About Elixir
Elixir Strings is a guitar-string brand owned by W. L. Gore & Associates, the privately held company headquartered in Newark, Delaware, best known as the maker of Gore-Tex fabric. Elixir grew directly out of Gore's materials-science research into protective coatings for push-pull control cables, and the brand launched in 1997 with a polymer coating applied over the string winding to block the sweat, skin oil, and airborne grime that dull tone and corrode a bare string.
That coating became the foundation for a full range under the NANOWEB, OPTIWEB, and POLYWEB names, each a different coating thickness and feel, from an ultra-thin layer designed to preserve the touch of a raw string to a smoother, quieter finish aimed at minimizing finger squeak. Elixir strings are used by touring and studio musicians including John Paul Jones, Dave Mason, and Chris Thile, and the coated-string category Elixir pioneered in the late '90s is now a standard option across nearly every major string manufacturer's lineup.
Brand website: elixirstrings.com
What Elixir makes
Elixir's catalog runs wider than the gear we review. The lines we know best from our own testing are marked with a star:
Acoustic Guitar Strings
Phosphor bronze and 80/20 bronze in NANOWEB, OPTIWEB, and POLYWEB coatings — featured on House of Octave
Electric Guitar Strings
Nickel-plated steel in NANOWEB and OPTIWEB coatings — featured on House of Octave
Bass Guitar Strings
Coated nickel-plated steel bass sets in NANOWEB and OPTIWEB
Attune Strings
Newer sensor-embedded strings built to work with tuning apps
Why we recognized Elixir
The House of Octave Top Brand recognition isn't paid for and can't be applied for. We award it to the brands whose gear consistently stands out in our player-tested category guides. Elixir earned it on the strength of the products below, judged the same way every product on this site is: assessed on build, tone, and playability, weighed against what players actually report over years of use, and ranked on merit.
Elixir gear we rated highly
Elixir Strings Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings with NANOWEB Coating, Light 12-53
A top pick in our acoustic string testing. The NANOWEB coating wraps the entire string to block the sweat, oil, and grime that dull tone, and in our review it held its brightness noticeably longer than an uncoated set while keeping a smooth, low-squeak feel. Reviewers back that up with a 4.8-star average across more than 12,000 ratings.
Read the 8 Best Acoustic Guitar Strings of 2026 (Every Player & Budget) guide →
Elixir Strings OPTIWEB Coated Nickel-Plated Steel Electric Guitar Strings, Light 10-46
A top pick in our electric string testing. OPTIWEB is Elixir's thinnest coating, engineered to keep the crisp, natural feel of a bare string while still blocking the grime that kills tone, and in testing it held its brightness for months longer than an uncoated set. It carries a 4.8-star rating from thousands of players.
Read the 8 Best Electric Guitar Strings of 2026 (Every Style & Budget) guide →What earned Elixir the recognition
- Elixir strings were among the products we rated highest in both our acoustic and electric guitar string testing, each earning a 4.8-star reviewer average
- Owned by W. L. Gore & Associates, the Newark, Delaware company behind Gore-Tex, and built on the same protective-coating materials research
- Launched in 1997 as one of the first widely adopted coated guitar strings, using a polymer coating that blocks sweat, oil, and grime to extend playable tone life well beyond an uncoated set
- The NANOWEB, OPTIWEB, and POLYWEB lines give players a choice of coating thickness and feel, from a natural uncoated-like touch to maximum longevity
- Used by touring and studio musicians including John Paul Jones, Dave Mason, and Chris Thile