Polyweb strings are coated with a microscopically-thin polymer tube. This coating completely surrounds the string but does not fill the area between windings. This is very important as filling the area would affect vibration and tone.
The Polyweb coating protects the string from corrosion, dirt, grime sweat and humidity. In doing so, it prolongs the life and tone of your strings.
Polyweb strings produce a warm, “played-in” sound and a fast, slick feel.
Nanoweb strings, like Polyweb, also are coated with a thin, advanced polymer tube. The same rules apply as with the Polyweb, although coated, no coating fills the area between windings.
Nanoweb strings produce a bright tone and have a smooth feel.
Although both have an advanced polymer coating, the difference between the Polyweb vs Nanoweb coating is the thickness. The Nanoweb coating is thinner, this provides a brighter tone, more similar to what you’d expect to hear from a new set of uncoated strings.
The benefit of the thicker Polyweb coating is the extra longevity you can get out of your strings.
Polyweb is the original coating that Elixir produced after their different tests and trials using 15000 guitarists. They further refined their production and testing to produce the ultra-thin Nanoweb coating.
Benefits Of Coated Strings
Reduce finger squeak
Extended tone life and overall longevity
Corrosion resistance
Potential Drawbacks Of Coated Strings
Not as ‘bright’ as uncoated strings
Feel and tone you are not used to
Artists Using Elixir Strings
JOHN PAUL JONES – Bassist for Led Zeppelin
MARCUS KING – The Marcus King Band, Grammy Award nominee for the Best Americana Album
WAYNE SERMON – Lead guitarist for Imagine Dragons
PHIL KEAGGY – 7-time recipient of the GMA Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year and two-time Grammy Award nominee for Best Gospel Album
SUS VASQUEZ – Guitarist for Grammy-winning Latina artist Karol G
KAKI KING – Contributed music to the movie ‘Into the Wild’ which earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Score
GREG KARAS – Guitarist for certified triple-platinum recording artist Andy Grammer
CHRIS TOMLIN – 23 GMA Dove Awards, Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and two certified platinum albums
RICHARD THOMPSON – Multiple Grammy Award nominee
ZACH COMTOIS – Guitarist for Britney Spears
MASSIMO VARINI – Four-time Grammy Award winner
ERIC BIBB – Multiple Grammy Award nominee
ERIC CHURCH – Multiple award-winning recording artist
DAN TYMINSKI – Winner of 14 Grammy Awards
Conclusion
The Polyweb vs Nanoweb debate will surely continue as it is completely based on preference. You can either choose Polyweb for its played-in tone and slick feel or Nanoweb for the brighter sound. What is your Elixir String preference?
This is our review for the best guitar finger strengthener.
Hand exerciser, guitar finger strengthener, finger exercise tool. Different names, same application. If you are looking to build hand and/or finger strength, these tools can be extremely useful. However, we recommend building finger strength actually playing the guitar. There is no substitute for this, PLAY THE GUITAR!
In situations where playing your guitar is not possible, these become a great second option for finger strength. They are small, portable and packable. You can use them at work, on the road, at home, almost anywhere and anytime which makes them very practical.
After reviewing multiple guitar finger strengthener tools, we have chosen the D’Addario Varigrip as our pick. This is due to the adjustable resistance and the simulated strings for callus building. We find that geared towards guitarists, this is the best option.
If you are looking for a finger exercise tool for therapy/rehab, we found the PROHANDS product lineup to be the best as they cater specifically to this purpose.
Below you will find our reviews for the best guitar finger strengthener.
The D’Addario Varigrip is the only guitar finger strengthener on our list that is produced from a guitar-related manufacturer. Although most finger/hand exercisers operate in similar a way by providing resistance to individual fingers.
We think that a company in the guitar-related industry creating this product really shows who they have geared the design and function towards.
What we like about this guitar finger strengthener
The variable tension that is adjustable for each individual finger is great. No need to have to set all tensions the same if you have one or two fingers lacking or if you have a predominately strong single finger.
The ergonomic design ensures you are getting the most benefits from your finger exercises without using a level of grip strength that is not required.
By removing the palm padding, you get access to the molded, simulated guitar strings to help build and maintain calluses. We like this very much as it adds another level of usage that was well thought out.
What we don’t like:
There is no mention of exactly what the range of variable resistance is. We’ve found a lot of info that states either: “2-4 lbs” or “2-5 lbs”. However, the manufacturer does not clarify.
