Bad batch of D'Addario Chromes? - ball end breaking

[spiral]

(hey another Chromes thread!)

Has anyone else had this problem recently: the ball ends of my D'Addario Chromes are randomly popping off. This has happened 1 time on 3 different guitars just in the last month (A, A, & B). I've never had this issue and then all of a sudden it happened all at once it seemed. I've been using Chromes for more than a year, but all of these sets came from a box that i got in bulk in February. Temporary manufacturing snafu or has this always happened?

thanks.

[billkath]

You may be right. I've not had a problem since they changed the packaging. Before that-E strings and a B went for no reason. Now-I bevelled the edges of the tailpiece, thinking it might be a sharp edge, and it seemed to fix the problem, but that was the last set with the old packaging-I've only used the new package stuff since then. Thinking back-it WAS the winding on the ball that was bad.

[spiral]

Originally Posted by billkath

You may be right. I've not had a problem since they changed the packaging. Before that-E strings and a B went for no reason. Now-I bevelled the edges of the tailpiece, thinking it might be a sharp edge, and it seemed to fix the problem, but that was the last set with the old packaging-I've only used the new package stuff since then. Thinking back-it WAS the winding on the ball that was bad.

What is the new packaging? I have the cardboard envelopes with the red circle, and black XL outlined in silver.

[billkath]

That's the old packaging. Yours is the new package.

[spiral]

I see. Thanks for the info Bill. So old vs. new doesn't seem to be an issue. I left a message with D'Addario and will post back if i ever hear from them.

BTW, I used to pronounce it "Dee-Addario" but they say it "Duh-Darrio". It was news to me.

[billkath]

I always pronounced it like it was a French word-the same way they do. I'd be interested to know what they say about the problem.

[derek]

Originally Posted by spiral

I see. Thanks for the info Bill. So old vs. new doesn't seem to be an issue. I left a message with D'Addario and will post back if i ever hear from them.

BTW, I used to pronounce it "Dee-Addario" but they say it "Duh-Darrio". It was news to me.

Yes, this was a somewhat common experience on another jazz site I hang out on. D'Addario was responsive, and shipped out replacement strings quickly. I would be surprised if you didn't get the same treatment. Let us know how it goes.

[musicalbodger]

I had this happen to me at a gig about 15 months ago. Couldn't work out why my top E & B strings kept going out of tune. I kept tuning them back up and then the balls dropped off.

[RAQ]

I was thinking of asking this question myself. Now had this three times. Loar 600 using EJ16s - opened the case three times in last twelve months or so to find one of the strings gone (2xD and 1xB) ... or, more correctly, the 'ball end' which had shattered. All three came from different sources at different times. This has not happend on the Godin using same strings or on other guitars using different strings (all D'Addario). I was beginning to suspect the tailpiece, but too lazy to swap the Godin and Loar units over. Have no explanation, but can at least confirm instances of ther same problem

[spiral]

FWIW - D'Addario thread w/ responses by Jim D'Addario:

• Anyone notice a change in <<quality>> of recent D'addario strrings? - Page 2 - The Gear Page
• D'addario strings: Recent quality problems? - Page 2 - The Gear Page

[RAQ]

Further to the ball-end problem - I've just got round to restringing The Loar and had a look at the seating of the strings inside the tailpiece before I started. Some are seated 'square on' and a couple (including the one that broke) are caught up sideways in the slot, although I can't say whether being 'caught up sideways' has contributed to the ball-end failing. I've just restrung using the Dan Erlewine trick he uses on 'wraparounds' by slipping an old ball-end down the string before slotting it into the tailpiece - the 'dummy' sits itself square against the tailpiece and the ball-end on the new string can do no other that sit itself 'square on' against the dummy. I'll see if that reduces the ball-end failures, although it doesn't really explain the appararent rash of D'Addario failures it might help reduce the breakages.

[Reg]

I went back to D'Addarios just because they last longer. I'm pro, play all the time, at least four or five gigs a week, many doubles and tend to be what most call a hard player. With the D's, the strings at least last a few weeks, sometimes a month if I replace the top two strings and don't have high profile gigs. Can't say that for other strings, some sound better, but hate changing strings every week. So I would agree must be old, bad or your tail piece needs to be checked. Best Reg

[spiral]

Originally Posted by Reg

So I would agree must be old, bad or your tail piece needs to be checked. Best Reg

I'm not sure if that is for me or the previous poster. In my case they aren't old based on the packaging, and i find it highly unlikely that 3 totally different tailpieces are having the same issue. One string popped off a guitar i barely play: it was just sitting in the stand and *pop*. As reported above and on other boards, the ball ends are slipping out either because of bad windings or are actually shattering.

I have yet to hear back from D'Addario after i left a message almost 2 weeks ago. I also sent an email yesterday so we will see if i have better luck that way.

I don't even want new strings, i just want to see if they recognize an issue and say it was A) temporary B) being solved now C) just a bad box (or my bad luck).

[frogeye]

Hey spiral,

I was having the same issue with D'Addario Chromes a few months back. Fortunately I had only bought 3 sets and I ended up switching to a different brand as a result. Interestingly I was using the "Medium" gauge set as you apparently do. Ball ends came of 3 wound strings namely A and D (2 times).

Cheers

[frogeye]

I would like to add that I have not abandoned D'Addario as a choice of strings for me. I wanted to check out other strings anyway and the quality problem just triggered it to happen. I never had any issues with D'Addario strings before and I consider them to be top quality. That said, I had bought my Chromes at Guitar Center and I have difficulties with buying the idea that they were counterfeit strings.

