D'Addario string gauge mixup

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John LaTorre
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:43 pm

D'Addario string gauge mixup

Post by John LaTorre »

Hi, all:

While stringing up a new build with D'Addario EJ16 strings, I happened to notice that the color-coded ball ends on the two upper strings were switched ... the first string's was purple, and the second string's was silver. I caught the error right away, but got to wondering if anybody else had noticed the same problem in the string sets they've been getting.

The strings appear to be authentic, not counterfeit. I don't remember exactly where I bought them, but it was probably one of the local guitar stores here in Sacramento ... Guitar Workshop or New 5th String. I would have bought them sometime this spring.

Another mystery: all the strings were about 0.002" thinner than the gauges listed on the package. When I was getting these readings, I suspected a wonky micrometer, but it checked out against my trusty feeler gauge set. Is this normal for strings?
John LaTorre
Sacramento CA
Clay Schaeffer
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Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:04 pm

Re: D'Addario string gauge mixup

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

D'Addario posted a guide on line for telling counterfeit strings from authentic.

http://www.daddario.com/upload/DABR_...wRes_12587.pdf
John LaTorre
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:43 pm

Re: D'Addario string gauge mixup

Post by John LaTorre »

Clay Schaeffer wrote:D'Addario posted a guide on line for telling counterfeit strings from authentic.

http://www.daddario.com/upload/DABR_...wRes_12587.pdf
That's the first place I went. Ball ends were the right shape, wrapping looked good, so I assumed that the strings were the genuine article.
John LaTorre
Sacramento CA
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Mark Swanson
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Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
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Re: D'Addario string gauge mixup

Post by Mark Swanson »

That link is broken for me.
  • Mark Swanson, guitarist, MIMForum Staff
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Barry Daniels
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Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: D'Addario string gauge mixup

Post by Barry Daniels »

That is the first time I've heard of counterfeit strings. Instruments yes; but strings?
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Peter Wilcox
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Re: D'Addario string gauge mixup

Post by Peter Wilcox »

Mark Swanson wrote:That link is broken for me.
It should be http://www.daddario.com/upload/DABR_Cou ... _15727.pdf

The board must have truncated the link and/or changed the file number from 15727 to 12587.
Maybe I can't fix it, but I can fix it so no one can fix it
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Mark Swanson
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Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan USA
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Re: D'Addario string gauge mixup

Post by Mark Swanson »

Thank you, Peter!
  • Mark Swanson, guitarist, MIMForum Staff
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