The Dynatomy Varigrip Sport is based off the same design as the D’Addario Varigrip. We like the D’Addario very much and we feel the same about the Dynatomy.
What we like about this guitar finger strengthener:
Again, the variable resistant adjustment is highly beneficial. The Dynatomy Varigrip Sport comes in two different resistance variations:
Medium – Extra-Heavy: 6-9 lbs variable, adjustable resistance
Although not dedicated towards guitar players, the Digi-Flex Hand Exerciser is an effective tool with multiple resistances available.
What we like about this guitar finger strengthener:
Solid build, no issues with stuck plungers or pinched fingers. This is important as this device is labeled as a therapy tool. Quality and ease of use were well though out here.
Available in six different resistance levels:
Yellow: 1.5 lbs
Red: 3 lbs
Green: 5 lbs
Blue: 7 lbs
Black: 9 lbs
Grey: 11 lbs
What we don’t like:
Take it with a grain of salt, but for monetary reasons, we prefer a variable finger exerciser as there is no need to buy all six to have a variable resistance range.
Claiming to be “the original spring-loaded hand and finger exerciser”, PROHANDS Gripmaster is said to be used by professional athletes, musicians as well as a rehab tool. The design is similar to the Digi-Flex and has has different un-adjustable resistant levels depending on the device.
What we like about this guitar finger strengthener:
The PROHANDS hand exercisers are comfortable and well-built.
PROHANDS has four different product lines for their hand exercisers:
VIA: 1 lb – 6 lbs (Gray = 1 lbs, Green = 2 lbs, Yellow and Pink = 4 lbs, Blue, Purple and Black = 6 lbs)
Gripmaster: 1.5 lbs – 9 lbs (Green = 1.5 lbs, Yellow = 3 lbs, Blue = 5 lbs, Red = 7 lbs, Black = 9 lbs)
Gripmaster Rehab: 0.75 lbs – 9 lbs (Tan = 0.75 lbs, Yellow = 1.5 lbs, Red = 3 lbs, Green = 5, Blue = 7 lbs, Black = 9 lbs)
Important to note is that the VIA and Gripmaster product lines are smaller and may be better suited to small/average size hands. If you have large hands you’ll be better off with the Pro version.
What we don’t like:
Although they’ve created a wonderful lineup of different product lines and resistances. We believe this may be overwhelming for someone who just wants to increase basic finger strength.
Available in a four or five finger configuration, the Django Hand Exerciser is a variable resistance plunger type finger strengthener.
What we like about this guitar finger strengthener:
Great build quality, doesn’t feel cheap. This is a nice benefit, especially in a variable resistance version. Everything seems tight and gives us the impression it will last.
The adjustable resistance gives you the ability to change the tension between 3-7 lbs.
What we don’t like:
If you have large hands or strong fingers the maximum tension of 7 lbs may not be enough.
Guitar Finger Strengthener FAQ
How often can I or should I use these?
A guitar finger strengthener can be used everyday, even multiple times a day as long as you feel no pain or discomfort.
For how long per session am I able to use these?
There is no set amount of time, whatever you feel comfortable with. We recommend starting out with a few minutes and see how it feels. Gradually increasing your time of use is the best course of action here,
Do I need to use a guitar finger strengthener?
The short answer is no. These hand and finger exercisers are not a requirement. They are a tool that helps increase your finger and hand strength more effectively than building that strength naturally through playing the guitar.
Conclusion
The benefits of portability, adjustable resistance and callus builder make our choice for the D’Addario Varigrip as the best guitar finger strengthener as easy one.
A final note, if you feel as though the resistance from any hand/finger exercise tool is too low, simply add repetitions. No need to purchase multiple different units for a variety of resistance levels unless that is your preference or recommended by your physician for rehab.
Do you use a hand or finger exerciser? Let us know! Thanks for reading.
If you enjoyed this article, please check out our most recent posts:
The BOSS BD-2 and the Ibanez TS9 are both time tested legends in their own right. Both have found their sounds on top albums and both have enticed live crowds for multiple decades.
BOSS vs Ibanez, Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer. We’ll go over each product on it’s own as well as provide a comparison. We have included individual demo videos as well as a comparison video so you can hear some of what we’re talking about.
We chose the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer as our favorite. This is due to our preference with the vintage 80s sound it gives as well as the lesser rough overdrive compared to that of the Blues Driver.
Here we’ll go over the BOSS BD-2 in the Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer debate.
The BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver is a great pedal that can find it’s way onto any pedalboard. This pedal has a gritty sound that falls somewhere between overdrive and distortion.
