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Has D'Addario changed its formula for XL strings?

SethD

SethD

Jul 8, 2003
1,500
527
South Deerfield, Massachusetts
#1
I've been playing D'Addario EXL170 nickel rounds for at least a decade, and lately they seem different. EXL170 was always my top choice due to their smooth feel and relatively long life, but the past three or four sets have felt rougher and worn out fast. Dead and sounding pretty bad after a week of daily practice and a rehearsal or short gig on the weekend.

At least two of the sets were purchased from the same online retailer, though in different orders, and I got one set at a local Mom & Pop.

Has anyone else experienced this?
 
#2
Hmmmmmm..... I haven't played quite as much as I usually do for the past couple months. But the last few sets I have had do what they always have for me. I go through strings pretty quickly but I also am kind of heavy-handed.

I'm interested to see what others post because I have been using those strings for a long time.
 
#5
I haven't had any trouble with feel or durability. The last set had a bit of a twang to them that didn't seem to go away no matter how long they were on the bass. Not that I'm complaining. Just seemed different than normal to me. Of course, I think I changed to those after a month or two with flats, so that may have been what I was hearing.
 
#9
tallboybass said:
I tried a set of EXL-170BT's and the E string was darned near dead immediately, right out of the pack. Didn't balance tonally with the other strings, so I had to get them off that bass.
Click to expand...

If that happens again, please let us know - my email is [email protected] - and yes, as hard as it is to believe, counterfeit strings are out there. You can always enter the code from the inner baggie here - www.daddario.com/PLAYREAL
 
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#10
Wow! This is an interesting post! I've been playing EXL170's for years, and I've thought the same thing in the last few sets I've played beginning about 18 months ago. The strings feel rougher (no real complaints there), and they're super-zingy. Again, no real complaints, but it put me on a quest for half rounds and flats. These EXLs are lasting a long time and are working really well for my punk band. In fact the last set I had lasted a year - and I play hard and often. I only changed them because I was convinced I was going to break a string at a gig. Not the end of the world - I've done that a few times, but why risk it? It does seem to me that the texture and brightness has changed. Glad I'm not the only one that has noticed a change. Interesting.
 
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#11
reno88 said:
Wow! This is an interesting post! I've been playing EXL170's for years, and I've thought the same thing in the last few sets I've played beginning about 18 months ago. The strings feel rougher (no real complaints there), and they're super-zingy. Again, no real complaints, but it put me on a quest for half rounds and flats. These EXLs are lasting a long time and are working really well for my punk band. In fact the last set I had lasted a year - and I play hard and often. I only changed them because I was convinced I was going to break a string at a gig. Not the end of the world - I've done that a few times, but why risk it? It does seem to me that the texture and brightness has changed. Glad I'm not the only one that has noticed a change. Interesting.
Click to expand...

^ I was thinking the same thing when I read your post!

Good opportunity to try something new. I'm also going the flatwound/half round route. Had some sets put aside for years that are coming into rotation.
 
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#14
I tried a set of Dad EXL170 Balanced Tension after all the hoopla about balanced sets.

Balanced my ass. One of the worst sets I've ever used. My 12 dollar L&M set sounds ten times better than those. (Used on my longscale Ibanez)

Wasn't impressed at all.

On the other hand , Dad handpicked singles (105-85-65-45) sounded quite good for me. (use them on my Mikro...been on there for quite awhile)
 
#15
THREAD RESURRECTION!

I was about to start a thread about this very issue. I've used XL-170's since the early '80's and have never had a bad string, until recently that is. I picked up 3 twin packs to re-string all my basses and immediately noticed inconsistency from bass to bass. Some individual strings are just plain lifeless and dull, very disappointing, I did buy them from Amazon, so I wonder if that's the problem.......

In any case, I figure its time for a change, I've heard good things about Dunlop super brights, so I just ordered 3 sets to try.. review to follow........
 
#17
After trying a few different string sets, I've switched to DR Sunbeams on my main player. Different tone profile and tension from the XLs, but they feel amazing and have a liveliness that the XLs never did.

Interested to read more about the Super Brights. I have a set of High Beams on deck that I'd like to try first.
 
#20
I put balanced XLs from BSO on two basses yesterday and both seem to play and sound fine.

The E string looks odd to me on the import Sterling (I've only used 100s), both a lot bigger and slightly different finish perhaps, but it seems to play and sound good. My first impression is that the 45 G string on the Sterling matches better to the 60 D string in this set than it does to a 65 in a typical set.

Otto
 

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