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Post by andyhowell on Sept 6, 2021 13:26:42 GMT
It seems odd to review strings. I did think of doing a video review but I'm not sure that would have made any more sense!
Strings are a very personal thing. Lighter gauge or heavier? Nickel or Phosphor Bronze? Coated or Un-coated?
For most of the last decade my first choice have been Newtone but the only problem with these is availability. You have to be prepared to snap up as many packets as you can while they are available, certainly when it comes to mediums. Occasionally, I find myself with a single packet left. A couple of years ago — leaving for a guitar weekend— I realised I was down toa single packet. Popped into the local store and bought a packet of Elixirs.
I don't really get on with Elixir's but thought i should try again. But the coating thing doesn't work for me. And the third string broke pretty quickly which is not much use for me as i wind this up and down often through various tunings.
A few weeks ago I was down to one packet again and couldn't find any Newtone's available. I decided to try the D'Addario XS strings, their new coated offering which have received some decent compliments.
D'Addario make some big claims for these:
I went for XS over Xt because of extended life (important in these COVID poverty times). XS are for longer life and XL for a more natural feel apparently!
"Led by Chief Innovation Officer, Jim D'Addario, the team incorporated D'Addario's proprietary manufacturing processes and well-known innovations—like NY Steel high-carbon cores in the wound strings and Fusion Twist technology in the plain steels—to give XS incomparable break strength and tuning stability".
Setting XS apart from other strings is the new, impossibly thin film coating (1/10 the thickness of a human hair) that completely protects the wound strings from corrosion, without dampening the tone. This new film covering is combined with D'Addario's proprietary dispersion coating, used in our XT line, to protect the plain steel strings as well".
I was a little skeptical — these are not cheap strings. But I have enjoyed using them. They certainly don't feel like many coated strings under the fingers. Thy took a little longer to get up to a stable pitch than the Newtones but once there they are pretty rock solid. At first I thought these very loud but I think, in reality, they have a better dynamic range which might really suit the celtic Martin Simpson brigade, this being despite the claims that they have a smoother feel.
Certainly the strings are standing up well especially in this hot and sweaty weather. I'll report back after a few months of use.
But so far, these are probably worth trying. They seem to have the benefits of a coated tring without the downside.
Has anyone else tried these?
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Post by borborygmus on Sept 6, 2021 17:02:28 GMT
I haven't but I have been intrigued. I usually use coated Elixirs for the fingerstyle guitars, but do understand that some people don't like the feel of them. I recently bought some strings and contemplated the XS version, but they seemed really expensive - it will be interesting to see how you get on longterm, and whether they are worth it.
I did buy some D'Addario EJ40's ("warm, mellow tone") but haven't put them on anything yet - I have an already very warm, mellow cedar-topped guitar and if I put those strings on, it might just turn into a puddle <grin>.
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 7, 2021 6:58:02 GMT
I shall let you know. They are holding up well
So far!
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Post by Amit on Sept 8, 2021 15:57:11 GMT
Hello,
I’ve been trying a set of these too, had them on around 6 weeks and still sounds pretty new - which is a fair bit more than I usually manage..
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 9, 2021 7:40:51 GMT
Hello, I’ve been trying a set of these too, had them on around 6 weeks and still sounds pretty new - which is a fair bit more than I usually manage.. Mine are still sounding new without that over ringing new sound you get at the beginning! They seems to cope with sweaty hands well! |
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Post by Amit on Sept 10, 2021 11:57:46 GMT
Hello, I’ve been trying a set of these too, had them on around 6 weeks and still sounds pretty new - which is a fair bit more than I usually manage.. Mine are still sounding new without that over ringing new sound you get at the beginning! They seems to cope with sweaty hands well! Yep ditto mine don’t seem to have that overly metallic new string sound, but still sound new - they seem to be hitting that sweet spot for me so far. |
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Post by stringdriventhing on Sept 14, 2021 14:22:00 GMT
I've not tried the XSs yet, but I've been using the XTs (P/B and 80/20) for about a year and I really like them. I'll probably give the XSs a bash next time something's needing restrung, but I notice that they only come in phosphor bronze.
