Are Coated Strings Worth It?

[@minimalistmusician]

Do you play coated or plain strings? What kind?!

[@rjmccarty]

Love love love love love these videos. I've spent the last week watching every one! Your channel satisfies both my desire for musical content and its relation to a simple lifestyle. Hope you keep making these. Cheers!

[@minimalistmusician]

Thank you so much for the kind words. Really helps me stay motivated knowing that they’re being enjoyed! Anything you’d like to see a video on?

[@jaxfernandez3684]

Simple: Use coated strings for guitars that don’t get played much and are primarily in storage (like collector guitars). Use uncoated strings for guitars you regularly maintain and play frequently-your main guitars. Bam. Easy. Know the use. I have a guitar that sits unused for years and only comes out on special occasions. The coated strings on it are still fine and will last for years more. On the other hand, my main guitar gets uncoated strings, which I change every few weeks. It sounds better every time because the strings aren’t muted by a coating. It’s a perfect balance: coated strings are great for long-term storage and save time and money in the long run. Uncoated strings deliver maximum tone but require regular changes to maintain that sound. Both have their place-just match the strings to the purpose.

[@2speedy4u22]

Great video. Looking forward to the xs comparison.

[@minimalistmusician]

Appreciate it. Should have it up by early next week or sooner!

[@caleycampbellmusic]

Great video Eric, I use uncoated strings because I used to break so many from strumming at the elbow but I don't break nearly as many these days. I definitely like the idea of having a better life span out of my strings. I can hear the difference and got 3 out of 3 at the end I started second guessing myself in the finger picking section but realize what ya did hahaha. Also, would agree that it's not a huge difference. Great work! Gonna give coated strings a shot.

[@minimalistmusician]

Thanks pal. Now that I’ve switched over I just can’t go back.

[@趙溫]

Damn! I totally prefered Elixir than D'Addario for strumming and picking, but D'Addario killed it for fingerstyle. In first two, B sounded dimmer, deeper, and more dull than A, but in fingerstyle, A is more vocal than B, if that makes any sense. It's like a person singing right in front of you. Great in both warmth and brightness, whereas B isn't near as 'singing'. Now how am I supposed to decide... Great comparison though~

[@cookiepuss4104]

I agree 100%, you just described exactly what I heard as well. Have to admit I was surprised I liked the Elixir's as much as I did, as I've been using D'Addario EJ16 and John Pearse PB uncoated strings almost exclusively for many years. When I first tried Elixirs, I couldn't stand them, but obviously the technology has greatly improved since then.

[@kylarebadavia]

which one you prefered for playablity

[@SlavJerry]

I really like how full and mid forward elixir is

[@comptongoldminer]

Do coated strings reduce fret life?

[@TVsBen]

I use Ernie Ball Earthwood on my acoustic, but D'Addario coated NYXL on my electrics. I was afraid my acoustic would sound dead. After seeing this video I know that's not really the case and have ordered some Nanowebs.

[@minimalistmusician]

Nice. I’ll have to try those coated nyxl’s!

[@52Tele]

I immediately changed the Elixir nanoweb 80/20s that came with my Yamaha FGx3 to Daddario EJ11s. The coated Elixirs were so stiff to play. Does anyone else have a hard time playing coated strings?

[@minimalistmusician]

I think it’s totally a preference thing and I know a lot of folks don’t like em.

[@paulmiller3467]

Appreciate the video. A bit Confusing, make it more noticeable when you switch strings. Had to watch twice before I realized you actually were switching. I could tell, overall like the sound of the PB a bit better, but it's not enough of a difference to overcome the longevity of the coated strings. I still use coated on my daily player and I use PB for gigs

[@minimalistmusician]

It’s clearly marked string a or string b when they switch ….

[@lukasmillet7255]

@@minimalistmusician i think maybe u could put the text "string X" in the middle of the screen. But isnt really that important tbh. Great video