Ernie Ball VS D’Addario Guitar Strings

Guitar strings are very personal. They are the one thing you touch the most as a guitarist so it's important to choose the right string for you.
Today I take a look at a set of Dadario XL and Ernie Ball Slinky strings and put them head to head in different categories.

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[PunctualGolem]

I was indeed watching this on the toilet.

[profile_]

Keith Richards once said in an interview that he switches back and forth between D'addario and Ernie Ball Slinky sets. He thinks D'addario hold their tone slightly longer but Slinky's feel a little nicer. Nice comparison here, kudos

[DragonCrestPC]

I'm a D'addario player myself. I've tried others and always come back.

[leoseanster]

Honestly, as long as the gauges are correct and they don't break too easily, any string manufacturer will do. Rotosound and Elixir are also two options I see quite a bit in the stores around me, and they work just fine.

[gocxgtr]

Let me set everybody straight. I used many kinds of strings for 40 years of professional work. The best I ever played were Yamaha but you can't get them in the U.S. I got them when I was playing in Tokyo. Back in the U.S. I went to a music store looking for Ernie Ball strings, they were out and suggested I try Roro Sound. I knew they were the top bass strings but never knew they made guitar strings. I tried them and could not believe the sound, quality and the fact that they stay in tune forever. They feel a little slippery and I asked if they were coated and was told no, they are just made so well and friction free. Try them!

[guitarforall]

ernie balls rust so fast, and get like super dark and dirty in some spots. and eventually they end up snapping on a floyd rose easily. diaddario is the only way to go

[kingtrashmouth]

I played Ernie balls because my dad played Ernie balls. But I switched to d’addario a while back. I haven’t noticed a tone change, but the d’addario strings last longer for me.

[masterjar]

I literally go back and forth between D’Addario and Ernie Ball ALL the time and I cant notice any difference.

[rocknrollresignation]

Have to say I'm a big fan of Daddario. Consistent, sound good, can be bought in bulk and are usually cheaper than Ernie Ball sacks.

[svenben]

As a beginner guitarist around age 15 or so I knew nothing about strings, gauge, brand.. I knew when I went and bought strings my chosen set was whatever ad I last saw in Guitar World. Or whatever set my friend bought before me. I do know this. I was always breaking strings. Not just the high E, but G and A strings mostly. My cousin told me to try D'addario XL120s. 9 guage strings. He told me since he switched to them he has not broken a string prematurely before a string change. Also at the time there were $4.79.. the cheapest brand my local store carried. I am now 45. So roughly 30 years later and I still buy and play D'addario XL120s..
... plus the colored ball ends are cool as shit. On my floating trem guitars I string them ball end at the tuner and plane end at the bridge. Colored ball ends look kinda cool at the head stock still to my eye..

[pmAhavasi]

what ive noticed around 5 years ago, is ernie balls G B E strings are feels smoother than others. since then, im using ernie ball, but again this has maybe changed over the years lol. I still like them anyways

[travisbarras]

My all time favorite strings are Dean Markley Blue Steel... the sensitivity is unbeatable for bending.

[Metaldad]

I have been an Ernie ball player for years. I recently got a set of stringjoy strings though and I'm honestly thinking of switching to those, they feel great I'll just have to see what they get as far as longevity.

The hand written thank you with your name is a nice touch too

[SillyBoydo]

I work at a music retail store and I've been told that they're all made in the same factory, the brands just select, package, brand and distribute them. Lots of companies do stuff like this so I believe this to an extent - at least for the regular sets of strings, not including the high magnetism or coated sets both do. I don't actually have any proof of this though.

In practice, they function exactly the same. they sound no different. people claim that one may not dull as fast, keep tuning better, are less dull out of the packet but i've heard all the claims from both sides. The differences are simply random imperfections between any set you buy whether it's EB or D'addario, it doesnt matter. The only TRUE difference they offer is the guage combinations of the sets.

I personally like that EB are wound the whole length and i like their packaging more. But i prefer D'addario gauges and selection of them.

[diongreenlee]

I've only used Ernie Ball and I never had a problem buying the three pack. And yes they are cheaper to buy the three pack then the individual set. Also, when you buy the three pack inside the package, each set is individually wrapped.

[blaness]

I've been on the ernie ball side for as long as i can remember, and have tried other strings for weird experimental tunings or whatever, but i've ultimately stuck with EB, I've tried D'addario, and sometimes they are the strings on brand new guitars but i've never liked the way they feel in my hands, I don't hate them by any means, i just don't prefer them, over here in the state, i don't notice availability issues except with weird end of spectrum sets, and thats usually only in local mom and pop shops that don't really have much of a reason to keep the super heavy sets in cause thats not the kind of player that generally visit the store,

[brianbergmusic]

DROP-C USERS WANNA COMMENT? I was happy with E.B.'s "Skinny Top Heavy Bottom" set for drop-d, but it just isn't going to cut it for a whole step further down. So far, it seems that D'addario treats Drop-C players better with their set called EXL117 (11 -> 56). I could almost go heavier than a 56, but so far I'm pretty happy. E.B. has the "Beefy Slinky" set that takes your 11 treble but only gets as beefy as a 54. If you wanna chug and keep your bass string tight, it would seem that D'addario treats Drop-C users better with that EXL117 set. So far, it sounds and feels great.

[justo]

Ernie ball come in a 3 pk boxed Australia for around $30 AUD depending who you buy from. Also available in 12 pk box

[dangolguitartech]

Ernie Ball strings feel the best and sound better initially, but they die much quicker. D’Addario strings feel OK but are a little bright for my taste the first day or so, but they soon mellow out.

And for the record, I change my strings about every two weeks… You guys that go longer than that puzzle me. My hands are very clean and do not sweat abnormally or corrosive Lee but I still have to change my strings for intonation and tuning purposes.

[adrianadrian]

I’m mostly a bass player. I live 65kms from the nearest music store and I’ve played in some distant places. For years I’ve had all my basses set up for the same gauge of Ernie Ball. Each bass case has a spare set in and I’ll keep a few sets at home. My tech tells me there are are strings that last longer, or intonate better. But the EBs are available everywhere - even my local Best Buy stocks them. I don’t like the sound of new strings on a bass. But using that one brand, i know in an emergency I can find them anywhere. Being the same material, they will create the same tension, so no adjustments required. I know how to counter the shrillness of new strings, how long it will take them to stretch and to mellow.