D'Addario Strings(ball end unraveling)

[SIXSTRINGSTORM]

Any serious players experiencing trouble with 11 gauge high E coming apart at the ball end when restringing? I use EXL115 Blues/Jazz sets. Been using them forever and only in the last year have I been having troubles with these defective strings. At least ten times this past year.
Before you go FYIing me, let me just tell you that I've been a Professional Lead Guitarist for 25 years and counting, play only high end Gibson Les Pauls and know every inch of my weapons and how they respond to subtle changes.
"This is my rifle, this is my gun...etc" Got some big shows coming up and don't want to be praying to the "string gods" constantly!!!
ANY ONE ELSE FREAKIN' ON THIS or SHOULD I JUST HAVE A BEER AND GET BACK TO ROCKIN'?

[Jeremy47]

happened all the time to me on a parker guitar. very frustrating

[nrandall85]

I've had more problems with D'Addarios in the past few years as well. I keep complaining, they keep sending me free strings, the free strings have the same problems, so I swap back and forth between the D'addarios and Ghs Boomers.

I've discovered that I'll take unreliable D'adds over Boomers any day- the wound strings in those sets are a harmonic disaster.

[Evens]

I was having problem with high E's ball end unraveling on my AVRI jazzmaster using EXL115. But i found a solution online. You take a pair of long nose and hold the part near the ball end, and then give the ball end a few turns clockwise (IIRC) to give that part a few more twists and make it more solid. No problems since then. I love my d'addarios.

[78deluxe]

I use/have used XL115s for many years as the only electric strings I buy. Also play Gibsons (LPs and SGs). Never had a problem...not once.

Serious question, at what point in the restringing process is the ball end coming apart?

[Richard P]

I've had problems with D'Addario dobro strings for the last couple of years. The ball end will just come apart while the instrument is at rest. Pretty damn frustrating. Unfortunately, I like the strings, so I keep putting up with it. I'll have to try that trick of tightening up the ball end…

[clothwiring]

I use them on my main gigging guitars. No, I have not had your experience.

[A440]

longtime user and I haven't experienced it either.

how old are these sets? they've had problems with counterfeit/fakes in the past.

see this doc:

http://www.daddario.com/upload/DABR_...wRes_12587.pdf

[jmoose]

Lemme guess... looks like this?

This string lasted maybe 2 minutes. Snapped either while tuning or stretching. At one point a couple years ago I bought a box of strings for a session out of state. Broke several plain strings on multiple instruments, all within minutes of being strung... all at this same "twist" point, or the ball would simply pop out.

I've switched to Dean Markley & GHS... DR, Ernie Ball etc. Trying new things.

[plan-x]

Originally Posted by Jeremy47

happened all the time to me on a parker guitar. very frustrating

Me too using .009's. I have solved the problem by slipping the non-barreled end thru the barrel and pulling it down to a small loop then again, slip the non-barreled end thru the small loop and pull it down to a small, somewhat tight knot. Voila, No more unwinding.

[Jeremy47]

That's good thinking, plan-x

[6Tones]

My eyes my eyes

[miamimart]

I've been having them go dead prematurely as well. Some sets are great and some are just dogs and I use both the electric and acoustic D'Addario's. Something seems to be wrong over there.

[Crocker]

No problems here at all. I buy bulk boxes of EJ16 and EXL110 plus a variety of other guages for restringing my own guitars and those of customers/students. The only thing I've ever noticed is the ocassional additional string in a package.

[BacchusPlateau]

Wow, I've never broken a D'addario string or experienced anything like this. How long do you go before changing them regularly?