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Post subject: Review: d'Addario 'Balanced Tension' EXL170BT
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 4:28 pm
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Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
Posts: 3169
Location: Linningrad
Preview ~ I keep my 2012 Fender American Standard Jazz Bass strung in roundwounds. I liked the stock Fender 8250M stringset that came on my bass from the Corona, CA factory. I then put on DR Neons. I liked them a lot, and put on another set. After a year I decided that I really wanted more 'umph' in the attack and that ment a hex core roundwound.

Review ~ Enter d'Addario's new 'balanced tension' set of hex core nickel-plated stainless steel EXL170BT roundwounds. The notion of balanced tension is a good one, and d'Addario's execution is one of excellence. String-To-String balance of: volume; tone, and feel is outstanding! Consistancy to the extreme. Winding is uniform and smooth for reduced string screech.

Tone: Full & Highly Textured. One of the very tightest bottom ends I have ever heard in a roundwound. Large. Big. Huge. Vibrant. Aggressive low-mid growl. Fat meaty mids. Visiously snarling high-mids. Soaring highs that are light and airy with crystalline clarity & high definition.

Attack: with a pick = WWIII

Overview: Well made. Plays in quickly. Holds tune well. Good feel. Excellent full range of tone. No annoying unmusical tin can ringy-zingy wangy-twangy clanky-wanky nonsense.

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2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
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2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: Review: d'Addario 'Balanced Tension' EXL170BT
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 8:10 pm
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Rock Star
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Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
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Location: Albemarle, NC
Thomastik-Infeld EB344 Power Bass rounds. For 5 strings EB345. Hex core. Medium tension. I prefer them. If you break down and try them just once, I think you'll have good things to say about them too. They will last much longer than a $16 set which mitigates the initial expense which the first time around seems insane, but really in the long run isn't. In fact I think it would be a waste of money and time to use anything else.


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Post subject: Re: Review: d'Addario 'Balanced Tension' EXL170BT
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:58 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
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Location: Linningrad
Interestingly enough, T-I is one of the few companies that publish string tension data.
EB344 set is: G .047 46.4 lbs; D .068 53.68 lbs, A .080 42.67, and E .107 40.78 lbs for a total set tension of 183.53lbs

EXL170BT is: G .045 42.52 lbs; D .060 40.86, A .080 40.05, and E .107 39.45 lbs for a total set tension of 162.9lbs

Both string sets are hex core and utilize the very same choices of A & E string diameters. The E string diameter of .107 is most unusual.

The d'Addario set is a much better balanced set centered around 40lbs of tension per string. T-I really goes off the tension reservation with the curious choice of a fat heavy .068 D string with a very high 53.68 pounds of tension.

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2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: Review: d'Addario 'Balanced Tension' EXL170BT
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 9:44 am
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Rock Star
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Location: Albemarle, NC
linnin wrote:
Interestingly enough, T-I is one of the few companies that publish string tension data.
EB344 set is: G .047 46.4 lbs; D .068 53.68 lbs, A .080 42.67, and E .107 40.78 lbs for a total set tension of 183.53lbs

EXL170BT is: G .045 42.52 lbs; D .060 40.86, A .080 40.05, and E .107 39.45 lbs for a total set tension of 162.9lbs

Both string sets are hex core and utilize the very same choices of A & E string diameters. The E string diameter of .107 is most unusual.

The d'Addario set is a much better balanced set centered around 40lbs of tension per string. T-I really goes off the tension reservation with the curious choice of a fat heavy .068 D string with a very high 53.68 pounds of tension.


But you haven't tried them! I'm crazy for the EB344 set. Pretty sure I'd HATE the D'addario. Tell you what, weigh a set of the D'Addario and a set of the TI's. Then tell me which has more metal in them.

Oh, and in two months when you are restringing I'll still have the same set of TI's on. And the next time and the next time and the next time.

To me "balance" has to do with sound, not tension. Tension has to do with tension and if the thing is setup right it is no big deal until you get into high tension strings and then it matters.

Some of the above is my opinion. I have not tried your $16 strings. Not going to waste my time either. I've tried other strings and they just don't stay on long at all.


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Post subject: Re: Review: d'Addario 'Balanced Tension' EXL170BT
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 11:04 am
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Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
How do you know you'd hate the D'Addario? You haven't tried them.

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Post subject: Re: Review: d'Addario 'Balanced Tension' EXL170BT
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 11:17 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
Posts: 3169
Location: Linningrad
Quote:
But you haven't tried them! I'm crazy for the EB344 set. Pretty sure I'd HATE the D'addario


WOW! Hate speech and hypocrisy all in the same paragraph! :roll:

Frank Zappa is attributed with saying "The mind is like a parachute. It has to be open in order to work properly".

If any of y'all happen to see brotherdave's ripcord, give it a good hard yank would ya?

:lol: :wink: :lol:

_________________
2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Profile
Post subject: Re: Review: d'Addario 'Balanced Tension' EXL170BT
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 1:21 pm
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Rock Star
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Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
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Location: Albemarle, NC
Just sold on the PowerBass. I tried XL's and other strings. Back the PowerBass.


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