The Blues Driver provides full, bold and dynamic tones. It’s crunchy and powerful with a lot of attitude. It really produces that vintage tube amp overdrive and distortion that we all love. It’s full and dynamic with great response.
The BD-2 has three knobs, level, tone and gain, as well as a foot pedal switch. It’s worth noting that many players get their favorite BD-2 tones by turning the level and drive knobs all the way up, and then backing off just enough to dial in a great tone. This is because different guitars and pickups will require more or less gain.
The Blues Driver has a ton of gain and volume. This can be a problem as this can cause feedback from your amp. A solution is to bring the gain down on the pedal, and then back it back off just enough so that you get that slight breakup/overdrive sound without getting too much feedback.
The BD-2 immediately produces a gritty overdrive tone with punchy lows and mids, but not as much as many other popular overdrive and distortion pedals.
The sound of the BD-2 is best described as bluesy and dirty, but can also be very convincing for classic rock, or even metal.
The Blues Driver can be found in many mainstream pedalboards, including those of Tom Morello, Billie Joe Armstrong and Prince.
For us, the Blues Driver feels like a lead guitar pedal, but can also very easily find its way into rhythm riffs. It’s important to note that the Blues Driver is not transparent at all. This means that it will color your tone in a significant way. So if you’re looking for a clean boost or simple overdrive, check out some other pedals.
Any Downside?
This pedal seems to have a lack of mid-range when playing notes with low gain. We also found that some people may find this pedal too rough.
Here we’ll go over the Ibanez TS9 in the Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer debate.
The Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer has been altering tones of guitarists around the world since the 1980s. It brings to the table a quality, rounded sound.
The TS9 is warm and bright with smooth midrange. It produces a definitive 80s vintage tone and a nice, bluesy overdrive.
The Tube Screamer is an incredibly well-built pedal and seems like it can handle just about anything. There’s a good reason why this pedal has been used by so many artists over the decades: It sounds great and is reliable.
This is also a great pedal to boost another drive pedal. Some guitarists find this pedal too thin on it’s own, we disagree. It’s a great pedal on it’s own, but the Tube Screamer loves being pushed.
The Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer has three knobs, drive, tone and level as well as a foot pedal switch.
The TS9 is a reliable, vintage sounding drive pedal. It has been used by many guitarists including, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson and Kirk Hammett.
If you’re looking for a quality, great sounding drive pedal, the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer is a fantastic choice.
Any Downside?
Guitarists may not like the brighter sound, compared by some to the sound of a tin can. This pedal also seems to work better with single-coil pickups.
Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer Comparison
Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer comparison video. NOTE: These are both being played on a Fender Stratocaster through a VOX AC30 amp.
5/5
Blues Driver
5/5
Tube Screamer
Power Supply: 9V Battery or AC adapter
Power Supply: 9V Battery or AC adapter
Size: 5 1/8" (129 mm) x 2 7/8" (73 mm) x 2 3/8" (59 mm)
Size: 4.9" (124 mm) x 3" (74 mm) x 2" (53mm)
Weight: 360 grams (13 oz)
Weight:
570 grams (1.3 lbs)
Input Impedance:
1 M ohm
Input Impedance: 500k ohms
Output Impedance: 1 k ohm
Output Impedance: 10k ohms
The easiest way to sum up the differences on these two would be to say that the Ibanez TS9 is like smooth peanut butter, whereas the BOSS BD-2 is the crunchy version.
They each have their place but we prefer the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer. We believe the lighter, less full tones don’t overpower and provide the perfect balance.
We do acknowledge that some guitarists believe the TS9 is not a stand-alone pedal. However, we believe with the right setup, the Tube Screamer doesn’t need its hand held. This is why we favor the TS9 in the Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer debate.
Final Thought
It all comes down to a matter of preference depending on your preferred genre, style and gear. We chose the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer. How would you answer the Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer question? Which would you choose and why? Thanks for reading.
If you’ve enjoyed this article, please check out our latest posts:
This is our review for the best guitar wall hangers in 2021.
So you’re thinking about hanging your guitars? There are many reasons we choose to use guitar wall hangers, guitar wall mounts or guitar wall racks over conventional guitar stands. Including but not limited to:
Worried that children or pets may damage your guitars and you want to get them off the floor
Showcasing your fine musical instruments
Maybe you’re bored and it’s music room project day?
Whichever the reason, there are many different choices for wall mounted hangers. As you will see below, every one of these options is a proven, top-seller and well received by buyers. That being said, each item has it’s pros and cons. We’ve done our best to provide a helpful overview.
