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Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Guitar Frequency
If you’re torn between Elixir Polyweb and Nanoweb strings, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions Elixir players ask — and the answer isn’t the same for everyone.
We’ve played both extensively across acoustic and electric guitars, across genres from clean fingerpicking to heavy rhythm work. Here’s everything you need to know to make the right choice.
Quick Answer: Polyweb vs Nanoweb
Choose Polyweb if you want a warm, mellow tone with a fast, slick feel under your fingers. Great for fingerstyle, blues, country and players who find bright strings fatiguing.
Choose Nanoweb if you want a brighter, more natural-sounding tone that feels closer to uncoated strings. Better for rock, pop, strumming and players who want that crisp attack.
Our pick: For most guitarists we recommend Elixir Nanoweb — the brighter tone and more natural feel make it the more versatile choice across playing styles and genres.
What Are Elixir Strings?
Elixir pioneered coated guitar strings and remains the market leader. Their strings use an ultra-thin polymer coating over the string windings that protects against corrosion, sweat, dirt and humidity — dramatically extending string life compared to uncoated strings.
Both Polyweb and Nanoweb use this same core technology. The difference is the thickness of the coating — and that single difference has a significant impact on tone and feel.
Polyweb Strings – Warm Tone, Slick Feel
Polyweb was Elixir’s original coating, developed after extensive testing with over 15,000 guitarists. It uses a thicker polymer coating that wraps around the string windings without filling the gaps between them — which is critical for preserving vibration and tone.
Polyweb Tone
Polyweb strings have a warm, mellow, “played-in” sound from the moment you put them on. If you’ve ever loved the tone of a set of strings after they’ve been played for a few weeks — that broken-in warmth — that’s what Polyweb sounds like right out of the packet.
This makes them excellent for styles where a warm, rounded tone is desirable — blues, jazz, country, fingerstyle and classic rock. They’re also forgiving on guitars that are naturally bright or harsh sounding.
Polyweb Feel
The thicker coating gives Polyweb strings a distinctly slick, fast feel. Your fingers glide across them with very little friction — which reduces finger squeak significantly and makes fast playing feel effortless.
Some players love this. Others find it feels slightly artificial or slippery compared to uncoated strings. It’s worth trying a set before committing if you’ve never played coated strings before.
Polyweb Acoustic String Gauges
| Extra Light | .010 – .047 |
| Custom Light | .011 – .052 |
| Light | .012 – .053 |
| Light-Medium | .012 – .056 |
| Medium | .013 – .056 |
Polyweb Electric String Gauges
| Super Light | .009 – .042 |
| Custom Light | .009 – .046 |
| Light | .010 – .046 |
| Medium | .011 – .049 |
Nanoweb Strings – Bright Tone, Natural Feel
Nanoweb was Elixir’s refinement of the Polyweb formula — a thinner, more advanced coating that gets closer to the feel and tone of uncoated strings while still providing the same long-lasting protection.
Nanoweb Tone
Nanoweb strings are noticeably brighter than Polyweb. The thinner coating allows more of the string’s natural resonance to come through, giving you that crisp, clear attack you’d expect from a fresh set of uncoated strings — but with significantly longer lifespan.
This makes Nanoweb a better choice for rock, pop, country picking, strumming and any style where you want definition and clarity in your tone. They work particularly well on acoustic guitars where you want the full, natural projection of the instrument to come through.
Nanoweb Feel
Nanoweb strings feel much closer to uncoated strings than Polyweb. They’re smooth but not slippery — most players who try Nanoweb for the first time barely notice the coating at all, which is exactly the point.
If you’ve avoided coated strings because you don’t like the artificial feel, Nanoweb is worth trying. It’s the coating that’s most likely to convert uncoated string players.
