a step further away from the mic.

what guitar is it?

Elixirs still sound clean and bright, but still with good bass tone. The D'Addarios sound dead by comparison...which has been my experience with every "long life" string they've ever put out. They just lose that shimmer much earlier than the Elixirs do. No contest.

Lol the Elixir sound so much better. Sounds more bright & clear & just warm. Look like I'll save some money & get the elixir. I always had good luck with Ernie Ball Strings. Alway good value for price

This kind of test doesn’t really allow to hear the difference. It may seem counter intuitive but you would hear clearer difference if you didn’t play actual music but rather played repetitive chords or single strings.

Is it just me or is there someone else feeling that thicker strings like 12's or even 13's are "easyer" to play???!!! When I got 10s or 11s on i struggled with playing, also with Fingerstyle playing! I feel that the heavier strings give me a more clear feeling for the strings and i can play better, and hit the strings always correctly and direct! Someone else feeling like me?????

My complaint about Elixirs is the flaking, wiskers, fuzziness of the coating. 1-2 hours playing a day and they'll start flaking or get fuzzy after a few weeks of playing.

Martin SP 2021 The Best

Two new strings man I need six

For me the elixir is the best

Listening on Logitech G35 headset elixir sounds more...jingling. Like more metallic and sparkling sound. More cheeky. D'Addario is softer, smoother. (I feel like idiot every time I try to describe sound or scent).

John Mayer - Something About Oregano

I think It's Different Co'z The Mic What he Use..

Hands down: Elixer

You didnt tell the numbers on them

Bro play the first john mayer song i was gonna practice hahaha, what are the oddds, diddario was basically more natural for that song ,the rest elixir got that wow factor

Elixir is clear , I go with lighth

Come on everybody, you’re limiting yourself if you choose to only play a steel string acoustic or electric. If you are learning guitar you should learn the classical method which is more connected to the music theory.

Anyway, Taylor and Elixir were born that way😂

Elixirs have always sounded better to me, but they just feel crap and plasticy

Why are you giving us the bird?? Lol