D'Addario vs Ernie Ball

[doktorfeelgood]

Been using D'Addario EXL's for over 20 years....anytime I tried another brand I always couldn't wait to get the EXL's back on...
Very consistent, GREAT tone, sealed packaging so they're always fresh, last for a decent amount of time (for me),very reasonably priced, and easy on frets....what's not to like...?

 

[bongostealth]

Definitely D'Addario for me. I too have never cared for Ernie Ball. However, I would love to try out the EB Cobalts. But they don't have them for 6 string, that I know of.

 

[Thundar]

Bongo...they do now!
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Edit....well, its a 5 str set with the C added.

 

[KJAXE]

Just had some DR highbeams on my bass. Didn't like them....the low B sounded like poo poo!

I had the same problem with HB & the low B....switched to Fatbeams...just as bright, nice fat bottom, tight low B...my favs!!!

 

[Tunaman]

Hate Daddarios Went back to EBMM Super Slinkies

 

[Tunaman]

Cool that Daddarios product people are on here, they wrote to me asking what I didn't like about them...

Hey its all personal preference & subjective thoughts in the end but having good customer service is clutch.

 

[Proraptor]

Eb cobalts for me, best sound but they dont last very long. Id like to try out some other brands too

 

[Tunaman]

Eb cobalts for me, best sound but they dont last very long. Id like to try out some other brands too

For that price they have to last a long time for me to take a shot

 

[Proraptor]

For that price they have to last a long time for me to take a shot

i love the sound though, by far the best ive used in that category

What would you suggest i try from another manufacturer? I play rock, punk, and metal

 

[Joe Louvar]

Here's another vote for D'Addario EXL strings - I use the EXL170's.

 

[MoeTown1986]

For that price they have to last a long time for me to take a shot

i was a long time DR hi beam and fat beam fan. got a good 2 months of life out of them practicing an hour a day and playing 6-10, 3 hour long gigs a month. i finally tried cobalts and as said, they sound amazing. but i've had mine strung on my bass for about 6 weeks now and the still sound like i just opened them up. i really think life depends person to person on how they sweat and how corrosive their sweat is. that goes for any string too. i always clean my strings with GHS Fast Fret after playing, btw.

 

[deste]

I'm using almost only D'Addario since the late 80's, and they're ok for me: unexpensive, lasting, and most of all when they're worn out they still have a nice sound (although different).
Anyway, you and only you can judge your things...

 

[Lee Bruton]

EXL160's here, over 30 years of use

 

[electracoyote]

Trying to decide between D'Addario nickel wound or Ernie Ball nickel wound slinkys. Anyone have any thoughts on this sets of strings?

My two favorite brands! Relatively inexpensive and easy to find. Virtually every music retailer in the world stocks these two.

I think they are very similar. You'd probably be happy with either one.

Some people claim Slinkys don't stay bright very long, but I don't notice them dying any quicker than other strings at this price point. I wipe my strings down after each session, I think that's the trick with any brand.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Eb cobalts for me, best sound but they dont last very long. Id like to try out some other brands too

Good to know. I thought about trying them out, but probably not if they have a short life span.

Here's another vote for D'Addario EXL strings - I use the EXL170's.

That's my set as well. Well, EXL170-5 (long and super long scale) anyway, and Chromes on my Pbass. I've tried a few other brands and keep coming back to the EXL's. And I was using EXL170-6SL on my 35" string through body Stambaugh 6'er, but it looks like that set has been discontinued.

There might be hope though, I read in another thread that it looks like D'Addario might be offering all of their strings in singles. If the price is reasonable on a "build your own," maybe an EXL 6'er super long set will be an option again?

I've also been toying with "recycling" my EXL's... The next time I change strings on my Jazz, maybe I'll put the old EXL's on my P, just for kicks to see what it'd sound like. Somewhere in between flats and brand new zingy rounds. I don't know though, those Chromes have been the perfect sound for a lot of gigs...

5sg.

 

[ddawson2012]

Bass Singles are being announced at NAMM next week.

 

[HuntYouDown]

Interesting thread and I am in the same boat. Except, I just bought both, a pack of EXL160s and a pack of Super Slinkies 100 gauge. Debating which to put on my Ibanez ATK.

 

[jkingbass]

Im having the same dilemma at the moment, I use XL170's for 5 strings and just put the super long version on a warwick rockbass corvette but the tension is slightly lacking, I was wondering about the new ernie ball super long scale (in the hope the tension was better), but it seems many on here think the ernie ball strings are lower tension in the same gagues as the D'Addarios? anyone have any thoughts on this? Im a long time D'Addario user

 

[armybass]

EB Cobalts are the only EB strings I don't really dig. Don't like the tension and they didn't just die quickly.....they disintegrated!

 

[MRDOOM]

I prefer EBs to D'Addarios. I tried the latter when I first got my squier p bass, and I found them kind of muddy. I have Ernie Balls on all of my basses and they only get changed annually. I must admit that I prefer my strings a little dead, so the fact that they lose their newness quickly appeals to me.