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Thread: D'Addario Delivers A Holiday Turkey

  1. #1
    Registered User Glassweb's Avatar
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    Default D'Addario Delivers A Holiday Turkey

    I have been playing mandolin for almost five decades and for nearly four of them D'Addario J74's were my string of choice. So I was very excited several years ago when DA released the EXP74 series. I loved the added power, tone, stability and feel of these strings. So now look what we get for our loyalty... D'Addario has discontinued the EXP74s!

    I have spent the last day comparing my last set of EXP74s with the new XT series and guess what?

    The new XT strings suck!

    Unlike the EXP74s (which were also coated), these new XT strings actually DO FEEL COATED. Not only that... they sound muffled and muddy compared to the EXPs. The EXPs had a power, punch and clarity which these strings just do not have. Yeah sure, everybody has their taste in strings, but for DA to discontinue this great and popular line after such a relatively short period of time... well, this just leaves a bad taste in my Thanksgiving palate. C'mon DA... bring back the EXP74s...

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  3. #2
    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: D'Addario Delivers A Holiday Turkey

    EXP 74 fan here. Glad I have about a dozen sets to go through before I go string-tasting.

  4. #3
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: D'Addario Delivers A Holiday Turkey

    Sorry. I totally disagree. Couldn't stand the feel of the EXP coating.
    XTs sound less jangly to me right out of the pack. I really can't FEEL any coating on the XTs.

    I've had a set on for about 2 months and they still sound good to me.
    I like them on 2 of my mandos so far. Need to try them on a few more.
    Phil

    “Sharps/Flats” “Accidentals”

  5. #4
    Registered User mingusb1's Avatar
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    Default Re: D'Addario Delivers A Holiday Turkey

    Quote Originally Posted by John Soper View Post
    EXP 74 fan here. Glad I have about a dozen sets to go through before I go string-tasting.
    Hey I just played through a set of EXP74s for the first time and they sounded really good on this mando and held up well. So is the entire line of EXPs discontinued, including the 75s?

    Thanks,
    Z
    Member since 2003!

  6. #5
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: D'Addario Delivers A Holiday Turkey

    Not a fat Butterball bird?
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  7. #6
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: D'Addario Delivers A Holiday Turkey

    Well, there is this ad in the classifieds.....

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/159246#159246

    Not sure what one would do withe 50 picks tho. Wait, I think I have that many and more!

    NFI
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  8. #7
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: D'Addario Delivers A Holiday Turkey

    I decided to by-pass the XTs for the time being. I have a few more sets of EXP, and I purchased a number of Nanoweb Elixirs to try, so it would probably be at least a year before I'll try the new XT thingys.
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