It is quite difficult for a novice musician to pick up strings to replace worn ones. There are many models and brands of these components in stores. Especially popular is the D'Addario brand, whose strings are distinguished by quality and good sound. They are available in several price categories. From this manufacturer you can find strings for an acoustic guitar, as well as bass, electric guitar, banjo, ukulele and violin.
How to understand that it's time to change the strings
There are several reasons why a musician understands that it is time to change the strings:
• the sound of the instrument became deaf and lost its melody;
• often have to do the setup;
• dirt or traces of corrosion appear on the strings;
• the same note in different parts of the string does not sound clearly;
• signs of wear (this is especially often seen on the strings of a violin);
• you do not like the sound of the instrument;
• The strings are too soft or hard for you.
Most budget tools come with low-quality components. For beginners, it is recommended that the manufacturer D'Addario choose mid-range strings. They are good enough for training and at the same time do not overly deplete your budget.
history of the company
D'Addario is a true family business. It has been known since the 17th century. Then the first strings began to produce a master named Donato. He inherited his art and was an honored string master in the Italian city of Salle. At that time, the process of creating strings was very complicated, as they were made from the insides of animals. Masters spent a long time creating one set.
In 1905, the descendants of Donato moved to America. There they decided to create their own family business and export violin and guitar strings from Italy. However, only 13 years later they were able to open their workshop, where all family members worked. By that time, the whole family working on the D'Addario brand was already living in America. Before the war, they managed to develop a small workshop to the factory. In 1947, the plant was first used for the production of nylon. Thanks to the new material, under the D'Addario brand, strings began to be produced for almost all popular musical instruments at that time.
D'addario now
Brothers John and James, who came to the place of leaders in 1956, took the family business to new heights - they proved to be talented managers and leaders. Since 1956, the heyday of the company began, which led to the widespread distribution of D'Addario products. Today it is used by both beginners and professional musicians. For example, D'Addario guitar strings are listed on the Red Hot Chili Peppers rider.
Since the sixties, steel and nickel strings have been produced under this brand. Today, the company has about a thousand items of products and several production facilities in different countries of the world: in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and France.
D'Addario: strings and their features
Musicians from all over the world have already trusted the quality of strings from this manufacturer for quite some time. There are several reasons for this:
• not overpriced;
• high quality, confirmed by many years of experience;
• the presence of different series of strings;
• rich sound;
• long service time.
The best-selling products now are nickel and steel strings for bass. For acoustic popular products made of pure bronze 80/20. In the assortment of the company, not only people playing in modern genres, but also classical musicians can find suitable components for themselves.
Several different series allow you to choose strings to taste. Most often, the following markings can be found:
• Coated - have a protective coating;
• NYXL - reinforced;
• Steinberger - each string is represented in duplicate.
For acoustic instruments, the Pro Arte series, in which aluminum strings with silver winding are produced, has earned worthy reviews. Such kits are slightly more expensive than the others, but please users with their sound and long service life.
What options are offered for violins
Strings for violin can be budgetary, for training, and professional class, for performances. It’s worth starting with the first option. For beginner musicians, D'Addario Prelude with the marking J812-4 / 4M is suitable. They sound great regardless of temperature and humidity, and are made on a solid steel base. They are often recommended by teachers of music schools and conservatories.
The silver-wound aluminum strings of the Pro Arte J56-4 / 4M are suitable for professionals giving frequent concerts. Their price is higher than that of the option for amateurs. Often, sets of such strings are acquired by musicians working in symphony orchestras and string groups.
D'Addario Guitar Strings Reviews
It’s quite difficult to pick up strings for a bass guitar, but everyone can find suitable ones in the assortment of D'Addario. They do not have a single negative feedback from users. All note only bright and rich sound, as well as the high quality of these strings. Their use on the instrument makes it easy to set the exact settings.
For classical and acoustic guitars, the EJ45 Pro Arte kit is especially recommended. It is made of nylon and is good for regular rehearsals, as it does not wear out for a long time. Such strings can be installed on budget versions of guitars, as well as on more expensive ones.
For strings for a guitar, the price is set depending on the material from which they are made. If it is preferable to use metal on your instrument, you should buy the Bronze EZ910 85/15 option. They are perfect for acoustic guitars and give a clear sound. They are not too rigid, which also makes them suitable for training. A set of strings will cost in the range from 1000 to 3000 rubles.