Bad DR string - how common?

I've bought 5 sets of DR strings since i started playing, four sets of Lo-Rider .50-.110 and one set of Lo-Rider .45-.130. Only problem I ever had was when I broke an E string while tuning back up from C. I trust DR implicitly, and unless I have a very bad experience I won't do.

Techs can be biased like everybody else.

 

I have tried DR's in the past with poor quality as well. I asked my luthier about them and he said he has seen more bad DR's than any other brand. Since I did not care for the DR's I tried this did not effect my decision to not buy them anymore...

 

I think I've read some DR propaganda that has endorsing players sing praises like "amazing string to string consistency."

Pppfffffft.

IME, DR isn't really better or worse in this regard than other strings I've tried. I don't think I've gotten a 'dead as a doornail' string out of a DR set yet (I use Fatbeams), but they haven't been "amazingly consistent," either...

YMMV

 

I had similar problems with the E and A strings on DR strings quite some time ago. I just chalked it up to an expensive lesson learned and moved on.

Some companies will replace a defective string. D'addario has done this for me in the past.

 

That's odd, I've been using DR strings for over 4 years, countless sets, and I've never had a bad string.

 

I've moved to few differrent places over the past 5 years, and each and every tech that I've found to set up my gear has said that DR are the worst, most inconsistent strings that exist. To say they're the worst to me is a bit harsh. I'm sure they don't make their own strings, which means that there is another string company making them that is just as bad. I had a buddy that had an endorsement deal with them for a short time, and he hated their strings and dropped his endorsement. Personally, I've not had a problem with them at all, and I actually like the Fat Beams quite a bit.

 

WOW I have used a few sets and they were fine, I hope that they are consistant I just bid on three sets nof Lowriders on ebay
Usually I'm a Ernie Ball or D'Addario user but I have been diggin the tone out of my Stingray with a set of Marcus fatbeams on it. Hmmmm.

 

I've been using DR's for the last eight years. I've tried some others during that time, but always came back to DR. And in all that time I've only had one bad G string which they replaced.

 

I love DR strings and have no complaints.

 

I could never figure out how "Hand Made" could be a positive selling point for something you want to be totally consistant for each and every unit produced. This makes no sense.

Hand painted, hand carved, hand detailed, etc. for objects that are art or need human evaluation is one thing, but when it comes to my strings being wound with the wire properly tensioned at all times & cut to consistant lengths....sorry, a human will not be consistant, string after string after string, like a machine.

I had to buy/use 4 DR B strings once (my regulars were out of stock). 1 out of the 4 was bad.

I've used D'Addarios almost exclusively since 1983 and never had a bad string.

 

I've been using DRs almost exclusively since buying my Spector in 1995. I've had 1 set of bad strings, out of probably 60.

So, with those odds, I'm happier than I ever was with other brands.

 

The whole set was bad???

I figure I've bought at least 300 sets (4 string with High C and Low B strings bought as singles) of D'Addario strings since 1983. I've never had even one bad string, and I am particular about them. They need to be clean, singing and rattle free. I don't like dead strings.

 

ditto

I've come across a bad string here and there, but hey, it happens. I still would take them over others out there, just a personal preference.

 

Not with D'Addarios!
(OK, OK. I'll stop.)

 

DR's are about as bad as D'Adarrio's in my book.

 

I should clarify, since D'Addario makes so many sets. I have used the XL170 or XL170SL (super long) sets for as long as I can remember. I can't speak for the quality/consistancy of the other sets (Prizms, XL160s, EXPs, etc.).

 

I was joking.

 

Love D R Strings. I try others and always come back. The tone is great on my basses and like the energizer bunny they seem to last and last and last and last. I am really surprized that luthiers would single them out.