D'Addario FW74 story

**Brad Weiss** · Mar-16-2011, 1:59pm

So I need some new strings, and I wanted to try the new flatwound set whose development has been influenced by our own Mandohack. I ordered from JustStrings, and began to string them up - alas, the very first 4th string snapped right through the core of the string. Rats! And not at the loop end, but at the peg head. Never seen that before. So I wrote a disgruntled (but polite, I hope) note to JustStrings (and D'Addario) to say that I was surprised by this poor quality - loe and behold, JustStrings sent me an entire NEW SET by FedEx!! Wow! Customer for life! Plus, I like the strings. Heavier than most flatwounds I've played, but a nice punchy tone to go with the silky feel. They have a load of sustain. Hope they last- we'll see. But I thought this a story worth sharing.

**barrangatan** · Mar-16-2011, 2:56pm

Great story - I have not bought from JustStrings before but have heard many good things about them. The FW74 is my flatwound of choice at the moment, because of the heavier gauge and more than reasonable price tag. I also like the punchiness they have, as well as a 'drier' tone than the LaBellas I've tried before. I expect the strings to last at least 6 months, if not longer. Enjoy

**mandolirius** · Mar-17-2011, 1:04pm

Another JustStrings customer here. Fast, efficient service, good prices, have most brands available. I sure don't miss the days when I had to hike to the music store and take whatever they happened to have for mandolin strings. On a lucky day, I'd have two or three sets to choose from. Mostly though it was "Hmm, mandolin strings. I think we have a set around here somewhere."

**Tristram** · Jul-08-2011, 2:28pm

Hm, similar but worse story.

Just got a bunch of new strings to try, two sets of which were the D'addario flat wounds.

My friend started putting them on her mando and the 'g' went at the bend. We put on a bend on the string and fold it under to lock it, do it with all our strings, to hold them in place. Start to tighten and splaaang. Barely took any tension.

The G from the other pack went went on with no issues, as did most of the others, then later an A went, and finally a D, when getting them tuned up. The A actually slipped out of the tuning peg! Never seen anything like it. Even with the lock, it was as if the material was so smooth it just wouldn't hold. And it had already been trimmed so it had to go. Finally got the mado strung up - good job two packs were ordered. They do feel awesome but @£$%-me, it's been a long night...

Will talk to the store they came from and see what they can do - we strung them no differently than we do the bronze so it doesn't seem like we did anything wrong. It wasn't JustStrings, though.

We're just kinda baffled by this, intertesting and a little re-assuring to see a similar story.

**Richard Moore** · Jul-08-2011, 5:40pm

I use the FW74s... they're my string of choice on my National RM-1 (I use the lighter JM-11 flatwounds on my 2-pointer). I've never ever had a problem with either brand and am at a loss to explain the failures mentioned above.

**mandobassman** · Jul-08-2011, 7:40pm

It's nice to see that D'Addario has had some success with their flatwound strings. I have been using flatwounds for many years and it's nice to see others finally understanding their benefits. I knew it would take a mainstream maker to produce and sell them at a reasonable cost to get people to try them. It is discouraging to hear about problems. Hopefully, these are isolated issues and bugs are being worked out. I mainly use Thomastik for my main gigging mandolin, but I have a set of the FW-74s on my second mandolin and they have been on for at least 4 months now. The only thing I don't like about them, other than not having a wound A string, is that the are a little bright for my tastes. That is most likely the very thing most people like about them, especially those that are used to the brightness of bronze. The TI's are bright for a couple of days and then settle down to a nice dry sound that I really like and then stay that way for as long as I keep them on. The FW-74's to me seem as bright as the day I put them on. However, they still sound really good and are as smooth under the fingers as any other flatwound I have used. Good work D'Addario. And also, thumbs up to Just Strings. I have bought from them are they are a first rate dealer.

**Rob Gerety** · Jul-08-2011, 7:49pm

I've been using another brand of flatwound strings for a while now. I'll have to give these a try.

**Tavy** · Jul-09-2011, 12:20pm

Although I managed to break one A and one E when I put these on recently it was entirely my fault: I'd had the strings on and off several times while I set up a new instrument and they'd developed kinks at the tuner peg which then broke. And I didn't have any spares to hand either

Nether fear - I did what I've done before with TI's if they break at the peg - just tie a loop in the broken end, then thread through another length of spare string with a loop in the end (the bit you cut off and normally throw away will do fine) and strung them up with the repair. Since the repair is between the nut and peg it doesn't effect tone, and once the slack has worked out of it it'll last as long as any other string. Of course it is a hassle to do... you have to be quite mean with the pennies to want to do it... you heard it hear first

**Dave Weiss** · Jul-10-2011, 3:04pm

I've had a set on my walnut Big Muddy since January 25th (2011). I play for a couple of hours daily and these strings still look, sound and feel like brand new. I didn't care for them on the M-0, they just felt too "heavy" for that one. Great to hear stories about great customer service, I never get tired of reading them...