New Fender Strings

Frank Orlando · #1 10-29-2010, 07:23 AM

I went to buy some Fender 7250's last night and to my surprise they re-designed them. What's the word on the new formula? They look like D'addarios right down to the color coded ball end and no silk wrap. The sound really nice...maybe a little brighter at first than I remember. Anyone using a broken in set? I'm wondering how they settle in.

blr2 · #2 11-05-2010, 05:58 AM

There have been rumors that the new Fender strings are made by D'addario. As a 7250 user, I'm also interested to know what are the differences from the old, black silked ones. Also, if they are made by D'addario, are they just repacked XLs or indeed made to Fender specs.

Rumblin' Man · #3 11-05-2010, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blr2

There have been rumors that the new Fender strings are made by D'addario...if they are made by D'addario, are they just repacked XLs or indeed made to Fender specs.

My guess is they're essentially the same strings but the gauges used for sets may be slightly different.

TimB 619 · #4 11-05-2010, 12:01 PM

They are now made by D'addario. Apparently, the winding machines in Mexico were in pretty bad shape, so Fender just went ahead, and contracted D'addario. In fact, any instrument produced by a company owned by FMIC has D'addario strings.

Personally, I like them. IMHO the new flats are much better than the older ones. The pure nickel rounds are good as well.

pbassnut · #5 11-05-2010, 12:05 PM

I'd love to see Fender make a set of pure nickel flats like they made back in the day. I want that uber thud!

VanillaThundah · #6 11-05-2010, 12:11 PM

Yeah when I tried a set on my jazz, thinking they'd sound like my old fender strings, I was strongly mistaken. Personally I don't care for the sound, the E strings on D'Addarios always sounded kind of weak to me. I'm glad it was just one set, I'll be going back to DR's soon enough, unless Fender gets back to making their own strings again.

pbass888 · #7 01-04-2011, 08:51 PM

I just ordered some 7150 and 7350 fender strings. I guess i just ordered D'Addarios????

I was always a fan of the former and never of the latter. The E string on D'addarios sounded weak to me too. Oh yeah, and so did the a ,d ,and g strings.

BigOldHarry · #8 01-04-2011, 08:54 PM

TalkBass is the only place that I've EVER heard of someone actually wanting to buy Fender brand strings.... I mean *ever*. Maybe I'm missing something using DRs and Rotos...

mdogs · #9 01-05-2011, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

TalkBass is the only place that I've EVER heard of someone actually wanting to buy Fender brand strings.... I mean *ever*. Maybe I'm missing something using DRs and Rotos...

ditto

mmbongo · #10 01-05-2011, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

TalkBass is the only place that I've EVER heard of someone actually wanting to buy Fender brand strings.... I mean *ever*. Maybe I'm missing something using DRs and Rotos...

Now that you mention it, you're right! That is kinda strange.

Maiden Bass · #11 01-08-2011, 03:09 PM

I just did a direct comparison on my brand new Geddy Lee jazz.

Purchased both of these sets:

http://store.daddario.com/category/1...g_Scale_45-100

VS.

http://www.fender.com/products/searc...tno=0737250405

IMO the Fenders are pretty bright and maybe just a little bit brighter than the Daddario's (but not much), however overall they have a much thinner sound to my ears so I prefer the XL's better. The XL's just sound fuller.

If these new Fender strings are in fact made by Daddario, then you are probably better off buying the Daddario's cause you have to think Daddario would put a little more thought and time into making their own strings.

Tommygunn · #12 01-09-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

TalkBass is the only place that I've EVER heard of someone actually wanting to buy Fender brand strings.... I mean *ever*. Maybe I'm missing something using DRs and Rotos...

I only ever liked the flats, the rounds are average.

AND I'M SUPER PISSED THEY CHANGED THE FLATS! THE NEW ONES SUCK REALLY BAD.

Maiden Bass · #13 01-09-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blr2

There have been rumors that the new Fender strings are made by D'addario. As a 7250 user, I'm also interested to know what are the differences from the old, black silked ones. Also, if they are made by D'addario, are they just repacked XLs or indeed made to Fender specs.

I can tell you for sure that they are NOT XL's, close but not exactly the same string! I just purchased a new set and also a set came on my new GL Fender.

They are not bad strings, sort of bright but are just thinner sounding than XL's.

C.Linton · #14 01-09-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

TalkBass is the only place that I've EVER heard of someone actually wanting to buy Fender brand strings.... I mean *ever*. Maybe I'm missing something using DRs and Rotos...

Me neither. I've never been a fan of Fender strings. I only recently bought some Fender flats when I bought my Squier VM Jazz back in August, because they were the only available flatwound strings at Sweetwater (where I bough the Squier) in my price range. I found them to be kinda dull and lifeless, and the first chance I had, I got GHS Precision flats, and it was a distinct improvement. Compare to the GHS flats, the Fenders were very rough and unfinished felleing as opposed to the GHS' feeling super-smooth. And the GHS just plain sounded better.
I won't ever buy Fender strings again.

madmatt · #15 01-10-2011, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

TalkBass is the only place that I've EVER heard of someone actually wanting to buy Fender brand strings.... I mean *ever*. Maybe I'm missing something using DRs and Rotos...

I have always used Fender 7250's. At least the previous version.
Always had good luck with them. And they are half the price of some of the others listed here.

spidey112669 · #16 01-11-2011, 01:00 PM

Where/What do we do to get the old 7250's??? They have a upper bass peak and are bright without being zingy or thin sounding when they get about a week old, and the price was awesome! I have bought them before at some places for $9 a set.....my second faves are DR sunbeams, but they def cost more.....why would fender change the materials??? I can understand farming out the construction, but the nickel plating was different somehow!!

stratovani · #17 01-11-2011, 05:27 PM

I've had the new 9050MLs on my P for a couple of months now, and they're starting to mellow down some. When I first put them on they were so bright that when I played them through an OD pedal it sounded a bit like Geddy's old Ric! Cool sound, yes, but not what I was looking for. They sound much better now for the kind of music my band plays.

BigOldHarry · #18 01-11-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmatt

I have always used Fender 7250's. At least the previous version.
Always had good luck with them. And they are half the price of some of the others listed here.

Perhaps it's a cost thing. Heck, I've never even knows guitarist to use Fender strings...

**SamanthaCay** · #19 01-11-2011, 05:53 PM

What I’m most concerned with is will they still be making 9120m’s and most importantly to me 7120s’s.
These are the tape wounds and nylon filament wounds.
I know D’addario doesn’t do tapes and Fender was and hopefully still is the only company to make nylon filament wounds.
I love these strings and have no idea what I will do if I can’t get them anymore.
And yes I agree that the new flats suck as well.
Hopefully this is a temporary thing until Fender can sort out a better plan.

**SamanthaCay** · #20 01-11-2011, 05:56 PM

Has anybody bought tapes with colored ends yet?