Re: Anyone try D'daddario flex steels yet?
First impressions:
Feel wise, they are right between the nickelwound and prosteels, so they are a little more abrasive than the nickelwounds. While it is advertised how smooth and flexible they feel, just keep in mind that is in comparison to the prosteels, if you're moving up from nickelwounds then prepare for a little rougher feel. They also have the midrange bark that nickels tend to have because of the lower tension I guess even though nickelwounds are more tense than the prosteels, but also keeps the growl and tight highs and lows steel has. I think they happen to work fine with a pick too, think like Maxwell Murder from Rancid bass tone. TONS OF SUSTAIN/OVERTONES/HARMONICS and yeah they are rather bright, but in a way to where you can really ATTACK the strings with your fingers or even pick and it doesn't get shrill or peaky highs.
The fundamental is stronger than the prosteels OR the nickels, like coming close to chromes territory in terms of how wide the low end is, but it is more defined than the chromes. They are very vocal strings if that makes sense; I have yet to get a sound out of them that was harsh or abrasive even fresh out of the package. They do have less of a "piano like" tone to them than the prosteels though, but that is probably due to the extra fundamental bass and mids balancing with the highs and overtones. Possible to still squeeze that tone out of these guys for sure though, moreso than the nickels. If you dig in a bit with your fingers the "pianoness" comes right out.
Basically there sounds like there is more of everything, everything feels evenly leveled and focused but not in a compressed sort of way, in a natural and colorful sort of way. I can see pick users and more traditional bass players not digging these too much but they are very flexible both in feel and tone. Probably the most versatile bass set daddario makes right now even considering how these strings are marketed towards slap and fingerstyle players. I should talk about slapping on these. I am not a slapper, like at all but these strings put your tone like RIGHT THERE. RIGHT in that spot you want it to so that the lows aren't all boomy and overpowered and the highs aren't obnoxious. They have a very pleasant snap ring and chime that make someone who sucks at slap like me sound a good deal better. There is a roundness there but also an impact. Like when you hear people slap on the demos of these things, that comes out even in my little bedroom practice Crate amp just with all the knobs at noon. Every slap player should try these strings at least once. MAYBE the touch extra steely feel would bother their fretting hand if they are more used to playing with nickelwound strings but seriously, that tone and response is something to try.
I'll come back after a month or so and see how they settle, age feel with a band or when recording, etc.
