Ernie ball vs d'addario

NelsonP

So, which do you think are better, and why?

dazzajl

I took a journey through endless different string types about a year ago. In the end, I came back to D’addario standard 10’s. 

I’m sure they’re not the best but they feel right to me. 

richardhomer

Used EBs until 1996, then changed to D’Addarios. Never had one break, they always sound good, intonate well and last ‘much’ longer than EBs. Plus they’re pretty cheap and available pretty much everywhere.

guitarcookie1

D’Addarios every time. 

EB’s feel “slimey” to the touch and Rotos sound dead/muted to me. 

Boromedic

D'Addarios, they feel better and last longer than other brands. I had Ernie's for a long time but for some reason I felt the quality drop off a number of years ago and went back to D'Addarios. Ernie's just seem to turn to shit really quickly for some reason. The D'Addarios wear in well and then stay that way for a while. YMMV of course..... 

Philly_Q

Another D'Addario user here.  No idea if they're really any better than anything else, I haven't tried anything else for many years except whatever came on the guitars I've bought.  I like the colour-coded ball ends (I think other brands may have copied that now).

Nothing against Ernie Ball though, in the days when I had a Kahler tremolo their RPS strings were more break-resistant than other brands of reinforced strings.

SteveRobinson

D'Addario. I used to use EB but had issues with uneven winds. I still occasionally see EB strings fresh out of the packet with rust on them.

RiftAmps

I've never had good luck with D'Addario, always DOA. EB Pure Nickel for me.

Teyeplayer

EB don’t seem to last 5 minutes. D’Addario have always seemed to be more reliable and  to hold the bright new string tone for longer. 

rico

Never D’Addario as long as they come in those stupid packs. 

gilby

D'Addario for me too. Used to use eb slinky but like others here i found the quality dropped a long while ago. Have actually got Rotos for a trial as I got some cheap but they aren't lasting as long as Dads.

flying_pie

gilby said:

D'Addario for me too. Used to use eb slinky but like others here i found the quality dropped a long while ago. Have actually got Rotos for a trial as I got some cheap but they aren't lasting as long as Dads.

I tried Rotos for a while (several sets) and they definitely don't last as long as D'Addarios.

scrumhalf

D'Addario 9-42s, been using them for decades (not the same set, obviously).

grungebob

I’ll be the odd duck then. I prefer EB’s, never had a dud set, never broken a string I wasn’t trying to break already and they work well with my body chemistry and last ages. D’addarios on the other hand feel almost square under my fingers and go dull really quick. 
I’m currently trialing exlirs nano and optiweb and I can’t make my mind up. Nanos seem to have increased tension so on instruments tunes down I can get away with one gauge lighter if I want but I can feel the coating and it’s slippery. 
Optiwebs so far seem nice, worth the price? Time will tell I guess. 

iheartreverb

Ernie Ball here. I discussed this with someone from Daddario that I bumped into at one point. The G and B string seem to feel quite matted very quickly and I learned that this was due to the tin content. This was making me feel they were deal before they actually were. Ernie Ball are also slightly less tension which means the Ernie Ball 11’s that I prefer to use actually feel perfect. Average size core but less tension 

Fishboy7

D'Addarios for me too,  I've experimented with others from time to time but nothing else feels right. 

Not sure what the actual variables are between brands though 

Fishboy7

...

Frizer

If I was given them for free I’d use EBs. They’re great but don’t last long.

I use GHS Boomers these days, D’Addario don’t ring out enough.

HAL9000

D'addario for me. Used to use EBs but switched after realising just how much better D'addarios sound. Don't like the stupid way they're packed though.

guitarfishbay

D’Addarios on everything for me. Price, availability, tone, longevity.. ideal ratio for me.

Voxman

rico said:

Never D’Addario as long as they come in those stupid packs. 

D'Addario for me too (EXL120's 009-042's) - but the way they wrap two strings together is very annoying. I put up with it because the strings are good.  I do wish they came in separate packets though like EB - but as has been said already, EB strings don't last anywhere near as long and D'Addario's can be found much more cheaply.