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Post by Phil Taylor on Sept 14, 2021 15:42:56 GMT
I foolishly bought 3 sets a couple of months ago to try and should have bought one set. To me they sound and feel just like D’Addario EJ16’s which is fine I suppose but because I’m used to Elixirs they’re extremely noisy/squeaky They may last longer so only time will tell but I’ll likely go back to Elixirs particularly because the price difference isn’t worth the squeaks to me.
I brought a set out here to Spain for my beater Farida to use them up 😊
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Post by forestdweller on Sept 14, 2021 16:05:33 GMT
I foolishly bought 3 sets a couple of months ago to try and should have bought one set. To me they sound and feel just like D’Addario EJ16’s which is fine I suppose but because I’m used to Elixirs they’re extremely noisy/squeaky They may last longer so only time will tell but I’ll likely go back to Elixirs particularly because the price difference isn’t worth the squeaks to me. I brought a set out here to Spain for my beater Farida to use them up 😊 Phil I'll buy a set off you if they are 12s |
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Post by Phil Taylor on Sept 14, 2021 18:00:38 GMT
I foolishly bought 3 sets a couple of months ago to try and should have bought one set. To me they sound and feel just like D’Addario EJ16’s which is fine I suppose but because I’m used to Elixirs they’re extremely noisy/squeaky They may last longer so only time will tell but I’ll likely go back to Elixirs particularly because the price difference isn’t worth the squeaks to me. I brought a set out here to Spain for my beater Farida to use them up 😊 Phil I'll buy a set off you if they are 12s I think I’ve got one set unopened at home you can have (not buy) but I’m not back until October so I’ll sort it then 😊 |
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Post by Gregg Hermetech on Sept 22, 2021 15:45:43 GMT
I've had XS 11s on my Lowden the last ten days. They are the most "coated feeling" strings I have ever used. What I like: the lack of string noise, I could really get used to this! What I dislike: The overall sound, they sound like new strings (which I hate), and haven't got any duller since I put them on. Hopefully they'll dull a bit with time, but if they don't, I won't bother with them again.
My faves so far are the Lowden strings (rebranded Cleartones I think), they sound amazing, last a long time, don't feel coated, but DO have a lot of string squeak. The classic uncoated baseline EJ16s sound great when broken in, but with my playing and sweat, their "sweet spot" only lasts a couple of weeks, so in the end it's more expensive to keep using them (I can get 3-4 months out of the Lowdens).
Should mention I have never tried Elixirs. I felt some once and hated how coated and rubbery they felt, but that was years ago.
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 23, 2021 6:57:16 GMT
I've had XS 11s on my Lowden the last ten days. They are the most "coated feeling" strings I have ever used. What I like: the lack of string noise, I could really get used to this! What I dislike: The overall sound, they sound like new strings (which I hate), and haven't got any duller since I put them on. Hopefully they'll dull a bit with time, but if they don't, I won't bother with them again. My faves so far are the Lowden strings (rebranded Cleartones I think), they sound amazing, last a long time, don't feel coated, but DO have a lot of string squeak. The classic uncoated baseline EJ16s sound great when broken in, but with my playing and sweat, their "sweet spot" only lasts a couple of weeks, so in the end it's more expensive to keep using them (I can get 3-4 months out of the Lowdens). Should mention I have never tried Elixirs. I felt some once and hated how coated and rubbery they felt, but that was years ago. I suspect the XS work well with dynamic styles and not so much with some my gentle Picking styles. They do calm down a bit but stay ‘sharper’ than my usual Newtones! |
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Post by Gregg Hermetech on Sept 23, 2021 9:16:36 GMT
I'll have to give the Newtones a go at some stage Andy, if I can ever find them!
I'll keep the XS on at least a month but if they haven't dropped into my definition of "sweet spot" by then, they'll come off I think.
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 23, 2021 12:44:20 GMT
I'll have to give the Newtones a go at some stage Andy, if I can ever find them! ................. Just order them from their website. They'll likely be out of stock but I have found that they still usually manage to deliver within a week or two anyway. Just time to thrash those D'Adds to pieces and chuck them! Keith |
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 25, 2021 4:42:31 GMT
Sometimes even in these days you just need to
Be able to pick up a pack of strings at a music store :-)
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