Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

woodyng wrote: They claim to use a special alloy of steel and nickle in their construction.

woodyng wrote:(Queue up for metallurgical/scientific discussion breakdown from our technically knowledgable members to follow.....)

woodyng wrote:Since you mentioned,it,i do recall they used the term hybrid rather than alloy,but,uhhhhhhh,isn't that the same thing in this context?
(Queue up for metallurgical/scientific discussion breakdown from our technically knowledgable members to follow.....)

FretlessOnly wrote:By its very nature, the definition of the term hydrid precludes its use in the context of combined like substances such as alloys. For example, the element of nickel (not nickle) and the substance of steel, which is predominantly iron with various additives, such as chromium (not chrome), molybdenum, and/or carbon, which are added to acheive certain performance characteristics (beyond bass strings, as in buliding bridges, etc.) are too similar to form a hybrid material. These combinations would be alloys. In other words, if Circle K is claiming that their string is somehow a hybrid, then there must be some other non-elemental substance (i.e., a compound) being used or else they are using the term incorrectly (or colloquially, which is equally as annoying to me as a scientist).

Then again, the media use of scientific terminology these days is about as accurate as a Len Barker fastball.

Now carry on, I was never here, right?

cjj wrote:

FretlessOnly wrote:By its very nature, the definition of the term hydrid precludes its use in the context of combined like substances such as alloys. For example, the element of nickel (not nickle) and the substance of steel, which is predominantly iron with various additives, such as chromium (not chrome), molybdenum, and/or carbon, which are added to acheive certain performance characteristics (beyond bass strings, as in buliding bridges, etc.) are too similar to form a hybrid material. These combinations would be alloys. In other words, if Circle K is claiming that their string is somehow a hybrid, then there must be some other non-elemental substance (i.e., a compound) being used or else they are using the term incorrectly (or colloquially, which is equally as annoying to me as a scientist).

Then again, the media use of scientific terminology these days is about as accurate as a Len Barker fastball.

Now carry on, I was never here, right?

Uh-oh, another Techno-Nerd comes out of the closet...

XL12010-31-2008, 06:11 AM
This is Jim D'Addario here. . . .I find these threads very interesting. Unfortunatley there is a lot of myth and fantasy in some of them.

I can share with you that D'Addario is the largest manufacturer of strings in the world right here on Long Island. We have 800 employees in NY making strings and Evans drumheads. We produce 550,000 strings per day and devote ourselves to maintaining high quality standards. We have never purchased a string from anyone.

Yes there are only a handful of major string manufacturers and many of them including D'Addario make strings for other brands that you may play and love.

Many brands that out-source their strings from other manufactuers do have their own specifications so all strings are NOT THE SAME. It is true that prior to marketing D'Addario as a brand our family business was known as Darco Music Strings. We sold the company to Martin Guitars in 1969.

All D'Addario strings are made in the USA. Some major brands import strings. You should check your country of origin when buying.

D'Addario is also the only company that makes its own wire. We have two wire mills, one in Conn. and one in Mass. that make super high quality, specialized wires just for string making. One makes our core and plain steel wire and the other coated EXP wire.

FYI.

JD

johnhall wrote:All I'm saying is that string makers, except perhaps for Mapes, simply don't have the clout to have special alloys made. Spring makers do and drive what materials are available to all string makers.