Having Trouble With D'Addario J-74s. Any Recommendations?

[journeybear]

I have used D'Addario J-74s since they came out over thirty years ago. I like them, they've done well by me, and the "David Grisman picks this set" blurb sealed the deal. (Even when they switched that to Ricky Skaggs, and now it's back to Dawg.)

But the last month or so, I have been breaking strings left and right, almost every gig, sometimes even 2-3 strings. They're always the E and A strings, very rarely the wound strings. For my last string purchase I had Strings And Beyond add a dozen each single strings as spares - and I've already gone through nearly all of them. I will grant that I have been playing more often than before this band got so busy, and it's also possible that I play harder than I used to (though I have been turning up a little so I can use a little softer attack), but the days of getting three months out of a set of strings seem to be over.

These are .011 and .015 gauges, in case you didn't know. And I believe they usually break at the bridge, a Fishman M150, which seems free of burrs.

I am fiercely loyal, to both brands and suppliers, and when I find ones I like I stick with them and also recommend them to everyone. But this experience is making me wonder whether it's time to make a change, and what other people prefer. I also wonder how true it is that there are only a handful of actual manufacturers of strings, and the rest is all marketing.

[fatt-dad]

where are they breaking and have you taken a magnifying glass to that area? I play pretty heavy (usually used the EXP-74s though) and never had that problem.

I've recently switched to T-I "heavy" though. And love them!

f-d

[Denny Gies]

Could be the bridge or nut need adjusting. I had the same problem with an old Auria years ago and found the nut needed to be replaced. Good luck.

[Bob Clark]

Hi JB,

Are they breaking in the same place each time (tuner, nut, bridge), or is it random?

Have you done any setup work lately (changes to nut or bridge)?

Do you also play another mandolin and are you experiencing breakage on that one as well? If you don't play another mandolin, can you borrow one for a few days and see if it's you or if it's your equipment (mandolin/strings)?

I am assuming that all these strings are from Strings and Beyond, so I doubt your are having a problem with fake D'Addarios, but have you mentioned this breakage to Strings and Beyond? I am assuming you did when you bought all the extras. What did they suggest?

Just a few basic thoughts that you've probably already gone through.

Bob

[twilson]

Over time, as you tune up, your bridge can creep. Check to see if your bridge is starting to lean forward. That would make the string meet the bridge on the back edge and more prone to break.

Tim Wilson

[JeffD]

Hey JB, I was having the exact same problem a while back. The music shop I support gave me new sets and they would break too. Always a and/or e.

Looking closely at the strings I noticed that even put of the envelope new, sometimes there was a little flat area, like a crimp.

I think that I had gotten some of those counterfeit strings that I read about. Yep, counterfeit J-74s. The music shop was very very accommodating and gave me more new strings, that I would inspect before putting on, and return in necessary. I think I went through 3 or 4 sets, but eventually the problem was behind me.

The D'Addario web site had something about the counterfeit problem.

I too am very loyal to D'Addario J-74s. Though frustrating, I have never been unsatisfied with the response of the shop, and they were happy with the response of D'Addario. I do look at the a and e strings real close before I put them on, but I haven't found anything funky in a long long time.

[Jim Garber]

D'Addario is an honorable company. One time I changed strings on my L-5 and one broke immediately. I mailed it back to them with some details on how it broke and they sent a nice letter saying that they appreciated all the details and it helps to make their products better. They also sent a replacement set.

I know they also have been pretty vigilant and aware of the counterfeit string problem as well. I am sure they would be happy to hear from you.

[journeybear]

Thye break usually at the bridge. (See ¶3 of OP. ) I recently adjusted the bridge for intonation, though this was happening even before that. But I do think there is a little forward lean, which I should address as Tim suggested - and should anyway to maximize sound production to the top.

I haven't contacted D'Addario - yet - as I also assumed that getting my strings from Strings And Beyond, my supplier for ten years, meant they would be genuine. I didn't really mention this problem when I placed my last order, other than to say that these are the strings that break the most often. It may be worth pointing out that the strings breaking so often are these single strings. I wonder whether using strings from a set would prove more durable? Might be worth trying.

And no, I don't have another mandolin, not an acoustic, anyway. Well, I do, but it's an A-00 and nowhere near as good sounding as the A, and without a pickup either. I do have an electric, which I haven't been playing much lately as that band has been on hiatus. But I didn't have this problem (so much) with that band. Two reasons: different style of music, hence playing; and less frequent playing of the acoustic, about 15% of the time. Playing swing and ragtime in this band means a lot faster playing and more tremolo.

[Jim Garber]

Not sure why single strings from the same maker would be any different from the ones in the set as long as they are the same gauge. Then again... it may be a mystery.

[journeybear]

I know ... Unless they'd been sitting around a bit longer. Just trying to provide as much info as I can.

[Al Hagensen]

I had a similar problem, D'Addario is a stand up manufacturer !
I contacted them and they went out or their way to make everything good. They also made a loyal customer!!

[jim simpson]

I have used the J-74's forever (have never redeemed my player points!) and had the same problem with the same string breaking at the bridge. I filed the leading edges of the bridge string slot and that stopped the breaking. It's rare for me to break strings these days, I wear them out and will change them when they start to go out of tune. Just read Charlie Louvin's book in which he tells how Ira Louvin would get so mad while trying to tune his mandolin that he would smash it against a wall. I guess he did this a lot.

