Elixir NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
Custom Light .011-.052
The same coated string as the light set, a step easier under the fingers
$15 - $30
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The short version
Custom Light is Elixir's in-between gauge: a .011 top rather than a .012, and a .052 bottom rather than a .053, so the plain strings drop noticeably in tension while the wound strings barely change. That combination is deliberate. It keeps most of the bass response a light set gives a dreadnought while making the top three strings meaningfully easier to bend and fret. Elixir is a division of W. L. Gore, the company behind Gore-Tex, and the coating is genuinely the product: it seals the whole string, including the gaps between the windings where skin oil and dead skin normally collect. That debris, not corrosion of the metal, is what kills most strings.
How we rate it
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
- Brightness
- 7.0
- Sustain
- 7.0
- Durability
- 10.0
- Feel
- 9.0
- Tuning stability
- 8.0
- Value
- 7.0
Specifications
| Brand | Elixir |
|---|---|
| Model | NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze AcousticCustom Light .011-.052 |
| Category | Strings |
| What it is | |
| Strings in the set | 6 |
| Materials | |
| Alloy | Phosphor bronze |
| Winding | Roundwound |
| Coating | NANOWEB, an ultra-thin coating over the entire string |
| Measurements | |
| Gauges | .011, .015, .022, .032, .042, .052 |
| In the box | |
| Sets included | 1 |
9 verified fields, taken from the manufacturer first and the Amazon listing second. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated.
What it gets right
- Lighter plain strings make bending and barre chords easier
- Keeps almost all of the bass response of a light set
- The same very long tone life as every NANOWEB set
- A sensible middle step for a player who finds .012s hard work
Where it gives ground
- Slightly less volume and low end than a full light set on a big guitar
- Roughly twice the price of an uncoated equivalent
- An unusual gauge, so less widely stocked in shops
Who it is for
What owners report
Patterns drawn from published owner reviews. Summarised, never quoted.
What comes up most
- Owners with smaller hands or arthritis single this gauge out repeatedly
- The combination of easier playing and long life is the main reason cited
Frequent complaints
- Price, as with every coated set
- A few owners find the bass slightly weaker than the light set
Recognised strengths
- A well-judged gauge that solves a real problem for a lot of players
Recognised weaknesses
- Harder to find on a shop shelf than the standard light set
The verdict
The set to choose if light gauge feels stiff but extra light sounds thin - which describes a lot of beginners and most people with small hands. On a big-bodied guitar you lose a little volume compared with a full light set; on a smaller-bodied guitar you will barely notice. Everything else is the same trade as any Elixir: roughly double the price of an uncoated set, a fraction less sparkle on day one, and several times the useful life.
We do not publish prices, because Amazon prices change constantly and a stale figure helps nobody. Follow the link for the current price and availability.
Sources
Compared with
- Elixir NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze Acoustic vs Belfort Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
- Elixir NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze Acoustic vs D'Addario EJ11 80/20 Bronze Acoustic
- Elixir NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze Acoustic vs D'Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
- Elixir NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze Acoustic vs D'Addario Pro-Arte Nylon Classical
- Elixir NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze Acoustic vs D'Addario EJ27N Student Nylon Classical
- Elixir NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze Acoustic vs D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic
Other strings
Belfort · Strings
Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
Light
Cheap phosphor bronze from a brand with no published specification
D'Addario · Strings
EJ11 80/20 Bronze Acoustic
Light, .012-.053
The bright, brash acoustic string the whole category was built on
D'Addario · Strings
EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
Light .012-.053, three sets
The default acoustic string, and the one to buy if you are not sure
D'Addario · Strings
EXL110 XL Nickel Wound Electric
Regular Light .010-.046, three sets
The electric string most guitars leave the factory wearing
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