D'Addario Chromes vs Thomastik Strings

TommyD · 06-21-2010, 01:23 AM

Last winter I put Thomastik strings on my ES165. They had good resonance, a sweet sound, and no wolf tone frets (don't ask me why).
Today, for no good reason other than that the Thomastiks were 6 months old, I switched to D'Addario Chromes 13 to 56's. I have to say that the extra cost of the Thomastiks is well worth it! The Chromes are not good. In addition to their generally poor response, there's a wolf tone I never had before - on the D string one fret below the octave (Db). Very disconcerting!
Now I will have to order a new set of Thomastiks, remove the Chromes, and mount the Austrian strings again.
I never knew that wolf tones were related to strings. I thought they were present because of guitar design/construction.
tommy/

**mangotango** · 06-21-2010, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by TommyD

Last winter I put Thomastik strings on my ES165. They had good resonance, a sweet sound, and no wolf tone frets (don't ask me why).
Today, for no good reason other than that the Thomastiks were 6 months old, I switched to D'Addario Chromes 13 to 56's. I have to say that the extra cost of the Thomastiks is well worth it! The Chromes are not good.

Yeh but we all try that kind of stuff, searching for the next piece of the jigsaw. And at least changing a set of strings is much less permanent than carving holes for different pickups and the like. Thankfully, it's a mistake that doesn't cost much to rectify.

For Xmas, I'd asked for some George Benson Thomastiks and Mrs. Mango bought the roundwounds for me. Tried them, liked them a bit but as time went by I was missing the sound of the Swings. As soon as I changed back, there it was again, that sound that I like. So although I will no doubt try stuff in the future - I know what the benchmark is and I can always get back to it.

**billkath** · 06-21-2010, 08:28 AM

Yep-'tis a pity they don't make stainless ones for those of us with nickel intolerance.

**JohnW400** · 06-21-2010, 09:13 AM

I love D'addario J21 and EL115W but their flats and ground strings are not their strong point.

I just tried a set of TI flats. I'm very impressed with them. I'll have to wait and see how they age before making a final decision though.

**X-500** · 06-21-2010, 10:03 AM

Hi TommyD,

I use both the TI's and D's on my Guilds with good results. It is was trial and error for me (quite expenisve trial for the TI's). Funny though; I had the reverse experience with my X-700 - sounded better with the Chromes.

Good Luck!

**mr. beaumont** · 06-21-2010, 10:17 AM

my guess is every guitar is different, and every player. I've been using chromes for 10 years, on various guitars...I tried the TI's, and they were nice, but not so nice I noticed any difference in tone.

I honestly try my best not to obsess about such things...If I became so reliant on one brand, what would I do if they went out of business? I already know my dog will kill me in my sleep if "beggin strips" goes under.

**SamBooka** · 06-21-2010, 10:53 AM

If you got 6 months out of the TIs then you are ahead of the game. They die on my 165 after about 2 weeks. They become unbearable after two months. I LOVE them but I dont get the life out of them. My EmpReg was the same. I switched to newtones on the EmpReg and I think they are THE string for that guitar. I tried them on the 165 and nope... to bright. So this week either try TIs again or try stainless labellas. Maybe halfround D'Adds.

I still havent bonded with my 165 but something as silly as the right string can make a diff. Newtones brought my EmpReg back from being a wall ornament.

**Drifter** · 06-21-2010, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by TommyD

Last winter I put Thomastik strings on my ES165. They had good resonance, a sweet sound, and no wolf tone frets (don't ask me why).
Today, for no good reason other than that the Thomastiks were 6 months old, I switched to D'Addario Chromes 13 to 56's. I have to say that the extra cost of the Thomastiks is well worth it! The Chromes are not good. In addition to their generally poor response, there's a wolf tone I never had before - on the D string one fret below the octave (Db). Very disconcerting!
Now I will have to order a new set of Thomastiks, remove the Chromes, and mount the Austrian strings again.
I never knew that wolf tones were related to strings. I thought they were present because of guitar design/construction.
tommy/

I experienced exactly that when I changed from Chromes to Sadowskys.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 06-21-2010, 11:53 AM

Ha! Maybe we should take this thread's topic to be "most disappointing strings", rather than a criticism of D'Addario Chromes (full disclosure: I'm using the 13s now!)

