Ernie Ball Stainless Flats vs D'Addario Chromes

[JCat]

Some of you may not be aware there's a new flatwound offering from Ernie Ball announced earlier this year. https://www.bassgearmag.com/ernie-ba...-more-at-namm/

I've searched this forum for reviews, but all I could find are opinions on Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwounds, which is an entirely different string set, engineered for modern applications (meaning distortion). Those strings got Cobolt ribbon and a plain G.

The new Stainless Flats are specifically made for old school Jazz applications. The specs looks very similar to D'Addario Chromes; Polished precision wound stainless steel ribbon, Hex steel core.

-Did you try them? What do you think?

[AllanAllen]

If they made a 13-56, I'd give them a try. I like the slinky 11's on my G&L ASAT.

[jazzshrink]

...The specs looks very similar to D'Addario Chromes...

including the price.

[chris32895]

Seems just like a D'addario similar set but with slightly lighter D and G strings. IME Ernie Ball strings are a step below D'Addario strings in quality, typically, but it's still nice to have another option

[chris32895]

including the price.

Yeah, it would be nice if instead someone came along and made similar quality strings just at a better price point

[JCat]

They may look about the same on paper...but do they sound and feel the same?
One obvious difference is that the gauge configuration is not the same. Not by much, but enough to affect setup requirements; Tension, string slots and string-to string output balance may not be identical, but possibly in the same ballpark. It's interesting though that Ernie Ball opted for lighter gauge of the wound G and D strings. The diameter and mass of the core of the wound strings are typically never disclosed, even though this affects tension and output.

[GuyBoden]

I'll have to test them against the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing.

(But, Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing will also be much cheaper than Ernie Ball in Europe.)

[DawgBone]

I like LaBellas. Maybe I should contact them about an endorsement.

[jazzshrink]

Seems just like a D'addario similar set but with slightly lighter D and G strings.

They may look about the same on paper...but do they sound and feel the same?
One obvious difference is that the gauge configuration is not the same.

[JCat]

[Jim Soloway]

No 10's, no 13's.

[Stringswinger]

I might try a set of those 11's. Those could be an alternative to the TI’S that I use (which have become crazy expensive and might get more so if tariffs are imposed on EU stuff)

Becoming aware of new stuff makes this place invaluable.

Thanks Jcat for the heads up!

[supersoul]

Yeah, it would be nice if instead someone came along and made similar quality strings just at a better price point

Harley Benton makes 10, 11 and 12 gauge Flatwounds for €8.90 a set. They're decent, I don't like them any more or less than D'Addarios. I still like Thomastic Swing flats better, though, but they cost at least twice as much.

[GuyBoden]

Harley Benton makes 10, 11 and 12 gauge Flatwounds for €8.90 a set. They're decent, I don't like them any more or less than D'Addarios. I still like Thomastic Swing flats better, though, but they cost at least twice as much.

Yes, I too have tried Harley Benton flat 12 gauge, they're ok.

Edit: Not the same sound quality as Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing, IMHO.

[339 in june]

Harley Benton makes 10, 11 and 12 gauge Flatwounds for €8.90 a set. They're decent, I don't like them any more or less than D'Addarios. I still like Thomastic Swing flats better, though, but they cost at least twice as much.

I have tried Harley Benton flats 11s on a semi (Comins GCS1-ES)
I have never had a set of strings staying as little time as this one : D string broke in the middle of nowhere between post and nut while noy yet in tune. The other wound strings sounded awfully dull and didn't get 10 mn playing : direct to the bin and never again for me !
I tried Pyramid and I am happy with them so far, but I prefer Tomastik JS or D'Add Chromes (in that order) for flats
I will try these Ernie Ball next time, but their price is not attractive to us europeans compared to TI JS!

[RJVB]

I used to use Ernie Ball Earthwood S&S and quickly learned their price on Amazon is like a yo-yo, something to monitor, and order a bunch when it's at a sufficiently interesting low point.

