TL;DR: These things are some sort of magic steel forged from Dwarven Mithril. The hype is real, D'addario are string wizards.
Like a lot of guitarists, I never really cared that much about strings. Sure I've had packs that I liked more than others, sure I have a gauge that I prefer, but I was never overly picky and never saw the point in buying expensive strings. In fact, I had a bad experience with some premium Elixers years and years ago that probably wasn't indicative of how good Elixer strings actually are, but it pretty much put me off of ever buying strings priced over $5.
After recently having multiple strings break while restringing with more affordable strings, I decided to finally give NYXL strings a try. I've always heard that they are really good but never gave in to the hype.
It's kind of hard to accurately describe these strings. They are phenomenal really. They have a feel that no other string I've tried has. There's like a slightly tighter tension there, but the resistance is still at the level I want for bending. I like 10s because I want easier bends, but still have more push back and resistance than a set of 9s (which feel like spaghetti noodles to me). These things feel almost like the tension of 11s (which I used to use for many years until I realized they were killing my fingers) but are so easy to play. They almost have like a very slightly waxy feel, which honestly feels amazing under your fingers. It probably sounds silly but they honestly do have a premium feel to them. I had zero issues stringing these up, and didn't need to pre-stretch them near as much as other strings I've used. They also just straight up stay in tune. I've only had to retune my LP slightly, and my Tele is rock solid. I can imagine these working really well for trems.
I normally can't tell the difference between how strings sound. Since I've switched from 11s to 10s I can't tell a difference from either gauge besides feel. But these strings are obviously louder with a punchier mid range. Personally I'm not a huge fan of how bright and shrill a brand new set of strings can be, but these don't have that issue. The bright treble is definitely there, but the mid range is so much more pronounced, which is what I like personally. I never thought I'd prefer the sound of one set of strings to another, but these really do make my guitars sound the way I feel they were meant to sound. They really fill out to sound of my Tele as well which was a pleasant surprise.
I've been playing these for hours on end on both my Tele and LP for almost a week now while playing at home and rehearsal in my band. I can't see any real signs of wear. Normally around this time I've worn in a new set of strings pretty thoroughly but this are still pretty close to looking new. More importantly they still sound just as bright as a fresh pack.
The fact that D'addario offers a points reward system as well is pretty awesome. Seems like for every 8 packs I can get a free pack of these, which is more than I can say for any other brand.
Long story short, the hype is real. Yes these are at a premium price, but with how long they last, how great they sound, how long they sound great, and how great they feel, it's really a no brainer. These strings truly are amazing. I won't string any of my electric guitars with anything else now that I've tried these.
D'Addario Guitar Strings - NYXL Electric Guitar Strings - NYXL1046 - Unrivaled Strength, Tuning Stability, Enhanced Mid-Range
4.8 | 12,493 ratings
Price: 10.4
Last update: 12-29-2024
About this item
PREMIUM GUITAR STRING - NYXLs are our premium uncoated electric strings, delivering unrivaled strength and tuning stability, plus enhanced mid-range.
CUT THROUGH THE MIX – The premium nickel-plated steel wrap wire used for NYXLs provides accentuated frequency response in the 1 - 3.5 kHz range, so you get more presence and crunch to cut through the mix.
STAYS IN TUNE, STRONGER STRING - Stays in tune 131% better than standard strings, while the NY Steel core wire makes them up to 40% stronger—bent two whole steps higher, NYXL strings are still at less than 75% of their breaking point.
EARN REWARD POINTS - NYXL strings come with a code which you can register to earn Players Circle points.
MADE IN THE USA – NYXL electric guitar strings are made in the USA—drawn to our exacting specifications at our New York production facility.
CUT THROUGH THE MIX – The premium nickel-plated steel wrap wire used for NYXLs provides accentuated frequency response in the 1 - 3.5 kHz range, so you get more presence and crunch to cut through the mix.
STAYS IN TUNE, STRONGER STRING - Stays in tune 131% better than standard strings, while the NY Steel core wire makes them up to 40% stronger—bent two whole steps higher, NYXL strings are still at less than 75% of their breaking point.
EARN REWARD POINTS - NYXL strings come with a code which you can register to earn Players Circle points.
MADE IN THE USA – NYXL electric guitar strings are made in the USA—drawn to our exacting specifications at our New York production facility.
Product information
| Item Weight | 1.09 ounces |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 4.3 x 0.32 x 4.5 inches |
| ASIN | B00IZCSX9U |
| Item model number | NYXL1046 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars
12,299 ratings
4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #52 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #3 in Electric Guitar Strings |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | June 1, 2014 |
| Color Name | zwart |
| String Gauge | Light |
| String Material | Nickel Plated |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Musical Style | Rock, blues |
| Size | 1-Pack |
Top reviews from the United States
Shelby
Best Guitar strings hands down
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2021
Dana Leasman
My new go-to strings, and this is why...
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2023
Dana Leasman
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2023
Images in this review
Shelly
Best strings
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2024
Inna Tysoe
Worth the price
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2016
Inna Tysoe
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2016
They are well made and consistent between packs. They all come in a single bag (which is supposed to be environmentally friendly). Fortunately, the ball ends are all color coded and a chart on the back specifies the thickness and order of each string. So long as you follow the color codes, installing them should be no problem. If you have a Floyd rose where you have to cut the ball ends off, I’d remove and install one string at a time and then tune them all up at the end (just to save confusion).
As well as the strings, you also get a circular NYXL sticker in every pack.
Conclusion
A great set of strings that might require some work the first time you install them.
The only negative is that they require a little work when setting up. You can’t just switch from regular d’addario XL’s. The string tension is different and the strings oscillate a little more. You will have to intonate your guitar and move the saddles a little further back than with stock XL’s so check how much room you have to spare for the saddles. On a strat you can easily end up at the limit requiring you to either raise the action or go up a half size.
Conclusion
Bearing in mind that they cost about three times the price of standard strings and the extra work setting up they aren’t perfect. But they do sound better and last longer. I found that they are about 50% better than the cheaper strings. So I think they are worth it if you’re willing to put in the effort and don’t mind the extra cost.
These are my favorite strings for the really nice tone and longevity and stability.
Images in this review