What we’ve concluded:
We’ve reviewed the best guitar wall hangers and guitar mounts available and found the Hercules GSP38WB PLUS Guitar Hanger to be the overall best choice. Our conclusion is based on styling, construction and guitar protection from scratches and falling.
We have named the Hercules the best guitar wall hanger due to the attractive styling and the auto locking system that uses your guitars own weight to engage the locking arms. This system proves effective at gently but securely holding your guitar in the wall mount.
Our runner-up choice for best guitar wall hanger is the Snigjat Guitar Wall Mount. It has a base that is made out of North American Black Walnut and is cut to look like a guitar headstock. The deep v-shaped hanger cradle design will make sure your guitar cannot slip off. We love the look of this, but believe the Hercules wall mount to be a more secure option.
What we like about our unique pick is the completely different design. These hangers look good and also function as a skateboard hanger.
We realize that everyone’s preference and needs differ, for a wide variety of reasons. That is why we’ve included reviews for all of the best guitar wall hangers, mount and racks.
100% wood base wall mount, finished in either black walnut or oak
The protective rubber coating is guaranteed not to mark your guitars finish
The yoke pivots to hold any type of headstock
Incorporates a cradle design to prevent guitar from slipping off the wall hanger
Includes block, yoke, 2 screws, 2 drywall anchors
What We Like:
The solid wood base with two different finish options is a nice look. We also like the cradle style padded hanger. This makes hanging your guitar nearly worry free as it cannot slide off and protects your neck and headstock from scratches.
What We Don’t:
Due to the deep cradle (which we like!), some thicker locking tuners may get caught on the yoke when placing, removing guitar from hanger. Also, the width of the forks may not be wide enough for some classical, or wider neck guitars.
Includes foam wall mounting pad to protect wall from abrasions
Rubberized swivel yoke
Safe for standard polyurethane finishes
Not recommended for vintage/lacquer finishes
What We Like:
The decorative base cover hides the mounting plate and screws for a clean look. We also like the cradle style hanger to better protect from the guitar possibly falling.
What We Don’t:
The install kit is not adequate for the majority of situations. Customer seem to have issues with the screws and drywall anchors. Most recommend to use your own hardware.
Also, the manufacturer mentions that it is NOT recommended for guitars with vintage/lacquer finishes. We applaud them for letting the buyer know ahead of time, but still view it as a negative in our books.
Yoke cradle pivots to fit varying headstock shapes
Soft foam padding ensures your guitars finish will not scratch
1 year quality guarantee
Includes pick holder and four picks
What We Like:
The four point wall mounting plate makes sure the wall hanger will be securely attached to drywall if used with anchors. The 1 year quality guarantee and pick holder with picks are also nice additions.
What We Don’t:
Although the four point mounting can be a benefit in drywall. If you were to try to mount this wall hanger to a wall stud you would face issues are these holes are 1-1/4″ apart. It would be best to mount to drywall or to a board and mount the board to the studs.
Solid wood base available in wood or walnut finish
Padding sleeve to protect guitar finish
Yoke pivots for different headstock fitment
Adjustable stoppers for added protection against guitar falling
What We Like:
Nice looking design and finish. The adjustable stoppers are a nice addition as the cradle isn’t nearly as deep as other options.
What We Don’t:
The mounting includes sub-par anchors and screws. Customers have found the screws too short and question the quality of the screws and anchors. Do yourself a favor and make sure to use better hardware.
Handmade and hand polished using North American black walnut hardwoods
Mounting plate is made to look like a guitar headstock
V-Shape hanger design for better anti-slip compared to flat hangers.
Hangers are covered with silicon tubing to protect the guitars finish
Pivoting yoke to accommodate various string instruments
What We Like:
The styling that resembles a guitar headstock is great. The care put in to hand polish the black walnut is appreciated.
What We Don’t:
Would prefer a foam padding instead of the silicone tubing around the hangers. If your guitar has a nitrocellulose finish you may want to wrap the silicon tubing to prevent a possible adverse reaction with your guitars finish.
Available in vintage white, carbonized black, cement grey, vintage black, weathered grey and weathered walnut finishes.
Shelf and hooks for your other guitar accessories.
3mm deep notch to hold guitar picks
Lint covered hanger arms to protect the guitars finish
Hangers are bronze metal
What We Like:
Handy shelf and hooks to hold guitar accessories or other gadgets. We also appreciate the wood styling. The notch made for picks is a plus.
