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D'Addario NYXL Bass Strings

#122
jwilson67 said:
Good to know. I won't even bother. Cobalts are one of those things in life where I kicked myself for waiting so long to try them. The best.
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I mean, it's really just my opinion. I'm sure plenty of people like them. They'll probably end up costing about as much as cobalts so they may be worth a shot. I thought they stunk, but that's just me.
 
#126
jwilson67 said:
Are these D'Addarios's answer to EB Cobalts? Those are my current favorite string. It would take a lot to unseat those for me!
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The NYXL's are pretty different than Cobalts. I only tried Cobalts breifly (I like to try everything at least once to stay on top of market and tech changes), but they felt very different and the sound was a different angle.

"Gorn Captain" & I definitely are having different experiences with the NYXL strings. I think they have a ton of character! So far I've used my '57 Reissue P-Bass with the NYXL's for a downtempo singer/songwriter showcase, a tv jingle session with odd alt/pop flavors, a modern church service with songs ranging from milquetoast rock to Carole King motown-ish pop. I'm also using it on a decidely rootsy country gig in a couple of days. There's enough character to cover all of those bases!
 
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#127
scotch said:
The NYXL's are pretty different than Cobalts. I only tried Cobalts breifly (I like to try everything at least once to stay on top of market and tech changes), but they felt very different and the sound was a different angle.

"Gorn Captain" & I definitely are having different experiences with the NYXL strings. I think they have a ton of character! So far I've used my '57 Reissue P-Bass with the NYXL's for a downtempo singer/songwriter showcase, a tv jingle session with odd alt/pop flavors, a modern church service with songs ranging from milquetoast rock to Carole King motown-ish pop. I'm also using it on a decidely rootsy country gig in a couple of days. There's enough character to cover all of those bases!
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When I ask this, I'm not trying to be combative or argumentative and I'm not challenging your credibility or saying you're being phony in your review. But you're a D'Addadio endorser, right? If you didn't like these strings, would you say so? Are you allowed to?
 
#128
Gorn said:
When I ask this, I'm not trying to be combative or argumentative and I'm not challenging your credibility or saying you're being phony in your review. But you're a D'Addadio endorser, right? If you didn't like these strings, would you say so? Are you allowed to?
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I am an endorser, yes. If I didn't like the NYXL strings I wouldn't have bothered to post. Yes, D'Addarrio 'allows' endorsers to be honest about what we like.

Honestly, as a professional musician my reputation and integrity are all I have to "trade". Almost any decent musician can play as well or better than me. What I've done is cultivate relationships of trust with my employers and colleagues. That particularly extends to my expanding career as a repairman & bass setup specialist in Nashville. Players actually come over just to pick my brain and talk about gear (usually the conversation goes to "I don't think you need that.").

I stay in contact with my D'Addario rep and company management every year. No one ever asks to "push" a product or make disingenuous claims. They really do seek out artists and musicians that already enjoy their product and develop 2-way communication.

I'm an open book. I abandoned anonymous Internet personas years ago. I'm willing to backup any claim or experience I communicate online with who I am on planet Earth.

I understand your line of questioning. Being a company 'shill' isn't how this works though. :-)
 
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#129
scotch said:
I am an endorser, yes. If I didn't like the NYXL strings I wouldn't have bothered to post. Yes, D'Addarrio 'allows' endorsers to be honest about what we like.

Honestly, as a professional musician my reputation and integrity are all I have to "trade". Almost any decent musician can play as well or better than me. What I've done is cultivate relationships of trust with my employers and colleagues. That particularly extends to my expanding career as a repairman & bass setup specialist in Nashville. Players actually come over just to pick my brain and talk about gear (usually the conversation goes to "I don't think you need that.").

I stay in contact with my D'Addario rep and company management every year. No one ever asks to "push" a product or make disingenuous claims. They really do seek out artists and musicians that already enjoy their product and develop 2-way communication.

I'm an open book. I abandoned anonymous Internet personas years ago. I'm willing to backup any claim or experience I communicate online with who I am on planet Earth.

I understand your line of questioning. Being a company 'shill' isn't how this works though. :)
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That works for me.
 
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#130
Installed them this on my Yamaha BB450 that I use for practice so it gets a lot of play.

Finger/thumb picked: My initial reaction is that the strings are mellower than I expected. Great mids and highs, well balanced tone across the range. A little smoother feel than most I typically use. Not a slap string but solid sound with good ring. Not overly bright (as a NP should be). Sustain seems to drop a little faster than I expected. Some growl but the Yamaha was never a good growl bass. More a slap bass.

I found I really like them for pletcum picked rather than finger picked and I really like their sound plectum picked at the bridge end. Nice ring and solid tone there. Great clarity on low end and great brightness to mid-high notes. A little louder on mids when picked. Better than most.

Not sure they are as good sounding overall as my Dean Markleys. I will have to see how they hold up over time.
 