[spiral]

Originally Posted by frogeye

Hey spiral, I was having the same issue with D'Addario Chromes a few months back. Fortunately I had only bought 3 sets and I ended up switching to a different brand as a result. Interestingly I was using the "Medium" gauge set as you apparently do. Ball ends came of 3 wound strings namely A and D (2 times).

Thanks for the insight. Sadly i am looking to switch as well. I called 2 weeks ago with no reply and sent an email with no reply (so far). I would love to support them but can't get any clarity if this is a known issue. It would actually be better if it was a known issue. I don't think mine are old or counterfeit either since they have the unique printed code on each bag (codes are a recent addition to thwart counterfeiting).

[philbert]

Yep, had this problem with two sets (bought here in UK) - broke as I was tightening them up. The loop over the ball didn't seem to be properly fixed. Clearly a quality control issue.

[frogeye]

For one guitar I switched to stainless flatwounds from another brand on Long Island. It took me a few hours to get used to the different feel and different string tension but they work fine for me now. I will play through the sets that I bought and then decide where to go from there. I noticed that they are long lasting which is something that I liked about the the chromes too.

[spiral]

Originally Posted by philbert

Yep, had this problem with two sets (bought here in UK) - broke as I was tightening them up. The loop over the ball didn't seem to be properly fixed. Clearly a quality control issue.

Sorry to hear that. Thanks for chiming in though. Glad i'm not alone.

@ Frogeye: What did you switch to?

I just found out GHS strings are made in Michigan (my home state) so i am glad to give them some business.

[frogeye]

D'Aquisto 130 stainless flatwounds. Around 10 bucks per set online. As I wrote before they feel and sound somewhat different than the Chromes so be prepared for some "change management" on your end. Worthwhile to check them out for my 2 cents worth.

[spiral]

It's been about 3 weeks since i called and nearly 2 weeks since i filled out the contact form on their website but i've not heard back from D'Addario. I didn't originally care that much about the strings breaking since i liked them so much, but now i'm irritated that they can't even bother to reply.

I just wanted to post a photo. I took these strings off a guitar where the B had popped off on its own. This is the G, which looks like it would have come out eventually too.



It looks like ball ends are deforming under tension and then slipping out.

[billkath]

That looks bad, and definitely a quality control issue. Wonder if they changed the supplier of the ball ends?

[musicjohnny]

This EXACT problem just happened to me. Except instead of the A or B string, it was my G-string.
I called D'Addario and they agreed to send me a new package for free, score.

BTW, I called 5 times and emailed them twice and they never responded. The trick is, when you're speaking the electronic operator,
she'll say dial "0" to speak to the operator; and so I did that and told her my situation respectfully but firmly. Good luck bud

[spiral]

Originally Posted by musicjohnny

This EXACT problem just happened to me. Except instead of the A or B string, it was my G-string. I called D'Addario and they agreed to send me a new package for free, score.

Did they acknowledge the issue or at least hint that it sounded familiar?

Originally Posted by musicjohnny

BTW, I called 5 times and emailed them twice and they never responded. [...]

How sad. I thought customer service was one of the last reasons to buy from an American company.

[82Benedetto]

Ditch the Chromes and explore something new at JustStrings.com - Strings for guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and other musical instruments

They have sets you won't find in any music store....definitely worth a try.

[spiral]

Originally Posted by 82Benedetto

Ditch the Chromes and explore something new at JustStrings.com - Strings for guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and other musical instruments

They have sets you won't find in any music store....definitely worth a try.

Thanks. I am in the process. So far:

• GHS Precision Flatwounds = really dead sound, Low E sounds too different than others. weird satin / wrapped texture.
• D'addario Half Rounds = the best of neither worlds
• Ernie Ball Titanium Coated = like these a ton. have a warmer sound than normal nickel / steels. they are roundwound so the string squeak sucks.
• DR Zebras = meh. again: best of neither world
• GHS White Bronze = just sound like normal electric strings to me. The Ernie Ball Coated sound warmer than these.
• La Bella Electrics Flatwound = best replacement so far. wish they were just slightly brighter

[frogeye]

@ Spiral. I'm getting to a point where I believe that strings need to match a guitar to some extend and that any given brand may sound decent on one instrument while sounding terrible on another one. I have a 16" bout archtop with floating PUP that I play as an acoustic when at home and electric when practicing with the band. I tried Chromes and didn't like them with the guitar. I'm back to Thomastiks for that axe and happy. Then I have a thin hollowbody plywood box that kind of resembles a Gibson 350T. I loved Chromes on that guitar and have been using them for years. When I experienced the problems with the ball ends I ended up trying D'Aquisto 130s and liked 'em. Haven't tried them on the other archtop yet and I couldn't tell you today whether I would like D'Aquisto strings on that guitar or not.
To make a long story short I find it hard to recommend strings to somebody else (although I share your thoughts on Half Rounds and Zebras...). If you have 10 bucks to spare try the D'Aquisto strings. As mentioned earlier it took me a little while to get used to them and liking them. When it comes to big archtop I need to out myself as being a Thomastk guy. Cheers.

[Dcrandle]

I have purchased a few sets of D'Addario XL's. I have put them on a strat. a tele and an epiphone guitar and all three guitars strings are breaking at the ball. I have been using the same strings for at least 10 years and have never had an issue. but all of my guitars at the same time? it is either a bad batch or they are engineering them to break before they wear out so that more strings are sold. with this economy it just seem's suspicious to me. anyone have an alternative string to recomend?????

[mr. beaumont]

This thread is over a year old, it'd be interesting to see if anyone else did have problems with chromes or if the QC evened out.

For the record, I've continued using Chromes on all of my electrics and experienced no problems.

[billkath]

I'm having no problems since they changed the packaging. Not one breakage.