D'Addario

West R Lee · May 16, 2022

Many of us like D'Addario strings, and as time has gone on, I've developed an appreciation for them myself. I like the XT's, but know that several manufacturers send new guitars with EJ17's, a very popular string.

Well, I'm also on a Collings forum and FB page, and Collings happens to ship guitars with EJ17s, as does Guild if I'm not mistaken. A month or so ago I began reading posts from Collings owners who maintain that the ball ends are popping off the ends of strings as they restring with EJ17s. Being a fan of D'Addario, I wrote their customer service and ended up in an email conversation with the head of QC for D'Addario. I sent him a link to the threads in question and he asked for my contact information in case he needed to get in touch with me in the future.

About a week later, to my surprise, I found a box in the mail box with 8 sets of various strings, and a folding stand to be placed under the neck of your guitar while doing string changes. There were also packages of single loose strings. THIS is how you run a successful business. While I certainly didn't expect any sort gift from D'Addario, all of this demonstrated that D'Addario customer service is for real........they took my concern very seriously. I've become a fan.

West

walrus · May 16, 2022

Nice! Makes me glad I have used their strings for years!

walrus

davismanLV · May 16, 2022

They feature heavily in my string drawer!!

GGJaguar · May 16, 2022

I've found D'Addario and DR response to customer service inquiries to be above and beyond.

Westerly Wood · May 16, 2022

Like the EJ40s so much, (same set on Br I put on 2 months ago, they just keep sounding sweeter and woodier and more vintagey toned), I bought a set for the F30r. I told my wife, I am going to get you a set of these strings, they are so easy to fret and the sound is fantastic.

West R Lee · May 16, 2022

Westerly Wood said:
Like the EJ40s so much, (same set on Br I put on 2 months ago, they just keep sounding sweeter and woodier and more vintagey toned), I bought a set for the F30r. I told my wife, I am going to get you a set of these strings, they are so easy to fret and the sound is fantastic.

I think it was EJ40s I tried sometime back, and I really liked them. They were so easy to manipulate and did have a very distinctive tone.

West

chazmo · May 16, 2022

Jim, just FYI, I'm pretty sure Guild has been using EXP-coated strings for a while. Not quite sure, though, what they used pre-New Hartford.

twocorgis · May 16, 2022

West R Lee said:
Many of us like D'Addario strings, and as time has gone on, I've developed an appreciation for them myself. I like the XT's, but know that several manufacturers send new guitars with EJ17's, a very popular string.

Well, I'm also on a Collings forum and FB page, and Collings happens to ship guitars with EJ17s, as does Guild if I'm not mistaken. A month or so ago I began reading posts from Collings owners who maintain that the ball ends are popping off the ends of strings as they restring with EJ17s. Being a fan of D'Addario, I wrote their customer service and ended up in an email conversation with the head of QC for D'Addario. I sent him a link to the threads in question and he asked for my contact information in case he needed to get in touch with me in the future.

About a week later, to my surprise, I found a box in the mail box with 8 sets of various strings, and a folding stand to be placed under the neck of your guitar while doing string changes. There were also packages of single loose strings. THIS is how you run a successful business. While I certainly didn't expect any sort gift from D'Addario, all of this demonstrated that D'Addario customer service is for real........they took my concern very seriously. I've become a fan.

West

Jim, my experience has been very similar to yours, and it's why I love D'Addario as a company. A while back, I was stringing up the F512 with a set of EXP38s (10-47 coated), and in the process, the low E string broke. I took one from the last set that I had, and used that one, and called Strings and Beyond (where I bought them) to see if they had another. They didn't, so I sent an email to D'Addario inquiring about getting a replacement string.

I promptly heard back from one of their representatives, informing my the the EXP series had been discontinued in favor of the new XT series, and to provide them with a mailing address so they could send me a set! A few days later, a package came in the mail with two new sets of XTs, along with a single EXP .47 (the rep told me that he found one and included it in the package). And I agree, that's how you do customer service correctly!

The best part about D'Addario is that they're a family owned company based right here on Long Island that pays their workers well, and also treat them like family, which is why their employee turnover rate is so low. I try other strings from time to time, but I always come back to theirs, and it's good to support a local business too.

davismanLV · May 16, 2022

D'Addario is a great company. Great customer service and support. They also give credit for recycling strings of all brands to them. Great service.

My only experience that was bad was DR strings. I got two sets of DR Sunbeams. The wound G string on the first set had an obvious bend with a squashed part that flattened the round wound portion. So I opened the other set and the G string had EXACTLY the same bend and damage as the first. So I photographed both strings and sent them to DR asking if they'd at least replace the G-strings for me. NOTHING. NADA. ZIP.

So I don't buy DR strings any more.

