N
neptoess
Member
I never used the old school Fender set, but I fell in love with the balanced tension D’Addario sets the first time I tried them.
Also, if anyone isn’t aware, you can order custom sets from D’Addario’s site now too
Also, if anyone isn’t aware, you can order custom sets from D’Addario’s site now too
Music&Chaos
Well-known member
I agree that most things are overhyped, but in this case, at least the product sounds different than their competitiors.
I do not use Stringjoys myself but can appreciate what they are doing.
"NYXLs have a “fusion twist”, which just looks like they solder them at the factory. They hold up far better than any other string for me as a result."
The NYXLs are super tough strings and I always recommend D'Addario for trems - as they hold up really well and keep a snappy edge to them.
It's always nice to know from real world experience what strings hold up to trem use. I abuse my Edge trem heavily and haven't had a string break on me using the D'Addarios. I could not afford to try that so freely if I were paying for Stringjoys or something.
N
neptoess
Member
I think the Edge/Lo Pro/OFR are some of the nicest trems on strings, specifically because the ball end and twist are removed from the equation. I would venture a guess that, gauges being equal, any brand would be about as durable as any other.
I do have a strat, a universe, and a BC Rich with a Floyd, in addition to my 4 Kahler guitars. The Kahler ones are the only ones that noticeably wear strings out faster than a fixed bridge guitar. A set of super slinkies on a Kahler can be nuked to the dreaded unwinding twist state in an hour if you go full Kerry King on your Kahler
mentoneman
Well-known member
N
neptoess
Member
GHS rollerwound nickel rockers are awesome strings. That semi-flatwound thing gives the wound strings a lot more tension and less of that nasty high mid grind. Also I’m pretty sure Stevie superglued his fingertips due to how torn up they’d get, which is why the thumbnail looks so gnarly.
But you also don’t need to do that to yourself. He went down to 11s later on, and bending 11s tuned down to Eb on a guitar with jumbo frets like Stevie’s isn’t hard on the fingers at all. I doubt anyone in the crowd thought his tone sounded thin or wimpy. Low output strat pickups do have noticeable output difference based on string gauge, but turning the gain up a bit compensates for that
Nitrobattery
Well-known member
I wanted to like them, but they sounded completely dead after a week. I teach dozens of lesson per week and have fairly acidic sweat, so I've been using coated strings for the last 15 years or so just due to how many hours I play each day. I used to use Elixirs and now the D'Addario XS strings. I gave the String Joy coated strings a try, and they sounded dull and lifeless after just a few days. The high E and B strings also developed dings in them from the tall frets that I have on that guitar. I cut them off and went right back to what I was using before. Maybe I just got a dud set, but they didn't leave a positive impression.
phillybhatesme
Well-known member
For us that are not in tune with how they're different, can you elaborate a bit?
I have been using NYXLs on all of my guitars for the past couple of years; they're affordable and easily accessible (no custom order). What D'Addarios did you use?
mentoneman
Well-known member
i’ve had the same set of stringjoys on for 6 months. the only reason i change strings now is when tuning loses accuracy and action starts shifting around as the string tension gives out with use. the string tone also loses some sparkle over time as does all strings but that’s consistent with elixer nanos or d’adarrio XL which are the other strings i’ve used a ton.
i primarily experimented with stringjoys for the custom gauges but stayed for the slinky feel and ping.
i wouldn’t loose sleep bouncing back and forth between them and d’addarios.
DISTORT6
Well-known member
I used XL110's for E standard, drop D, and Eb/D# tunings. EXL140 for D standard and Drop C and EJ22 with the wound third for B standard.
The Stringjoys - to my ears - sound a little darker and have more of a "snarl" to them. Kinda like the difference between a dark amp and a bright amp. That's the best way I can describe the difference between them.
crwnedblasphemy
Well-known member
I do enjoy trying new strings now and then. But I always prefer NYXL or the DAddario XT strings. Depends on which guitar/pickups. My alnico pickups I like the NYXL, and the XT for ceramics. It’s always balancing act.
NinjaRaf
Well-known member
I am a big fan of String Joy. Been using them for about 5 years, now, after EB stopped selling custom gauges to me. They feel smoother than other strings I've played, they last longer, sound great, and stay in tune well.
rushcentrale
Well-known member
I’ve been using D’Addarios almost exclusively since the 90s. I’ve switched to Stringjoy Balanced 10s for my most played guitars. I love the feel of the wound strings and they last long and stay intonated well.
pipelineaudio
Active member
Out of all the string companies so far, they are the only ones who have gone on the record with me to discuss string tension. They likely won't be the ones to do it, but they did inform me that it isn't out of the realm of possibility to have strings of the same size with significantly more tension and similar things are being done in other industries so it could be possible for guitar strings. This is really for cases like a drop tuning where say you have a low e at 42 and for a drop a below that you'd need to jump to around a 70, which feels insanely bizarre. In my case I'm 38 on low e and 56 on low a and that is the best compromise I could get to for myself between spaghetti looseness and having a bass guitar string next to a little slinky one
