D'Addario Balanced Tension Strings

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 11:55 pm

I think I'll need to change my brand of strings soon. I've always used D'Addario 10s or the heavy bottom versions and I never get any string breakage, however lately I've been getting the plain strings coming unwound at the ball end loads. I don't know if they've changed the way they're made or something but it's a total pain (I'm not even a heavy handed player). I don't like switching out single strings and with the frequency it's happening it's costing quite a bit. I've heard of some people soldering their strings before installing them but I can't be arsed doing that all the time.

In reference to the extra tension scale length creates I've noticed that the strings don't come apart on my 24" scale guitars only on my Jazzmaster, Coronado Strat and Tele with the longer scale.

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:23 pm

ddawson2014 wrote:Don from D'Addario Strings here. I didn't want to dredge up this thread but i wanted to see if anyone here at Short Scale had checked out the BT sets. They don't cost anymore than our normal XLs and they're made with the same strings as well.

They're currently available in .009s, .010s and .011s - as well as three gauges of bass. This is totally a "FEEL" thing. Articulate players will notice that they don't have to adjust their fretting technique nor their picking technique. If I can answer questions for you in this regard - my email is don.dawson2@daddario.com - please don't hesitate.

I'm not sure if you're going to see this, but I'd like to try these as I play D'Addario strings exclusively because you are the only ones that make a set of 11s with a wound G. I noticed the 11 set on there do not have the wound G, I'm just curious as to why you don't make more sets that way. (I really, really hate the sound of a plain G, I have a hard time tuning it by ear)

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Thu Apr 11, 2013 4:49 pm

Pens wrote:
ddawson2014 wrote:Don from D'Addario Strings here. I didn't want to dredge up this thread but i wanted to see if anyone here at Short Scale had checked out the BT sets. They don't cost anymore than our normal XLs and they're made with the same strings as well.

They're currently available in .009s, .010s and .011s - as well as three gauges of bass. This is totally a "FEEL" thing. Articulate players will notice that they don't have to adjust their fretting technique nor their picking technique. If I can answer questions for you in this regard - my email is don.dawson2@daddario.com - please don't hesitate.
I'm not sure if you're going to see this, but I'd like to try these as I play D'Addario strings exclusively because you are the only ones that make a set of 11s with a wound G. I noticed the 11 set on there do not have the wound G, I'm just curious as to why you don't make more sets that way. (I really, really hate the sound of a plain G, I have a hard time tuning it by ear)

Ditto. Wound G in the EXL115W is what has me buying them. I'd be more interested to test a BT set with a wound 3rd.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:12 pm

ddawson2014 wrote:Don from D'Addario Strings here. I didn't want to dredge up this thread but i wanted to see if anyone here at Short Scale had checked out the BT sets. They don't cost anymore than our normal XLs and they're made with the same strings as well.

They're currently available in .009s, .010s and .011s - as well as three gauges of bass. This is totally a "FEEL" thing. Articulate players will notice that they don't have to adjust their fretting technique nor their picking technique. If I can answer questions for you in this regard - my email is don.dawson2@daddario.com - please don't hesitate.

I've used the EXL111 set in the past. They're probably my favorite D'Addario strings.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:55 pm

ddawson2014 wrote:Don from D'Addario Strings here. I didn't want to dredge up this thread but i wanted to see if anyone here at Short Scale had checked out the BT sets. They don't cost anymore than our normal XLs and they're made with the same strings as well.

They're currently available in .009s, .010s and .011s - as well as three gauges of bass. This is totally a "FEEL" thing. Articulate players will notice that they don't have to adjust their fretting technique nor their picking technique. If I can answer questions for you in this regard - my email is don.dawson2@daddario.com - please don't hesitate.

