The Player’s Choice™ Fretted Instrument Strings 2001-2002 Introduction With the tremendous variety of strings available, choosing the right set for your playing style and taste can be quite a confusing task, but it can also be a rewarding one. D’Addario’s 2001 catalog has been designed to provide you with all the technical information you need to make selecting your favorite strings as easy as possible. It also includes some string tips to help you get the most out of the strings you choose. We’re sure you’ll find it useful. 4 ”Live television is one of the most demanding gigs for any musician. Knowing that I can always count on D’Addario strings to perform makes all the difference in the world.” - Kevin Eubanks - guitarist, The Tonight Show ”I love the fat, crunchy sound I get from D’Addario strings. They never let me down, and they allow me to put all my energy into making music.” - Poncho Sampedro - guitarist, Neil Young & Crazy Horse ”It is best to play music from the heart. To do that, you need a string that has a true pitch and beautiful sound. These are among the many fine qualities I find in D’Addario strings.” - Ben Verdery - classical guitarist ”I have used D’Addario strings since 1989. After all these years of playing them exclusively, I can tell you that D’Addario Composite Strings are the most consistent strings I have ever used. They are more in tune than any other brands, they never break, and they last very long in the studio and on the road.” - Ottmar Liebert - flamenco guitarist 5 Table of Contents Electric Guitar Strings XLS Stainless Steel Round Wound 8 Pedal Steel 8 EXL Nickelplated Steel Round Wound 9 Heat-Treated Stainless Steel Half Round Wound 11 Chromes Stainless Steel Flat Wound 11 Acoustic Guitar Strings 80/20 Bronze Round Wound 14 85/15 Bronze Round Wound 14 Phosphor Bronze Round Wound 15 EXP Coated Strings 16 Silk & Steel 17 Flat Tops Semi-Flattened Phosphor Bronze 17 Bass Guitar Strings Prism Stainless Steel Round Wound 20 Slowound Nickelplated Round Wound 21 EXL Nickelplated Round Wound 22 Heat-Treated Stainless Steel Half Round Wound 24 Chromes Stainless Steel Flat Wound 25 Phosphor Bronze Wound 25 Classical Guitar Strings Pro•Arté – Laser Selected Trebles 28 Classical Guitar – Rectified Nylon Trebles 29 Classical Guitar – Student Grade 29 Folk/Classical Guitar – Ball End Nylon 29 Banjo, Mandolin, and Other Strings Banjo 30 Mandolin Family 31 Other Sets 31 Guitar Tips About String Tensions and Gauges 34 Which Set is for Me? 34 Glossary of String Terms 35 Why Do Strings Break? 36 Determining the Scale of Your Bass 36 Restringing Your Guitar 37 Frequently Asked Questions 37 ”D’Addario XLs start bright and they stay bright.” - Jeff Tweedy - guitarist, Wilco - Susan Tedeschi - blues guitarist ”I’ve never used anything other than D’Addario strings and neither should you.” - Brad Delson - guitarist, Linkin Park - Noodles - guitarist, The Offspring 7 Electric Guitar Strings XLS Stainless Steel Round Wound Pedal Steel EXL Nickelplated Steel Round Wound Heat-Treated Stainless Steel Half Round Wound Chromes Stainless Steel Flat Wound Acoustic Guitar Strings 80/20 Bronze Round Wound 85/15 Bronze Round Wound Phosphor Bronze Round Wound EXP Coated Strings Silk & Steel Flat Tops Semi-Flattened Phosphor Bronze Bass Guitar Strings Prism Stainless Steel Round Wound Slowound Nickelplated Round Wound EXL Nickelplated Round Wound Heat-Treated Stainless Steel Half Round Wound Chromes Stainless Steel Flat Wound Phosphor Bronze Wound Classical Guitar Strings Pro•Arté – Laser Selected Trebles Classical Guitar – Rectified Nylon Trebles Classical Guitar – Student Grade Electric Folk/Classical Guitar – Ball End Nylon Banjo, Mandolin, and Other Strings Guitar Strings Banjo Mandolin Family Other Sets Guitar Tips About String Tensions and Gauges Which Set is for Me? Glossary of String Terms Why Do Strings Break? Determining the Scale of Your Bass Restringing Your Guitar Frequently Asked Questions bright tone mellow ® ® EXLS510 ® GUITA R STAINLESSSTRINGS HEAT TREATED TO RESTORE BRIGHTNESS STEEL .010 • .013 • .017 • .026 • .036 • .046 .010 ELECTRIC GUITAR STRINGS Electric Guitar Strings NICKEL WOUND•REGULAR LIGHT GAUGE ELECTRIC GUITAR STRINGS ECG23 High Finish Ribbon Wound REGULAR.013 .010•.013•.017•.026 430 Stainless Steel Extra Light Gauge LIGHT.017 .036•.046 Ground Half-round 1st .010 4th .028 GAUGE.026 REGULAR LIGHT GAUGE 2nd .014 5th .038 EXL110 3rd .020 6th .048 MADE AND PRINTED IN USA E H R 3 1 0 .010- .010- .046 .046 USA USA stainless nickelplated half round flat wound steel steel stainless stainless ® EXLS510 GUITA R STAINLESSSTRINGS STEEL .010 REGULAR.013 LIGHT.017 GAUGE.026 8 MADE AND PRINTED IN USA .010- XLS Stainless Steel Round Wound .046 XLS Stainless Steel XLS530 Extra-Super Light Pedal Steel diameter tension strings are known item # note inches mm lbs. kg XLS490 E-9th Tuning for their extremely PL008 E .008 0.20 10.4 4.72 diameter tension long-lasting, bright PL010 B .010 0.25 9.1 4.13 item # note inches mm lbs. kg tone. The winding is PL015 G .015 0.38 12.9 5.85 PL013 F# .013 0.33 31.2 14.15 XSG021 D .021 0.53 11.9 5.40 PL015 D# .015 0.38 29.4 13.33 a highly magnetic XSG030 A .030 0.76 13.9 6.30 PL011 G .011 0.28 28.1 12.74 430 stainless steel XSG038 E .038 0.97 11.9 5.40 PL014 E .014 0.36 28.7 13.02 alloy that provides PL017 B .017 0.43 23.8 10.79 clear, bright tone EXLS520 Super Light PL020 G# .020 0.51 23.3 10.57 XSG026 F# .026 0.66 26.1 11.84 with maximum diameter tension signal strength. The item # note inches mm lbs. kg XSG030 E .030 0.76 28.1 12.74 PL009 E .009 0.23 13.1 5.94 XSG034 D .034 0.86 27.9 12.65 oxidation-resistant PL011 B .011 0.28 11.0 4.99 XSG038 B .038 0.97 24.1 10.93 properties of PL016 G .016 0.41 14.7 6.67 stainless steel make XSG024 D .024 0.61 15.6 7.07 XLS500 C-6th Tuning XLS strings resistant XSG032 A .032 0.81 15.5 7.03 diameter tension XSG042 E .042 1.07 14.5 6.58 item # note inches mm lbs. kg to climatic PL012 G .012 0.30 29.8 13.51 conditions. EXLS510 Regular Light PL014 E .014 0.36 28.7 13.02 PL017 C .017 0.43 26.7 12.11 diameter tension PL020 A .020 0.51 26.1 11.84 item # note inches mm lbs. kg XSG024 G .024 0.61 25.1 11.38 PL010 E .010 0.25 16.2 7.35 XSG030 E .030 0.76 28.1 12.74 PL013 B .013 0.33 15.4 6.98 XSG036 C .036 0.91 24.5 11.11 PL017 G .017 0.43 16.6 7.53 XSG042 A .042 1.07 23.3 10.57 XSG026 D .026 0.66 18.2 8.25 XSG054 F .054 1.37 24.4 11.07 XSG036 A .036 0.91 19.2 8.71 XSG070 C .070 1.78 22.8 10.34 XSG046 E .046 1.17 17.1 7.76 XLS540 Light Top/Heavy Bottom diameter tension item # note inches mm lbs. kg PL010 E .010 0.25 16.2 7.35 PL013 B .013 0.33 15.4 6.98 PL017 G .017 0.43 16.6 7.53 XSG030 D .030 0.76 24.7 11.20 XSG042 A .042 1.07 25.8 11.70 XSG052 E .052 1.32 21.5 9.75 XLS590 Jazz Light John Frusciante - guitarist, Red Hot Chili Peppers diameter tension item # note inches mm lbs. kg PL012 E .012 0.30 23.3 10.57 PL016 B .016 0.41 23.3 10.57 XSG024 G .024 0.61 27.8 12.61 XSG032 D .032 0.81 27.6 12.52 XSG042 A .042 1.07 25.8 11.70 XSG052 E .052 1.32 21.5 9.75 XLS600 Jazz Medium diameter tension item # note inches mm lbs. kg PL013 E .013 0.33 27.4 12.43 PL017 B .017 0.43 26.3 11.93 XSG026 G .026 0.66 32.4 14.69 XSG036 D .036 0.91 34.1 15.46 XSG046 A .046 1.17 30.5 13.83 XSG056 E .056 1.42 25.7 11.66 ”I love these strings! They never break & they stay sounding great for a long time.” - Amir Derakh - guitarist, Orgy ® ® ELECTRIC GUITAR STRINGS NICKEL WOUND•REGULAR LIGHT GAUGE .010•.013•.017•.026 .036•.046 EXL110 9 .010- .046 USA EXL Nickelplated Steel Round Wound D’Addario XL EXL130 Extra-Super Light EXL125 Super Light Top/Regular Bottom diameter tension diameter tension Electric Guitar item # note inches mm lbs. kg item # note inches mm lbs. kg strings are world- PL008 E .008 0.20 10.4 4.72 PL009 E .009 0.23 13.1 5.94 renowned as ”The PL010 B .010 0.25 9.1 4.13 PL011 B .011 0.28 11.0 4.99 Player’s Choice” PL016 G .016 0.41 14.7 6.67 PL015 G .015 0.38 12.9 5.85 amongst electric NW021 D .021 0.53 12.0 5.44 NW026 D .026 0.66 18.4 8.34 NW030 A .030 0.76 14.0 6.35 NW036 A .036 0.91 19.5 8.84 guitar players of all NW038 E .038 0.97 12.1 5.49 NW046 E .046 1.17 17.5 7.94 genres and styles.