Elixir, D'addario EXP or...?

[Delberthot]

This year I've gone from using Chromes on my bass which last forever to going back to nickel rounds on my BB1025.

It's a bizarre sensation after using flats for so many years that strings actually go dead after a while. I think I'm managing about 7 gigs on a set before they're done.

I am currently using D'addario 165-5 EXLs but would like to try something that is going to last a lot longer as I like to set up my bass and then just play it. Although the EXLs are seen as relatively smooth for a roundwound I will still like something that allows my fingers to slide off the strings more like the Chromes allowed me to do.

I've tried reading as much as I can over on Talkbs but it's hard to separate the fact from the speculation.

If I was to go for the D'addarios it would be the 170-5 gauge as they don't do the 165-5 in the EXPs according to the website.

If it was Elixirs then I actually quite fancy trying the stainless ones as I'm guessing that they're like stainless but won't wear the frets down having the coating on them. It would be the 45,65,85,105,135 gauge I'd go for as tention wise they're relatively close to my current strings, albeit with more tension on the B & E

Are there advantages/disadvantages to either one of them, differences in sound between them, longevity, etc? There are some other threads on the forum but most are quite old and I'd like a comparison of what they're like after a while as opposed to out of the box.

For info I play in a wedding/function band and play 99% fingerstyle. Music is everything from Etta James to whatever's in the charts

Edited August 11, 2015 by Delberthot

[LayDownThaFunk]

If you like D'Addario EXLs, DR Lo Riders are a good choice. A hair more tension and a little smoother but last way longer than EXLs.

[D'AddarioUK]

The wrap wire in D'Addario EXP strings is coated prior to winding, this means that EXP strings sound and feel like their un-coated counterparts but with a minimum of four times normal string life.

If you wanted the equivalent of EXL165-5 I'm afraid to say that we don't do a single EXP .135 string, to get close you could opt for the EXP165 set with a single EXPXLB130 or as you've suggested you could go for the EXP170-5 set.

[Delberthot]

Thanks for the info. In the end I've decided to go for the Elixir 14782 Stainless strings as they're closer tension wise and after watching and reading reviews they sound exactly what I'm looking for.

Not to mention this if it turns out to be the case for me:

[url="https://youtu.be/XCv5AnJIxjc"]https://youtu.be/XCv5AnJIxjc[/url]

[lowhand_mike]

[quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1439966728' post='2847049']
Thanks for the info. In the end I've decided to go for the Elixir 14782 Stainless strings as they're closer tension wise and after watching and reading reviews they sound exactly what I'm looking for.

Not to mention this if it turns out to be the case for me:

[url="https://youtu.be/XCv5AnJIxjc"]https://youtu.be/XCv5AnJIxjc[/url]
[/quote]

i've not left mine on for 2 years but i've certainly got a year out of them, probably just changed them cos i thought i should rather than needed to. The older sets did start to fray over the pickups but these newer ones, like the video says, just dont seem to do that.

good choice

[Delberthot]

The strings arived today but I'm going to wait until my Hipshot Ultralites arrive before I change them.

I'd be happy with 6 months out of them rather than the 4-6 weeks I'm getting currently