Nanoweb Acoustic String Gauges
| Extra Light | .010 – .047 |
| Custom Light | .011 – .052 |
| Light | .012 – .053 |
| Light-Medium | .012 – .056 |
| Medium | .013 – .056 |
| HD Light | .013 – .053 |
Nanoweb Electric String Gauges
| Super Light | .009 – .042 |
| Custom Light | .009 – .046 |
| Light | .010 – .046 |
| Light-Heavy | .010 – .052 |
| Medium | .011 – .049 |
| Heavy | .012 – .052 |
Polyweb vs Nanoweb – Head To Head Comparison
| Polyweb | Nanoweb | |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Warm, mellow, played-in | Bright, clear, natural |
| Feel | Slick, fast, smooth | Natural, close to uncoated |
| Coating thickness | Thicker | Thinner |
| String life | Excellent | Excellent |
| Best for | Blues, jazz, fingerstyle | Rock, pop, strumming |
| Best for players who… | Want warmth & speed | Want natural tone & feel |
Why Choose Coated Strings At All?
Before deciding between Polyweb and Nanoweb, it’s worth understanding why coated strings are worth the slightly higher price point over uncoated alternatives.
- Longer string life — Elixir strings typically last 3-5x longer than uncoated strings. If you play regularly, you’ll change strings far less often.
- Consistent tone — uncoated strings lose their brightness within days of playing. Elixir strings maintain their tone for weeks or months.
- Less finger squeak — the coating dramatically reduces the squeaking sound when sliding up and down strings, which is particularly noticeable in recordings.
- Better for sweaty hands — if your hands sweat a lot when playing, uncoated strings corrode quickly. Elixir strings handle this much better.
- Cost effective long term — despite costing more per set, you buy them far less frequently which usually works out cheaper over time.
Who Should Choose Polyweb?
Polyweb is the right choice if any of these apply to you:
- You play blues, jazz, country or fingerstyle and want a warm, rounded tone
- You play fast lead guitar and want strings that feel frictionless under your fingers
- You find new strings too bright or harsh and prefer a broken-in sound immediately
- You have a naturally bright-sounding guitar you want to tame slightly
- You play long sessions and want maximum string comfort
→ Check price on Elixir Polyweb Acoustic on Amazon
→ Check price on Elixir Polyweb Electric on Amazon
Who Should Choose Nanoweb?
Nanoweb is the right choice if any of these apply to you:
- You want the benefits of coated strings without sacrificing brightness or natural feel
- You play rock, pop or any style where a bright, clear tone is important
- You’re switching from uncoated strings and want the least noticeable transition
- You record regularly and want strings that sound fresh on mic
- You want the most versatile coated string for all-round playing
→ Check price on Elixir Nanoweb Acoustic on Amazon
→ Check price on Elixir Nanoweb Electric on Amazon
Our Verdict
Both Polyweb and Nanoweb are excellent strings — Elixir’s quality control is consistently outstanding and either choice will last significantly longer than uncoated alternatives.
For most guitarists we recommend starting with Nanoweb. The brighter, more natural tone and feel makes it the more versatile option and the easier transition if you’re coming from uncoated strings. It’s also Elixir’s best seller for good reason.
If you specifically play styles where warmth is a priority — blues, jazz, fingerstyle — or if you’ve tried Nanoweb and found it too bright, then Polyweb is absolutely worth trying. The slick feel alone converts many players permanently.
The good news is both are reasonably priced and worth trying a set of each to find your preference. Most guitarists who try both end up with a clear favourite they stick with for life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Polyweb strings still made?
Yes — Elixir still makes Polyweb strings. However they have reduced the range compared to Nanoweb, so gauge options are more limited particularly for electric guitar.
Do Elixir strings last longer than regular strings?
Yes — significantly longer. Most players report Elixir strings lasting 3-5x longer than uncoated strings of equivalent quality. How long depends on how often you play, how much you sweat and how you store your guitar.
Which Elixir strings are best for acoustic guitar?
For acoustic guitar we recommend Nanoweb in most cases — the brighter tone complements the natural resonance of an acoustic better than Polyweb. If you play fingerstyle exclusively, Polyweb’s warmer tone and slick feel may suit you better.
Which Elixir strings are best for electric guitar?
For electric guitar Nanoweb is generally the better choice — the brighter tone works better with most electric guitar pickups and the feel is closer to the uncoated strings most electric players are used to.
Can I use Elixir strings on bass guitar?
Yes — Elixir makes Nanoweb bass strings. They’re excellent for bass and provide the same extended life and consistent tone as their guitar strings.
Ready to restring? Check out our step by step guide to stringing a guitar for tips on getting the best results from your new strings.