Brucebubs · May 16, 2022

Some years back I noticed D'Addario changed the design of their 2-way humidification system bags - I emailed them and they sent me all these free - and I live in Australia. Brilliant customer service.

walrus · May 16, 2022

And let's not forget their Player's Points! I've gotten one of their stools, several T-shirts, sets of strings, etc. for free over the years. A great company!

walrus

Brucebubs · May 16, 2022

davismanLV said:
D'Addario is a great company. Great customer service and support. They also give credit for recycling strings of all brands to them. Great service.

My only experience that was bad was DR strings. I got two sets of DR Sunbeams. The wound G string on the first set had an obvious bend with a squashed part that flattened the round wound portion. So I opened the other set and the G string had EXACTLY the same bend and damage as the first. So I photographed both strings and sent them to DR asking if they'd at least replace the G-strings for me. NOTHING. NADA. ZIP.

So I don't buy DR strings any more.

That's very unusual - I bought a 12-string set of DR strings that had corrosion on them - sent them pictures and they got back to me they noted that was an old packaging design fault and they were pleased to see I had a Guild guitar AND they arranged a new set in their redesigned packaging.

I've also asked them twice about the possibility of making a 12-string Sunbeam round-core set!!

Stuball48 · May 16, 2022

D'addario fan here

tommym · May 16, 2022

I am currently using their XS coated PB strings and look forward to when they release their XS coated 80/20 Bronze strings. No set deadline on when that is going to happen though.

Tommy

PreacherBob · May 16, 2022

davismanLV said:
They feature heavily in my string drawer!!

AHH HAAA! I see those mediums back in there Tom! Which guitar do you use them on? I use D’Addario strings as well. I’m trying to work through the big bulk boxes of Martin mediums 80/20 and PBs I had from the shop a few years ago. So I’m only buying lights now. I do have Elixer polywebs (80/20) 12s on my D35. I like to pick with my fleshy fingers, those strings by far sound best on that one. I don’t use slick strings on my others, I play a lot of “open barred“ chords (I know that’s kind of a paradox or a contradiction) sliding up and down the neck, with coated I always pass my target..no brakes. Are the gold package D’@@Addarios EJ19’s, I can’t see the numbers. It’s EXP, does that mean they are coated? Thanks

davismanLV · May 16, 2022

EXP's are coated strings. I get tired of changing strings and they seem to last really long. The metallic gold package is Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze. I need to put them on something soon. All my guitars are overdue for new strings, especially the DV-72!! Gotta get my string changing groove on......

West R Lee · May 16, 2022

I had always sworn I'd never play a coated string, then grabbed a set of XTs from the local music store, having no idea they were coated. Well they sounded fabulous. As time went on, I noticed they still sounded fantastic and was shocked by the longevity. Only then did I discover they are a coated string.

The other thing that pushed me into trying them was the fact that so many makers ship their guitars with them. It made me think it is possible : )) that those manufacturers do a bit of testing of strings (I certainly would if I built guitars for the public) and just might have an inkling of what sounds pretty good on their guitars.

I still love John Pearse strings, just expanding my horizons.

West

PreacherBob · May 16, 2022

davismanLV said:
EXP's are coated strings. I get tired of changing strings and they seem to last really long. The metallic gold package is Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze. I need to put them on something soon. All my guitars are overdue for new strings, especially the DV-72!! Gotta get my string changing groove on......

I hear ya Tom. i will tell you straight up, coated strings are much easier on the finger tips, and very quiet sliding my fingers up and down the neck. My nasty looking hard calluses sure make LOTS of squeaks on regular wound strings. I would seriously like to be able to get use to not over or undershooting chords. I would use them exclusively on everything to be honest, my D40 BG came with new EXP mediums, I removed them. Plus, the Martin medium 80/20 strings I’m trying to use up, seriously they turn dark grey in 3 weeks time. I play a lot though. I do like the brighter tone of the 80/20s over PBs though. The coated slick 80/20s on my D35 have been on there a while and I’ve logged some playing time on them, but I tell you they are as shiny gold as the day I put them on. I really wished I would record me playing my uncoated stringed guitars for you with my studio mic, it’s almost hilarious. Since I mostly look ahead while I’m playing and singing, I know exactly when to stop at the next chord, by how long the squeak lasts! You.. would.. LYAO!!

davismanLV · May 16, 2022

Playing in so many open tunings I had to get good at moving up and down the fret board without dragging my fingers, so I don't get many squawks or squeaks moving around. But the coated strings do help with that noise. So, the length of the tone tells you when you've reached your mark?? LMAO!!! As good a way as any I guess to know when you've arrived!!!

West R Lee · May 16, 2022

davismanLV said:
Playing in so many open tunings I had to get good at moving up and down the fret board without dragging my fingers, so I don't get many squawks or squeaks moving around. But the coated strings do help with that noise. So, the length of the tone tells you when you've reached your mark?? LMAO!!! As good a way as any I guess to know when you've arrived!!!

Oh man, I'm loving Open D Tom.......two finger chords all up and down the neck. I get bored in standard tuning anymore. I'm actually working on a song for my grandson in Open D.

West

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