D'Addario vs Ernie Ball - Page 3

MoeGJBeener · #41 01-25-2013, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armybass

EB Cobalts are the only EB strings I don't really dig. Don't like the tension and they didn't just die quickly.....they disintegrated!

I've read so many people say these does quick. They're seriously lasted me longer than any string I've ever used.

lippylou · #42 02-03-2013, 01:30 AM

I've used EB super slinky steels and used D'adarios XLs. Both are great sounding strings. The EB did eat my fingers up more than the XLs. What's funny is I let my buddy play my bass. Apparently the dude doesn't clean his hands or he sweats a lot cause both sets lost all their crispness in a matter of 2 hours. Other than that they last awhile with my hands cause they don't sweat much at all. I will say I feel like I can dig in while playing more on the XLs and I their harmonics to me sound better.

I'm running the EB cobalts on my Spector Euro and I really don't know what to make of them. No doubt the output on these strings are huge, especially higher on neck. I feel like I have to play more calm and collected, it's almost like the output on the strings swell while you sustain a note, and it took me hours to intonate the A string. Maybe gotta break them in more. Slapping, they're very solid though. IMO

Jazz Ad · #43 02-03-2013, 01:34 AM

I love EB slinkys, it is what I always use and I usually keep them for roughly 6 months.
A lot of people seem to dislike them for some reason.
If you're into clanky tones they're not for you.

happyg · #44 02-03-2013, 08:46 AM

Just put a set if EB Cobalts on my G&L JB. They absolutely woke it up.

fivestringgecko · #45 02-03-2013, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyg

Just put a set if EB Cobalts on my G&L JB. They absolutely woke it up.

Nice. Keep us posted on how long they last?

5sg.

MoeGJBeener · #46 02-03-2013, 11:32 AM

For the record, my Cobalts still sound great. Going on 2 months with 14 very sweaty 3 hour gigs.

fivestringgecko · #47 02-03-2013, 12:12 PM

Good to hear. Can anyone confirm what the scale length is on the Cobalts? I've got a couple 35" scale basses (one that I string through body) that require d'Addario's super long scale. On the string through body, the tapered end fits across the nut by about 1/4".

5sg.

Solarmist · #48 02-03-2013, 04:46 PM

D'Adds XL's for me, but SIT Powerwounds are very nice sounding strings too. Don't care for EB Slinky.

king_biscuit · #49 02-03-2013, 05:32 PM

I think great sound is relative. I tried four sets of cobalts and they were toast after one four hour (non sweaty) gig. And I generally like "played in" rounds. Not only were they totally dead (in a bad way), they were starting to tarnish and turn different colors. It's too bad, because they sound really good right out of the pack. Btw, I like regular EB Slinkys just fine.

klejst · #50 02-04-2013, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

D'adds for me! The Slinkys are nice but die very quickly!

+1

Been using D' Addario's regular light gauge nickel roundwounds for years. They sound great and have never let me down yet.

dj5 · #51 03-06-2013, 08:21 AM

I just put on a set of EXL 165's, and found the taper starts just before the nut on my 35" scale bass (not strung through the body) This means the string is lower than it would be without the taper, and therefore clanks on the first fret when the open B is played.
I wonder why D'addario have done this? It looks like a 34" string added to a 4 string set to me (with a C as well of course). I see the Ernie Balls quote that the taper starts at 37" plus, and D'addario say theirs are usable on 36" scale basses. BUT whoever heard of a taper in the speaking lenghth (unless at the ball end)?
If there are D'addario people on here, I would love to know the answer, because I love the tone, and I'm P***** off that the open |B is clanky, when a little more length before the taper would obviate the problem.
Cheers

mmbongo · #52 03-06-2013, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj5

I just put on a set of EXL 165's, and found the taper starts just before the nut on my 35" scale bass (not strung through the body) This means the string is lower than it would be without the taper, and therefore clanks on the first fret when the open B is played.
I wonder why D'addario have done this? It looks like a 34" string added to a 4 string set to me (with a C as well of course). I see the Ernie Balls quote that the taper starts at 37" plus, and D'addario say theirs are usable on 36" scale basses. BUT whoever heard of a taper in the speaking lenghth (unless at the ball end)?
If there are D'addario people on here, I would love to know the answer, because I love the tone, and I'm P***** off that the open |B is clanky, when a little more length before the taper would obviate the problem.
Cheers

Sounds like you have an old set, as they now are winding them to 37". Buy them from www.bassstringsonline.com and he'll make sure you have the freshest batch available with the longer winding.

