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  #1  
Old 05-19-2022, 11:04 AM
Deliberate1 Deliberate1 is offline
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Default Fuzzy strings - D'addario XT

Friends, on my new to me Merrill OM the seller mounted D'addario XT (80/20, I assume). I have been playing them for the past three weeks or so, and just noticed these tiny hairs at the portion of G that transverses the tone hole. Only the G string. As I have never used coated strings before, is this a normal phenomenon, and does it indicate the need to replace? The strings, again, are only three weeks old, or so.
Thanks.
Davuid
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Old 05-19-2022, 11:10 AM
rmp rmp is offline
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Normal..

it's the coating shredding off the string

coated strings do this, Elixirs for example are very noticeable.

the G string, as it turns out, is probably one of the strings that is hit the most.

so it's naturally seeing more wear than the other strings, but eventually all the wound strings will show some signs of wear w/coated strings

they will still sound fine, and be ok.
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Old 05-19-2022, 11:30 AM
erhino41 erhino41 is offline
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Are you sure they are not the xs strings? I've never seen any shedding with the xt strings. Has anyone else noticed shedding with the xt strings specifically?

As far as I understand the xt strings are treated much the same as the exp, before they are wound. The xs has a similar coating to the other coated strings, like elixir.
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Old 05-19-2022, 11:59 AM
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KevinH KevinH is offline
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Yes, usually shows up on the G string first. I play finger style, mostly with Elixir Nanowebs. The G string always get contact with a fingernail while the thicker strings are more likely to get the fleshy part of the thumb. So the G gets the most wear. I use the amount of fuzziness to tell when I need to change strings. Seems like it shows up in 6-8 weeks or so.
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Old 05-19-2022, 12:11 PM
nitram nitram is offline
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I didn't notice any of that with XS's.
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Old 05-19-2022, 06:23 PM
Deliberate1 Deliberate1 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erhino41 View Post
Are you sure they are not the xs strings? I've never seen any shedding with the xt strings. Has anyone else noticed shedding with the xt strings specifically?

As far as I understand the xt strings are treated much the same as the exp, before they are wound. The xs has a similar coating to the other coated strings, like elixir.
Thanks for the answers. The seller told me the strings he mounted are XT.
David
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Old 05-19-2022, 06:25 PM
llew llew is offline
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I believe the XT strings are treated and the XS are coated?
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Old 05-20-2022, 06:51 AM
pieterh pieterh is offline
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I can’t comment on the new D’Addario strings as I haven’t tried them yet (have a few packets waiting for next string changes!).

As others have said, it’s a known phenomenon with coated strings: I had this issue with EXPs and still have it with Elixir. Apart from looking unsightly I didn’t experience any significant loss of tone or playability but it’s why I went over to Cleartone and Lifespan (with Cleartone process) for a long while.
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Old 05-20-2022, 06:53 AM
pieterh pieterh is offline
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Default Fuzzy strings - D'addario XT

Quote:
Originally Posted by llew View Post
I believe the XT strings are treated and the XS are coated?

Just had a look on their website: you are correct!
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Old 05-20-2022, 08:21 AM
Deliberate1 Deliberate1 is offline
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OP here. Obliged for the replies. As to coated or not, D'Addario says:

What is the difference between XT and XS?
XT and XS are coated using two different methods. Because of that, XT strings last longer than standard non-coated strings, and XS strings last longer than XT.

XT is made with a treated wrap wire, which results in an extended lifespan over similar non-treated strings, as well as a natural feel.

XS is coated using a film coating which generally lasts even longer— delivering maximum string life—and affords a smooth feel.

David
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Old 05-20-2022, 11:28 AM
MThomson MThomson is offline
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I've had the same thing with XT strings. In my experience, it's just cosmetic and doesn't really require replacing unless you don't like the look of it enough to want it gone.

For me, the feel on the two unwound strings went first.
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Old 05-20-2022, 12:41 PM
erhino41 erhino41 is offline
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I've used at least a hundred sets of exp's and never once saw any type of shedding whatsoever. I've also used a dozen sets of the xt and again never seen any shedding. From my understanding the treatment isn't the same thing as the type of coating that is used on elixers or the xs.

I am curious about others experiences with the exp and xt sets shedding. Can anyone experiencing this post a picture? I'm not doubting anyone, I've personally never seen it, and could stand to learn something new.

I have experienced some shedding on some of the strings of all the sets of xs I have tried, particularly the g string. They sound great so I never cared.
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Old 05-20-2022, 01:11 PM
beninma beninma is offline
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I've seen it on Elixir. It took me a really long time for it to happen and it was mostly just cosmetic.

I have never seen it on any D'addario string. EXP/XT/XS. I just put my first set of XS strings on my acoustic guitar this week and they seem fantastic but they're too new... if it was anything like Elixir it would take months before I would see a frayed coating.

I like the feel of both XT and XS better than Elixir so far. Very nice strings.
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Old 05-20-2022, 01:59 PM
pcs264 pcs264 is offline
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Yep, this happens sometimes. It's somewhere on my list of reasons why I never use treated or coated strings, but it's a personal choice of course. To each his own...
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Old 05-20-2022, 03:51 PM
rmp rmp is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erhino41 View Post
Are you sure they are not the xs strings? I've never seen any shedding with the xt strings. Has anyone else noticed shedding with the xt strings specifically?

As far as I understand the xt strings are treated much the same as the exp, before they are wound. The xs has a similar coating to the other coated strings, like elixir.
with the XS, I noticed a little bit, but honestly it was after 5 months of use.

Elixirs shred for me after about 4 weeks.
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