Anybody using D'Addario NYXL?

[Rex_Rocker]

I got a couple of sets today to try out. D'Addario XL's have been my strings of choice for a while. I've honestly never been picky about how they sound, I just like that they have the most variety in gauges. I use 11-56 for Drop C. I like Ernie Ball as well, but I just like the 11-56 D'Addario set better than the Ernie Ball 11-54 or 12-56 set when it comes the gauges it's made of.

Well... I dropped a set of these NYXL's on my Gibson today, and the first thing I noticed is they sound smoother and fatter? Like... I'm pretty sure I'm not imagining it? They do feel... different. Not better. Just different. Just like how EB's and D'Ads feel different. But what really sold me on these is I feel they go out of tune way less than either EB's or regular D'Ad XL's. Honestly, that's a great selling point, even when I'm not in love with them not sounding as bright.

They've only been on for a day and that's it, so we'll see if they go dead quickly or not. But I really like the stability they have.

Anyone got any thoughts?

 

[Phantasmagoria]

I have them on a few guitar's . I honestly don't hear a huge difference between them and regular XL's...maybe a hair brighter? I just put them on 'cause they're supposed to last longer..

 

[Ascension]

I like them a lot, but the extra cost keeps me from using them. I play out often and own a number of guitars, so the extra cost for me isn't worth it. However, I agree that they do sound better and seem to last a little longer.

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, the cost is a little high. I can get by a little longer without changing them, but doing sets out in the Florida heat really kills strings, no matter how they are made.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I have them on a few guitar's . I honestly don't hear a huge difference between them and regular XL's...maybe a hair brighter? I just put them on 'cause they're supposed to last longer..

I feel the other way. Maybe I'm imagining it, but I could swear they're a tad darker and fuller.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Just came across this.

​Honestly, I'm not mega picky about how strings sound so much as using a set of gauges that I'm more or less comfortable with. I absolutely HATE those random super heavy 3rd strings on the heavier Ernie Ball sets. But I could swear these feel more stable tuning-wise after a good stretch, and that is a HUGE plus.

Downsides, though, is they're less bright (for me, at least), and they're more expensive.

We'll see about their longevity. I don't play out nor are my hands very sweaty, but I'm a few blocks away from the sea as well in a very rainy city.

 

[Seashore]

How often do you change strings? I used to put a fresh set on once or twice a month but in the last few years I've found I can keep them on for a few months. It might be to do with rotating guitars, and also I haven't been playing out for a while now.

I like EB's tone and texture way better than D'Addario XL, and they have a consistent tone for longer. I used XLs for years but I'm never going back. EB gauges do kind of suck for down-tuning though, they're not balanced. The whole ecosystem is set up for standard tuning, and sets for lower tunings seem like an afterthought.

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[Mincer]

I will change strings every show, with only occasionally doing 2 shows with one set if the weather isn't too hot. So, I wind up changing strings a lot. I do rotate guitars I perform with, so that helps a bit.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

How often do you change strings? I used to put a fresh set on once or twice a month but in the last few years I've found I can keep them on for a few months. It might be to do with rotating guitars, and also I haven't been playing out for a while now.

I like EB's tone and texture way better than D'Addario XL, and they have a consistent tone for longer. I used XLs for years but I'm never going back. EB gauges do kind of suck for down-tuning though, they're not balanced. The whole ecosystem is set up for standard tuning, and sets for lower tunings seem like an afterthought.

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Usually every 6 weeks-ish. More or less. I could probably get by longer if I didn't do so much pickup swapping, LOL.

I've actually never compared the tone of XL's to EB's. What is the difference? I've honestly never started thinking about the difference in tone from string brands until I got these XL's that sounded warmer and fatter.

 

[Seashore]

Usually every 6 weeks-ish. More or less. I could probably get by longer if I didn't do so much pickup swapping, LOL.

I've actually never compared the tone of XL's to EB's. What is the difference? I've honestly never started thinking about the difference in tone from string brands until I got these XL's that sounded warmer and fatter.

