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Author Topic:  Never again with D'Addario strings! I need a new brand!
Jacob Hacker


From:
Tucson, Arizona
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2015 9:13 pm    
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Holy crap. I have never had such an aggravating experience restringing an instrument. I need a microscope to see the little chard on the side of the package, and there is no rhyme or reason to how the strings are color coded and why they are coiling two together! I have been using D'Addario strings for over 15 years for guitar, and i can say, after this experience with the pedal steel, never again. What strings to you guys use, and why?
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Edward Rhea

 

From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2015 9:35 pm    
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I've had good luck with Jagwire's on my Sho~Bud! I had no problems with the Curt Mangen's on my Marlen when I started. Also, I'm not a gigging steel player...yet. Only a beginner. I too am "burned" by the D'Addario strings, for any instrument!
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Jason Lynch


From:
Essex, United Kingdom
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 1:48 am    
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Ive tries SIT's, Jagwire and Live steel. I found Live steel to be the easiest to get on and tune up.
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Thomas Cepek


From:
Berlin, Germany
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 1:53 am    
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I use George L´s for the last 17 years and never had bad experiences with them.

Kind regards ... Thomas
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 2:19 am    
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George L's is my choice too. Used them since their beginning.
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Ian Rae


From:
Redditch, England
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 2:26 am    
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When strings get discussed, there's rarely a mention of Ernie Ball. How do folks rate them? They're easy to obtain over here. I have them on the E9 neck of my D10 and they sound fine with the single coil pickup. I've broken a 3 and a 5, but that could have been the guitar.
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 2:53 am    
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Ernie Balls are fine.
I also am partial to Sid's Live Steel strings.
And never a charge for custom sets
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David Nugent

 

From:
Gum Spring, Va.
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 3:27 am    
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The reason that Ernie Ball strings may not seem as popular could be the fact that they still offer their sets with a .010 for the third string a .022W for string 6. When I first started playing I was using their strings, but the local music store would kindly allow me to swap the .010 for an .011 and a .020P for the .022W when I purchased them. When the store changed owners and that option was no longer available, I changed to Emmons "X-tra Lively" (until they became difficult to obtain) and then George L's.
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Zeke Cory


From:
Hinsdale, New York USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 4:56 am     Strictly Ernie Ball here
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I have great luck with The Ernie Ball Singles. I get 6 packs of each string guage I need. As expected, I buy more thinner gauges than the bigger ones. Many "complete" sets will have a string or two that are not the exact size you prefer. By buying the single size sets you get the exact sizes you want and get backups as well. Also, with the complete sets, you will undoubtedly end up with an over-abundance of bigger bass strings. I tried DiAddario strings, but EVERY time I try to bring the .11 guage up to pitch it will break for some reason. I found that the Ernie Balls tune up great, hold their pitch well, and last a long time if wiped down before and after playing. My main guitars are Sho-Bud Super Pro's. I will add that what works well for one person may or may not work for the next.
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Tom Campbell

 

From:
Houston, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 5:09 am    
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Where are you guys getting your Geo-L strings?

I've been trying to find a set of Geo-L in U-12 and am under the assumption they are no longer offered, but I could adapt a 10-string set and buy singles to finish out the set.
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Thomas Cepek


From:
Berlin, Germany
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 5:24 am    
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Hi Tom,

I always buy them from Al Brisco at steelguitars of Canada.

Kind regards ... Thomas
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W. Van Horn

 

From:
Houston, texas
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 5:48 am    
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The steel mill from frenchy's. They are always very fresh. He will put together any gauges you want.
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Don R Brown


From:
Rochester, New York, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 5:52 am    
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You're in luck - we just had a pretty comprehensive thread on what strings people prefer. It went to 3 pages so you will have lots of opinions to choose from. And I even found it for you: http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=279414&highlight=strings
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Tony Dingus

 

From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 9:41 am    
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I've been using GHS Boomers for years and I've no problem with them.

Tony
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Tommy Mc


From:
Middlesex VT
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 9:46 am    
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Jacob, I whole-heartedly agree with you with regard to D'Addario strings. I recently had an emergency where I needed a fresh set of strings (long story) and all my local guitar shop had was D'Addarios. I've used them on my 6-string since the beginning of time, so I figured they'd be fine.

When I opened the box, (as you know) all 10 strings are hermetically sealed in the same plastic pack. Just like my 6-string sets, the ball ends are color coded....but wait! The plastic wrapper has the color chart....for 6-string. WTF? It actually wasn't until I was on the D'Addario website looking for a number to call that I noticed the microscopic print on the SIDE of the box. Jeezum, I needed to use a magnifier. Consider that the back of the box would be the logical spot.....but it's filled with promotional crap about how their strings are the most brilliant, most sustain, corrosion resistant, etc.

AND, the .011 string barely made it through one gig before it broke. Yup, never again.





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Mike Archer


From:
church hill tn
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 10:58 am     i have used them
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I've used them and had good service

however I also hate the package they come in

they want to save money I guess so they throw

um all in one bag.....not handy at all

mike Very Happy
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 11:20 am    
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Used GHS,
SIT,
Sho~Bud, (still have some of those) and
Ernie Balls for years, and
George L’s as well...Recently I’ve used
Jagwire’s and loved them though I did break a string or two, and recently got a few sets of
Live Wires, and have broken way more of those than what I would’ve believed from the positive comments I’ve read hear on the Forum... I’ve broken both the 7th and 10th strings with the Live Wires and don’t think I’ve ever broken those strings before with any of the other manufacturers.
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Ken Byng


From:
Southampton, England
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 11:33 am    
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Cobra Coil strings for me. They just don't break, and simply keep their tone for ages.
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Stuart Legg


Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 11:47 am    
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D'Addario strings change in packaging.
It's the same old problem, they just don't think steel players buy enough strings to care if you like the way they package the strings or not.
It's really not a problem for the standard 6 string guitar so they don't give a crap!
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Bo Legg


Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 12:02 pm    
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No problem on 6 string my aaaassss
They don't give a crap about older folks eyesight...
and I have to use my Calipers for the string gauges in my loose strings stash.
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Richard Sinkler


From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 12:13 pm    
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Thanks for mentioning the microscopic print on the side of the box. I have a couple of C6 sets that I was shocked when I saw all strings in one bag with the color coded balls.
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Damir Besic


From:
Nashville,TN.
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 1:20 pm    
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Cobra Coil, never had any issues with them, Bobbe was selling them, that's how I found out about it, before Cobra Coil I used SIT for years...
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 2:01 pm    
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I use SIT strings. Great reliability and conformity. I'd put a new set on my Kline Uni, and never have to make any adjustments at the changer end. They've always had very good people involved. When I first started in '72, I had to use Ernie Ball singles as they were all I could get in Milwaukee. Constant problems. Good 6-string sets back then, but no Steel sets. The biggest problem with them was too long knots at the ball end. SIT has been great in working with me. Luckily for me, they're in town. We developed a great set of strings for Baritone Guitar. Very helpful!
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Richard Sinkler


From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2015 3:51 pm    
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I'm going to try SIT strings again. They are really cheap through Amazon.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.
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Dustin Rhodes


From:
Owasso OK
Post  Posted 30 Mar 2015 6:41 am    
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I use D'Addario's on most of my instruments (all the ones without TI flats) and Accuvue for my eyes.
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