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New ernie ball strings.

#21
From a mechanical point of view:
* How can coating a string with anything do msomething other than dampen its' natural vibrations and reduce sustain?
* How can any coating hold up to metal to metal contact between the fret and the bottom of the string?
* Why would a coating have any advanctages other than keeping sweat off of a string which is usualy made of stainless (won't rust) or nickel plated steel (resists rust)

We've used some very expensive coating for pistons on racing engines to reduce friction but due to the price point I can't believe that string makers are using anything that hi-tech

It is a fact that all metal work hardens or changes its' characteristics by the strees and starin of vibration and bending / flexing (obviously)

Uses to use Blue Steels as the cryo treatment is a real deal for specialty materials in a high stress enviornment

Anybody have any real, established, tech proof that shows some advantages of coating a vibrating wire with some form of plastic?
 
#24
Jim C said:
From a mechanical point of view:
* How can coating a string with anything do msomething other than dampen its' natural vibrations and reduce sustain?
* How can any coating hold up to metal to metal contact between the fret and the bottom of the string?
* Why would a coating have any advanctages other than keeping sweat off of a string which is usualy made of stainless (won't rust) or nickel plated steel (resists rust)

We've used some very expensive coating for pistons on racing engines to reduce friction but due to the price point I can't believe that string makers are using anything that hi-tech

It is a fact that all metal work hardens or changes its' characteristics by the strees and starin of vibration and bending / flexing (obviously)

Uses to use Blue Steels as the cryo treatment is a real deal for specialty materials in a high stress enviornment

Anybody have any real, established, tech proof that shows some advantages of coating a vibrating wire with some form of plastic?
Click to expand...

They are all really good points, and I cant explain it, but all the coated strings I have tried have lasted a really long time. My guess would be in between the wraps gets filled up with crap.
 
#27
That makes sense. Maybe the part that gets protected is the seam of the outer wrap. Maybe it doesn't matter if the coating wears off where the string contacts the frets.
I'll try these. I like the regular orange pack EB hybrid slinkys.

Meatrus said:
They are all really good points, and I cant explain it, but all the coated strings I have tried have lasted a really long time. My guess would be in between the wraps gets filled up with crap.
Click to expand...
 
#28
KPAX said:
That makes sense. Maybe the part that gets protected is the seam of the outer wrap. Maybe it doesn't matter if the coating wears off where the string contacts the frets.
I'll try these. I like the regular orange pack EB hybrid slinkys.
Click to expand...

Yeagh, I came to the conclusion when I noticed horrible messy stuff that looked like toffe leaking from out of underneath the strings (in between the wraps on non coated). I have also noticed that the tighter the wraps of the string the longer the string seems to last, which also backs up the theory (harder for crap to force its way in).

I think I have accidentally set my self up for someone calling me a dirty b***** now :ninja:
 
#29
coating will obviously dampen a string's vibrations. but the thinner the coating, the less it will dampen. these are supposed to be extremely thin coatings.

apparently, it's some kind of enamel that they are using to coat the strings. enamel is kind of a vague word, but i think of it as pertaining to some kind of mineral substance, like that found on teeth or applied to pottery. if the EB enamel is similar, then it's tougher than the plastic coating found on other strings.

i think the main advantage is the strings last longer. also, Ed Friedland said that they sound like a broken in set of nickels right out of the bag and they keep that tone for quite some time. actually, i can't remember if he said they last a long time. still, that's the theory, and if they keep sweat and goo from interacting with the metal, then they should last longer.

i don't know the hardness of this "enamel", so i don't know who wins the fight... the strings or the frets?
 
#30
Jim C said:
From a mechanical point of view:
* How can coating a string with anything do msomething other than dampen its' natural vibrations and reduce sustain?
Click to expand...

Count me in as a doubter as well. I don't want to criticize those who use them and like them; if it works for you in reality, in your head, whatever, that's all that matters. But I can make a set of (uncoated) Super Slinkies last a long, long time just by wiping them down religiously after every session. I need a bright string for my style, and even the pyschological effect of knowing something is coating my strings would be a distraction.

Maybe someday when I've got $30.00 burning a hole in my pocket and feel like gambling I'll pick up a set. If I bought any coated strings, it would be the EB from everything I've read.
 
#37
I've used the D'Addario EXP coated strings and the do hold up longer. Of note is that the uncoated D'Addario or EB strings turn my fingers black for a few days of playing.

The coated D'Addarios don't. They do last longer and sound fine to me.

Don't care about the physics. I listen and judge.

Jim
 

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