Review: D'Addario Strings

Subject: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: Raggytash
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 05:30 AM

I used D'Addario strings for years and was quite happy with them.

That changed a few years ago when sets I bought seemed to deteriorate very quickly, after an hour or two of playing they were "dead".

I wrote to the company but didn't get a reply so I changed my supplier.

Can anyone tell me what the quality is like now.

Thanks

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: gillymor
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 05:52 AM

I use D'Addario EJ-16 PHB lights on 2 guitars and DADGAD sets on another and I haven't noticed any drop off in quality but then I like their sound better when they've been played for a few hours. I also let them sit over night before I play them after changing. I also wipe them down after playing and treat them with Dr. Duck's Ax Wax (along with the fretboard) about once a week. They seem to last a few months that way.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,mooman
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 07:19 AM

I used them for decades and then ran into several bad batches so I changed to GHS and DR sets. I've had occasion to use a couple of sets lately and the quality seems to be good again.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: Raggytash
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 07:34 AM

It's good to have my thoughts verified by another party, Thanks Mooman

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 08:54 AM

I'm using them on my acoustic guitars (85/15 Bronze on a Jay Turser and PB on a Yamaha) and doubt I'd feel better off with anything else on them

I use different makes on my other acoustic instruments. Picato on a mandolin (mine needs ball end and they seem to be about the only one making a decent PB set) and Eagle-newtone for tenor banjo (in part as they offer "custom sets" where you can pick your own gauges and I tend to go heavier bottom end than std sets do).

I don't know, but on the wider subject of strings, I've long felt different things suit different player/instrument combinations and it's unlikely that there is a one brand suits everything...

On the more specific question. I've not noticed any quality control problems with D'Addario,

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 10:13 AM

This is a timely thread for me as lately I've been thinking that maybe 2017 might be the year to change the d'Addarios on my ES125.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 10:18 AM

I'd wager your problem is due to inventory control at the point of purchase, not quality control at the factory. No strings of any brand are going to give optimum results if they're old. Inventory rotation ("When an order comes in, put the newer strings behind and bring the older ones to the front.") is not an idea that comes naturally to most 19-year-old Strat-slingers, which is the pool from which most music stores seem to draw their employees. If stock is not rotated religiously, someone is eventually going to be sold a set of strings that's been around since G.W. Bush was president.

By the way, never buy strings at a guitar show unless the booth is manned by authorized manufacturers' representatives. Most strings sold at such events are closeouts from stores that have gone out of business. They may have been around since Bill Clinton was president.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: gillymor
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 10:22 AM

You sure you want to do that, Bob, you'll be compromising the "all original" status of that old box.:^)

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Guest - Rabee
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 10:52 AM

I'm not knowledgeable about strings at all, but I did use D'Addario strings.

However I have just passed my guitar onto my grandson who's making a decent go of it but I also gave hime some packs of D'Addario strings that I've had kicking about since I stopped performing.

How badly do the strings deteriorate with time, if unused and still packaged? Would I better to get the lad to chuck them away and buy him new ones?

I must admit that the strings that were on the guitar didn't sound all that bad when I dug the guitar out of it's case to pass it on, but perhaps that's just my ears deteriorating like the rest of me'

BB

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 11:10 AM

I suppose one comment, particularly with my Yamaha (A3R), is that there can be times when I prefer strings to be a bit dead. Not such that the strings can't be tuned but that I can have problems with "too bright" on on already "too bright" instrument.

Again I think personal preference.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: JHW
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 03:31 PM

Noting Bob the Postman's contribution I've used D'Addario Jazz Lights on my Gurian for decades but may well have missed bad batches between changes.
(I never play jazz, indeed couldn't)

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: Mark Ross
Date: 03 Mar 17 - 11:00 PM

I have been using D'Addario strings for about 50 years, from when they were still D'arco, and they Big John used to make The Folklore Center brand in Greenwich Village. Back then they were $1.50 a set. Now I use the Phosphor Bronze, and have never had any problems.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: Mooh
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 05:42 AM

I've never experienced bad strings from D'Addario. I use them on everything from fretless bass to acoustic guitars, to mandolins, and have for 30 years or so. The sealed packaging makes for a long shelf life, but even the unsealed bulk spools last well.