It's been like 15 years since I used the XLs, so all I have is old impressions. Not sure how much use that is. I am still using the same gear, for whatever that's worth, so this is all on my Gibsons through the VHT and Traynor.

I recall the XLs getting dull quickly, the low strings (62 and 64 at the time) sounded thuddy, and I remember sharp clanky overtones. I made them work, but I also changed them before every show and at least twice a month aside from that. As soon as I started seeing other brands of thick baritone gauges in the stores, I moved on. I liked the sound of the DR DDT line but they felt too stiff to me. Ernie Balls sound nicely balanced, more "natural" and clear, low strings (68 and 70 these days) keep up with the clarity of the rest of the set, and they stay good for a while. I've had sets still sounding awesome after a few months.

But one person's "dull and thuddy" is another's "warmer and fatter", and maybe the XLs are a good fit for what you want. I do put Stringjoys on my main players because I want to pick my gauges.

 

[Seashore]

BTW yeah, I try to keep the same strings on during my pickup swaps but it does seem to suck some of the life away, to paraphrase Christopher Guest.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

But one person's "dull and thuddy" is another's "warmer and fatter", and maybe the XLs are a good fit for what you want.

Honestly, I would prefer brighter and tighter. But the thing that immediately had me going "YEAH" with the NYXL's is the tuning stability. I didn't realize that strings would have such a big influence in that, but these kinda do. And it's not like it was bad before. My guitar has a well cut Graphtech nut that I constantly lube with the Big Bends stuff and decent Schaller tuners. And maybe I'm crazy, but I feel like these take it up a notch. I'd rather have that.

 

[Aceman]

Love them. Use them on a lot of guitars.

Also D'addario XL's and GHS Boomers on occasion (my favorite)

Unlike Dave, I don;t play outdoors that often - so I'll use a set for months, but I also switch guitars fairly often. Also, a good GHS wipe down keeps them lasting.

 

[Wound_Up]

I got a couple of sets today to try out. D'Addario XL's have been my strings of choice for a while. I've honestly never been picky about how they sound, I just like that they have the most variety in gauges. I use 11-56 for Drop C. I like Ernie Ball as well, but I just like the 11-56 D'Addario set better than the Ernie Ball 11-54 or 12-56 set when it comes the gauges it's made of.

Well... I dropped a set of these NYXL's on my Gibson today, and the first thing I noticed is they sound smoother and fatter? Like... I'm pretty sure I'm not imagining it? They do feel... different. Not better. Just different. Just like how EB's and D'Ads feel different. But what really sold me on these is I feel they go out of tune way less than either EB's or regular D'Ad XL's. Honestly, that's a great selling point, even when I'm not in love with them not sounding as bright.

They've only been on for a day and that's it, so we'll see if they go dead quickly or not. But I really like the stability they have.

Anyone got any thoughts?

I bought a couple of sets of those and the EB Paradigm strings to try out. I was looking for strings with reinforced plain strings and both of those fit the bill. I actually got the set of NYXL's for free from D'addario after I emailed them asking about reinforced plain strings and whether they sold them single and some other stuff.

The CS rep that I was emailing with told me about the NYXL's and offered to send me enough Player Points or whatever they are to buy a set from their site to try out for free. I currently have them on my #2 guitar. First thing I noticed is they're brighter than standard strings. And the strings themselves aren't as bendy. Going to see how they last on that guitar. So far, I really like how stable they are. They don't take a bunch of stretching to get them to a stable length.

#1 currently has a set of Silver Slinkys on it from EB/John Mayer. They have reinforced plain strings in those, also. So I wanted to check them out, as well. 10.5's are only 5 hundred thousandths bigger than my current strings so I figured I'd try em and see if I like them.

 

[chadd]

I threw some of their coated acoustic strings on my CB Alyn Rosebud and they have held up incredibly well. Strings tend to get destroyed pretty quickly due to the salt air that comes with living on an island 100 miles out to sea, but the coated ones are definitely on my radar going forward. Especially since gigs are pretty rare for me now and most of my playing is at home.