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D'Addario Users..

#41
Ian Perge said:
Same here - in fact, the only time I e-mailed them to b*tch them out about getting rid of the Prism (*my* favorite strings at the time) line for ProSteels, and received a handwritten letter back explaining how they had designed the ProSteel line as an upgrade to the Prisms, what changes they had made... as well as 3 free sets to compare my Prisms to.

That's more than "quality control", that's a whole 'nother level of customer satisfaction! :D I can''t see myself using any other string - not only have they been very good to me on other occasions, but the factory is about 15 minutes from where I grew up and I like to feel that I'm supporting my hometown. :)
Click to expand...

judging from my limited experience with d'addario's customer service, this story doesn't surprise me one bit

fantastic guys at d'addario, and will go the extra mile to take care of their customer:)
 
#42
I used to hate them a lot. Back when I was first learned bass I bought a couple packs, and broke two strings within a week (a G and a D). Looking back, it was probably a combination of my poor technique and a low quality bass.
I just bought a pack of their Chrome flats and they are very nice.
Both my guitar players also insist on them.
 
#44
I liked the sound of the XL nickels...


I'd probably use them if I hadn't tried them with a Kahler. I let them stretch, but at the first pull, the G broke. Then the next pull (left the G off) the A broke. The bends were only about a step...

Since they came in sets of 2, I put the other strings on and they broke again. I still have a couple strings lying around that I never put on...
 
#46
()smoke() said:
judging from my limited experience with d'addario's customer service, this story doesn't surprise me one bit

fantastic guys at d'addario, and will go the extra mile to take care of their customer:)
Click to expand...

The extra mile would be to make the strings right the first time. I've mentioned this in another thread, but I'm a quality engineer by day, and have/had access to all kinds of measuring and test equipment. Over the years I've laid calipers or mics to all of my strings. D'Addario, from a spec stand point, either has very loose tolerances, or they have little control over their string gauges and tensions..... I wish I still had access to a tensile tester.... there are some other strings I'd like to check. The last set of D'Addarios (chromes) I bought really have me puzzled..... what makes them decide to put a .103" E string in a pack that should be .100", instead of putting into a pack that should be .105"?

Perhaps its a bit nit picky, but when I purchase something that says its X, but it's actually X.5, then I have a problem. I can't get away with that in my business, and niether should they. Of course, you can always take the approach that you get what you pay for, and spend the extra dough for something that matches what's called out on the package.

Ljazz
 
#47
I use the EXL160s on my SUB and I have never had a bad set. I haven't snapped a string since I switched to d'addarios about 3 years ago. I used to always snap D strings when I used Rotosound 66s or Ernie Balls. I love the feel and tone from the d'addarios and now use them on my guitars as well.

A word of warning though, I have recently bought a Lakland and tonight I put a set of EXL 165s on it and the E string wasn't long enough!! See this topic for more details. It seems if you string through body you need the super long scales.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434917

I know it's my fault for just assuming they would fit, but it is still annoying!!!
 
#51
Ljazz

I have no reason to doubt your findings at all. However, I must be lucky in that i've used d'addario for years for both guitar and bass and only once, recently, did i have a bad E string, which was promptly and courteously taken care of by the company. Sure, i'd have preferred it be right the first time--i'm doubtful anyone wouldn't prefer that:). But, they took care of it quickly and courteously, which is something that fewer companies seem to do these days.

As for a .103 in a .100 set instead of a .105 set...i can't answer that one. I might be using a .107 instead of a .105 right now, but i can't say for sure i'd notice the 2 thousandths of an inch difference on my E string without using calipers...5 thousands, sure

And I generally agree with the 'get what you pay for' comment...i mentioned in my original post that i also really like DR nickel lo-riders...however, my only means of buying them is ordering through the mail since none of the stores near me will stock them (despite consistently having boxes upon boxes of ss lo-riders)--so pricing and availability almost always factor into my purchases...i can buy nickel d'addarios just about anywhere i happen to be, which is a good thing, imo




ljazz said:
The extra mile would be to make the strings right the first time. I've mentioned this in another thread, but I'm a quality engineer by day, and have/had access to all kinds of measuring and test equipment. Over the years I've laid calipers or mics to all of my strings. D'Addario, from a spec stand point, either has very loose tolerances, or they have little control over their string gauges and tensions..... I wish I still had access to a tensile tester.... there are some other strings I'd like to check. The last set of D'Addarios (chromes) I bought really have me puzzled..... what makes them decide to put a .103" E string in a pack that should be .100", instead of putting into a pack that should be .105"?

Perhaps its a bit nit picky, but when I purchase something that says its X, but it's actually X.5, then I have a problem. I can't get away with that in my business, and niether should they. Of course, you can always take the approach that you get what you pay for, and spend the extra dough for something that matches what's called out on the package.

Ljazz
Click to expand...
 
#55
I've used D'Addario's and D'Addario products for YEARS.

Rico Royal reeds for all my woodwinds. D'Addario Bowed for my upright. EC16's on my acoustic. XL165 on my basses. XL110 on my electric guitars. Etc.

Every instrument is strung with D'Addarios, of every variety at one time or another.
 
#57
I used to be a huge D'Addario fan. I still won't put anything else on those werid instruments I have that require six skinny strings. But, I've pretty much gone over to DR for my basses. Why?

Becasue I have four basses that string through the body. And regular scale D'Addarios won't fit. You have to special order the extra-long scale ones for those basses. I was using SloWounds for a long time, and I"ve been using D'Addario for guitar since at least 1972. They're the most constistent strings set-to-set I've ever had experience with (and I managed a guitar store for 11 years so I got a LOT of string experience), they're great sounding strings in a wide variety of formats, the company is great to do business with (the primary reason I won't use Dean Markleys, even if they were the best strings in the world), and they've got great customer service. Add in their long-time environmental awareness (they've been doing that stuff for decades), and they're one of the best string compnaies in the world.

Plus, even if you don't buy strings with the D'Addario name on the package, it's a pretty good bet that you've actually got D'Addario or GHS strings. While there's more than there used to be, there still aren't that many string companies that have their own winding machines.

Heck, I thihk I've just talked myself into buying a set of EXL-165SL for my Sting...

jte
 

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