STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

[kill your scene]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

Could anyone honestly hear a difference between any brand after a set of strings is on your guitar for longer than a month? They all get the same dirt build up wether you are a wiper or not. Maybe sometimes we take the tone obsession to far?
I just pick out the cheapest quality strings now, which happen to be D'addario, but I'm considering going back to EB's. I could swear they sound better, but maybe its all in my head. Feeling is the same though, but I pick hard with a 1.14mm pick...
Now I'm confused, lol.

There is a tonal difference between one kind of strings and another... just read the first post for an example. After a month? No. All strings are dead after a month anyway. If you're still playing the same strings after a month, you need to pony up the 6 bucks for a new set.

[Nightburst]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

Could anyone honestly hear a difference between any brand after a set of strings is on your guitar for longer than a month? They all get the same dirt build up wether you are a wiper or not. Maybe sometimes we take the tone obsession to far?
I just pick out the cheapest quality strings now, which happen to be D'addario, but I'm considering going back to EB's. I could swear they sound better, but maybe its all in my head. Feeling is the same though, but I pick hard with a 1.14mm pick...
Now I'm confused, lol.

[papersoul]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

I've used GHS Boomers, D'Addarrio, DR, and Dean Markley successfully with no issues. I actually always found the D'Addarios to be great and maybe a bit warm. I ended up with GHS Boomers for some reason but they are working for me.

[Pandemonium]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

Interesting that you use Phosphor Bronze for Dobros and lapsteels. I agree that they sound better. I never understood why Dobros and slide guitars are supposed to be stainless steel? or nickel wound?

I've used John Pearse nickle wrapped strings too, they're a little punchier and a little louder with my reso, plus they last waay longer than the D'Addario phosphor bronze, but they're also a little muddier, and the Bs are a ***** to tune, they never sound quite right to me. Nicklewraps just don't have the sweetness and purity of tone I'm looking for. They seemed to work fine for me in E tuning though, they project a little better than PB when you tune down, but I mostly play in G on my squareneck [GBDGBD]. I use D'Addario J-42s [16-18-.026-.035-.045-.056]. I just buy extra .026s, I'll wear out 2 or 3 high Gs before the rest of the strings go south. I tune my acoustic lap guitar to D [DADF#AD] and use J-42s on it too.

[korovamilkdud]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

I'm another D'addario hater. Mine just kept breaking though. I didn't really have a problem with how they sounded, but reliability seemed to be a serious issue.

[bloodswords]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

if you live in an equatorial climate like i do, the D'addarios will disintegrate as soon as you touch them (moisture contact).

i'm a DR fan too, but i'm with the colour coated (red) set

[Bludave]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

Guitar strings are like guitars, some brands work better for some players. I have used EB strings a long time ago When you used to get two E and B strings with the set!!, but years ago I switched to D'addario and have had excellent results. I use the XL115 (11 thru 49) on my electrics, and J17 (13 thru 56) on acoustics. Some of the issue you describe has to do with using a light string. My understanding is that D'addario also makes strings for a lot of other companys. Who they are I don't know!!!

[msplines]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

I used to use Daddarios, but now i use Dean Markley blue steels. they just last longer. If you guys know of a brand that lasts longer, let me know.

I tried blue steels a couple of times on several guitars, but I found the standard dean markleys kept their tone (9-42s, bright, but I like it like that) much longer.
Tried very hard with d'daddios but hated them every time, new and broken in, so I now only use Dean Markleys.

[Kent S.]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

I bought a bunch of strings off the webstrings.com site, in particular the "Memphis Lights" .10 - .46 ga. They're not bad for inexpensive strings, but I found them not to be as flexible as, say, D'Addarios. I tried ML's on my Strat but didn't like 'em, but on my Les Paul they felt okay. I mainly keep them on hand in case of a single string break, but I also bought a bunch of Rogue singles from Musician's F. for that purpose. Not too impressed with that line, but they'll get you buy until you do a complete restring.
I've been told, don't know if it's entirely true, that D'Addario is one of the few string companies that actually manufacture their own. Supposedly there are many companies out there who sell strings under their name that are actually made by independent companies who distribute for other "brand name" companies as well.
I'm wondering if anyone here has ever experienced any abrupt change in a certain brand and gauge of strings that they religiously used for a long time, due to that possible theory?

That's one reason I use GHS, they make there own, of course DR does also ... Get it Tony! (Hat tip to Tony and the guys at DR Strings). ...

[Kent S.]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

I've been using the EXL D'Addarios for many years and there are some important factors that you aren't realizing...The Fender 150s have more string tension...The EXLs are "slinkier" in their feel and therefore put less tension on your guitar's neck...It's quite possible that you'd have to tweak the truss rod a bit and for sure,the vibrato on a strat after switching from Fender to the D'Addario strings...I do know this from using several brands over the many years of playing...The D'addarios are nickel plated steel and are brighter than the Pure Nickel 150s you're used to...A closer string in the Fender line then would actually be the 250 series compared to the EXLs..

The same gauge Fender strings are tighter in tension than the D'Addarios...Fender just released a new line of their strings that have less tension.
The D'addarios I have found to be the least expensive and most consistent strings I have ever used..
I always wipe my strings down before and after playing and get alot of string life from the D'Addarios...
As far as brightness of strings from some I remember in order would go like this....

GHS Boomers
D'Addario EXLs
Ernie Ball Slinkys
GHS Nickel Rockers
Fender 150s
DR Pure Blues

If you're happy with the 150s,then by all means stick with those strings....

John

This is an excellent point all across the board ... a lot of people assume that if the gauge of string is the same (each string the same) that the intonation will be the same also, many times it's true, sometimes it isn't. When one factors in the pups(mainly referring the single coil magnetic pull, but HB can apply also), the neck relief, string tension, and the type of guitar (woods, hardware, solid, semi-hollow, hollow) you can wind up with a whole host of factors. Nice point John.

[Kent S.]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

.....
...... It's funny that a person will be anal about what strings sound the best, then we put on earplugs to keep from going deaf. Kinda silly, actually.

Now that's funny ....

[Kent S.]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

OK this is really not a who likes em who dont,i would like someone if they can explain what the heck was wrong with em? all three packs had the same problems and it was not the guitar trust me

Man, guy I couldn't tell ya, to me i don't know that there manufacturing process is any different than anyone elses ... But a friend of mine joked that the strings themselves sound *electric*. I don't know if it's there alloy, there wind compression, there core (DR is famous for offering a round core, and a hex core as a tonal alternative), couldn't tell yeah, sorry.

[Kent S.]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

you know it is funny cause i originally tried these for the cash savings but you and other have told me that they last for crap?
so even if i had no technical probs i still would have been better off stickin to my normal brand
I want to give the DR's a go as well as elixers? but am sceptical now after the D' adreadio experience

Most people I talk to loved the elixers for acoustic, but didn't like them for electric ... also price wise they were a bit steep, but for the acoustic they lasted much longer, so you got your money's worth ... plus the acoustic feel really good.

[Kent S.]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

I used to use GHS Boomers. The store was out, so I tried some D'Addarios. I thought they sounded clanky. I then went back and the store recommended DR Tite-fits. I've been using the DR's ever since.

Yeah man DR's are nice, not quite my thing but nice, there definately is something to that compression winding process.

[KoreanGuitarMan]

Re: STRING NIGHTMARE! d'addarios!

It's not surprising that you don't like the sound of strings that are of a different material and tension on a guitar that's not set up for them.

There isn't anything wrong with D'Addario strings. You just don't like them.