#131
scotch said:
I am an endorser, yes. If I didn't like the NYXL strings I wouldn't have bothered to post. Yes, D'Addarrio 'allows' endorsers to be honest about what we like.

Honestly, as a professional musician my reputation and integrity are all I have to "trade". Almost any decent musician can play as well or better than me. What I've done is cultivate relationships of trust with my employers and colleagues. That particularly extends to my expanding career as a repairman & bass setup specialist in Nashville. Players actually come over just to pick my brain and talk about gear (usually the conversation goes to "I don't think you need that.").

I stay in contact with my D'Addario rep and company management every year. No one ever asks to "push" a product or make disingenuous claims. They really do seek out artists and musicians that already enjoy their product and develop 2-way communication.

I'm an open book. I abandoned anonymous Internet personas years ago. I'm willing to backup any claim or experience I communicate online with who I am on planet Earth.

I understand your line of questioning. Being a company 'shill' isn't how this works though. :)
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Different strokes for different folks! I love Cobalts and I think 78% of the people who try them agree with me. Then there are those who think they're absolute crap. I tried Pro Steels and Flex Steels but they were to my ears just lacking something. They didn't make me want to pick up my bass and play. The Ernie Balls - I can't wait to get home and take my bass out. That being said there are tons and tons of players who swear by D'Addario strings.
 
#132
jwilson67 said:
Different strokes for different folks! I love Cobalts and I think 78% of the people who try them agree with me. Then there are those who think they're absolute crap. I tried Pro Steels and Flex Steels but they were to my ears just lacking something. They didn't make me want to pick up my bass and play. The Ernie Balls - I can't wait to get home and take my bass out. That being said there are tons and tons of players who swear by D'Addario strings.
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I don't recall hearing from anyone who doesn't like the sound of the cobalts. It's the potential for fretwear that seems to scare people off.
 
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#134
mmbongo said:
Seems like a good time to bring this thing up again :)
Elixir Steels vs. EB Cobalts. My little review!

Of course in the end, Dunlop Super Brights are what I actually use.
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I haven't tried Elixer (any of them) yet. I have tried A LOT of strings though. I've done D'Addario (Pro Steel, Flex Steel, XL Nickel, Chromes (which I loved for a flatwound)), La Bella stainless steel, Dean Markely (SR2000 & Blue Steel), DR High Beams, Fat Beams, SS Low Riders, GHS (Super Steels, Progressives, Boomers), Ernie Ball (Regular Slinky, Cobalts), Dunlop (Regular Nickel, Super Bright Nickel), and probably more I can't remember. Two of my all time favorites were Rotosound RS66 (the way they used to make them in the 70's - early 80's), and Dean Markley Super Rounds - which are no longer made but they reminded me of the aforementioned Rotosound string!

So...After trying all of those my favorites are in this order - Cobalts, Slinky, and Fat Beams. The Cobalts seem to take the best qualities of the other two and combine them into one string. Plus, the Cobalts last a long, long time for me.

Note: I wasn't really impressed at all with the Dunlop Super Brights but again this is all subjective and probably bass-dependant as well.

EDIT: BTW - in your string comparison I could immediately spot the Cobalts (blk). Much better clarity in the frequencies that matter live. The Elixers sound choked. You just saved me $40! Also, Cobalts sound better after 2 weeks on.
 
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#136
I've been playing these NYXL bass strings heavily for a couple of weeks now.... I'm definitely a fan! They really do break in quicker and stay in tune far longer than any other string I have used (including other D'Addario strings). I use a pretty broad variety of strings on my various basses, but I can definitely see NYXL's replacing rwgular XL's for me!

Yes, I'm an endorser but I'd still go with these strings even if I wasn't. Very impressive! Strings, of course, are a very personal thing. There just isn't any one "best" string. That said, if you like nickel roundwounds, NYXL strings are definitely worth any bassists time to try! I don't know when they hit the market, but I anticipate them being well received.
 
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#139
I've been beta testing the NYXL set and normally use Dunlop SB Nickels.

The NYXL to me have a more defined fundamental and agree with the marketing stuff said on the packaging I just saw on the BSOL site 'accentuated harmonics'.

I'd say they are less scouped sounding than the SBs, but still would suit many playing styles and techniques. Sounded good for finger funk, rock and slap.

I thing they're a good set to check out, but that price is a concern for those no-endorsees and with the competition in the field. I'll post my few samples when I get back to my computer.
 
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#140
Ive had my NYXL's 50-105 for about a month playing a couple times a week. I strung up my 2004 Spector legend 4 with P/J pickups, EMG's, active B30 eq. I have to say I disagree with alot of the posts. They have great tonal character, slight bump in the upper midrange zing, nice bottom, nice highs. CHUNKY! Maybe its the Spector, but a little growl and the bass and the strings compliment each other very well. Almost like stainless steel but a little smoother feel. I really dig them. I made a video the day after I got them on Halloween
 
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