Cleartone 9410 EMP Coated (.010–.046): the no-feel coating in Bountiful, Utah

Cleartone 9410 is a .010 to .046 nickel-plated steel electric set with EMP (Enhanced Molecular Protection), Cleartone's proprietary surface treatment that extends string life without producing the slick polymer feel of polymer-coated alternatives. The set is made in Cleartone's Bountiful, Utah factory using US-sourced wrap wire and hex high-carbon steel core.

Cleartone is one of the few coated-string brands whose entire pitch is "coated tone with uncoated feel." Players who tried Elixir Polyweb in the late 1990s, found the slick polymer feel distracting, and switched back to uncoated NPS sets are exactly the audience EMP was engineered for.

The fundamental tradeoff in coated electric strings is feel vs. life. Polymer film coatings (Elixir Polyweb, Polyweb, GHS Coated Boomers) extend life the most but produce a tactile slipperiness that some players find distracting. Thinner film coatings (Elixir Nanoweb, D'Addario XS) reduce the slick feel but are still detectable under the fingers.

EMP changes the variable. By applying the protective treatment at the molecular level (the marketing language is "Enhanced Molecular Protection," and the chemistry isn't fully disclosed publicly), Cleartone bonds the protection to the wrap wire's surface chemistry rather than wrapping a film around it. Players running A/B tests against uncoated strings often can't reliably tell which set is which by feel alone. The coating presence shows up only in the lifespan curve, which extends roughly 4 to 6 times longer than uncoated.

Players who tried polymer-coated electric strings, hated the slick fretboard feel, and want longer string life without the texture. Working players in humid climates or with acidic hand chemistry whose uncoated strings die in under 2 weeks. Anyone who appreciates US small-batch manufacturing (Cleartone is significantly smaller than D'Addario, Ernie Ball, or Elixir; the Bountiful, UT factory is a niche operation by comparison). Country, blues, and rock players who want the brighter end of the coated spectrum.

Players who specifically want the slick polymer feel of Elixir Polyweb (different tool for different preference). Tracking players chasing the absolute brightest out-of-pack tone (uncoated NYXL or Regular Slinky still wins). Anyone on a tight string budget where the price premium over uncoated isn't worth it for shorter coating-life advantage than Polyweb offers.

The "coated string for people who don't like coated strings" pitch is real, and EMP delivers on it. If polymer film texture has been the reason you avoided coated electric sets, Cleartone 9410 is the pick. The lifespan extension is in the same competitive range as Nanoweb and D'Addario XS, the tone is closer to uncoated than either of those, and the made-in-Utah small-batch story is a real differentiator for players who care about smaller US manufacturing.