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Ok, just a little background. These are supposed to be a very unique string on the market. Made out of the type of pure nickel that was available back in the late 50's and early 60's....before steel came into the picture. The nickel is also of a different type of composition than any of the quot;pure nickelquot; strings that are on the market today. The guy who produces them is a vintage tone freak regarding strings, and will only use the finest quot;historically correctquot; materials and methods....like Seymour with the Antiquities. He has done a lot of research and sound comparisions, in addition to being a player for more than 30 years. He has documented the difference in tone from early 60's string to the strings that came out in the 70's....interesting stuff, and has written an amazing series of articles on the subject. He says most people forget that tone starts with you string, as they are the first thing in the tone chain right after your fingers....and that's a good point.

The strings come in 2 types currently, quot;Vintagequot; which has the traditional smooth tone, and the quot;Rock Setquot; which is a brighter version, but not harsh in any way.

My sets are the quot;Vintagequot;. The first thing I noticed when I took them out of the wrapper was the smooth, slinky feel they have, even on the wound strings. None of them are harsh and rough like the strings I usually use. Once you get them tuned to pitch and streched out, the first thing I noticed again was the feel. Sliding, bending, chording. It just felt much more effortless than with other strings. I know many people, myself included, would use stuff like Dr. Stringfellow or similar products to keep the strings a little slinkier....no need with these. I think I should mention that these strings are not coated with anything, like an Elixer. Just smooth creamy pure nickel...even the wound strings are a nickel core with a nickel wrap.

How's the tone you ask? Damn nice. Articulate and clear without any harshness at all. There is definately a warm, vintage vibe to them. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I seem to hear some very pleasing overtones from them...especially clean, a top end sparkle if you will. Also, almost no string squeak on the wound strings....which is something I like. Bends are much more effortless and smooth. Definately different from the EB Hybrid Slinky's I've used for years. The EB Slinkys had always offered the best feel for me of the brands I had tried. I'm sold on these strings now.

The other cool factor is that string life is supposed to be exceptionally long. The guy who makes them says that guys that change strings every week are getting months out of a set, and that guys who change monthly or even less frequently are getting 3,4, even 6 months out of a set with very little sound degredation. I will have to see for myself on this aspect, but I usually only change my strings when I either break one, or swap pups. I always de-burr my saddles, I can't remember the last time I broke a string playing. I'll sometimes break one streching them out, but that's it....and yes I bend strings.

I want to try some of the Rock version, just to see how they differ from the Vintage. I think I may end up liking a mix of the two...based on the inherent darkness or brightness of my individual guitars. Definately a thumbs up for this product. More than worth the $8.50 a set, especially if I get 6 months out of a set.

How do we get them, and what gauges do they come in? I hope he makes a Vintage 11 set...

I have a vintage set on my PRS Cu24. They sound great and last a good long time. I put 'em on back in July. It's my #1 guitar but it gets a fair bit of work.
Contact info can be found on this thread. I don't like posting email addresses but you can find it there.

Kind of sounds like D'Addario EXL110s....for $3.99 at my local mom amp; pop shop!I loved the feel of the strings on my Hamer amp; asked the guy what was on there...he said they were the ones that came from the custom shop when he ordered it. I e-mailled Hamer to see what they use amp; they PROMPTLY answerred back.

I've since switched all my Ernie Ball Slinky's to these.

I believe he will make any guage you want, even custom guage sets. He asked me what I wanted in each string, and I just told him I wanted a standard 9-46 set. You know, depending on the guitar you play, these feel so nice and slinky that you may even be able to go up a guage and still retain close the the stiffness of your old strings. I know on my Dean Hardtail, the effect was dramatic...not quite as much on my Lester, but noticable.

thanks for the review jeff ... let us know in a few weeks how they hold up over time for you ...

cheers
t4d

Very cool, how do they compare to DR Pure Blues, if you're able to answer?

If they hold up for 2 months or so, I'm definitely picking up a set!

Can't compare to DR Blues....I've use EB Slinky's for as long as I can remember. If you read thru some of the responsed in link that Alec posted...you'll see that people seem to prefer them to ANY brand of strings they've tried.

Hell, the thread about them at the gear page is 80 pages long, going back over a year!


Originally Posted by DeadSkinSlayer3If they hold up for 2 months or so, I'm definitely picking up a set!

Alec's had a set on his PRS since July. I'm betting I'll get 3 months or more per set....maybe significantly more.


Originally Posted by Jeff_HCan't compare to DR Blues...That's cool, a couple of your comments just made me think of those strings. A slinkier feel (due to a round core instead of a hex core and pure nickel construction on the DRs), slicker feel, less finger squeak, etc.

Thanks for the review, I wonder how long theyll last if i change DRs every 4 days... ill probabally be trying a Vintage set very soon.


Originally Posted by ArmotronThanks for the review, I wonder how long theyll last if i change DRs every 4 days... ill probabally be trying a Vintage set very soon.Every 4 days? Holy crap, why do you got through them so fast?

The guy that makes them (Leo or Dave, can't remember his name....help me out Alec) told me that he has a set that has been on one of his guitars for over a year. I don't know how much time he puts on his guitars, but from reading posts at the other forum it sounds like he is a regular player and possibly gigs.

I will seriously leave a set of EB's on some of my guitars until the start to blacken or feel rough. Sometimes this 2 months, sometimes it's 6 months. If these strings only last twice as long for me....they're a bargin. They just feel so much better than any other string I've tried. I'm changing annother guitar over tonight. I'll wait for my last lester until I change pups for the last time.

Seriously, for $8.50, buy 2 sets...a vintage and a rock. See what you think. You know it costs you $16 to eat fast food twice....it's really worth it.


Originally Posted by Jeff_HSeriously, for $8.50, buy 2 sets...a vintage and a rock. See what you think. You know it costs you $16 to eat fast food twice....it's really worth it.I just ordered one of each!


Originally Posted by PUCKBOY99I just ordered one of each!

I've got an email in to him to do the same .

Yay....now you guys can tell me if I'm nuts, or this stuff really is the schnizelle.


Originally Posted by Jeff_HYay....now you guys can tell me if I'm nuts, or this stuff really is the schnizelle.Can I go ahead and answer, or do I have to wait for the strings?


Originally Posted by FretFireCan I go ahead and answer, or do I have to wait for the strings?

Watch it, I know where New Mexico is!


Originally Posted by Jeff_HLeo or Dave, can't remember his name....help me out Alec

Dean Farley