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D'Addario new for 2013 thread!

Personally I am really tempted to try the 53lb 50-120 set if anything. I'd rather bump overall tension up from my usual 45-105/110 than down if anything, my bass would be easier to setup I've learned, and the E wouldn't fall off as much going to drop D.

The nuts going to need to replaced soon anyway so I wouldn't even mind opening it up to experiment.

Jason, you said you played the heavy set in standard tuning and it was stiff. If you could elaborate on how it felt I would appreciate it.

It seems like it would be tough to come up with something in between, each gauge is only one step up from a 45-105 except for the 120.

If it worked for me or not I would know before I spent even more cash for a custom set of Half Rounds. Cheaper to experiment with the XLs.
 
Anyone thinking of doing balanced Chrome sets?

I'm looking at a set for my 32" scale Ibanez AEB5E. I really like the idea of 40-55-75-95. Tension of that would be 37.6 36.6 36.4 35.2. However, those tension ratings would be on a 34" scale bass. I'm working with a 32" scale.

Any thoughts on the balanced tension strings being put on a 32" scale bass? I have a message to Jason at BSO asking his thoughts, but I'm really hoping to get lots of input here. I don't want the Medium Scale Chromes from D'Addario because they're higher tension and the D-String is an outlier compared to the others.
 
Tension for a medium scale should be equivalent to the 34" string tuned down a half step, you can guesstimate based on the D'Addario chart but note their steps from standard go down a whole step so you'll have to estimate somewhere in between. Long story short that should get you in the ballpark of the tension in standard tuning on a 32" bass.
 
That gets confusing I KNOW!!!

The good news about the new D'Addario XL Nickels is.............

They have a new longer winding length!

From the Back of the ball end to the start of the taper the new XL Nickels are 37.1" (Front of the ball to start of the taper is 36.825")

So these will fit a wider variety of instruments now where they older versions did not.

It is best to measure your instrument from the back of the ball end to just past the nut to figure the best winding length needed for your instrument.

Do you know if the Chromes also have a longer winding length? My issue has always been with the G. I've had slippage because the long-scale .45 is always one wrap less than I'd like it to be on my P bass.
 
I've been buying D'Addario individual strings for years as a "Balanced Tension" set. >045/60/80/110 was the closest I could come to "Balanced". Now they make a set that is .045/60/80/107, but that is less "Balanced" than the gauges I buy (According to their Tension Guide) YET.... the .060 and .080 in their Balanced Tension set are each a different tension than the individual 60's and 80's I've been using. I asked D'A if they redesigned these strings with a different core/wrap to account for the different specs and they said "Huh?" Anyway, The XL170BT set is nice, sounds great feels great... hopefully they will make the same set for the Pro Steels. Will try Circle K's next... now THAT'S Balanced!!!
 
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades...and balanced tension ;) I saw that too, but really, if the difference is only 2 or 3 lbs, that's still pretty balanced. To me, anyway.
 
Anyone thinking of doing balanced chrome sets?

As far as balanced chromes... I have already taken some orders for a balanced set based on a 40 and a 45

Yep... I placed my order for a set of balanced 40's Chromes.

Currently enjoying Sadowsky Black Label Flats 40-100 and Labella Deep Talkin' Flats 39-96.

Balanced sets spoil you forever :bassist:
 
I would love to set up a balanced set of steels for my 6 string. I've never tried D'Addario steels, but on my active 4s I loved Labella Hard Rocking Steel M44 set - .40 - .102. I'm currently using The Circle K .136 set. I love the B string but I'd like the other strings a little looser. Any suggestions?
 
I would love to set up a balanced set of steels for my 6 string. I've never tried D'Addario steels, but on my active 4s I loved Labella Hard Rocking Steel M44 set - .40 - .102. I'm currently using The Circle K .136 set. I love the B string but I'd like the other strings a little looser. Any suggestions?

Order the four string set that would be one step lighter than those in the five string set you like and then add a single .136 B.