Ryan's Gig Guide - November 2019

with a revolutionary new string treatment. Using a hydrophobic coating to repel moisture, the strings will now last longer than any of their previous ranges. The absence of moisture means the strings are less prone to corrosion as it takes them longer to react with the air around them. They may even stand up to players with the acidic type of alien sweat that seems to melt strings away after every gig, but that may be one you have to test out for yourself. The coating is remarkably subtle and unlike other coated strings it is extremely hard to detect through feel. The string’s core is one of the biggest factors that determine durability. Not every core is made equal. All the cores in this new range are manufactured in D’addario’s own facility in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York. Starting out as thick wire on a huge spool, it is reduced in size via a process called drawing. Some companies outsource this process. The problem with this is that guitar strings make up such a small amount of the market for wire that no manufacturer can dedicate the required time to improving what the guitar string could be. D’addario made the bold decision to bring the drawing process in house which allowed them to pay in nite attention to detail and evolve the string to what it is now. The NYXL range was a result of all the research that had gone alongside bringing this process in house as well as their use of custom spec machines. Safe to say the XT series would not be here if it was not for this massive move. Not only does the material and manufacturing process change the string’s performance but the shape of the core also plays an important role. During the drawing process the cores are made into a hexagon shape. The purpose of this is to improve the bond between the wrap wire and the core. Maybe the science is lost on us. Different woods and their sonic characteristics seem easier to follow than different manufacturing techniques and alloys but D’addario’s persistence and the minute tolerances they work within is something to be admired.  26th November D’addario are coming to town on the 26th November with artists Yvette Young and Mike Dawes in association with Guitar Guitar at the Academy Of Contemporary Music Birmingham Campus. Contact Guitar Guitar Birmingham for details and tickets. www.ryansgigguide.com rgg Nov 2019 31