Medium scale D'Addario B string now available for Ibanez Mezzo 5!

[SaxBass]

After several email exchanges with both D'Addario and Ibanez, the folks at Ibanez made it happen! They contacted D'Addario and worked it out so the medium scale .130 B string is now available for sale on the D'Addario site. I'm including the link here, hoping it works and takes you there.

XL Single Nickel Wound Strings | Electric Strings | D'Addario

I was trying to find more of the strings that come stock on the Mezzo 5, and although the upper 4 strings seem to be the standard long scale EXL165 set, a long scale B string will not work. Much research found that the stock medium scale B string was not available to the public, and alternate strings were difficult to find. Plus, I like the sound and feel of the stock strings. I'm so grateful to Tod at Ibanez who worked his magic and got D'Addario to again offer the medium scale .130 B string to the public.

 

[HaphAsSard]

After several email exchanges with both D'Addario and Ibanez, the folks at Ibanez made it happen! They contacted D'Addario and worked it out so the medium scale .130 B string is now available for sale on the D'Addario site. I'm including the link here, hoping it works and takes you there.

XL Single Nickel Wound Strings | Electric Strings | D'Addario

I was trying to find more of the strings that come stock on the Mezzo 5, and although the upper 4 strings seem to be the standard long scale EXL165 set, a long scale B string will not work. Much research found that the stock medium scale B string was not available to the public, and alternate strings were difficult to find. Plus, I like the sound and feel of the stock strings. I'm so grateful to Tod at Ibanez who worked his magic and got D'Addario to again offer the medium scale .130 B string to the public.

TB user @BobbyMacII posted about the D'Addario single medium-scale low B (XLB130M) back in February of this year. He also mentioned "Tod at Ibanez":
https://www.talkbass.com/posts/27200699/

[There's also an XB100M medium-scale low E. Unsurprisingly, since the string is in the medium-scale 4-string set (EXL170M). However, it is nice to have it available as a single.]

 

[SaxBass]

Yes, you're absolutely correct, BobbyMacII did post and his information gave me direction to get the strings. However, following that link to single string on the D'Addario website it showed the B string as not available. That led me to the email exchanges with both D'Addario and with Ibanez. The D'Addario rep said they do not offer the string to the general public, and no amount of my logic changed that. Tod at Ibanez, after some discussion, did work through the system and was able to get D'Addario to (again?) offer the .130 medium scale B as a single. It was an odd and frustrating effort, but ultimately it was successful.

TB user @BobbyMacII posted about the D'Addario single medium-scale low B (XLB130M) back in February of this year. He also mentioned "Tod at Ibanez":
https://www.talkbass.com/posts/27200699/

[There's also an XB100M medium-scale low E. Unsurprisingly, since the string is in the medium-scale 4-string set (EXL170M). However, it is nice to have it available as a single.]

 

[HaphAsSard]

The D'Addario rep said they do not offer the string to the general public, and no amount of my logic changed that.

Wuh...? That's utterly ridiculous. Thanks you and Tod for all the good work.

 

[SaxBass]

I know. Made no sense to me. And I truly couldn't understand why the strings that come stock on a currently marketed bass were not easily available. Medium scale is a bit of a challenge; you'd think they would recognize that. Oh heck, the world continues to be an interesting place! I'm just glad Tod followed through and made things happen.

Wuh...? That's utterly ridiculous. Thanks you and Tod for all the good work.