Loving D'Addario EXP11 on my Taylor

[dangrunloh]

I've had about 8 sets of strings on my 414 so far and keep coming back to  Elixer 80/20 Nanos because of the tone and the reduced finger noise.  I've settled on 80/20's for this guitar but it always seemed  weak on the low E and both low strings also not so great at the 12th fret.  I figured eventually it would open up more or I would learn to compensate.

Finally got around to trying D'Addario EXP11's on her and I noticed a big improvement.  The low E and A have more volume and a significant fuller tone.  I'm hearing sounds this guitar never made before and I really like it. There is a new resonance in the guitar when playing fifths, or triad chords, that fills out the sound. We know that a string's tone is affected by it's neighbors.  Besides more volume I get the feeling that these strings are interacting more with each other than with the Elixirs. 

I have more finger squeak with the EXP's.  I will have to get used to it or improve my technique because there is no going back.  The low notes are so much better.  I'm sorry I thought badly of folks who said Elixers are tone-killers. It can be true for some. I'm fine with Taylor putting Elixers on all their guitars; that may be best overall.  However If you like 80/20 Nanos and want more "bottom" you might give the EXP's a try.  I don't know how long they will last and don't care at this point.

Incidentally I can't stand the 12-16s solids in any of the light sets (playing with heavy picks) but am quite happy putting medium 13-17's  in those slots.

[dangrunloh]

I've had about 8 sets of strings on my 414 so far and keep coming back to  Elixer 80/20 Nanos because of the tone and the reduced finger noise.  I've settled on 80/20's for this guitar but it always seemed  weak on the low E and both low strings also not so great at the 12th fret.  I figured eventually it would open up more or I would learn to compensate.

Finally got around to trying D'Addario EXP11's on her and I noticed a big improvement.  The low E and A have more volume and a significant fuller tone.  I'm hearing sounds this guitar never made before and I really like it. There is a new resonance in the guitar when playing fifths, or triad chords, that fills out the sound.

I probably have 10 hours on these string already and I still like them very much.  Goodbye Elixers. I also went through my large pick collection acquired in the last 4 months since I bough the Taylor 414.  Amazingly picks I thought were awful or unusable with Elixers, now sound pretty good.  Nylons for example sounded dull and lifeless before, but now I can use them. They are certainly easier to handle than the stiffer picks. Also thin gauges of picks that sounded  tinny have filled out.  Heck all my picks sound good now!

[sachi]

I use D'Addario PBs on my GC-5 as well, and like you I think they add to the bass and mids leading to a more balanced sound for my ears. I use the EXP (coated) strings though,and I don't notice any string squeak. Perhaps that is what you could try next.

I agree with you that pick choice is pretty individual. I like different picks with different guitars, and I'll switch picks when I want different sounds.

[dangrunloh]

I use D'Addario PBs on my GC-5 as well, and like you I think they add to the bass and mids leading to a more balanced sound for my ears. I use the EXP (coated) strings though,and I don't notice any string squeak. Perhaps that is what you could try next.

I agree with you that pick choice is pretty individual. I like different picks with different guitars, and I'll switch picks when I want different sounds.

I am using the EXP coated 80/20's right now and I agree the finger squeak isn't as bad as uncoated but it's still a bit more squeaky than Elixers.  The D-Addarios very definitely added a lot more bass and a lot more everything.  I replaced the strings one at a time and as soon as I had the new low E and the new low A together on the guitar the whole box seemed to resonate more.

I liked my 414 with Nanos except for the low notes.  Now I love it even more.  It's not my ears, or personal preference, it's the guitar!  It likes the EXP11's better and Tommy E. says you must put on the strings that the guitar likes.  It could be that my particular guitar is weak on bass but I wonder how many folks who have found a Taylor guitar to sound thin and reedy would have a different impression if it had EXP's on it.

[cigarfan]

I use D'Addario PBs on my GC-5 as well, and like you I think they add to the bass and mids leading to a more balanced sound for my ears. I use the EXP (coated) strings though,and I don't notice any string squeak. Perhaps that is what you could try next.

I agree with you that pick choice is pretty individual. I like different picks with different guitars, and I'll switch picks when I want different sounds.

I am using the EXP coated 80/20's right now and I agree the finger squeak isn't as bad as uncoated but it's still a bit more squeaky than Elixers.  The D-Addarios very definitely added a lot more bass and a lot more everything.  I replaced the strings one at a time and as soon as I had the new low E and the new low A together on the guitar the whole box seemed to resonate more.

I liked my 414 with Nanos except for the low notes.  Now I love it even more.  It's not my ears, or personal preference, it's the guitar!  It likes the EXP11's better and Tommy E. says you must put on the strings that the guitar likes.  It could be that my particular guitar is weak on bass but I wonder how many folks who have found a Taylor guitar to sound thin and reedy would have a different impression if it had EXP's on it.

Sounds like I'm going to have to try the EXPs. Had been using Martin Marquis 80/20 for a long time but was really impressed with the Elixirs that came on my Taylor. I will have to try the D-Addarios next time around. Like you, I'm not hard over on how long they last. It is about the sound.

[dangrunloh]

I've had about 8 sets of strings on my 414 so far and keep coming back to  Elixer 80/20 Nanos because of the tone and the reduced finger noise.  I've settled on 80/20's for this guitar but it always seemed  weak on the low E and both low strings also not so great at the 12th fret.  I figured eventually it would open up more or I would learn to compensate.

Finally got around to trying D'Addario EXP11's on her and I noticed a big improvement.  The low E and A have more volume and a significant fuller tone.  I'm hearing sounds this guitar never made before and I really like it. There is a new resonance in the guitar when playing fifths, or triad chords, that fills out the sound. We know that a string's tone is affected by it's neighbors.  Besides more volume I get the feeling that these strings are interacting more with each other than with the Elixirs. 

I am so fickle.  After about 10 days of playing the EXP11's I don't love them nearly as much. They still sound great, good volume and plenty of bass, and they are fun to play.  However, now that I have had a chance to do some test recordings I find they have too much "sparkle" for the tone I want to create.  Sounds terrific with bare fingers, but not to my tastes for picking the 414.

Among my test recordings the Elixer80/20's and the GHS silk and steels sound absolutely divine to me played with a gator or gravity pick.  But the low E is a bit weak with those on my guitar.  Next up I will try the Newtone 80/20's and the Labella silk and steels (they have a little heavier set than most others). Maybe Pearse 80/20's also.

Having fun, that's what it's all about for me.