D'Addario Electric Chromes flatwound strings

Kevin Ruddell · From: Toledo Ohio USA

I'd like to thank whoever posted this topic on the non peddlars forum last fall. I bought a few sets of these strings at the local music stores Christmas sale and strung them on my fender Dual 8 and have been playing them the last week and they are settled in pretty well. I don't think I'll be using anything else, they really sound great ! I had tried the GHS flats a long time ago but these D'Addarios seem to have a little special zing that the GHS flats didn't have . I've been using GHS rollerwound nickels and was very happy with them but the Electric Chromes are just right. Not sure if they are right for my Georgeboards though .

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

I agree Kevin.

Rick Aiello turned me on to these strings when I played at the Shenandoah Valley Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival last April.

They are all I use now on my electric steels. I assemble my string sets by gauge and get them from juststrings.com
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CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
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Mike Fried · From: Nashville, TN, USA

Any reports on their longevity? They're pretty "proud of them" from the prices I see on Juststrings.com...
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Kevin Ruddell · From: Toledo Ohio USA

I don't know yet Mike , but I'll post after 3-4 months of playing them on my Fender . I played Bass for a long time pretty much every day for an hour and 2-3 weekends each month at clubs and my LaBella Flatwounds lasted just about exactly 3 months.. then the top end just kind of went. More usually a string broke at that point , usually a G or D string.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

I've been using them for years on my 'regular' guitars and I love them. They start going a little dull after about 2 weeks of playing. I like when they go dull. On steel I'm sure they'd last longer.
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Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

I play bass also. I have had Labella strings on one bass for over 15 years and they still sound great. I NEVER change bass strings. One set of bass strings has lasted me since I got them free at a 70s NAMM show! Problem is....I can't remember the name of the strings!!! I used to used the Labella 760Q strings but they went out of production. I spoke to Richard Cocca at Labella and he just laughed at how long I used his strings.."how can I stay in business with guys like you"" he said. The 760 was polished by hand and became cost prohibitive to continue making it. I have two NOS sets left. At about 15 years per set, that gives me another 30 years!

The great studio bassist Joe Osbourne also used Labella flatwound strings on his Fender bass for well over 10 years at a time.

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

I never changed my bass strings, but then, I don't do the trebly 'pop and snap' thing, either. I like round, old-school tone, and really hate horns in a bass cab. Finally put some of the Chrome flats on my Jazz bass awhile back, and gotta say, I really like 'em.

As for steel strings, I've been using the SIT semi-flat sets for all my steels, and like 'em pretty well. However, after hearing y'all talk about the Chrome flats guitar strings, I may have to give 'em a try on my steels.

TJW
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Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Custom-made 25" aluminum cast "fry pan" with vintage Ricky p'up (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); 1953 Oahu Tonemaster; assorted ukuleles; upright bass

George Rout · From: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

I also, have been using them for a few years without complaint. It all started with me when a chap came to visit me with an old Harmony lap steel for me to try, and I said, "Man, are the strings ever nice" and that's what they were. I use them on all my lap steels. Geo

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

I just went to "juststrings.com" and ordered me some...

Thanks for the tip...

Dom

Mike Fried · From: Nashville, TN, USA

Ok, I guess what I'm asking is, do they last longer than typical roundwound or "rollerwound" nickel strings? They cost almost twice as much, but I don't mind that if their tone life is better. If they don't last longer than what I'm using, though, I can't afford the luxury right now...
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Derrick Mau · From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Doesn't flatwound strings cut sustain???

I thought everyone had to have their steels sustaining into next week??

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I have no experience with these on steels, but have used them for years on a couple of "regular" guitars that I use to play jazz. If they have the desired tone in the first place, I have found them to last much longer than roundwound strings. It's not unusual for me to leave flatwounds on a guitar for years, just changing the unwound strings periodically. But, to my ears, flatwounds have a somewhat darker and less ringing-sustain tone than a comparable roundwound. But these are the brightest and highest-stiffness flatwound strings I know of. I also use Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing-Series flatwounds, which have a significantly darker tone and lower stiffness, and are about double the price of the D'Addario Chromes.

On the price - I don't know of any flatwounds that are remotely competitive, pricewise, with comparable roundwounds - there's usually something like a factor of 2 difference. Another reasonable option on brighter, higher-stiffness flatwounds are the Fender Stainless Steel flatwounds, about $6/pack at juststrings.com.

Mike Fried · From: Nashville, TN, USA

Thanks, Dave, that's the kind of info I'm looking for! I think I'll try them out on my Rick DC-16 first.
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Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

I think you should get some Derrick Laughing

Stephen Wells · From: Jackson, Mississippi

I just put a set of Chromes on my Lapking Rodeo and it sounds and feels great. I used the 13 to 56 set, replacing the first and second strings with an 18 and a 20.
Stephen

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

OKay, I received my "D'Addario Chromes"
from juststrings.com (very fast shipping) and now I have been playing on them for almost a week. They look and feel great, and the bar slides smoothly and silently up and down BUT:

They are dull sounding. Very mellow, maybe ok for some hawaiian and jazzy stuff but I miss the bite and twang I get from my usual round wounds. I bought enough for two sets, since I figured I was already paying shipping... But I don't think I'll ever use them again.

Oh well I had to try them for myself.

Dom Franco

George Rout · From: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Dom, coincidentally today I was talking to a company in Oregon, and the weather topic came up. She made the comment, "Whereas most people tan, here in Oregon we rust", so maybe you better move!!!!
Geo

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

Played on em again this mornin... They are growing on me, but now I think I need to buy another guitar to have both sounds available.

*We have had a very dry last few weeks here in Oregon, maybe the strings will sound better once the rain starts again?

Dom

(PS. I am glad everyone around the country seems to think it rains too much here, maybe we won't get so overcrowed)

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

Played on em again this mornin... They are growing on me, but now I think I need to buy another guitar to have both sounds available.

*We have had a very dry last few weeks here in Oregon, maybe the strings will sound better once the rain starts again?

Dom

(PS. I am glad everyone around the country seems to think it rains too much here, maybe we won't get so overcrowed)

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

Sorry for the double post...

Dom

Steven Black · From: Gahanna, Ohio, USA

I have used D'Addario strings on my lap steel and pedal steel guitars for years because you rarely have to change them, they sound just as good years down the road.

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

Steve says,

Gary Stevenson · From: Northern New York,USA

I have bought a set of those strings and am waiting to try them on my third lap steel, I am building.I could stand a set that is a little mellow, so I am hoping these will work out.

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

I would rather have my notes a little sharp than flat from flat wounds. Very Happy

Waisznor · From: Berlin, Germany

I have some*) Thomastik-Infeld (Jazz/Bebop Series) strings I don´t use. I paid $ 25 for one E9th set. If someone is interested, I would trade the strings for one set Jagwire/Doug Jernigan E9th.

*) .036/1x
.034/2x
.030/2x
.026/2x
.020/2x
.017/2x
.014/2x
.015/2x
.012/2x
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