[JCat]

Update: I've now tried both makes on the same guitar (25.5" scale archtop).

EB doesn't provide tension charts, but my assumption was that since they are both stainless steel ribbon flats, tension would be close provided the gauge is the same...
I bought a set EB Flats 2580 (11-50), assuming these would closely resemble the tension of the set I've been using on this guitar for a long time...It turned out this assumption was wrong. This 11-50 set was too light weight, so I had to readjust the neck and perform a full setup including bridge re-radius and pickup adjustment. I played it for a week, made minor re-adjustments and eventually gave up on this set. The middle strings (D, G) didn't have sufficient tension and all strings got a sticky feel when plucking.

I tried to re-use the set on another guitar, a short scale archtop (I never tie the strings with a knot), but then the wound G- string snapped at the tuner peg. This was surprising, since these are hex-core...

I restrung my long scale with my trusted roundwounds (EXL116 with a wound G), readjusted the guitar and concluded that the EB Flats project was a waste of time and money...

..But with my mind set on flats I later bought a set of DAD Chromes ECG25 (12-52). Looking at the tension chart, I anticipated the guitar would probably play stiff considering the weight of the middle strings and that I would have to tighten the truss rod etc. To my surprise this set was a drop in replacement. I didn't have to readjust anything when going from EXL116W (11-52). This really makes me question those tension charts...Anyway I'm happy with the performance.

Bottom line
In hindsight, the heavier EB 12-52 would have been a better candidate for me, and obviously a fair comparison with DAD Chromes 12-52. But what about that sticky feel?
Let's pull out the microscope

Both makes are ribbon steel hex core, but as you can see, the EB got a tighter interlock, it's even hard to see the wraps...intuitively the EB should feel smoother, right? DAD chromes look more shiny in normal day light, but when held under artificial light in certain angles, the EBs look more shiny...
The DADs feel smoother to my plucking hand...Maybe they are more rigorously polished? And maybe after a few weeks of use, the EB stickiness would wear off?
Anyway, it's obvious the wound strings are constructed differently, and therefore we could expect performance to be different.

[skiboyny]

Update: I've now tried both makes on the same guitar (25.5" scale archtop).

So how do the EBall sound compared to the Daddario?

[JCat]

So how do the EBall sound compared to the Daddario?

My impression is that the EB set was brighter, at least when new, but consider the lighter gauge...
Tone depends on many things and in the end it's inseparable from feel, I think. Strings don't sound anything at all until someone plays them, so gauge, tension, bridge pressure, the individual guitar and the player's technique, pick, fingers, nails, pickup, electronics, amp and speaker... all plays a role in tone shaping. (The other day I overheard a conversation where two players were debating round wounds and if EBs are brighter than DADs and the guys were of opposite opinions. I got my own personal opinion on that subject )

Also remember that strings in general, regardless of type, tend to get more mellow over time. Fresh strings sound different than old, worn strings. We typically go for flatwounds because of their amplified qualities. Round wounds got louder and brighter acoustics, but the shimmering highs also wear off in a few weeks time. In comparison flats in general got dull acoustics right off the bat, there's not much high end that could wear off and as a bonus we can keep these strings on the guitar for a long time...But even flatwounds are going to mellow to some extent. I intend to keep my flats for at least 6 months, so we'll see what they sound like in a couple of weeks from now...Regarding the DAD's I don't anticipate any significant difference, but the EBs could possibly be a different breed also from this perspective...(apparently Joe Pass rubbed the strings against his scalp to get some "skin oil" to make them "smoother" A tall grandpa tail perhaps, but possibly worth trying to make sticky strings break in.)

[RJVB]

(apparently Joe Pass rubbed the strings against his scalp to get some "skin oil" to make them "smoother" A long grandpa tail perhaps, but possibly worth trying to make sticky strings break in.)

I've heard of people using nose fat for that.

No, from the external sides of the organ. The stuff from the inside is probably more useful if you actually like a sticky feel