I used to use EB strings many years ago, but stopped because I had several break when fitting and a couple actually unravelled from the ball when tuning. I'm paranoid about fakes and I always buy from a trusted dealer so that couldn't have been the problem, so I switched to D'Addario with which I've had no problems at all.
Anyway, my teenage lad has settled upon using a hybrid gauge of strings that D'Addario don't appear to have in their range, so I tentatively bought a set of Ernie Ball Turbo Slinkys instead. He got a new (used) guitar this week for his 16th birthday which I restrung before the big day, but he started to experience tuning problems with the high E string. I cleaned up the nut and saddle slots and applied some nut sauce but the problem remained until eventually the string pinged and partially unravelled at the ball end.
It's naffed me right off, and I'm totally sworn off EB strings now. Given my experience, it can't be total coincidence. Has anybody else had problems?
Comments
My head said brake, but my heart cried never.
Ive been using D'addario for donkeys years and register the numbers on the D'addario website. Admittedly it was from a 10 pack that was over a year old so it was nothing more than a gentle query if there was any shelf life I should be mindful of?
Anyway, they asked for my address and I was just hoping they might have sent me an A and D to replace the ones I had to break into a new set to replace. But bless them, they sent me 3 whole packs!! I said it was more than kind and they really didnt need to do that, but they said 'we thought it was the right thing to do.
I was just gobsmacked ..but how's that for customer service!
Started off using D'addarios but they just don't feel right to me, a little stiff and no glide. Went back once for a stint but never again.
I have had a few sets that seemed to go dead quite quickly though, but can't remember the last breakage either.
Maybe it is because I mostly use 10-52, but sometimes 11-54.
I usually get the triple packs, and try to get them for around £15 posted.
I have thought about trying something else, but cost always gets in the way.
I don't use them anymore but I was putting them on my Grandson's mini Strat.
Admittedly I'd had them a while but still...
Interestingly, I had a similar issue a couple of weeks back where I did a gig (lucky me!) with a brand new set of D'Addario 12s on my acoustic and after less than 2 hours of playing the G has split - as in, there's a gap in the winds over the 5th fret where the core is exposed if that makes sense. Very disappointing and has basically convinced me to switch acoustic brands immediately. I've barely worked for a year, I can't afford an extra fiver+ every single gig on new strings.
As for EBs, I've broken one or two but that was during a long spell of gigs a Summer or two back. More than happy to be called lazy but I play my strings until one breaks, at which point I'll usually replace the lot. As the sole guitarist in a trio, I always take a spare guitar anyway. Only once have I had to do the ninja, on-stage string replacement and tune up during the first verse before we get to the chorus!
But I digress. I'm back on Ernies for all my 9s, despite actually really liking Fender's 250s as well, but I need strings in individual packets. Can't be doing with opening a packet and having them explode, pointy end first, directly into my eyeballs like a can of joke snakes. And don't get me started on colour coded ball ends...
As for 10s, I stupidly bought a whole load of Roto yellows a while back and I'm working through those but will be back to Ernies as soon as they're all used up.
One was an EB, the other was a Rotosound.