NY XL D'Addario Strings

Scott_F

Scott_F

Flushologist
Staff member
Evan has a relationship with D'A and had suggested I try these strings. So I grabbed a few packs and loaded up a few guitars.

First one I ended up snapping a skinny E as I was installing it. Gotta say, I was pissed and not off to a good start. I've never snapped a string ever in 40 something years while installing them.

But dove into another pack and robbed that string. Then loaded them up on another guitar.

Part of the marketing is they are supposed to last longer (can't comment yet) as well as stay in tune better (so far that is true).

One of the sets was something they call "balanced tension" of which I am still experiencing. Just loaded them up last night on the Tele. Gonna load a traditional set on the ASAT for a more apples to apples comparison. Hopefully I will have a reason to update this in a week or two.

Previously I had been working my way thru the mega packs of Everly Rockers I had bought for stupid low price.
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

I'm a fan too, I plan on NYXL only for a while to see how it goes. So far, better longevity than XL/Slinky (not as long as Elixir) and comparable tone (better than Elixir).
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

I like them for a few reasons:

* More balanced tension in each string for easier bends
* Smooth feel
* Stable tuning

While I do think they last a bit longer than regular XLs, they don't last quite as long as coated strings. Now I prefer them to coated strings because they feel better and sound better to me, but I would not expect them to last as long as Elixirs.
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

I'm going to try them sometime but I have 2 questions:
Are the NYXL only coated on the wound strings or all of them?
Do they have more tension compared to regular strings of the same gauge?
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

Scott_F said:
Evan has a relationship with D'A and had suggested I try these strings. So I grabbed a few packs and loaded up a few guitars.

First one I ended up snapping a skinny E as I was installing it. Gotta say, I was pissed and not off to a good start. I've never snapped a string ever in 40 something years while installing them.

But dove into another pack and robbed that string. Then loaded them up on another guitar.

Part of the marketing is they are supposed to last longer (can't comment yet) as well as stay in tune better (so far that is true).

One of the sets was something they call "balanced tension" of which I am still experiencing. Just loaded them up last night on the Tele. Gonna load a traditional set on the ASAT for a more apples to apples comparison. Hopefully I will have a reason to update this in a week or two.

Previously I had been working my way thru the mega packs of Everly Rockers I had bought for stupid low price.
Click to expand...

Scott - our apologies for the breakage - certainly not the experience we hope for - if you email me at don.dawson2@daddario.com we'll replace that set for you pronto!
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

The tone is very rich. They're my favorite. However, their balanced tension idea uses the scale length in the formula to calculate tension when the string outside of the scale increases tension as well. This makes a "balanced" tension pack way off for a Fender headstock with loose bass strings and tight treble strings. Thats the opposite of what you want. Balanced for Fender is something like: 9.5,13,17,26,36,49. Or 10,13.5,18,28,39,54. And my beastly D standard set 11,15,20,32,44,60. Give them a try. = )
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

Nightburst said:
I'm going to try them sometime but I have 2 questions:
Are the NYXL only coated on the wound strings or all of them?
Do they have more tension compared to regular strings of the same gauge?
Click to expand...


They aren't coated but the difference is only noticable on the wound strings. And they are slightly slinkier than XLs.
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

Nightburst said:
I'm going to try them sometime but I have 2 questions:
Are the NYXL only coated on the wound strings or all of them?
Do they have more tension compared to regular strings of the same gauge?
Click to expand...

As previously indicated, they are not coated. We're the only string manufacturer that has it's own wire mill. So the "NY Steel" wire we used is something we developed and unique to our line of NYXLs and Nickel Bronze acoustic strings
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

Great tuning stability. LOVED that.

Didn't care for the tone, and did not find that they last much longer than a standard XL set. Notch up the A & D about as quickly.

$12 a pop, no way.
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

I loved the tone, esp. for keeping a downtuned guitar still in guitar tone land, instead of bass land. Pretty bright with nice harmonics.
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

i really liked the tone but i was breaking them just as fast as i was breaking the regular xls. the extra long lasting tone didn't affect me when i was changing them every other day. so i went back to xls. i do like the nyxl's tone though
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

I break my 1st string a lot mostly from fiddling with my electronics but sometimes from playing so I just order extra single 11s.
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

The NYXLs are really good strings, just not for me.

