Why You Ned to Buy DAddario EXL110BT Electric Strings Balanced
Once I find something I like, I usually stick with it for years. While I've used D'Addario strings on my acoustic guitars for well over 15 years, I've always stuck with Ernie Ball's Super Slinky (9-42) on my Stratocaster electric, and that's about 20 years. The new nickel D'Addario XLs (10-46) are considered extra light (that's what the XL is for), however, they're still heavier than the Super Slinkies, and the difference is noticeable in the playing. I've had the new XL's on for only a short time today and even though they're a tad heavier, I like the feel, even though more force is required for bending notes. That said, the XLs feel a touch more stable and allow more of a "hit" when picking or chording without jangling. I actually felt myself to be a tad faster on the slightly heavier strings, which wasn't something I was expecting. It may be that the Slinkies are actually a bit too slinky for my various styles of playing--and it only took me 20 years to find this out! It will require several weeks of playing to really test out these new strings, but they seem like winners, as long as I can get used to the additional force required for bending notes. The overall feel is that the strings stay under my fingers and I don't have to play with such a light touch as I did on the Ernie Ball's. I also have a set of Ernie's 10-46 (same weight as the D'Addario) and in a few months I'll try them out for a comparison.
The tone of the XLs is bold and powerful, fatter than the Slinkies and therefore a bit funkier. I like them a lot, but only time and days of playing will really tell the tale. It means I'm going to have to experiment with my amp and pickup positions to find the various new sounds I like. The great news is that on first inspection and playing, they feel GOOD and solid, and that's quite a compliment from a picky picker. It looks like I may be a D'Addario convert for my electric guitars as well as my acoustics.
Get your DAddario EXL110BT Electric Strings Balanced Now!
I was an extra slinky gal - I mean Ernie Ball extra slinky strings on my `63 SG standard. Those are what I've used since the early 70's. When I saw the D'Addario EXL110BT strings I thought I'd give them a try.
ReplyDeleteThese are heavier that my trusty super slinkys. More like regular slinky gage. They have a different feel - the high strings bend more stiffly than I'm used to but the bass strings are about the same. They feel different under my fingers in a most unfortunately hard to describe way. The word that comes to mind is smooth.
From a sound perspective they don't sound as "bright" to me as new extra slinky's. More of rhythmy funk sound to my ear. There seems more body than edge to the sound. Probably better for general playing or solo accompaniment.
It's been a few weeks and the EXL110BT strings still feel nice and pretty new. I suspect these strings will last longer than the super slinkys. The also seem to stay in tune a bit better. Those are my impressions. Hope someone finds them helpful.
The name alone was a big draw for my husband who has used D'Addario strings for years. These are resilient with a consistently bright sound. They have lasted for the past 2 months of occassional play. Highly recommended.
ReplyDeleteThey've been working great for the past couple of weeks! I think they have a nice light feel and the sound is good. I certainly like the price. I'm certainly no pro guitarist, but these do just fine for me. Some other strings have kind of a pingy sound at the higher end and I haven't experienced so much of that with these strings. They advertise them to be "well balanced" and from what I've experienced, they surely are.
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ReplyDeleteGot these for my son's guitar. The color coding made changing the strings easy. At first we thought they were too stiff and heavy, but after using them for a few weeks he really likes them. He likes rock and rhythmic music and these work well for that with a strong deep clear tone. Another perk is that the guitar doesn't need constant tuning with these.
ReplyDeleteI'm a pretty lousy guitar player, truth be told. But D'Addario is the brand that I've typically purchased over the years. They offer a nice sound and they seem to be pretty durable.
ReplyDeleteThey don't seem very bright to me per se, but it's a good sounding string for sure. Nice product at a nice price. 5 stars.
They have a really great sound for the price. I normally use Ernie Ball, but these work very well for my needs.
ReplyDeleteOnce I find something I like, I usually stick with it for years. While I've used D'Addario strings on my acoustic guitars for well over 15 years, I've always stuck with Ernie Ball's Super Slinky (9-42) on my Stratocaster electric, and that's about 20 years. The new nickel D'Addario XLs (10-46) are considered extra light (that's what the XL is for), however, they're still heavier than the Super Slinkies, and the difference is noticeable in the playing. I've had the new XL's on for only a short time today and even though they're a tad heavier, I like the feel, even though more force is required for bending notes. That said, the XLs feel a touch more stable and allow more of a "hit" when picking or chording without jangling. I actually felt myself to be a tad faster on the slightly heavier strings, which wasn't something I was expecting. It may be that the Slinkies are actually a bit too slinky for my various styles of playing--and it only took me 20 years to find this out! It will require several weeks of playing to really test out these new strings, but they seem like winners, as long as I can get used to the additional force required for bending notes. The overall feel is that the strings stay under my fingers and I don't have to play with such a light touch as I did on the Ernie Ball's. I also have a set of Ernie's 10-46 (same weight as the D'Addario) and in a few months I'll try them out for a comparison.
ReplyDeleteThe tone of the XLs is bold and powerful, fatter than the Slinkies and therefore a bit funkier. I like them a lot, but only time and days of playing will really tell the tale. It means I'm going to have to experiment with my amp and pickup positions to find the various new sounds I like. The great news is that on first inspection and playing, they feel GOOD and solid, and that's quite a compliment from a picky picker. It looks like I may be a D'Addario convert for my electric guitars as well as my acoustics.