Elixer's aren't bad. However I'm not a big fan of the tone. I'd recommend using string cleaner with your typical strings and being mindful of washing your hands prior to playing, not smoking before handling your guitar and such things. Small steps really can make a big difference. The best way to maintain them is to wipe them down after playing. The oils in your fingers will oxidize your strings in a hurry. Best of luck.

Cheers,
-Ryan-

Good gracious, you end each gig with a broken string? That sounds like they have to work and don't even stand a chance to rust. :o

I agree with djrr3k plus:

Perhaps you should consider heavier strings to not break as many strings. Maybe even a plain G, that won't be as vulnerable as a wound G. I gather you're bashing the thing really hard so the difference in sound is minor detail.

This is what I did for a better sound and longer string life:

Went from .009-.042 to .011-.049 (d'Addario) on my electric and haven't broken a string since. Not even the first.

Use GHS fast fret and a cloth to clean and wipe the strings. They last about 3 times longer that way.

Never start a gig or recording without fresh new strings. The cleaning and wiping is for in between sets and takes and during rehearsal periods where I do about 4 rehearsals with one set. After that they sound like elastic bands and need to go.

Black Diamond strings?!!?!?! I thought that they sold those in drugstores! They are atrocious. And a wound 3rd string is LESS likely to break than a plain one. It is also better for intonation up and down the neck than a plain 3rd.You might have a professional guitar repair person look at the bridge on your guitar (if the strings are breaking there). It might just need to be properly set up, especially if the guitar was never set up when it was purchased new. As far as guitar strings are concerned, while they are all made by 3 manufacturers in the States, they are made to the specs and quality control tolerances that the distributor/vendor states they want. D'Addario is one of those manufacturers, and their namebrand strings are very good. Elixirs have a reputation of "shredding" that coating, and that is not nice, and the price of the strings is not cheap.

Moonbaby, wound G strings have thinner cores to allow a wrap to such a small diameter. They are more prone to breakage than a solid string of the same diameter, which is why some string sets now come with an extra wound third string. I break third strings all the time on my gypsy jazz guitar.

Ray, you may have to look at your instrument to see if there is something pinching the string at the nut, bridge or tailpiece. Look for a bad angle across points that might interfere and cause breakage at those points. I know you know how to wind a string onto a peg, or thread a string thru a tailpiece, but there are many ways to do it with advantages to a particular situation.

Wiping during and after playing is the only method, coated strings are not an option if you care about tone. If you are a heavy handed player, then you may have to change strings before each gig. Going into a gig with a stretched and abused set of strings on the guitar is only going to add to the odds of you having a bad day.
The handmade boutique strings are better all around, sound , playability and life are much better IMHO. Mail order can save you money to offset the higher premium paid for a better string.

I've had my share of breaking strings back in the metal days, but when doing live gigs I always had a back up guitar. Usally it was in a different tuneing. One thing I will say, You should change your strings more often than months, Hell I'd change mine before every gig. Need to or not.

I'll vote for the D'addario string also. Good strings.

Peace..........Scoobie

I had to step up my guages as well, I was playing the babies for a while, Hybrid Slinky (9-46). I started working with these guys who have amazing tone (and talent) and play the heaviest strings their guitars and tunings will support, changed my ways of thinking. I did make the switch to D'addario as well, and went to the jazz mediums. (13-56) The tone is much fatter, especially in my guitar that's down a whole step. Just make sure you don't do that switch with an upcoming gig. Your fingers will hate you for a while. Fast fret really helps though.

I actually PREFER the tone of a wound acoustic string. Tone being a subjective thing, give Elixirs a go. Worst thing that could happen is that you could dislike them.

Thanks to everybuddies!!

haa...
A wonderful sharing.
i think every player always clean the strings before and after the gig/show.but SHOCK,the Black Diamond really treat me bad.Now have try out the Dean Markley Gold Coated,sound good feel good as well!!

I haven't try out Coated strings,but now use it for Concert to makesure it can STAY for the whole concert without accident!!but finally it's not a good idea.

D'Addario,yup..i like it so much.but after that,i did try out the Ernie Ball Steel Strings for my Acoustic Guitar,feel GOOD!!of course,Steel string presence the brightness and Wound i felt the Thickness.

I'm a little late on this one but what the heck, right?

I've had great luck with the durability of Martin SP and SP+ strings. For years I played Dean Markley's exclusively for AC guitar but had problems with them breaking from time to time, even the cryogenic's.

No matter what string you go with keep a few things in mind:
1. It really helps to properly stretch new strings after you install them
2. If you go with a heavier gauge make sure your guitar can handle the tension. Most acoustic guitars (unfortunately) have a problem with 13's. You can permanently damage the guitar but if it really wasn't built for that kind of tension you'll at least have consistently nagging intonation problems and it'll hardly ever stay in tune for any length of time.
3. Lighten up on your pick gauge if you're using Heavy gauge.

A lot of people have said good stuff. I'm gunna agree with moonbaby and say check HOW your guitar is strung. Are the strings wrapped around the tunning pegs severial times? Things like this will effect breakage.

As far as strings go, I like to play rock n roll on my acoustic too, elixers break on me a lot and I spent forever finding the right string.

Martin Marquis.

Try it, you'll never go back.

Ernie Ball Skinny tops heavy bottoms no doubt man. They never die. I set my guitar on fire and they dont die.

On electric gigs I used fresh strings everynight. Otherwise, I ran the risk of one breaking. By gigs I mean a full night 3 sets/2 breaks etc... 40 or 50 songs... That was just too much for a set of strings two nights in a row. YMMV of course.

On acoustic gigs it was pretty much the same, maybe two shows but usually not. In my experience, gigs & adrenalin are much rougher on strings than casual picking.

In 20 years of gigging, everytime, I didn't change, I got burnt so I finally just bought cases of strings and was done with it. I once made 3000 paying customers watch me change a guitar string. Lets just say it took longer than a drum solo and it wasn't any fun...

However, the coated strings are wonderful with the exception I didn't use them live much because they would break easier. That was for elixirs on my electrics. The acoustics faired much better.

Best regards-

Karbo

I liked the D'Adarrio XL's on a Tele. Had problems with breakage, but only after a full gig and halfway through the next. Keep 'em fresh. ALso, I think you might want to have the saddles buffed or something. May be a rough edge somewhere if its the same string going every time. Or could replace the saddles with graphite ones. Just some ideas! ANDY