I have seen strings that masqueraded as D'Addario but definitely weren't, not sure if they were counterfeit or just look-alikes. The colour coded ball ends weren't quite the right shades.

The DR coated strings are okay, got them on the bouzouki at the moment, but I don't often use coated strings except on instruments that don't get as much use and require pilfering from two sets of guitar strings to restring...they gotta last.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 06:02 AM

I think Dave W orders Martin strings in bulk from the US, Raggy, and has been happy with both quality and price. I could be wrong though. Have a word with him.

DtG

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: Raggytash
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 06:42 AM

I've taken to using Martin strings, they're OK not brilliant but OK. When first put on they are nice and bright but they lose their brightness fairly quickly.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Gozz (without a cookie)
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 07:13 AM

I am guessing you are in the UK, so the obvious choice for me would be Newtone Strings, handmade in Derbyshire. Malcolm Newton Has now retired but Neil continues to produce the same high quality, long lasting strings at reasonable prices. He is updating the website and makes up bespoke sets as well as standard sets, including various "folk instruments", so I get extra heavy ball end strings for my octave mandolin for example, which suit the instrument and how I wish to play it. They are also used by many famous players as well.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 07:53 AM

Ah! The old story about strings deteriorating with age! They're made of metal. Unless they're stored in a damp/salty environment; i.e. they appear tarnished, they're going to sound as good next year as they will this year. Maybe you have bought some of the fakes that people sell on sites like fleabay?

I'd second what Gozz says about Newtone. Things have only changed for the better since Neil Silverman has taken over. You've always been able to order custom sets but now they get delivered within a week or so!

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: gillymor
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 08:02 AM

On the subject of Octave Mandolin strings, does anyone make a set of ball ends? My Davy Stuart takes .014-.048 and it costs about 15 bucks to put together single strings for it.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 08:16 AM

The post by Gozz indicates that Newtone do, Gillymor.

I have not used this company directly but (as said above) to use the Eagle-Newtone (sold by Eagle music shop) custom sets for tenor banjo and would agree with the suggestions that their products are worth a try.

I've just noticed that there are in fact ball end mandolin strings in this Eagle Newtone range. I'd not spotted that before... They are rather more expensive (roughly £10 vs £6) than I've paid for the Picato 650s 11-40 I'm happy with though.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Gozz (waiting for the email to get my cookie
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 08:37 AM

My david Oddy Mando is ball end as well, but you just ask Neil for either ball or loop and they are made to order.

Jon, the Newtones do seem to last a long time and sound good, so maybe they are better value in the longterm.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 08:53 AM

(Mine's a Buchanan, Gozz, a sweet (and quite powerful for its size) little mando bought used via Mudcat)

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: gillymor
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 09:05 AM

I did check with Newtone years ago and it was prohibitively expensive (for me) to have a custom order shipped to the U.S. though I've purchased their prepackaged 6guitar strings at Guitar Gallery here and was impressed by their longetivity.
The only OM set I'very seen in the states are D'addarios which are loop ends and too light for my purposes.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: gillymor
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 09:07 AM

Damn phone and sausage fingers!

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 09:15 AM

Umm. I'd not said before Gillymor but I'm sure you have gathered, I am another UKer. I wouldn't know where to start with the American market.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: gillymor
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 09:23 AM

I know, Jon, but thanks for the suggestion. I will search on.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 11:41 AM

They all sound abit the same to me.

Thats why I use Fender duratone - low priced and coated.about five or six quid. i always have four or five guitars on the go, and now I'm not gigging regularly the expense of ten and fifteen quid guitar strings is prohibitive.

When I played an epiphone j200 for while - they came with gibson masterbuilt and sounded good, so I stuck with them. cheap - but not coated.

