A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: quizzaciously on December 01, 2020, 11:20:41 PM
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D’Addario are the leading manufacturers of high quality musical instrument strings and accessories, and have been Mark’s go-to choice for guitar strings for over 30 years.
‘I always use D’Addario strings on everything, acoustic and electric. In 30 years I’ve never had a bad string on a guitar.’ – MK
They have set up a code for Mark’s fans for 25% off everything on site, plus free shipping on orders over $50/£50 – just enter the code KNOPFLER25 at checkout.
http://ddar.io/knopfler (http://ddar.io/knopfler)
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I must say, I'm a huge fan of D’Addario as a company. I love their strings, their design, all their products in general, so I can easily recommend it as well, 10/10.
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Only UK and USA though. A bummer.
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I’ve used D’Addario since I was a kid, only beceause there was an ad in the STP tourbook. Made me lifetime customer. Recently I’ve tried Gibson and Ernie Ball again, but I went back to D’Addario real quick.
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I’ve used D’Addario since I was a kid, only beceause there was an ad in the STP tourbook. Made me lifetime customer. Recently I’ve tried Gibson and Ernie Ball again, but I went back to D’Addario real quick.
The only real rival to D’Addario, apart from some boutique manufacturers like Stringjoy, is Martin strings. Really good strings! I honestly don't know why one should opt for boutique strings, because the thing is so simple, and yet — it exists. Why bother, when D’Addarios works, feel and sounds great. Their new XT line is the best strings I've ever used.
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I’ve used D’Addario since I was a kid, only beceause there was an ad in the STP tourbook. Made me lifetime customer. Recently I’ve tried Gibson and Ernie Ball again, but I went back to D’Addario real quick.
The only real rival to D’Addario, apart from some boutique manufacturers like Stringjoy, is Martin strings. Really good strings! I honestly don't know why one should opt for boutique strings, because the thing is so simple, and yet — it exists. Why bother, when D’Addarios works, feel and sounds great. Their new XT line is the best strings I've ever used.
+1 from me. Everything I own uses D'addario, even my Banjos, Mandolins, Bozoukis, and ukes. Even their exp coated strings are pretty good.
Glad to see Mark has finally caught up with our endorsement 😉
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I’ve used D’Addario since I was a kid, only beceause there was an ad in the STP tourbook. Made me lifetime customer. Recently I’ve tried Gibson and Ernie Ball again, but I went back to D’Addario real quick.
The only real rival to D’Addario, apart from some boutique manufacturers like Stringjoy, is Martin strings. Really good strings! I honestly don't know why one should opt for boutique strings, because the thing is so simple, and yet — it exists. Why bother, when D’Addarios works, feel and sounds great. Their new XT line is the best strings I've ever used.
+1 from me. Everything I own uses D'addario, even my Banjos, Mandolins, Bozoukis, and ukes. Even their exp coated strings are pretty good.
Glad to see Mark has finally caught up with our endorsement 😉
To be fair, Mark silently endorsed this company for many many years in album booklets, tour programmes and whatnot and was on their website for a long time, only now decided to do it upfront with a direct endorsement with buying discounts, better late than never I guess. Is only for two countries anyway.
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I use D'addarios on all my electrics (except wacky stuff like pedal steel) and recently Martin vintage for acoustic.
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I use D'addarios on all my electrics (except wacky stuff like pedal steel) and recently Martin vintage for acoustic.
Do you mean Martin Retro string? I love it, really good strings.
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Sorry, Retro, yes.
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I've used D'addario. Don't like them. Sounds muffled after a really short time. Elixer is the way to go for me. Bit more expensive but the quality of the strings is much better, if you don't want to change strings every week.
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I've used D'addario. Don't like them. Sounds muffled after a really short time. Elixer is the way to go for me. Bit more expensive but the quality of the strings is much better, if you don't want to change strings every week.
Quite the contrary, I actually hate Elixirs :lol
Then Elixirs become slightly worn out, they tent to get extremely slippery and strange feeling and looks like the coating degrades fast. That's exactly the problem that D'Addarios XT solves, it's also a coated type of strings, but by far it's the best coated strings I've played. They managed to pack in a great bright tone of your uncoated strings with the longevity of the coated ones, that's really impressive.
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I've used D'addario. Don't like them. Sounds muffled after a really short time. Elixer is the way to go for me. Bit more expensive but the quality of the strings is much better, if you don't want to change strings every week.
Quite the contrary, I actually hate Elixirs :lol
Then Elixirs become slightly worn out, they tent to get extremely slippery and strange feeling and looks like the coating degrades fast. That's exactly the problem that D'Addarios XT solves, it's also a coated type of strings, but by far it's the best coated strings I've played. They managed to pack in a great bright tone of your uncoated strings with the longevity of the coated ones, that's really impressive.
Totally agree. Put a set of elixirs on your pride and joy and watch how coated strings ruin any decent tone. The only set of coated strings I've ever found to be remotely tolerable are the afore mentioned D'addario exps. They manage to maintain a half decent tone.
