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D'Addario...Flex Steels?

#201
Picked up a 5-string set on Saturday from the D'Addario stand at the London Bass Show. Given the offer of 'buy two items, get a free set of Flex Steels or balanced XLs' it was hard to resist. As soon as my current Circle Ks feel like they've passed their use by date I'll be putting the Flex Steels.

I would suggest that a balanced Flex Steel set would be great, but I bet those D'Addario guys can throw a stapler a long way... :D
 
#202
smeet said:
These strings sound very interesting.
For context, can anybody describe how they compare to these strings?
- Rotosound steel 66
- Sadowsky Blue Steel
- DR FatBeams

Specifically I want a thick, midrange-rich sound with a strong attack and fundamental, lots of mid-highs but not too hifi and glassy. And I need a great B string that has continuity with the E.
Click to expand...

FlexSteel are not as hifi and glassy as Blue Steels.
(From memory).

I find FlexSteels more full in the Mids than Fatbeams, in a good way.
If you are a finger player, they're really worth a try.

A few pick players in this thread who love ProSteels didn't dig them as much.

I've never played new RotoSound steel 66 strings.....
 
#203
Britbonic said:
Can't speak for the Dunlop Stainless but compared to nickels I feel like these are comparable, maybe slightly less tension. Personally, I didn't care for the last set of Dunlop nickels I installed and ended pull them off after a couple weeks.
Click to expand...

Yes it's all a matter of taste. Good to know that it may even have less tension.

My previous strings of choice were Hi Beams, Sunbeams, Fatbeams. Then I jumped into the Dunlop arena to go back to hex cores. If these have even less tension, but still hex cores, it sounds like the perfect string for me.
 
#205
Just installed them as I felt like the Circle Ks were getting a little dull (after 14 months). So far they feel like a cross between Circle Ks and Pro Steels, i.e. more flexible Pro Steels. I'll report on the sound after I get some decent playing time.
 
#208
Britbonic said:
Have to say, being used to nickels I'm not crazy about the feel but other the other hand I can't stop playing the bass that I have them on! Hoping I'll eventually get used to the feel.
Click to expand...

I was the same way at first, but then either my fingers got used to it, or some oils from my fingers smoothed it out... Not sure, but I got used to the feel and of course the Tone is awesome!
 
#209
I don't think that the Flex Steels are so much about being an "improvement" as much as adding more options to their lineup. That's one 9f the things I like about D'Addario: probably the broadest selection available from a single manufacturer!
 
#210
GK Growl said:
It's interesting that in a lot of the NAMM videos from D'Addario about these the D'Addario rep says that these are designed to give that round core sound and feel while of course still being hex core. I wonder how much of that is just to compete with DR strings or does D'Addario truly believe that these are an improvement over their standard hex core offerings?
Click to expand...

I very recently tried DR Fat Beams and Fodera steels (both are round core strings), back to back. I'm otherwise someone that generally prefers stainless steel strings. I have not yet tried flex steels, but my current favorite Stainless Steel strings are Dean Markley Helix SS. Which similarly have a lower core to wrap ratio and are therefore a more flexible hex core string.

Even in the lower core to wrap ratio, there seems to be something about hex core strings that gives a bit more punch and fullness to the mids and low mids. I found the DR Fat Beams to be outright anemic sounding, compared to every other hex core string I have used. The Foderas were a bit fuller in the mids, but still lacked the punch and dynamism that I experience with hex cores. Overall, both round core strings did not offer the response I'm used to.

However, the flexibility of the round core strings was generally preferable, compared to typical hex core strings. For the same guage, the feel while playing was easier and felt more natural to me.

The point is this; I think the goal here for Daddario is to offer a no compromise string. Get the full and dynamic tone of a hex core design, with added flexibility akin to what you get with a roundcore. Which can give a better feel while playing. That's certainly the experience I have had with Dean Markley strings.
 
#214
I am a jazz player and I have been playing the Daddario's for a very long time...strings of choice are Nickel EXL160BT (4 SET) + .035"=G and 0.028" =C...to make up a six string set...I really enjoy this set...feels extremely balanced...very easy to make fast walking lines, deep , smooth, articulate ...the question I have is ...how would the new Flex Steel (6 string set) compare to what I am using now?...any input would be greatly apreciated

Present gauges
Nickel
120 / 90 / 67 / 50 / 35 / 28

Proposed Flex steels
Stainless Steel
130 / 100 / 80 / 65 / 45 / 32

Thanks Randyt
 
#215
RockBobby said:
Well they have been on for about 3 days on my new parts bass with a new neck. They sound good but are chewing my frets ALREADY!! These suckers are coming off ASAP. No more SS strings for me with soft frets. They don't particularly feel very good either. I guess I'm spoiled on flats.
Click to expand...

Mine replaced a set of rounds on my jazz. I've had them on for close to a month and haven't noticed anything abnormal with respect to fret wear. My other basses have nickel rounds and one has flats so I'm used to some variety but I'm very comfortable with these strings. Maybe a little rough or just different at first but they feel great now. Best sounding strings I've had on this bass.
 
#217
For me I really like them. To my ears they have their own tone and sound. They sound nothing like Prosteels or the DRs. As I'm a user of both. At first the low tension turned me off put as I kept playing them I started getting used to them. I have an alder/rosewood American Deluxe 5.
 

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