Slap This! (D'Addario Contest)

[Evan Skopp]

Show them your best 15 second slap riff on video and win a FlexSteels prize pack and an Ampeg combo amp.

To start, click here.



And please post them here too! We want to see what'cha got.

 

[AdamR]

Re: Slap This! (D'Addario Contest)

Just bought 2 packs. Dont care for them. They are low tension aimed at finger players though and I play with a pick. I felt like a string was going to break. They also are advertised as being bright then ProSteels or Nickle XLs and disagree with that,

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Slap This! (D'Addario Contest)

I just put a set on a 4-string Warwick Fortress. I can definitely see how they're brighter than XLs, especially for slap style. I noticed that right away. They're also more flexible than XLs (I guess that's where the "Flex" in FlexSteel comes from). And the color is a little grayer. I'm definitely going to keep them on this bass for awhile.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Slap This! (D'Addario Contest)

They are brighter than the prosteels, that is no mistake. They also have more fundamental bass and midrange causing them to sound thicker which makes the highs seem less significant or prominent, but they do have more of a ring and snap on top of it all than prosteel's provide, which sound a bit more scooped and metallic (which complements a pick better IMHO). They are very full and even, "everything on 11" kind of strings. High output, a lot of fundamental, a lot of harmonics and chime, very "attacky" sound to complement the fingerstyle players. This kind of tone from the strings responds to the dynamic nuances of the fingers more. Not the best for down tuning or pick players who need higher tension to get the response they need. These strings still sound remarkably fresh after the months I have owned them and are excellent for tapping, slapping and more progressive playing styles. Haven't had one break yet, but the core of these is supposed to be both thinner AND stronger than the typical steel string, and more flexible metals break less than stiff ones, which is why D'addario uses carbon steel and not stainless like others. The strings do have a more coarse feel to them initially because of some grey film or powder that makes them "grippier" but this wears off eventually and they feel closer to prosteels, but the lower tension takes a lot of stress and abrasiveness off your fingers because you aren't fighting them as much to fret and bend them. You can hear a demo and comparison here between flexsteels, prosteels, and La Bella rx stainless.

 

[AdamR]

Re: Slap This! (D'Addario Contest)

I love D'Addarios but these are the ones for me.

 

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Slap This! (D'Addario Contest)

...lot of Flex Steel information...

Alright, so I have to ask (since you've been the one with the wealth of information on this). What's your relationship with D'Addario?

Haven't had one break yet, but the core of these is supposed to be both thinner AND stronger than the typical steel string, and more flexible metals break less than stiff ones, which is why D'addario uses carbon steel and not stainless like others.

And be careful with that kind of comment, because I know for a fact that GHS uses a high-carbon steel core wire. Always has.

 

[ddawson2012]

Re: Slap This! (D'Addario Contest)

For the most part, all string manufacturers use High Carbon Steel for their core wire. It's been an industry standard for many years. More of an FYI than anything else, we introduced NYXLs earlier this year and that has an entirely new type of wire (including the core) that we developed. We are the only string manufacturer that has it's own wire mill. It has allowed us to create this new wire under our guidance and standards. We currently only offer it as an Electric Guitar String set but have hopes of expanding that offering in the coming months.

Don Dawson
Product Marketing Specialist
D'Addario / Planet Waves

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Slap This! (D'Addario Contest)

Haven't had one break yet, but the core of these is supposed to be both thinner AND stronger than the typical steel string, and more flexible metals break less than stiff ones

I'm not a string expert, but from what I know, a lot of it has to do with the drawing process. The more you draw down a string, the stronger it will get. However, the trade off for that strength is loss of flexibility. Strings are like pasta. Wet pasta isn't strong at all. Drawing it down increases the strength, but eventually it becomes like dry pasta and loses its flexibility. So the trick is starting with the right gauge of carbon steel so that when it's drawn down to the prescribed string gauge, it has the right balance of strength and flexibility. These are problems that most other string companies don't have to deal with since they don't mill their own wire.

Don, did I come close?

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Slap This! (D'Addario Contest)

Alright, so I have to ask (since you've been the one with the wealth of information on this). What's your relationship with D'Addario?




And be careful with that kind of comment, because I know for a fact that GHS uses a high-carbon steel core wire. Always has.

No relation to D'addario, just like bass strings and the flex steels are the set I've had on most recently, and D'addario is my usual brand of choice.

http://www.scribd.com/mobile/doc/16227967

This is a comparison chart from bass player magazine from like 10 years ago I think. Many, like D'addario say high carbon steel, others just say steel or steel hex core and do not specify which type, so I was half assuming what I said for that part, but I was also not referring to specifically the core, which I should've clarified. Some like Rotosound even say piano hex core wire. But my reasoning was that stainless is more rigid and durable, but less flexible, so it will break where carbon steel will just bend or dent, making it better for things like frets while carbon steel suits things like strings more.