One More String Thread?

Interesting that your strings are not lasting longer Greg Ballantyne. Do you wipe your strings down when you are done? Do you wash your hands before you play? I only ask because mine do last a long time. I also don't have very acidic hands so that helps. I now change mine about every six months. Gig with them 2-3x per month and practice on them at least 4-6x per month on my main acoustic.

Just interesting that is all.

modernsaint ,RobertW , I'm an office worker, and don't get plaster or concrete dust on my hands. I dont generally perform thourough hand washing before playing though, unless Ive had my hands in somthing or have been doing somthing, like eating or preparing food, that would prompt it. I've had strings leave a dark deposit on my finger tips before, but have not noticed that with Elixirs. The degradation of the strings can often mainly occur in one or more extended playing sessions. The current set of Elixirs have a dark spot on the B string around the second to third fret where the shine is worn off from a three to four hour session last Saturday. They had been on the guitar a week. They still sound good, not dead yet, but I doubt they last the month. I can get to perspiring fairly good (especially this time of year) even in air conditioned spaces, and will position a fan to keep a stream of moving air on me. I recall an outdoor session a year or so ago in which a new set of EJ16's hardly lasted the session. Maybe just too much perspiration.....
Since I can get about 2 1/2 sets of d'Addarios for the price of one set of Elixirs I may try them on the 418.

TonyKgull , maybe I'll try the poly's as well as d'Addario mediums. I put a set of those on my Maritime about two years ago, and didn't care for them. They were mediums though, a on a guitar really set up for lights. They will probably be different on the 418. In cooler weather my strings last a little longer, minus the perspiration quotient......

If you are experimenting with strings then give the Martin Lifespan's a try. They are my string of choice for the NE Amber Trail. They last as long as Elixr's, you can't feel the coating, the coating does not flake off and they sound great to my ear.

Stud Muffin , I tried the EB aluminum bronze about a year or so ago. They were lights, and I put them on my Maritime dread, spruce/cedar. I really liked the first set, and got a couple more sets. I didn't like the second set nearly as much. I've still got a third set in my string pile, but since I'm looking for mediums on the Taylor won't end up trying them. I'm fairly well set on EJ16's on my Seagulls, which both use lights. They only last a month (or sometimes less) of steady use, but are fairly inexpensive and a fresh set really sounds great on those guitars.

Since I don't have a preference yet, I may try the polys. I am not a lover of changing strings (kind of like going to the dentist, not my favorite thing but I do it when necessary,) so lasting longer is a big plus for me. Good to know....

Greg Ballantyne,
Just a thought Greg, I have used the Elixir Nanoweb strings for a long time.
I tend to by them two or three packs at a time, what I have found is, sometimes the strings last a very long time, then at other times they don't last so long.
The strings that don't last as long, still last longer than other make strings.
Try the Polywebs to see if you like them, I prefer the Nanowebs.