I put a set of elixirs on my Ovation Adamas....
Never again...
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I've used D'addario. Don't like them. Sounds muffled after a really short time. Elixer is the way to go for me. Bit more expensive but the quality of the strings is much better, if you don't want to change strings every week.
Quite the contrary, I actually hate Elixirs :lol
Then Elixirs become slightly worn out, they tent to get extremely slippery and strange feeling and looks like the coating degrades fast. That's exactly the problem that D'Addarios XT solves, it's also a coated type of strings, but by far it's the best coated strings I've played. They managed to pack in a great bright tone of your uncoated strings with the longevity of the coated ones, that's really impressive.
Totally agree. Put a set of elixirs on your pride and joy and watch how coated strings ruin any decent tone. The only set of coated strings I've ever found to be remotely tolerable are the afore mentioned D'addario exps. They manage to maintain a half decent tone.
I put a set of elixirs on my Ovation Adamas....
Never again...
Tommy Emmanuel hates Elixirs as well, he told it in some of his interviews. Not to offend anyone, of course, I believe that any brand should have their fans.
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I've used D'addario. Don't like them. Sounds muffled after a really short time. Elixer is the way to go for me. Bit more expensive but the quality of the strings is much better, if you don't want to change strings every week.
Quite the contrary, I actually hate Elixirs :lol
Then Elixirs become slightly worn out, they tent to get extremely slippery and strange feeling and looks like the coating degrades fast. That's exactly the problem that D'Addarios XT solves, it's also a coated type of strings, but by far it's the best coated strings I've played. They managed to pack in a great bright tone of your uncoated strings with the longevity of the coated ones, that's really impressive.
Totally agree. Put a set of elixirs on your pride and joy and watch how coated strings ruin any decent tone. The only set of coated strings I've ever found to be remotely tolerable are the afore mentioned D'addario exps. They manage to maintain a half decent tone.
I put a set of elixirs on my Ovation Adamas....
Never again...
Tommy Emmanuel hates Elixirs as well, he told it in some of his interviews. Not to offend anyone, of course, I believe that any brand should have their fans.
I don't really think this one is about opinion or brand loyalty though. Elixirs demonstrably sound terrible compared to a decent string and they feel odd under the fingers, although granted that for a cheaper guitar they're adequate.
I remember when they first came out in the mid 90s. I'm what you would call an early adopter. If there's anything new or innovative in the world of music I'll give it a try, and the idea of a string that lasts 10x longer than average was very appealing to me. After having them on a couple of decent guitars I would say that their longevity is their only redeeming feature. They sound so dead, and in terms of longevity, if you clean a normal set of strings properly after each use you'll probably get longer out of them than any set of coated strings.
D'addario exps sound better than average but seem to have weak wound 4th strings imo.....
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I agree. I'm not into coated strings either. I had a beautiful acoustic guitar once, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, that came with Elixirs. Couldn't get them off quick enough.
Regular D'Addario phosphor bronze strings are great. Even better, to me, are John Pearse strings, but they are quite a bit more expensive.
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Funny how tastes differ :)
I've been using Elixir strings for many years even on expensive guitars - and they not only last much longer, but sound superior to my ears compared to many other strings - at least on steel strings.(I use Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze 12/53).
I'm frequently testing new strings and was positively surprised by DM Dragonskins and the strings made by Santa Cruz.
But the DMs wear fairly fast and the SC strings are too expensive for me, considering that I have nine acoustics.
On my electric guitars I've also been testing many strings and I've never got used to D'Addario. I don't like their sound and feel.
I'm also disappointed by John Pearse, they sounded bland even when new and didn't last long anyway - though they are quite pricey.
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Funny how tastes differ :)
I've been using Elixir strings for many years even on expensive guitars - and they not only last much longer, but sound superior to my ears compared to many other strings - at least on steel strings.(I use Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze 12/53).
I'm frequently testing new strings and was positively surprised by DM Dragonskins and the strings made by Santa Cruz.
But the DMs wear fairly fast and the SC strings are too expensive for me, considering that I have nine acoustics.
On my electric guitars I've also been testing many strings and I've never got used to D'Addario. I don't like their sound and feel.
I'm also disappointed by John Pearse, they sounded bland even when new and didn't last long anyway - though they are quite pricey.
It really comes down to "whatever works, man". Our ears are so different.
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I mostly use d’addarios. They’re cheap, they work and you get them everywere. But most strings work. I use DR-strings on one of my guitars because of the feel (thinner core, thicker wrap wire, so I can go up one size and they’re still soft enough, fits that particular guitar).
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I use Fender pure nickel which are manufactured by D'Addario.
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D'Addario for me, on both of my acoustic guitars, I have always used the brand, they work for me so I have never felt the need to try any other brand.
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Not D'Addario, but Guy and Jim recorded little interviews for Roland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdaL753Rauw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUqF5X__qP4