What We Don’t:
We’d prefer better protection on the hooks where the headstock will rest. The attached lint is lacking in our minds. We would recommend you add protection in the form of other padding.
Height offset of hangers to prevent guitars from colliding
Soft rubber coating on hangers to protect guitar finish
Positioning card included for easy hole marking and installation
What We Like:
The ability to hold two guitars, plus have the shelf, hangers and pick notch is all around great. The height offset is also a big bonus as the guitars may have been touching otherwise (two acoustics or large bodied guitars may still touch).
What We Don’t:
As mentioned above, two full-bodied acoustic guitars will still most likely touch. Unfortunate as you’ll have to be extra careful when placing or remove one of the guitars.
Buying Guide For Guitar Wall Hangers
When choosing a guitar wall hanger, there are a few different factors to consider.
Does the yoke pivot, does it need to?
Depending on the type of guitar you have, you may need to make sure that the hanger, mount or rack you choose has a pivoting yoke. If not, you may not be able to mount your guitar safely, or at all.
Is the hardware included sufficient?
If you are mounting to concrete or brick and the included hardware only contains wood screws and/or drywall screw and anchors, this will obviously not be sufficient.
A common theme we noticed when reviewing these hangers is people were not happy with the included hardware. If it looks cheap or doesn’t fit the application, make sure to obtain the necessary hardware to make sure you are mounting these hangers securely.
What protective coating is on the hanger? Why does this matter?
Whatever guitar hanger, mount or rack you end up choosing needs to have adequate padding to prevent any scratches on your guitars finish.
You also need to be aware of any hangers using silicone. Silicone can have a negative effect on certain guitar finishes, like nitrocellulose (also known as a nitro finish).
Guitar wall hanger vs guitar stand
They both have their place and uses. If you prefer a solution to get your guitars away from possible dangers (pets, kids, unruly adults, etc…) then wall hangers and wall mounts will be your best option. In addition to protecting your guitars, hanging is also a nice showcase for your instruments.
If you prefer not to drill holes in your wall or worry about installing hangers. And, if you are not worried about possible dangers at ground level. Guitar stands work perfectly fine, are portable and most do not easily tip over.
Installation Of Guitar Wall Hangers
We HIGHLY recommend you seek help if you are unsure the best way to mount your guitar wall hangers. The very last thing you want is your guitar falling off the wall due to improper installation.
Wherever possible, we recommended only installing your hangers into solid wood or concrete/masonry. Solid wood could be your wall studs, but could also be a board you affix to your wall studs and mount your hangers to.
If your walls are concrete/masonry make sure to purchase the correct anchors, drill the pilot hole the correct size and do not over-tighten your anchor screws.
If you must install directly in to drywall, take your time, make sure the pilot holes of the drywall anchor are not too big and just as with the masonry anchors, do not over-tighten the screws.
Here is a helpful video from String Swing showing how to attach their guitar wall mount to drywall:
FAQ
Are guitar wall hangers bad for the guitar?
No, for 99% of guitars, using a guitar wall hanger or mount is perfectly acceptable. The only guitar we wouldn’t recommend this for is the solid brass 1979 Ibanez 2622 weighing in at 76 lbs. Not a typo, solid brass and 76 lbs.
What is the proper height to hang a guitar?
The proper height is whichever height you choose! There is no height that offers any benefit unless you have an obstacle.
What is the best way to hang a guitar on the wall?
The best way is whichever way ensures your guitar wall hanger stays mounted. Depending on the makeup of the wall, your install method will differ.. Drywall and concrete/masonry require anchors. You can also mount to a stud or header board with wood screws.
Do guitar wall hangers need studs?
Short answer, no. However, it is extremely recommended that you do not just rely on drywall anchors. You can and these do work but know that the possibility of the hanger coming off the wall is greater with anchoring to just drywall.
Can you hang a guitar on plasterboard?
Yes, you can mount a guitar hanger to plaster walls using masonry anchors (normally blue in color) as well as specialized anchors designed for plaster. Be sure NOT to use drywall anchors.
Our Verdict
There are plenty of guitar wall hanger options to choose from. Most are well-made and suited for the purpose of hanging expensive guitars.
That being said, we recommend the Hercules GSP38WB PLUS as the best guitar wall hanger. We really like the auto locking feature that will prevent the guitar from ending up on the floor, dented or possibly broken.
Just make sure that whichever guitar hanger, mount or rack you choose, you install it securely.
If you enjoyed this article, please check out our most recent posts:
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