[j. condino]

Counterfeit D'Addario strings are getting to be a real problem showing up in a lot of places:

http://daddarioinc.blogspot.com/2010...unterfeit.html


http://www.daddario.com/upload/DABR_...wRes_15727.pdf

j.
www.condino.com

[journeybear]

... Ira Louvin would get so mad while trying to tune his mandolin that he would smash it against a wall. I guess he did this a lot.

Somehow I don't think that would solve the problem. Are you sure that wasn't Pete Townshend?

[Ivan Kelsall]

JB - Go to the D'Addario 'Play Real' page :- http://www.daddario.com/PlayReal.Pag...8-f5106fd0219b & follow the instructions there. You can check the serial number on the string packet to check if your strings are genuine. D'Addario came up with this check because there are forgeries around. I've just noticed that James Condino got in before me -well, never mind !.
It does seem strange that after using J74's for so long,something suddenly goes wrong. I've been using J74's for 7 years,& the only time i broke a string was by over-tightening it. I hope you get the problem sorted,
Ivan

[ddawson2010]

Gents - don from D'Addario Strings here and yes, counterfeit strings have been a bit of a pain - popping up in more places than one would expect. But Strings and Things is a really reliable source. We'd be surprised as well, if they turned up fake. Still work a check I suppose.

JB - feel free to send me an email don.dawson2@daddario.com and we'll get you replacements right away. It also worth a peek at that bridge. Shoot me a note and we'll take care of the details.

Don Dawson
Product marketing specialist
D'Addario / Planet Waves

[stevedenver]

as noted, an honorable company

[journeybear]

Never a doubt in my mind, Steve. Thank you Don, that is very kind of you. Before I take you up on your offer, I will check out both factors recommended - my bridge and the counterfeit list. As I said, I have used D'Addarios almost exclusively since I first encountered them, over thirty years, and have never had any problems before - certainly not anything like this recent experience - so I have a hard time understanding what's causing this. If indeed they are counterfeit - I'd be really surprised if they are - I'm sure Strings And Beyond, another fine, reputable company, would want to know.

Just so you know, I survived tonight's gig without a problem. I've taken to nudging my volume up just a bit and playing softerfor the most part, and that worked just fine.

Oh, by the way - I'd be willing to work out an endorsement deal. I may not be very well-known - though I still hope to be someday - but perhaps you could consider my geographic position as as having some strategic importance - southernmost mandolinist in the contiguous 48 states ...

[Ivan Kelsall]

It's nice to hear directly from a member of the company who arguably makes the most popular set(s) of mandolin strings on the planet - talk about having one's eye on the ball !,
Ivan

[Dagger Gordon]

It's nice to hear directly from a member of the company who arguably makes the most popular set(s) of mandolin strings on the planet - talk about having one's eye on the ball !,
Ivan

I agree. I also always use J74s. Not having any trouble, although I haven't put on a recently bought set for a while.

[Jim Garber]

Kudos to Don and D'Addario for excellent customer service.

[journeybear]

OK, so Friday night's gig went pretty well. I turned up a little so I could ease off on my picking attack. Everything was fine until the very end, when I broke two strings during the last two songs, including a D. (Always impressed when that happens, and the one time I broke a G string is a fond memory. ) My band got a request to play a freebie Saturday, so I didn't have a chance to do an inspection and string change. I put on a couple of old strings just to get through .... and of course, two more strings broke during this event. Different ones than the ones I'd changed, BTW. Going through a string change right now, I remembered to check D'Addario's counterfeit site. I didn't find it much help, actually, being focused on ball end guitar strings, though of course some of the info was relevant. But the biggest problem is I don't see the serial numbers I'm supposed to check. These strings come in the vinyl packet that the site says were discontinued in 2002, not the new thinner-looking bags as pictured. Can these strings really be 10 years old? They don't look rusty or otherwise corroded. The only other check that seems pertinent is the one about the printing, and that looks A-OK. I should reiterate that the problems I've been having have ben with the replacement strings, and those don't have any serial numbers. The E strings did come in a sealed packet of the newer thinner plastic, which is a good sign.

As to my bridge - that does seem a bit tilted forward, the result of a bit of adjusting to improve the intonation. We're doing some recording, and the engineering is being done by the banjo player, who claims to have perfect pitch, so the intonation being off was really bothering him. In the process of relocating the bridge it was left not completely perpendicular, and I am hoping that's what has caused this whole mess. And furthermore, I can blame the banjo player. That's always fun.

I'll report back after the gig and after-party. Sometime later, after a while ...

[JeffD]

Inspect the a and E strings you put back on. I found that the ones that broke had this little flat spots. When I replace I look for those flat spots. I haven't ever had a problem with a string that had no flat spots, since I started checking. FYIYMMV

[journeybear]

Putting on a new set of strings and adjusting the bridge may have solved my problem. The bridge still tilts slightly forward, and try as I might I can't seem to get it to a true perpendicular attitude. But I got through the gig, and a party with another hour or so of jamming afterward, with no problems, so maybe that was it. I say this knowing full well I could be jinxing it, but I am ever optimistic. No, I'm not, I'm ever skeptical, even cynical, but I'm trying to lighten up.

[Ivan Kelsall]

JB - The bridges on both my mandolins tilt slightly forward,but it's only the saddle that does,not the bridge base. Why it should tilt on my Weber with it's brass reinforcement insert in the saddle,i don't know,but it does. Adjusting the bridge placement to accomodate the forward tilt is all it takes as it's the correct placement of the saddle,not the base that counts - but you know that !,
Ivan