D'Addario vs Ernie Ball

[ddawson2012]

Thanks for the offer Don, but D'addario UK (Pete) have been fantastic in helping me out - they've sent me replacement B and E strings FOC and now I've got the set I wanted on my 35" scale bass, and they sound FANTASTIC - much better to my ears than the much more expensive sets I've been using in the past.
The only real problem is that because the dealer here didn't know about the change in length, I messed him about, and the guy mmbomgo recommended got really messed about - I ordered a set and then cancelled the order, and then did the same when the replacement B arrived and fitted perfectly. I bet he really loves me, and he seems like a really nice bloke.
Just out of interest, do you know it costs about the same to order from the states and pay the postage as it does to buy the same set in the UK? Bit odd, and I will definitely order from the States when I order some spare sets.
It's a shame no-one seemed to know about the changeover, but D'addario have been fantastically helpful, and I really recommend them and their strings, which really surprised me with their tone, and cheap price.

Agreed - sorry for the confusion. Glad to hear that Pete was of assistance. If I can be of any additional help - you know how to reach me! All the best!

 

[dj5]

Cheers Don - even my loud-bass-practice-hating family agree that they sound better than the last make, and if THEY can hear it, they must be good!
Thanks again for all the help - I've honestly never dealt with a company that was more helpful or pleasant, and thoroughly recommend anyone give them a try if they're looking for a good, and reasonably priced string (Please sent cheque to .....)
Regards
Mark

 

[phillybass101]

I've been playing bass for over 42 years now and IMO all RW bass strings are over priced and over rated. You can buy a set of flats and run them on your bass for months/years. But pricing for RW's has not changed as they do not last very long for what they are supposed to do and that is have tha piano string sound. If I didn't need that bright killer piano tone for slapping I could get away with buying and using very few sets of bass strings. IMO then the 20-30 price range would be fine. We pay on average over 4 times what guitarist pay for strings and can't help but feel we're getting ripped off.

 

[dj5]

Over here a set of 6 TI's is around £60, but if you consider that they last forever, they're cheaper in the long run than any set of RW's - part of the reason I've only got one bass with RW's, as well as the the fact that I love the sound and feel of TI flats!
A set of EB guitar strings is about £7, and a six set of Hibeams is about £40. They must but be a lot more expensive to make, but.................

 

[JimmyM]

I've been playing bass for over 42 years now and IMO all RW bass strings are over priced and over rated. You can buy a set of flats and run them on your bass for months/years. But pricing for RW's has not changed as they do not last very long for what they are supposed to do and that is have tha piano string sound. If I didn't need that bright killer piano tone for slapping I could get away with buying and using very few sets of bass strings. IMO then the 20-30 price range would be fine. We pay on average over 4 times what guitarist pay for strings and can't help but feel we're getting ripped off.

I take it you don't play upright.



BTW, slapping on dead flats = AWESOME!

 

[duff84]

i prefer ernie balls feel of the strings to daddario, both are good, i have no problems using either, i used daddario nickels in the studio for my bands album, and im using ernie ball hybrid slinkys now. Both are good to me.

 

[Solarmist]

I always go with D'Add Prosteels - they're nice & bright, and the price is right. I just wish they lasted a little bit longer. I always get a 4 string set (45105) plus a 130TW for B.

I don't really care for Slinkys.

 

[dwade]

I personally LOVE the tone of the D'Addario Pro Steels. They produce a lot of finger noise but I can live with that. I notice the E & A strings don't last very long. I just put a set on last Tuesday. I had a short rehearsal on Tuesday (2 hours), a recording session on Wednesday (3 hours) & played live on Saturday (3 hours). My strings haven't held up. I usually 5-6 out of set. I replace them the moment they lose their bite. I do go through strings much faster than other bass players I know. I always have. There's something toxic in my hands that just destroys my strings.

I've always used a combination of D'Addario, Ernie Ball or the Peavey Cirrus strings. I like the Pro Steels better than any of them. I like that Ernie Ball's fit long scale & extra long scale basses. They do not last long in my hands though. I'm no rookie. I've been playing for 40+ years, 30+ professionally.

 

[Bill Evans]

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!

I just put EB Cobalts on and while I'm giving them time I don't love the tension and not loving the clear but slightly buzzy tone either

 

[iiipopes]

I wish EB would get into the 21st century and provide string tension specs and more balanced sets than their traditional gauges which to modern basses have too-tight D strings and too floppy E strings compared to the G and A strings in any given set.

 

[michael_t]

I wish EB would get into the 21st century and provide string tension specs...

They apparently do have tension info available, but you need to contact their customer service and ask for it.