HI DON!

i have been using your strings for 20 years now. i started with XL 10's, then 11's then i switched to crhome 11's, then 12's, and i have been using chrome's 13's for about 10 years now.

ill never get into these because i would break them in 5 minutes. anyways UNRELATED QUESTION from left field. i want to try your half wounds.

ive wanted to try them since they came out. big fat string feel with more bite is what im thinking they sound like. i have been playing guitar for more than half my life now and i have NEVER seen them in any store. from NY to CA. ever.

what stores in New York State stock these ?

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Thu Apr 11, 2013 11:19 pm

I want to put a shout out to the 10.5 gauges D'addario do... it sounds daft but it really does feel like an in between gauge... so I have quite a lot faith in these balanced sets being less gimmicky than they could first appear.

I work in a shop and we sell your strings, I got to say Daddario are one of the best most professional & organised companies we deal with. You guys do your job properly, which is nice to see !!!

TexasSwede · Post by **TexasSwede** » Fri Apr 12, 2013 4:53 am

I believe worrying about balanced string tension is more important if you use alternate tunings, where you're often raising and lowering some strings a step or two from standard. With that being said, I keep 2-3 guitars in open G, but have never adjusted string gauges. Therefore, it's probably even less of an issue in standard turnings (without getting into wound vs unwound G).

My 2 cents.

Post by **Hurb** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 8:39 pm

Well the nice man Don from D'addario sent me a set of the 11's.
I strung up my Jaguar tonight, I am not the most technical of players but for what it is worth these new strings do feel very very comfortable to play. The tension is pretty close across the strings(although not exactly matched but closer than you normally get) I think if you do finger you guitar allover the place you would find these strings a good thing. I am not sure how much someone who plays chords mostly would care too much about something like tension across the strings being matched but I must say playing chords do feel slightly different as the strings vibrating under your fingers are doing so much the same instead of some being super taught and some floppy.

I also have to say that I normally use 12's and was finding them a right bore lately. I don't have the time to play guitar regularly at the moment so when I did I was finding the 12's a bit painful and tiring. I realise that a lot of the comfort will simply be from using a lighter gauge. But I would definitely recommend theses strings to anyone to give a go. I don't think strings will ever make you gasp in shock at how you survived until you tried them. But a little extra comfort can't be bad.

I also thought ( and I may be right off the mark here) that they may stay in tune better when using a tremolo because all the strings will be going up and down equally in tension...like I say that may be bable and I haven't tested or have a way of testing that at all.

I think I will probably buy these strings in the future but will obviously have to live with them for more than a day.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 9:47 pm

I love D'addario's customer service, they've helped me out loads of times with various products. A couple of weeks ago they sent me an American stage cable just because one of their cheap cables broke on me again. They've also sent me sets of strings and stuff in the past, one of my favourite companies for sure!

Post by **Mike** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 9:55 pm

Good stuff d'addario!

ddawson2014 · Post by **ddawson2014** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:58 pm

Hurb wrote:Well the nice man Don from D'addario sent me a set of the 11's.
I strung up my Jaguar tonight, I am not the most technical of players but for what it is worth these new strings do feel very very comfortable to play. The tension is pretty close across the strings(although not exactly matched but closer than you normally get) I think if you do finger you guitar allover the place you would find these strings a good thing. I am not sure how much someone who plays chords mostly would care too much about something like tension across the strings being matched but I must say playing chords do feel slightly different as the strings vibrating under your fingers are doing so much the same instead of some being super taught and some floppy.

I also have to say that I normally use 12's and was finding them a right bore lately. I don't have the time to play guitar regularly at the moment so when I did I was finding the 12's a bit painful and tiring. I realise that a lot of the comfort will simply be from using a lighter gauge. But I would definitely recommend theses strings to anyone to give a go. I don't think strings will ever make you gasp in shock at how you survived until you tried them. But a little extra comfort can't be bad.

I also thought ( and I may be right off the mark here) that they may stay in tune better when using a tremolo because all the strings will be going up and down equally in tension...like I say that may be bable and I haven't tested or have a way of testing that at all.

I think I will probably buy these strings in the future but will obviously have to live with them for more than a day.

