The Steel Guitar Forum

I have switched brand of strings I have went to D'addario XL BUT!!!!!!!!!!! They are color coded on the ball end I have looked all over the box and there is not a guide for the color ball ends. And the whole Dog-gone set is in one package not individual packs like I am accustomed to. Does anyone have a color guide as to where they go? Slim... 10 string E9th and C6th.....Slim

Mike
It's on the side but you need a magnifying glass. They are paired as adjacent strings.
E9:
10 brass, 9 red, 8 black, 7 green, 6 brass, 5 red, 4 black, 3 green, 2 purple, 1 silver.
I don't play C6 so I don't have that one.

All the best
Brian Saulsman

Thank you Brian i talked to my buddy Dan after posting this thread I would have never looked Slim

I bought a couple of their C6th sets. Apart from it taking twice as long, due to having to constantly look at the box for the color code, i really don't like them. The second set will probably never make it on to the guitar.

The last set I bought will be the last set that I buy.

Rich Upright wrote:The last set I bought will be the last set that I buy.

rich will you explain why?

I used to like their strings. This thread has convinced me that I'm an ex-customer.

Glad I read this before I ordered a set, please explain more of why not..Thanks, BF

Unfortunately without buying off the internet and paying shipping the music store here in Purcell Ok is all he can get so it is either those or none

I like their strings for electric guitar (I haven't tried their steel guitar strings) but I hate the packaging!

They seem to imply that using that single plastic sleeve will extend the life of the product before it's opened but I'm sceptical - I think it's a money-saving dodge on their part.

frankly I don't give a hoot for there color code

or there packaging .... don't you just love them
all tangled up......and
me are done!
also to me they lose tone quick and tuning gets funky
too....

I get my strings from Bill Ferguson they are

the George-L brand they sound great and are long life and hes great to deal with plus he has other
items as well so you guys might want to consider
ole Bill....

I'm a fan and use their E9 and C6 sets.

I never gave thought to the packaging or color codes.

Should I be bothered?

ymm (obviously) v

h

I like their strings for electric guitar (I haven't tried their steel guitar strings) but I hate the packaging!

They seem to imply that using that single plastic sleeve will extend the life of the product before it's opened but I'm sceptical - I think it's a money-saving dodge on their part.

I sometimes use them on my acoustic guitar. But even on there, the seem to go dead quicker than the Ernie Balls I sometimes use.

frankly I don't give a hoot for there color code

or there packaging .... don't you just love them
all tangled up......and
me are done!
also to me they lose tone quick and tuning gets funky
too....

Some of the reason I won't use them again.

They wouldn't do me any good.... I'm color blind.
I like Live Steel Strings anyway.

I'm pretty sure that Paul Franklin uses them. I'm also sure that Paul would sound great with any string brand he chose to use. I use stainless on my Emmons PP.

I was given a set of E9th and C6th strings. It took twice as long to install them because of the color code and their color chart.

Add to that I didn't like the sound of the strings and they were taken off and my usual George L's put back on.

I've tried several brands, always went back to Geo-L's.

BF

Hummm, just goes to show how different people are and how opinions differ. I'm like Howard, never even thought about color code strings because the directions are right on the box. I like the strings and use them on all my guitars and they are fairly cheap and service is fast from Juststrings.com. Also, going over a year, I'm never broken a string and I leave mine on a long time. I hate changing any strings.

I don't have them on my pedal steel, but I have been through many sets of D'Addario color coded strings over the years on dobro, and acoustic and electric guitar.

The way they are packaged, and the color coding, non-issue to me.

I also haven't had any issue with sorting out the color coding on those, or any general complaints. According to their marketing, the packaging is designed to be environmentally friendly, saving paper and plastic sleeves from landfill, etc. A marketing tool but apparently they also believe in trying to cut down on waste, I'm all for it.

I have to agree with Henry I put my D'Addario strings on and WOW what a tone. I think I have found my strings for life..... Slim

It was very frustrating at first. I've used their strings for years. I write the colors down. I always check the changes with a micrometer. It just takes a little more time.

The original poster flat out didn't notice the color code for the pedal steel strings on the side of the box - okay - now he knows.

But if you aren't color blind, and are aware of the color code of which string is which, I don't understand why anyone would be frustrated, and why you would have to check the strings with a micrometer?

What I don't like is when certain string companies put two different strings in an envelope and there is no color coding - sometimes the gauges can be pretty close and if I make the mistake of removing them from the envelope and there is an interruption like the phone rings or I have to answer the door - there's a better chance of me screwing up. Then I'm the one who needs the micrometer.

But after dealing with the person at the door and I go back to stringing the guitar, and the colored ball ends are sitting on the table and I know where they go - it can be a wonderful thing.

Provided the tone of D'Addarios are pleasing to your ear - what's not to like?

What's not to like? Taking twice as long to change string because you have to keep referring to the side of the nox to interpet the color code. I guess that after a while you could memorize them. I don't like them enough to get to that point.