BUT, to answer your question....before they changed the winding length the strings were designed to work on 34" scale basses and you're using them on a 35" scale. You really should have gotten Super Long (but don't need to now). On the flip side, they HAVE to taper because you don't want the outer winding going around the tuning post. So they have to taper them so that does not happen on 34" scale Fender and Fender type basses (which is probably 70% of the market) yet make them long enough for other basses.

dj5 · #53 03-06-2013, 02:11 PM

Thanks for that mmbomgo.
The shop I bought them from here in the UK advertised them using the same wording as on the D'addario site - ie suitable for scale lenghts up to whatever - 36.5 or something. They're going to send me a single super long scale B free, but its 130, not 135, because they don't do them apparently.
To be honest, I'm tempted to just go back to DR's - so simple, but I REALLY like the sound of the D'addarios.
I'll wack on the replacement and see if it still sounds balanced, and take it from there.
When you say they're now winding them to 37", do you mean before the taper starts at all?
I'll quote your reply to the shop, and se what they say.
I've never had this sort of trouble before with strings - Thomastik, Dr, you name it - they all fit.
I just hope I can get these up and running.
Thanks again for the advice, and I'll see what your shop charges for shipping. Do you know they're £28 pounds a set here?
All the best
Mark

StringsDirect · #54 03-07-2013, 04:47 AM

Both Ernie Ball & D'Addario have some pretty good strings, although it really depends on your preference. Perfect for standard Eb or Drop D tunings. Look to Power Slinky or Beefy for lower tunings.

mmbongo · #55 03-07-2013, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj5

Thanks for that mmbomgo.
The shop I bought them from here in the UK advertised them using the same wording as on the D'addario site - ie suitable for scale lenghts up to whatever - 36.5 or something. They're going to send me a single super long scale B free, but its 130, not 135, because they don't do them apparently.
To be honest, I'm tempted to just go back to DR's - so simple, but I REALLY like the sound of the D'addarios.
I'll wack on the replacement and see if it still sounds balanced, and take it from there.
When you say they're now winding them to 37", do you mean before the taper starts at all?
Mark

Exactly. They used to be 36.25" but are now right around 37".
And I am also befuddled by D'Addario's lack of a .135 Super Long, which is the only thing that keeps me from using D'Addario on my 35" 5-strings.

DR strings are wound to 38". You might want to give Dragon Skins a try, which are a coated Stainless Steel string. But since they are coated, they are not rough like most steels and they are not as bright, so they are close to sounding and feeling like nickel rounds like D'Addario XL's. They only go up to a .125 on the B though...so I don't use them on my 5's either.

dj5 · #56 03-07-2013, 01:36 PM

I think the 37.1" will be ok on my bass, so I've ordered from the shop you gave me the name of.
I spoke to D'addario, and they quoted 36 7/8" from front of ball end to taper (mine was 3/8" short of that. 37.1" will bring the taper up past the nut on my bass, so thanks for all your help, and, yes, the guy on that shop is right on the ball.
Cheers for the help
Mark

dj5 · #57 03-08-2013, 07:10 AM

mmbongo - received the replacement B 135 from D'addario UK today,and it was 7/10" longer before the taper than on the original one.
Must have been a bad batch, because the E is a bit short too. Let's hope their quality control just had a one off bad day.
The good news, possibly for you too, is that it fits perfectly on my 35" scale bass, and so there's a good chance it will on yours too.
By the way, the 135 B does sound better than the 130 - I got to try them both.
Cheers

ddawson2012 · #58 03-08-2013, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj5

mmbongo - received the replacement B 135 from D'addario UK today,and it was 7/10" longer before the taper than on the original one.
Must have been a bad batch, because the E is a bit short too. Let's hope their quality control just had a one off bad day.
The good news, possibly for you too, is that it fits perfectly on my 35" scale bass, and so there's a good chance it will on yours too.
By the way, the 135 B does sound better than the 130 - I got to try them both.
Cheers

Don from D'Addario here - the new taper length has been a rolling production change that started just before the end of 2012. That would mean that there are still sets out in the market with the shorter taper length.

If you got a set that didn't have the updated length - and that's what you need - email me at don.dawson2@daddario.com and we'll get it sorted out for you.

Joe Louvar · #59 03-08-2013, 08:33 AM

Quote:

D'Addario vs Ernie Ball

D'Addario EXL170TP strings gets my vote.

dj5 · #60 03-08-2013, 03:19 PM

Thanks for the offer Don, but D'addario UK (Pete) have been fantastic in helping me out - they've sent me replacement B and E strings FOC and now I've got the set I wanted on my 35" scale bass, and they sound FANTASTIC - much better to my ears than the much more expensive sets I've been using in the past.
The only real problem is that because the dealer here didn't know about the change in length, I messed him about, and the guy mmbomgo recommended got really messed about - I ordered a set and then cancelled the order, and then did the same when the replacement B arrived and fitted perfectly. I bet he really loves me, and he seems like a really nice bloke.
Just out of interest, do you know it costs about the same to order from the states and pay the postage as it does to buy the same set in the UK? Bit odd, and I will definitely order from the States when I order some spare sets.
It's a shame no-one seemed to know about the changeover, but D'addario have been fantastically helpful, and I really recommend them and their strings, which really surprised me with their tone, and cheap price.