D'Addario XS Bass Strings (New)

[c3powil]

I just got a set today and slapped them on my 5 string Spector Ethos. I believe it had DR Highbeams on it due to the higher tension, high friction feel, and colored ball ends, but I can't be sure.

These XS strings sounded brighter, but not very different than NYXL, which I have used several times. In fact, they feel and sound so similar to NYXL, I'm not sure if I could tell them apart. I love how slick they feel. Definitely a bit more scooped sounding than the strings I had on before, but nothing so drastic that a bit of EQ couldn't overcome.

So I like the feel and the sound of these strings. Let's see how long they last. For $60, they had better last at least twice as long as NYXL.

 

[FollowMeDown]

As I'm playing I'll hear little static-y 'pops' coming from the amp. The wiring in my house sucks, so I'm used to some noise, but the 'pops' are too distracting and only happen with coated strings.

Because the popping you're hearing is worse with coated strings suggests a voltage differential is building up between your strings and pickup due to capacitance (i.e. the coating is acting as an insulator), which in turn suggests your bridge, amp or power socket has bad/non-existent ground. Does your amp have a ground lift switch currently set so ground is disconnected? If so, try switching it. If not, measure the resistance between your bridge and guitar's audio socket, also test/fix your house wiring. This is more than just an inconvenience, it's potentially a safety issue.

 

[michael_t]

I just got a set today and slapped them on my 5 string Spector Ethos. I believe it had DR Highbeams on it due to the higher tension, high friction feel, and colored ball ends, but I can't be sure.

"Higher tension, high friction feel and colored ball ends"... They're definitely NOT DR Hi Beams. They sound more like Rotosound Swing Bass 66. Were the colors of the ball ends red-blue-white-red by any chance?

 

[MisterUbu]

I like their guitar xs they offer, they last quite a while. I hope they come out with a multi-scale set some time in the future... there's gotta be something else than DR dragonskin available sometime soon

Well I stand corrected, they did!

D'addario XS mulstiscale

I'd get it in a heartbeat if it wasn't $100 CAD, if I had known these strings were available I wouldn't have been as quick to splurge on a set of stringjoys! Comparatively I'm finding on amazon DR dragonskins for less (there's a 6 string set currently cheaper than a 5 string set lol). Oh well, time to wait for a sale.

 

[Fondsdale]

Because the popping you're hearing is worse with coated strings suggests a voltage differential is building up between your strings and pickup due to capacitance (i.e. the coating is acting as an insulator), which in turn suggests your bridge, amp or power socket has bad/non-existent ground. Does your amp have a ground lift switch currently set so ground is disconnected? If so, try switching it. If not, measure the resistance between your bridge and guitar's audio socket, also test/fix your house wiring. This is more than just an inconvenience, it's potentially a safety issue.

Coated strings can cause this, the coating can 'block' the ground due to covering the string at the bridge contact point (therefore no metal to metal contact). I've had this happen before with certain coated strings.

I assume with D'Addarios, the ball ends being painted as well as the coating covering the string near the bridge, it might be possible for no metal to contact the bridge at all, therefore interrupting the ground - or - if your bass is string through, then the ball ends wont touch the bridge regardless of the paint.

 

[c3powil]

"Higher tension, high friction feel and colored ball ends"... They're definitely NOT DR Hi Beams. They sound more like Rotosound Swing Bass 66. Were the colors of the ball ends red-blue-white-red by any chance?

The colors were silver, gold, red, black, and green. The higher tension could have been because they were a thicker gauge.

 

[michael_t]

The colors were silver, gold, red, black, and green. The higher tension could have been because they were a thicker gauge.

Gold-red-black-green are definitely D'Addario colors. Not sure about the silver, though. A D'A factory 5-string set would normally have purple for the low B.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I got to beta-test these strings and I really like them. They sound and feel like uncoated strings but last a lot longer. They are not quite as smooth as the Elixir strings I tried years ago, but they sound better (less muted) and I don't have the grounding noise issue I did with the Elixirs.

They are slightly smoother than the NYXL set they replaced and are about the same in terms of brightness. I'm using them on my Fender American Professional Jazz Bass.

I also like the XS Phosphor Bronze acoustic guitar strings on my Martin 000-18

- Steve

 

[A Rock]

I got to beta-test these strings and I really like them. They sound and feel like uncoated strings but last a lot longer. They are not quite as smooth as the Elixir strings I tried years ago, but they sound better (less muted) and I don't have the grounding noise issue I did with the Elixirs.

They are slightly smoother than the NYXL set they replaced and are about the same in terms of brightness. I'm using them on my Fender American Professional Jazz Bass.

I also like the XS Phosphor Bronze acoustic guitar strings on my Martin 000-18

- Steve

Hi Steve, You said they feel like uncoated strings yet feel smoother than NYXL? I play with NYXL and wondering if the XS will take finger noise a touch down. thoughts?

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Hi Steve, You said they feel like uncoated strings yet feel smoother than NYXL? I play with NYXL and wondering if the XS will take finger noise a touch down. thoughts?

I realize that sounds like a contradiction, so I'll elaborate:

The XS strings are a touch smoother when compared directly with the NYXL strings, but not enough to where I would know they were coated strings based on only their feel, sound, or appearance. I don't think there is significantly less finger noise with the XS, although wasn't one of the things I took note of when I changed strings.

- Steve

 

[A Rock]

I realize that sounds like a contradiction, so I'll elaborate:

The XS strings are a touch smoother when compared directly with the NYXL strings, but not enough to where I would know they were coated strings based on only their feel, sound, or appearance. I don't think there is significantly less finger noise with the XS, although wasn't one of the things I took note of when I changed strings.

- Steve

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[riccalioliojr]

Hi! Any long-term feedback/review from those who liked these strings when new? I tried searching, and it seems people either liked or hated them immediately. For those who liked them, what is now the experience after a couple of months? Are they holding up?

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Hi! Any long-term feedback/review from those who liked these strings when new? I tried searching, and it seems people either liked or hated them immediately. For those who liked them, what is now the experience after a couple of months? Are they holding up?

Mine still sound the same as when I installed them last October. I do notice a slight discoloration in the area where I pluck the strings, but no change in performance. I do tend to rotate my electric basses so I’m not always playing this one, but I’ve never had an uncoated set that lasted this long without some drop off in brightness. I’ve also gotten used to the slightly smoother feel so when I play one of my basses with regular NYXL roundwounds, it feels rougher under my left hand.

- Steve

 

[HuxLux]

Had mine on for a couple of weeks. Tone has stayed the same so far, but the coating is fraying off where I pick the strings (Tortex 0.6). I assumed they would be more resistant to this after watching Nate’s video. Hopefully the coating is only coming off where it is not needed and the strings stay un-corroded.

I do love the tone and feel of them so far!

 

[5stringwonder]

Considering trying either these or the IMAs. Anyone tried both before and compared them?

 

[riccalioliojr]

Mine still sound the same as when I installed them last October. I do notice a slight discoloration in the area where I pluck the strings, but no change in performance. I do tend to rotate my electric basses so I’m not always playing this one, but I’ve never had an uncoated set that lasted this long without some drop off in brightness. I’ve also gotten used to the slightly smoother feel so when I play one of my basses with regular NYXL roundwounds, it feels rougher under my left hand.

- Steve

Hi, thanks for the feedback. How about the difference of stiffness vs the NYXLs and maybe also Elixirs?