Okay so i liked my D'addario XLs Nickels when i fisrt put them on

[sk8]

but until i put a new set on i didn't realise that i really digged the tone of the 3 month old ones. Now i have replaced them with new XLs which i find too bright, i want the slightly duller sound of the 3 month olds!

Any suggestions for what i can try out that isn't so bright but still in the lower price category like the XLs?

Thanks in advance

[Rota]

Just wear them in. Almost every string starts out bright, then gradually wears in to their real sound. The new XL's will get back to the sound of the old ones pretty quick, and if you really want the old sound back, just put the old strings back on.

[saxofunk]

Yep, break them in. I Use Fender 7150s, right out of the box they are bright but after 8 hours of playing the begin to mellow very nicely. Once they are broken in I leave them on for months, I used one set for nearly two years.

[Buskman]

Eat some greasy fried chicken or french fries, then play the heck out of 'em. Problem solved!

[()smoke()]

we need to start a rotation wherein those who like them bright and new play them for a couple of weeks then mail them to those who like them broken in

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by ()smoke()

we need to start a rotation wherein those who like them bright and new play them for a couple of weeks then mail them to those who like them broken in

That would never work for me. I'm pretty anal about fret dents

[saxofunk]

tru dat. Fret dents stink. I took a set of strings off a fretted bass and put them onto a fretless, the D & G strings turned dent-side-up and totally killed the whole slidey fretless thang for me. Also there's that whole 4-in-line, 2+2, et al headstock arrangement.

[CrashClint]

If you don't like the Jaco approach you can use Finger Eze or Lemon Oil to do the trick as well.

Originally Posted by Buskman

Eat some greasy fried chicken or french fries, then play the heck out of 'em. Problem solved!

[lowb1970]

Originally Posted by ()smoke()

we need to start a rotation wherein those who like them bright and new play them for a couple of weeks then mail them to those who like them broken in

Great idea. Kinda like adopt a bass player. The new string liking people hook up with one that likes em broken in. That could work, though I'm sure the string industry wouldn't like the loss in revenue...then we would have to figure out how the players who like the new ones could afford to buy them... I like your thinking though.

[EddieN]

Don't throw your bass strangs out, kids. You can put 'em back on easily.

[Buskman]

Originally Posted by CrashClint

If you don't like the Jaco approach you can use Finger Eze or Lemon Oil to do the trick as well.

Would these approaches lessen the brightness of a new string, though? According to the Finger Ease description:

"Finger Ease lubricant is very popular and allows you to speed up your fingering while reducing finger soreness. Spray some on the back and/or top of your nylon, steel, or gut string guitars. It extends string life and eliminates drag from strings and from the back of the neck."

Plus, it's 'funkier' using the grease method!