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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Re-stringing for a gig tonite, opened a freshly-purchased pack o'EJ16's, and found a pair of little cards inside.
Seems that for "greener" reasons, D'Add is considering doing away with the colored ball-ends, and scaling down to three: Brass, Silver, & Black.
So, when you string up a six, it'll be:
Brass/Silver/Black/Brass/Silver/Black
I guess it'd be better t'just go with brass, silver and anodized black than t'be mucking about with all that paint .If keeps production costs down and is better for the environment, I'm all for it. S'gonna make quick-changes at gigs a more diff, as I've gotten to relying on grabbing the right "color".
They're also asking for participation in a survey on their website regarding this matter.
www.daddario.com/ballends
btw:
The other card was for one week of free unlimited guitar lessons on WorkshopLive . . . . |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Boo, Hiss ... I'm not big on change. Just look at my wardrobe (btw, Cliff I need my silk blouse back if you're done with it.). I'm not much on hugging trees (I'm a strip mall and freeway guy at heart), but I guess if it helps the environs, ok with me. But my conspiacy theory is that in about 6 months they'll be jacking up the price becasue they are now "environmentally friendly" strings. You just wait. Dave |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I also have to add that I purchased multiple sets and only one had this new "color scheme" in it, so evidently it's a random, work-in-progress.
They all had the WorshopLive cards, tho . . . . |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Sounds like it's time to buy ahead for a couple of years......I hope they understand that the color-coding is one of their main marketing advantages....and they are about to throw it away.
Roger |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I don't see it as that much of an advantage.
The only times I every really NEEDED it was to quickly distinguish between a D and a G when I busted one at a gig and needed to replace it on-the-fly.
Since those are the two strings I predominantly break, I just bought a shitload of both (and they don't come color-coded individually) and keep 'em in seperate envelopes. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Here's a thought...
Make each string a slightly different thickness?
(I've prepared my self for a spanking) |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | My guess is it has nothing to do with 'green'... other than the green that matters most to corporations.
And I bet Cliff will be right - cost cutting now, environmental PR and higher prices (less costs more? Why should 'low salt' crackers cost more???) later.
Jeff? Make each string a different thickness? Do you have any idea how much that would cost?? |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | What are the 12 string sets going to be like? :confused:
I guess I'll start using Adamas 1616's again. :D |
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August 2004
Posts: 79
Location: Minnesota | Enviromentally friendly/Eating healthy-It all costs more :mad: Nice Racket! Production costs have nothing to do with the price in many cases. You pay more to live right, seems a bit backwards to me :(
BTW Color coded ball ends are for sissies :p |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by DiamondT:
Enviromentally friendly/Eating healthy-It all costs more Production costs have nothing to do with the price in many cases. You pay more to live right, seems a bit backwards to me :(
Let's talk large scale mono-culture agri-biz corporate subsities. |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Of course, no one HAS to have color-coding on the ball-ends....but it certainly makes D'Addario strings instantly identifiable and visible, a marketing plus. I guess the brass/silver/black scheme will do the same.
Roger |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | B/S/B is going to be complicated. If they want to change just go to one color and be done with it. |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I agree. The only time you really need it is for quick changing, and really how much longer does it take to actually look? I think the BSB system will still be easy to identify, (because how hard is it to tell a D string from a high E?) but they're just as well to go to all one color if they're changing it anyway. |
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Posts: 2487
| I always wondered what those painted ends were for! Of course if you color blind they do little good. I never liked the funny array of colors sticking out of the bridge. I usually just read the big easy to see corresponding letter on each string package to decide which string is being replaced. Bulk strings, when I had some, went in a package I saved from a packaged set. Of course this means I need to know all 6 strings on my guitar.
And which "E" string is which. And hey I am pretty good with my frist 5 or 6 letters so this is perfect for me.
Q; ?? What do you do if you have a real funny lead guitarist and he dips your sting ends in gray paint??????
Randy |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | The color coding has never been a real "tool" for changing the strings. I've just thought that the color ends set them apart andloked cool.
If I may get the jump on Tupp - I will be offering a set of Vintage Retro Classic Collectible Ball End Coloring Kits once they change over.
It will consist of a Set of Sharpies.
Time to hoard up on D'Addarios... |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Like I said, y'can go here www.daddario.com/ballends and make your opinion "known". |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I gave them my "whiney" two cents worth. |
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Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Ditto.
Roger |
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Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Told them to put an Exec on unpaid leave for a week instead. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Yeah, THAT'll happen . . . |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | In fact . . .
they'll probably triple his bonus for getting a "green" idea through, while sales plummet, forcing major lay-offs, he quietly sells off his stock only to ride his golden parachute into a cushy executive position at Kaman. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I think it's a good idea.
It keeps things "simple" yet allows you to readily identify the strings.
Ultimately, the fact IS that they are GOOD strings. They perform the function they were designed to do, and do it very well.
It's like saying "Well, . . this guitar SOUNDS good, but I'm not gonna buy it cuz I don't like the color of the tuner buttons . . . .
That being said, I put the B/S/B strings on my CustBally, and with the gold hardware and the black saddle, these strings look really nice . . . . |
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August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Depends what they do with the 12 string set, EJ38's-a change in those will mess me up. I find it a big help, especially at a dimly lit bar gig, to have the color ends to change a string on the fly. The EJ16 are easier to differentiate. Personally, I like the functionality of the colored ends and couldn't give a crap about the looks. If you don't like the color of my balls, don't look. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | John;
I've had the same problem, but I've since simplified things by keeping (clearly marked) individual envelopes with multiples of each string. Keeps me from ripping open a new package, finding the "greenie", and then having the remainders rattling around in my GigCase. Now, I just end up ripping open a new set whenever I do a FullChange. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | What's with all this breaking strings stuff???
I have not put in near the hours that Cliff and John have accumulated but it's been years since I broke a string. |
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D'Addario's Balls