Ernie Ball's phosphor bronze coated are nice handsome looking strings, but ridiculously expensive.

Onstage nowadays I play a Yamaha ac3r. the strings supplied with it were phenomenal, but unavailable in England.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 12:03 PM

It must be that personal taste thing Al. I think my A3R must have come with the the same Yamaha strings as your concert bodied version and I can not stand them. About the first thing I did with the guitar was remove them and try to find something less "strident and brassy" in sound.

But OK, if they work for you, I guess they can be the best...

It's not much to go on but, like you, I'm not aware of these strings sold as new sets over here.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 01:19 PM

As others have said, Newtone will make you whatever you want. My GBOM takes ball-ends of non standard guages so I use Newtones.

Poetic justice really, any US made equipment - strings/instruments/parts - is ridiculously expensive in the UK especially with the added shipping, tax etc.

Don't worry, that nice Mr Trump Is going to sort it for you - it's going to be great!

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Chris Newman
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 11:28 PM

Newtone's are great strings, and so are D'Addario EJ-16s. I keep a set in my travelling case 'just in case.'

However, my life changed completely when I stumbled across Elixir Nanoweb PB lights - 12-53 - that I've used exclusively for some years. They feel like D'Addarios but I change them only every 9 months or so. Even after all that time they still sound good, but I worry that metal fatigue might mean string breakages on gigs - I haven't broken a string at a gig for at least 15 years.

And no...I'm not on any kind of deal from Elixir (I wish I were) but pay for every set I use. Thankfully, not too many!

Just my 0.02...

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Mar 17 - 11:32 PM

I put some Newtones on an electric 12 string about 20 years ago
i reckon they'll be alright next time I take it out the case...

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Mar 17 - 08:08 AM

I used to live near Heanor, where newtones came from.
i couldn't get on with them.. lot of people love them so he must be doing something right.

a bit like Fylde guitars . i was at Fleetwood FF one year and Roger had a stall in the leisure hall/craft fair. I tried one of his guitars, then another.

then I said, do you always make the necks like this?

He hissed, yes i do! and stomped off.

sorry I can't help being an asshole!

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: gillymor
Date: 06 Mar 17 - 09:38 AM

After a number of years I've contacted Newtone again regarding putting together a custom set of ball-end strings for my Octave Mandolin and found that they can get them to me here in the States for a little under $15 (including shipping)which is roughly what I pay for them (non-Newtones) from American vendors.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 06 Mar 17 - 04:46 PM

Don't tell Mr T or he'll impose a tariff on them!

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 12:22 PM

[Just my 0.02...
with "penny rounding" in Canada ... ]
So: Put another nickel in ...
d'Addario

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: gillymor
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 12:28 PM

shouldn't that be your"0.00"?

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: alex s
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 06:17 PM

00.02 is a clever way of saying "my two penn'orth"
Pre-decimalspeak.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: gillymor
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 06:49 PM

I was suggesting "penny rounding".

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST,Some bloke
Date: 08 Mar 17 - 03:12 AM

I keep giving them another chance but end up regretting it. Up till recently only my baritone guitar got them (EXP) but after trying Elixir on that guitar, I have no guitar, acoustic or electric that uses them.

Elixir work for me (bronze usually) for most guitars but those that sound better for a brighter sound, I put the excellent priced Ernie Ball Aluminium Bronze strings on. They last longer than the price suggests too.

Subject: RE: Review: D'Addario Strings
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Mar 17 - 01:20 AM

I've noticed D'Addario strings often don't give me the balanced tone I used to remember. Not sure if it's the strings that changed or just me. But the best damn strings I've ever used are by Curt Mangan. He makes them all by hand in Colorado. The tone is unmatched, the strings have a lot of play in them, they respond real well to all the subtle dynamics of touch, and they last a real long time. I highly recommend them. You can probably find his contact info online, but I just call Main Street Music in Beacon, NY and have them ship me a few sets every once in a while.