Lots to comment on - sorry i didn't keep up with the posts - was on the road this weekend:

So - for starters - YES, if you're a rhythm player, you'll find the tension (of the BT sets) to be more subtle than a player who is more articulate (no offense intended here).

As far as the .011s - they are one of our 3 best selling sets (.009, .010 and .011) being the top three. However, I'm referring to the EXL115 set without the wound G. I've spoken to many a player that absolutely loves, loves, loves the wound G and unfortunately, there aren't as many as one would hope. Most of the EXL115w (the "w" stands for the wound G) has mostly been embraced by Jazz players and it doesn't get the respect it deserves. I use them on an old Kay Archtop that I have and they play like butter (although they currently have the ECG23 Chromes on it, i confess). So at the moment, while we're evaluating what sets we should add to the line of Balanced Tension, I'll mention to our product development team, that there would be some interest in the EXL115w set being added.

HALF ROUNDS - yup - this is a toughie, largely because they aren't one of our "best-sellers". I'm not sure there are many stores that stock that set unless they have a loyal jazzer or three in town. I'm sure if you asked Allentown or McClellan they would custom order it for you. Let me know if I can help in that regard (don.dawson2@daddario.com)

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:25 pm

Thanks Don, I'll keep my eye out for the EXL115w Balanced set if they ever make it to production. I buy EXL115w sets in bulk as it's the only set that I ever use, just don't ever stop making those! And yes, more sets with the wound 3rd would be great, please pass that along!

George · Post by **George** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:13 pm

Have changed thread title to "D'Addario" for better search engine results.

Also sent a email to Don (think this might be fastest method for any questions) asking about 12 string sets. I think that would be really useful as the sets on my DC12 are all over the place.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:16 pm

Pens wrote:Thanks Don, I'll keep my eye out for the EXL115w Balanced set if they ever make it to production. I buy EXL115w sets in bulk as it's the only set that I ever use, just don't ever stop making those! And yes, more sets with the wound 3rd would be great, please pass that along!

Ditto. I'd love to test a balanced set with wound third.
Since I tested the ELX115W set, I've used nothing else; they're a great set! Wound third makes a HUGE difference in tuning stability. Over the years I've found the G string on almost any guitar I've picked up to be the least stable, they go out of tune way easier than any of the others. Using a wound g has made is as stable as the rest of the strings, it's great! I would be pretty unhappy if they were to disappear.

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:27 pm

Ankhanu wrote:
Pens wrote:Thanks Don, I'll keep my eye out for the EXL115w Balanced set if they ever make it to production. I buy EXL115w sets in bulk as it's the only set that I ever use, just don't ever stop making those! And yes, more sets with the wound 3rd would be great, please pass that along!
Ditto. I'd love to test a balanced set with wound third.
Since I tested the ELX115W set, I've used nothing else; they're a great set! Wound third makes a HUGE difference in tuning stability. Over the years I've found the G string on almost any guitar I've picked up to be the least stable, they go out of tune way easier than any of the others. Using a wound g has made is as stable as the rest of the strings, it's great! I would be pretty unhappy if they were to disappear.

Only side effect I've found is that now the B string is what usually seems "off" to me, whether it's acoustic sets or the ELX115W set.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:47 pm

I haven't found that so much. I've generally found the B relatively stable, and changing to the wound g didn't really alter that. Intonation wise, or change of sound between wound/naked, yeah, it shifts a little to the B, but in terms of tuning stability, I've found no detrimental impact.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 4:04 pm

I got a gift, via work... not tried them yet though... I'll probably drop them on my Jazzmaster because they're 10 gauge.

I will report back when I have a verdict.

-------------------------

In other semi related news, I've been wanting to try some more organic sounding strings to my usual Elixirs. Dropped some 10.5 gauge D'addario's on my jag pictured above and I'm back on the D'addario ship once again. They're brighter / louder (stronger pull on pickups) ... just more natural.

D'Addario Balanced Tension Strings

Alt tuning