Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

D'addario has officially discontinued the Slowound series strings, just about the most consistent sounding bass string, IMHO. They say that since they have installed the same constant tension and speed control on their XL winders there is no reason to continue making the Slowounds.

All except for the fact that the Slowounds were wound at half speed to allow for better wrap control and the XL's still aren't, I guess they're just not profitable enough to continue making, oh horror of horrors.

I have used XL's lately and they aren't the same, and I do like D'addario strings, but XL's aren't the same sounding, so if you like 'em and know where some are, buy 'em up, there will not be any more.

Damn. That sucks. Slowounds are all I use. I have a stock of about five sets. Does anyone know where I can get them cheap?

I was on the talkbass forum last night and one of the retail sponsors that sold strings confirmed that D'addario said no more Slowounds, Musicians Friend was still showing some in stock last night, I don't know about now. I might try SIT's now, XL's just don't seem to last that long.
I gave up GHS Boomers several years ago because of there very short lifespan, as far as brightness and intonation staying spot on. I stopped using Rotosounds because I kept getting D strings that seemed to die early, sometimes A's too.
I like D'addario Prisms, but stainless is harder on the frets.

GHS is the only strings that I've ever seen be dead in the package ... I bought some GHS to put on my Ric years ago and the new strings were deader than the old strings ...

I saw a few sets on the 'bay last night after reading this....might want to scoop those up!

JustStrings still lists them.

Anything still in the pipeline will still be sent out, after Feb. no more.

Someone here please try a set of Pyramid Roundwounds. I've heard nothing but good things about their rounds for guitar. Maybe it's worth a try. This sounds counterintuitive but one of the reasons I only use flats is because I could not find a consistent roundwound, among many other reasons. Hey, if I'm gonna get a "dead" string I might as well go all the way and buy flats...

I didn't use Slowounds often (usually just for recording) because of the price. Sorry to see the halt of production, they were nice strings. Among the few D'Addario strings left with silk wrap on the string leads too.

Just to let you know I.... When I found out about this tragedy I ordered a few pair for my five string from justrings.com. I already got them in the mail. They are fast!