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

**spiral** · 08-09-2010, 03:43 PM

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** · 08-09-2010, 08:52 PM

@ 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** · 08-11-2011, 11:23 AM

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** · 08-11-2011, 02:28 PM

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** · 08-11-2011, 02:39 PM

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

**Retroman1969** · 08-11-2011, 09:00 PM

Odd, I've had several sets on several different guitars over the past year and not one issue. Wonder if I've just been lucky?

**whosgarethparry** · 08-12-2011, 02:23 PM

bulk bought about 10 sets, about 3 months ago
first set the E went, 2nd set the b went, didn't risk a third set, sent them back and changed to thomastik, which i wish i'd done years ago. guage's suit me better more than anything else.

i could of bought a dodgy box, but having read the above, i'm not so sure..............

**Hugh** · 08-14-2011, 11:43 AM

D'Addario seem to have more than their fair share of problems.
I had a seven string guitar built for me many years ago. At the time It was hard to find string sets of seven. I found out that D'Addario did them in chrome flatwounds. I purchased three sets over the internet from a supplier in the UK.
When they arrive they had seven string marked on the packaging but there were six string sets inside. Needless to day I was somewhat annoyed.
I emailed D'Addario direct and complained. They said that they had some quality control problems at the time.
It would seem that they still have

The strings when they finally did arrive as full sets turned out to be pretty good on the guitar I have to say

Hugh.

**brwnhornet59** · 08-14-2011, 11:48 AM

Over the yeas I always had good luck with them. But these past two months, two high E's broke. It is not my guitar. No burrs etc.. Had it set up by a luthier 4 months ago. This last E has been on for 3 weeks. So far so good.

**spiral** · 08-14-2011, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Hugh

I emailed D'Addario direct and complained. They said that they had some quality control problems at the time.

They have since rectified the issue: now they just don't bother returning calls or emails.

I found a fix on my end: buy DR Legends instead.

**mr. beaumont** · 08-14-2011, 12:08 PM

What gauge were the folks who had breakage issues using?

I'm trying to figure this one out...I've been using Chromes .11's on all my electrics for about 8 years now, and I've never had a string break! But I'm wondering if the QC problems were with a specific gauge...

**brwnhornet59** · 08-14-2011, 05:27 PM

These were 10,s. I use them on my solid body.

**voxwerx** · 08-14-2011, 06:30 PM

Just got 2 sets of half rounds- and the D string just shucked the end off while I was trying to wrap the other end around the tuner post. These were purchased through Musician's Friend- the local GC and mom and pops had heard of them, but told me they don't carry them (probably the only person to ask for 'em... in a mighty long time)

**Retroman1969** · 08-14-2011, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

What gauge were the folks who had breakage issues using?

I'm trying to figure this one out...I've been using Chromes .11's on all my electrics for about 8 years now, and I've never had a string break! But I'm wondering if the QC problems were with a specific gauge...

Having had no problems (so far) myself, I use .12s almost exclusively.