Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
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- JHorner
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Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
50% off at rockshop so I gave them a shot
Packaging:
Opened them to find dark spots on the unwound strings
Putting them on:
These things feel weird. Light and rubbery.
Playing them:
These strings sound UTTERLY SHIT.
Conclusion:
Abortion. Within 15 minutes I cut them off and put on regular slinkys. I have another unopened set which I can't even give away in good conscience knowing how shitty they are.
Rating:
0/10
Packaging:
Opened them to find dark spots on the unwound strings
Putting them on:
These things feel weird. Light and rubbery.
Playing them:
These strings sound UTTERLY SHIT.
Conclusion:
Abortion. Within 15 minutes I cut them off and put on regular slinkys. I have another unopened set which I can't even give away in good conscience knowing how shitty they are.
Rating:
0/10
- Molly
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
That sucks. Were they old stock?
I've all but given up on D'Addario too. Had been wondering what to go with after decades on that brand. Lately they just sound dull as shit.
I've all but given up on D'Addario too. Had been wondering what to go with after decades on that brand. Lately they just sound dull as shit.
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
Don't know but I guess so.Molly wrote:Were they old stock?
Regular Slinkys.Molly wrote:Had been wondering what to go with after decades on that brand
- Zaulkin
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
50% off + dark spots - possibly old stock? That would contribute to the rubbery feel/crappy sound.
To be perfectly honest I can't really tell the difference between fresh sets of the common string brands (although to be fair I haven't done a proper test). I used GHS for a while until I realised those dark/rust spots would appear after a year or two, even though I stored them properly. Gone back to d'addarios because they are super cheap, and the sealed plastic packaging seems to preserve them well. Haven't broken a string on my sunburst Ash Custom ever!
To be perfectly honest I can't really tell the difference between fresh sets of the common string brands (although to be fair I haven't done a proper test). I used GHS for a while until I realised those dark/rust spots would appear after a year or two, even though I stored them properly. Gone back to d'addarios because they are super cheap, and the sealed plastic packaging seems to preserve them well. Haven't broken a string on my sunburst Ash Custom ever!
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
Just put a set of J16s on my new acoustic; first time I've used D'Addarios in years. Maybe I've become conditioned to the lack of zing from Elixirs but they sound fine to me.Molly wrote: I've all but given up on D'Addario too. Had been wondering what to go with after decades on that brand. Lately they just sound dull as shit.
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
Can't remember the last time I broke a string. Just bought a set of D'Addario 12 to something or other with a plain third. Have the Strat down a semitone and the usual 11s feel like elastic bands (grrr - man strings blah blah blah). Anyway, suspect it'd take a lot to snap them.Zaulkin wrote:Haven't broken a string on my sunburst Ash Custom ever!
Just a thought but I wonder if having to cut the string prior to inserting it inside the vintage-style Fender tuner post could loosen the winding at all? Wonder if that'd explain the dull-from-new thing.
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
I use elixirs on anything with a floyd, and NYXLs on all others. I used to use DRs but kept finding them with rust spots straight out the packet.
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
Elixirs on everything. 10-46 on electrics (Strat + Pro Jet) and 12-53 on acoustic. I basically rust straight through plain strings. I sweat a lot. Gigging twice a week i was going through a set a night. Switched to Elixir and i can go a month or two before changing. But i do snap them on the Gretsch, always at the bridge. Must be the break angle from bridge-bigsby.
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
I switched to Elixirs once they came down to $20 or less and haven't bothered with anything else since. Can go for a couple of months without changing stings,maybe even longer sometimes. I found any brand that doesn't use a sealed bag was prone to rust spots, and can sound lifeless from new, not just the brand in descussion.
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
I'm a bit of an elixir fan for the same reasons as above, I corrode strings pretty quicky, but recently a friend restrung one of my guitars for me with non-elixirs and the brightness was definitely a surprise.
They keep telling me tone is in the fingers, but I have yet to see a "look at my fingers" thread.
Lawrence wrote: Every orchestra that comes thru here is a covers band as are most of the jazz bands...
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
Horses for courses.
Always used Ernies on my electrics and Elixirs on acoustic.
I put a set of Elixirs on one guitar and they sounded tosh. Put them on another and they were mint. They do sound great on most things and that lack of zing normally means that the guitar sits back a bit against a voice.
Bloody expensive working your way through different strings to find out what you like.
Always used Ernies on my electrics and Elixirs on acoustic.
I put a set of Elixirs on one guitar and they sounded tosh. Put them on another and they were mint. They do sound great on most things and that lack of zing normally means that the guitar sits back a bit against a voice.
Bloody expensive working your way through different strings to find out what you like.
All the gear... absolutely no idea...
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- Squier
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
Bloody expensive rusting through 2 sets a week too xDMattH wrote: Bloody expensive working your way through different strings to find out what you like.
Also i find elixirs to be a bit less bright, but they stay that way for a lot longer. Most strings i find lose the brightness after only 20 minutes of play or so. Elixirs stay the same for weeks.
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Re: Review: Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel 10s
Yeah - they're a doozy. Saved me a fortune. Not to mention time!LucyTheSpud wrote:Bloody expensive rusting through 2 sets a week too xDMattH wrote: Bloody expensive working your way through different strings to find out what you like.
Also i find elixirs to be a bit less bright, but they stay that way for a lot longer. Most strings i find lose the brightness after only 20 minutes of play or so. Elixirs stay the same for weeks.
All the gear... absolutely no idea...