Nanoweb is the thinner of the two coatings. Polyweb has a nice slick feel to it (my personal favorite) with a pretty bright tone. Nanoweb feels more like normal strings with a slightly mellower tone (not that big of a difference). They both last just as long, but i like nanoweb better. Keep in mind when buying these strings that elixer doesn't really follow the convention of "light, medium, heavy, etc." Their lights are what most other brands of strings would call mediums (10's) . If you've been playing with light strings on your accoustic you might want to go with their super lights (9's).

Thanks for the info, John. It's very helpful to know all this before I buy any more strings.

My guitar actually came with Elixir lights on it, and that's the only thing I've used on it so far. I didn't realize that their "light" was equivalent to somebody else's medium. That was quite an eye opener. I've been thinking of switching to the extra lights, and now I really think I will next time I change strings. I think I'll try the nanowebs, too. The ones that are on it now are the polywebs, and they are indeed very bright. I had actually been thinking I might like a warmer tone better. Thanks again.

Sharon

I agree the polyweb are the best of the two. I have played both and find the polys last longer also.
Chet

John
where did you come up with this Elixir lights are actually mediums. That is just plain not true.
12's are 12's no matter what brand you buy. That is the string diameter and if its 12 in Martins then a 12 in elixirs are exactly the same diameter. I have played Martin Sp's DiAddarios,Martin Marquis, and a couple cheap brands and the 12's feel like 12s on them all including the Elixirs
Chet

I wasn't saying that 12s don't feel like 12s. 12s are 12s, no matter which brand. what i was saying in case she was going to buy them by label like "medium" or "light", i wanted to encouraging her not to, but to pay attention to the guage instead. As you can see from my other response what elixer considers to be a light or medium isn't what most other brands use. I've switched brands over the years but it wasn't until i picked up my first set of "medium" elixers that i realized i had just changed what i thought was the standard guage.

PS Lights for an acoustic are 12's not 10's I do not think that Elixir makes a 9 in acoustic strings but they do make a Custom Light which is 11's.
Chet

Sorry i actually just was talking to someone about electric elixer strings before i posted that, so the gauges were in relation to that. And yeah, when comparing brands i've noticed (i'm speaking in electric guages now, not accoustic) they consider 9s light, 10s medium, and 11s heavy, but elixer considers 10s light, 11s medium, and 12s heavy.

If I'm understanding correctly, it sounds like the terms "light," "medium," etc. may be applied to different gauges for electric guitars than for acoustic. Is that what you're saying, John? I know zip about electric guitar strings because I only play acoustic at this point.

According to the Elixir site, the gauges they sell for 6 strings acoustic guitars are as follows:

Extra Light - 010 014 023w 030w 039w 047w
Custom light - 011 015 022w 032w 042w 052w
Light - 012 016 024w 032w 042w 053w
Light medium - 012 016 024w 035w 045w 056w
Medium - 013 017 026w 035w 045w 056w

So far, my Big Baby has never had anything other than Elixir Lights (012 - 053w). on it. According to the Taylor site, that is what they put on the Big Babys in the factory. They post very thorough information on their website describing what strings they put on their guitars, including the specific gauges they use on each model. When it was time to change the strings on my Big Baby for the first time, I went to the site and wrote down the exact gauges they listed for the Big Baby, then I made sure I bought the same exact thing. I didn't want to take a chance on putting something on the guitar that wasn't right for it, and I knew I didn't have the knowledge at that point to make that judgment myself. I figured using the same exact strings that the guitar came with would be the safest way to go!

I am now thinking I might like to try either the Extra Lights or the Custom Lights. Am I correct in assuming that there's no danger in putting lighter gauge strings on the guitar than what it came with? (I know heavier ones would be a non-no, and I'm not interested in that anyway.) I've been reading that lighter gauge strings can make for easier playing, and I think I'd like to try that.

Sharon

Actually you can put any of those on your Big Baby. However, because changing string guage changes string tension (lighter strings = lighter tension, etc.), you may need to have your neck adjusted (truss rod). Lighter strings will make it easier to hold the strings down, but they will also have a weaker, brighter sound.

%chuck%

sharon
the Custom Lights will work with no problem I am pretty sure. The extra lights would probably be better for you to play and easier for you but there is a slight and I say slight chance that you will need a setup change if you go to them. Chet

Sharon
your big baby should have come from the factory with elixir Lights on it. If not then probably D'Addario lights as that is what they used to use I think.
Chet

Sorry John
I understand now and you are probably right there. I am not sure as I do not use Elixirs on my electrics. As far as acoustics go 12's are considered light guage by all the manufacturers I mentioned for acoustic.
We were talking the same thing buddy just in different places hahaha
happy playing
Chet