Longevity - yes. In my experience, about 2x run-of-the-mill nickel-plated sets (Slinkies, Boomers, XL, etc.). But not worth the 3x price.
Tuning stability - yes, but not that big an advantage over other string kinds b/c tuning stability depends on so many other variables (properly cut nut, good saddles, etc.).
Tone - Definitely louder. Not necessarily a good thing for me. I noticed a pretty big upper midrange increase, which could make some bridge single coils harsh. The strings could be a way to wake up guitars with flat/muddy pickups, though.
Feel - I'm surprised people don't talk about this more. The strings are very slinky, even slinkier than Ernie Ball Slinkies. This isn't necessarily a good thing. The feel was almost rubbery to me, especially with string bends. I prefer strings not to feel so loosey-goosey.

I wish I liked NYXLs more, as on paper they seem to address many players' concerns. But my ears and fingers just aren't that happy when I'm playing them.

I do like the fact that the past 3 years have brought a new class of extra-strong string (NYXL, M-Steel, Paradigm) out on the market.
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

I tried them. Liked them at first, but after a couple weeks I found there was something off that kept nagging me. I wound up messing with my tone controls, pickup heights, etc. Eventually, I realized it was the strings. They're brighter than what I'm used to and seemed to exaggerate the scoop of my pickups (PAF types).

I normally use EB. Prefer the duller, less bright sound they produce.
 
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Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

They are not *quite* as vibrant/response/toneful as my beloved GHS Boomers. However - overall ability to last makes them worth it IMO for most playing. I like them.

I had a tech put them on a Floyded Strat and they were there for a year, and stayed in great shape. I didn't think about until I finally broke one that they had been on there that long and held up and sounded good.
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

I find that their eq does have to be adjusted to but that they are less harsh than normal XLs and ekspecially prosteels. I notice more bass and higher detail without being harsh.

stratguy23 said:
Feel - I'm surprised people don't talk about this more. The strings are very slinky, even slinkier than Ernie Ball Slinkies. This isn't necessarily a good thing. The feel was almost rubbery to me, especially with string bends. I prefer strings not to feel so loosey-goosey.
Click to expand...

Build a properly balanced set for your headstock.

If you guys are put off by the slinkiness, I recommend all XLs with NYXL 4th and 5th strings! Makes a great set! Less money, I think the plain steel XLs are a hair crisper, the epic tone of the NYXLs in the meat of the set, and then the well defined XL 6th string.
 
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Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

stratguy23 said:
The NYXLs are really good strings, just not for me.

Longevity - yes. In my experience, about 2x run-of-the-mill nickel-plated sets (Slinkies, Boomers, XL, etc.). But not worth the 3x price.
Tuning stability - yes, but not that big an advantage over other string kinds b/c tuning stability depends on so many other variables (properly cut nut, good saddles, etc.).
Tone - Definitely louder. Not necessarily a good thing for me. I noticed a pretty big upper midrange increase, which could make some bridge single coils harsh. The strings could be a way to wake up guitars with flat/muddy pickups, though.
Feel - I'm surprised people don't talk about this more. The strings are very slinky, even slinkier than Ernie Ball Slinkies. This isn't necessarily a good thing. The feel was almost rubbery to me, especially with string bends. I prefer strings not to feel so loosey-goosey.

I wish I liked NYXLs more, as on paper they seem to address many players' concerns. But my ears and fingers just aren't that happy when I'm playing them.

I do like the fact that the past 3 years have brought a new class of extra-strong string (NYXL, M-Steel, Paradigm) out on the market.
Click to expand...

I agree with this almost completely, except that for me their tone was a bit too flat, Curt Mangans I'm now using have distinctively more chime. I think that's what you have to trade for longetivity and smoothness NYXL have.
 
Re: NY XL D'Addario Strings

I've used D'Addario XLs on hot festival stage and under hot TV lights, too. I never have a problem with tuning, and they are cheap enough to keep them fresh. I wonder if NYXLs would be significantly different.
 
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