D'Addario Coated String Review

smogg · #1 10-31-2012, 01:17 PM

D’Addario EXP170-5 Coated Nickels Mini Review

I finally got to try these strings out, so here is a quick mini review. My string of choice for many years were D’Addario XL nickels, but between heavy playing and super sweaty hands (during gigs especially) they had a very short life span for me. So for the past couple of years I have been using Elixir nanoweb nickels and have been reasonably happy the lifespan and a tone similar to XL’s but at a premium price.

Enter the EXP coated nickels. They feel smooth like the Elixirs but retain the warmth and growl of a settled in set of XL’s. It usually takes me 3 or 4 days to get XL’s to settle in and about 2 to 3 days for Elixirs to settle. The EXP’s came out of the pack sounding settled in and were tuning stable by the next day. I see less break-in time as a good thing. The coating is easy on the fingers and is not tacky or sticky like some coated strings. The strings sound and feel (tension wise) like XL’s on my bass. Especially when I dig in, I get that growl that I like from nickels.

These strings stay in tune and sound really good to my ear. So far I really like the EXP’s as I feel I’m getting the best of both worlds. Now if they last as long as the Elixirs for me without flaking and what not, and with an average cost of about $15 less than a comparable set of Elixirs these should turn out to be a real winner. Also, (although it has never been an issue for me) these are one of the few coated strings that the coating is in fact conductive. (see article by Roger Sadowsky in Bass Gear mag) That could be very important to some of you out there.

Bass used for testing: year 2000 USA Peavey Millennium 5plus (35” scale 18v active EQ). Amp: Promethean P500H Cab: Genz Benz NeoX 212T

Disclosure: I am not affiliated with or endorsed by anybody.
PS: Will follow up in a few months regarding lifespan.

mmbongo · #2 10-31-2012, 01:52 PM

Hopefully these will be included in the strings that D'Addario is going to be changing to the longer winding length so I can try them! Standard XL's are too short for any of my basses and they don't offer EXP's as singles or in Super Long in gauges that I use. I will try a set for sure if they start making them longer! I use the EXP Bronze on my Acoustic and they still sound great.

smogg · #3 10-31-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Hopefully these will be included in the strings that D'Addario is going to be changing to the longer winding length so I can try them! Standard XL's are too short for any of my basses and they don't offer EXP's as singles or in Super Long in gauges that I use. I will try a set for sure if they start making them longer! I use the EXP Bronze on my Acoustic and they still sound great.

I agree,
I had to run these top load they were just a bit too short to go through body on my bass. I'm really looking forward to Winter NAMM regarding this.

crosses fingers

GK Growl · #4 10-31-2012, 04:39 PM

smogg,

Here is a good price on these D'Addario EXP 170-5 sets if you don't already know:

http://www.amazon.com/DAddario-EXP17...ario+exp+170-5

smogg · #5 10-31-2012, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GK Growl

smogg,

Here is a good price on these D'Addario EXP 170-5 sets if you don't already know:

http://www.amazon.com/DAddario-EXP17...ario+exp+170-5

WOW, that's a great price. Good find, thanks.

SLaPiNFuNK · #6 10-31-2012, 06:42 PM

After jumping through hoops w/ Amazon to find the shipping for one set of strings to Florida is $5.37... I know a cheaper place...

Solid review by the way.

GK Growl · #7 10-31-2012, 07:12 PM

It's a great price if you are already an Amazon Prime member and have free shipping.

smogg · #8 10-31-2012, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

After jumping through hoops w/ Amazon to find the shipping for one set of strings to Florida is $5.37... I know a cheaper place...

Solid review by the way.

Thanks for the compliment. I look forward to hooking up with you in the near future. (IE: the upcoming re-release of the DA line?

)

Also want to give a shout out to Don from D'Addario for having a presence here and having the bullz to put the product out there in the real world. Def coolness factor in my book and reflects very positive on the D'Addario family.

I can see myself coming back to the DA camp to stay if these strings hold up.
Exciting isn't it?

mmbongo · #9 10-31-2012, 08:21 PM

I wonder if D'Addario suffered any storm damage? Looks like they were right in the path.

SLaPiNFuNK · #10 10-31-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I wonder if D'Addario suffered any storm damage? Looks like they were right in the path.

They are on long Island. They were shut down Monday and Tuesday with no power. Up and running now!

Not sure if production is running at full 24hr capacity yet though...

ddawson2012 · #11 11-01-2012, 07:32 AM

The factory is in good shape. We didn't have any real damage - more power and connectivity issues and as Jason indicated, we were closed Monday and Tuesday - had our servers locked down over the weekend in preparedness for the storm. Families, property, neighborhoods, houses, etc - that's where the real intense damage was done locally. Hard to travel around and get from point A to point B with any degree of ease. Hopefully this will ease as power comes back on but we appreciate your thoughts and concerns!

And Smogg - thanks for the review - greatly appreciated!

deckard · #12 02-26-2013, 09:33 AM

Hey smogg,

Any update re: your opinion of the D'Addario EXP Coated Nickle Strings? You still digging 'em, or what?

Thanks!

walldaja · #13 02-26-2013, 07:13 PM

Here's some a little cheaper
http://www.juststrings.com/dad-exp170-5.html

mmbongo · #14 02-26-2013, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walldaja

Here's some a little cheaper
http://www.juststrings.com/dad-exp170-5.html

BSO even cheaper as usual.
http://www.bassstringsonline.com/DAd...-Set_p_94.html

10% off
Tb user discount
Cheaper shipping than the other string place.

smogg · #15 03-18-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deckard

Hey smogg,

Any update re: your opinion of the D'Addario EXP Coated Nickle Strings? You still digging 'em, or what?

Thanks!

Oops,
forgot to do the follow up. Sorry about that all.

Survey says....... YES

@ 4 1/2 months they still stay in tune and sound good. They have lost a bit of bite as compared to new. But I expected this so I am not surprised or disappointed. I am def back in the DA camp to stay.

Especially now that www.bassstringsonline.com has the EXP Coated strings available in the build your own set format and offers a discount to TBers. At this point I can't ask for anything more for my needs. Long life; great tone (IMO), fantastic bang for the buck.

I'm a happy camper.