My most disappoint string moment occurred years ago, hmmm, sometime in the '80s. I bought a set of teflon-coated strings and as soon as I put them on the coating started flaking off big time. I remember they were the most expensive set I had bought, but the underlying strings were round wound and nothing special. Tossed them after a few days. Grrr...

**mangotango** · 06-21-2010, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

If you got 6 months out of the TIs then you are ahead of the game. They die on my 165 after about 2 weeks. They become unbearable after two months. I LOVE them but I dont get the life out of them. My EmpReg was the same. I switched to newtones on the EmpReg and I think they are THE string for that guitar. I tried them on the 165 and nope... to bright. So this week either try TIs again or try stainless labellas. Maybe halfround D'Adds.

Guess that it's horses for courses, but I only used two sets of TI Swings in my first 18 months of using them. I'm onto my third after trying out the TI George Bensons, as above.

I just found that as soon as I put them on either of my guitars, there was the sound that I wanted, right there. When I bought my D'Angelico, the guy had put some Chromes on there and they didn't sound bad; but as soon as I put on the TI Swings, even Mrs. M noticed the change straight away.

They'd better not go out of business, that's all!!

TommyD · 06-21-2010, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

(clip) If you got 6 months out of the TIs then you are ahead of the game. They die on my 165 after about 2 weeks. They become unbearable after two months. I LOVE them but I dont get the life out of them. My EmpReg was the same.

One thing I found to extend the life of strings is to wipe them down after playing, along with the back of the neck and the fret board, with a soft cotton cloth. I use an old, clean undershirt. Nothing destroys strings faster than salt-laden sweat sitting there on the strings in between playing sessions. For the same reason, I wash my hands with soap and water before playing my guitar. (I guess it's the surgeon in me.)
tommy/

**derek** · 06-21-2010, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

If you got 6 months out of the TIs then you are ahead of the game. They die on my 165 after about 2 weeks. They become unbearable after two months. I LOVE them but I dont get the life out of them. My EmpReg was the same. I switched to newtones on the EmpReg and I think they are THE string for that guitar. I tried them on the 165 and nope... to bright. So this week either try TIs again or try stainless labellas. Maybe halfround D'Adds.

I still havent bonded with my 165 but something as silly as the right string can make a diff. Newtones brought my EmpReg back from being a wall ornament.

Funny. I think our body chemistry figures into this stuff more than we know. I easily get 6 months out of TIs on a guitar I play every day. I have used Chromes in the past, and while fine strings, I really hear a difference between them and the TIs.

With Mr. B, I wonder if the lack of difference is due to playing the teles? I am guessing you have only used Chromes on the Kingpin. I did run into some QC issues with Chromes in the past, with ball ends popping some on the G. DA is always good about replacing a defective set thoug.

**mr. beaumont** · 06-21-2010, 02:46 PM

I dunno. I do have Chromes on the Kingpin, The Kay had Chromes on it (.13's, heavier than I like), I put Sadowskys on it (I had bought them to experiment with the Godin, ended up treating the Kay) and they feel and sound like...flatwound strings. Flatwound strings that with shipping were 8 dollars more (IIRC) than I can get my Chromes.

I guess I could try the TI's on these guitars, but when what I have works fine, I figure why spend more money?

For the record, I've never experienced any QC issues with the Chromes--if I ever do, I'm sure my tune will change.

**jeffstritt** · 06-21-2010, 02:56 PM

Has anybody tried the TI bebop stings?

