Coated Strings

[Sadowsky]

Originally Posted by bassfootballguy

Giving this thread the Lazarus treatment to say that I tried the D'Addario coated strings on my G&L SB-2 yesterday and the buzz phenomenon reared its ugly head. Consistent buzz whether my hands touched the strings or not.
Then I put regular D'Addario XLs on there and no buzz, no problem.

James....thanks for the extra feedback....
I'm actually surprised you experienced this.

Roger

[bassfootballguy]

I was too, Roger. I definitely had expected to experience the reverse given the piece of yours I read and my own previous experiences.
I have another bass of a different make and with different electronics and I am gonna install the ones I had on the SB-2 on it and see how that goes.
If there is no buzz on that one, should I have the electronics of the SB-2 examined? I would think not since if there was something wrong it should have showed up with the regular XLs installed.
BTW, I had my Sadowsky Preamp/DI repaired last month and I have that wonderful sound back. Thank you for making that thing since it makes every bass sound so much stronger!

[Sadowsky]

Originally Posted by bassfootballguy

I was too, Roger. I definitely had expected to experience the reverse given the piece of yours I read and my own previous experiences.
I have another bass of a different make and with different electronics and I am gonna install the ones I had on the SB-2 on it and see how that goes.
If there is no buzz on that one, should I have the electronics of the SB-2 examined? I would think not since if there was something wrong it should have showed up with the regular XLs installed.
BTW, I had my Sadowsky Preamp/DI repaired last month and I have that wonderful sound back. Thank you for making that thing since it makes every bass sound so much stronger!

If the string ground worked with the regular strings, your bass is fine.

Roger

[Technotitclan]

I want to chime in and mention that I have also experienced the problem with hum on my Elixir's. Since that was a long time ago when i was just learning and never recording it didn't really get to me. I use Hi-Beams now so I don't have any problems. Thank you for your article Roger.

I'm wondering if the problem Bassfootballguy is having is maybe due to a bad batch or that Roger tested with a bad batch and they are normal non-conductive.

[Sadowsky]

Originally Posted by Technotitclan

I want to chime in and mention that I have also experienced the problem with hum on my Elixir's. Since that was a long time ago when i was just learning and never recording it didn't really get to me. I use Hi-Beams now so I don't have any problems. Thank you for your article Roger.

I'm wondering if the problem Bassfootballguy is having is maybe due to a bad batch or that Roger tested with a bad batch and they are normal non-conductive.

The main reason the D'Addarios and the Cleartones passed the test is they coat the wire before they wind the string and the coating is thin. The other strings are coated after the string is completely made. I cannot explain why Bassfootballguy had a nonconductive experience with the D'Addarios.

[BayStateBass]

Thank you so much for the effort and article, Roger. Personally I like the feel of coated strings so I tend to defer to them when I can.

I've never really experienced any noticeable hum problems on any of my basses, but it should be interesting to see if it shows up with my next string change on my Carvin SB5000.

I had Rotosound Nexxus coated strings on one of my Schecters, didn't have a problem, and I really liked them a lot. Currently that bass has D'Addario groundwounds on it.

I have D'Addario ETB92's (black tapes) on my other Schecter, haven't noticed an issue either. I also have these same strings on a Squier Affinity P bass that I built/modified for my son.

All three are passive basses.

I just ordered a set of DR "Black Beauties" to go on my Carvin to replace the Chromes that I'm not overly fond of, so I'm interested to see if this "hum" is more noticeable with an active bass. I probably would have gotten Roto Nexxus again but could not find that they offered a 5 string set.

Good info! Thanks!!!

[bassfootballguy]

This is how cool D'Addario is and why I am inclined to remain a customer, besides just liking their strings:

I got an e mail today from Don Dawson, a representative of D'Addario, asking me if he could send me a new set of the EXP coated bass strings fresh from production in my preferred gauge to help narrow down why I had the electrical buzz issue when I installed a set of those a couple days ago.

That is service and attention to detail and listening to customers' voices. And that is another reason this is such a cool place.

James

[BayStateBass]

Just to check in quick with my results;

I took off the D'Addario Chromes that were on my Carvin SB5000. Honestly, I really wanted to like those strings but I never really got into them or liked them the way that other people seem to.

I put on the DR Black Beauties and gave them a thorough workout last night. Plugged directly into my Carvin MB210 with no pedals, amplifier set for an active bass with my typical EQ settings.

I could not detect any unusual hum, noise, or any problems with these. I was hesitant as I have read differing reviews of them as far as quality but so far I am very happy with them.

So, currently I have 3 basses with coated strings from both DR and D'Addario and have not encountered any hum problems with any of them. Two of the basses have D'Addario Tapewounds and one has the DR coated strings.


Just figured I'd post up my findings/experience.

[dj5]

As an aside, I still find it hard to believe that so many manufacturers don't feel it necessary to shield their basses.
My Lakland (£1100 had none, and was fairly unusable with the single-coil Aeros in it. After I shielded the control and p/u cavities, its as quiet as a mouse (unless I'm standing directly under flourescent lights etc. Even then it's not bad.

[mystic38]

Some basses are supplied without grounded bridges, some basses are supplied without shielded cavities, some basses are supplied without shielded cavity backplates, some basses come without shielded pup covers, some basses come without shielded pup cavities, some basses come without a star ground, some basses come with noise inducing badly routed, poor wiring technique or excess wiring, and some basses even ship with hum inducing single coils.

And you want warning labels on coated strings?... oh please...

[73jbass]

Originally Posted by Jack Wren

I for one say leave the Elixir's alone. Been using them for years with no problems. I don't want warning labels on them either.

Same here. Been using Elixirs since 2006 and never a single problem.

[Joe 1956]

Friends don't let friends suffer with Flash.