**Scolohofo** · 06-21-2010, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by jeffstritt

Has anybody tried the TI bebop stings?

Yeah,have 14's on my ibanez af 105f and i'm happy with them!

TommyD · 06-21-2010, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by jeffstritt

Has anybody tried the TI bebop stings?

These are round-wound strings.
Does anybody know what are the heaviest flat-wound TI strings? I think they are G. Benson's 14/55, set GB114, but I'm not certain.
tommy/

**SamBooka** · 06-21-2010, 10:48 PM

The heaviest I could find under TIs (and the ones I used) are the GB114s.
Love em.

**jazzrat** · 06-21-2010, 11:34 PM

I use Ti Bebops on my Guild. I recently had a set of Chromes on another archtop. I just prefer the feel of TI Bebops and Swing flats.
Where I really notice the difference are the treble strings. Most sets you
might hear a difference on the wound strings but the trebles are the same old plain stainless. The TI's are plated and sound noticalby warmer and fatter than the typical treble string

**jseaberry** · 06-21-2010, 11:59 PM

I took a splurge on a friend's advice and bought some 24-Karat gold plated Optima strings from Juststrings. I put them on my DeAngelico, and there was such a marked difference in clarity and tone, that I don't use anything else. fortunately, they last a very long time, and I too wipe them down religiously, they cost a king's ransom, but I won't put anything else on the big 'un. My other guitars have a variety of strings based on their personalities.

**msr13** · 06-22-2010, 12:05 AM

I went through all of them, trying to find the best strings for me in as obsessively compulsive a way as possible. Settled happily with the TI Swings. Thankfully our local shop carries them. The thing is that while I think they make the guitar sound better when I play, I can't tell when others play with them, or not. Most good players sound great to me regardless of their string choice. I have a feeling Mr. B could make a tele strung with old cat gut sing.

**Scotto** · 06-22-2010, 01:36 AM

I normally use the George Benson Tomastiks (14,18,21,31,41,55) on my guitar and then tried the La Bella in a slightly heavier set (15,19,25,33,44,56). I really enjoy the heavier set in the La Bella but liked the sound of the Tomastiks. Now, I purchase a set of Tomastiks individually to match the La Bella size with the exception of the low E which only comes in a 55. The set runs a little higher in cost but I'm happy to pay the price as I can change twice a year. I typically wash my hands before I play and wipe down the back of the neck and the strings along with the whole guitar and always keep my guitar in it's case when not in play. I've noticed that this keeps the strings as well as the guitar in really nice shape. I love the feeling of a clean guitar when I begin to play as I believe it also translates to a fresh approach in mindset as well. I guess it's along the same lines of my car always running better after I wash it.

**bkdavidson** · 06-22-2010, 03:58 AM

I think I'd have to go with Mr. B on the whole Chromes thing. I used TI's for a year maybe, but didn't like the lighter gauging on the low strings and could never find a set with the right tension. I also noticed after a while that the wound strings are a whole lot quieter than the plain strings. I went back to good ol' Chrome 13's and have been happy ever since. I've never had a quality or consistency issue with them, they're relatively cheap and very available (I just wish the store I taught at actually stocked them). Cost isn't a huge issue since I generally leave them on for at least a year, but hey, whatever helps save some bucks, right?

**billkath** · 06-22-2010, 05:52 AM

A year? Man, I'd love to get away with what you normal people can. I have that nickel allergy-rot-the-strings thing, and a normal set of stings last me, on average, a couple of weeks tops, playing every day. For gigging guitars-3 gigs. The chromes, however-they last MUCH longer on my jazz guitar. 2 months so far without me coming out in a rash.

Archie · 06-22-2010, 07:39 AM

I tried Elixir coated strings. Would they help with allergies? I didn't like the feel at first, but either I got used to it, or some of the coating wore away. I normally get about 6 months out of a set of strings anyway, so I switched back to ordinary D'Addarios.