D'Addario EJ45 VS Aquila Alabastro

[@PanoramaUnion]

This is good. Thanks

[@jeffykun5304]

Thank you 😊

[@CascadianExotics]

Thanks for your efforts here. I recently installed a set of Alabastro on my main guitar which was previously strung with Savarez Alliance/Cantiga. To my surprise, I actually liked the Aquila strings better for that guitar. So much cheaper than either Savarez or the Pro Arte too!

[@danstune]

This is so helpful

[@etiquettemona]

The Pro Arte sounds a little louder than Aquila. Nevertheless, I much prefer the Aquilas - a little quieter, yes, but more lyrical, more nuanced, just more "musical". But that´s just me of course...

[@danstune]

Thank you for putting the hard work in to help us!

[@FilinMXr]

Thank you for your reviews. I wonder if you tried EJ27N. If so, is there any difference between these and EJ45's? I'd assume EJ45 go through a stricter quality control, but I wonder if there is a noticible difference in sound.

[@andreaskikinas]

Hello and thanks for the comment! Yes, I have tried them and installed them quite a few times on my students' guitars. They are pretty decent strings and many students' parents buy them because they are quite economic. I have to say that they did not feel the same as the EJ45. The basses did not have the profoundness and clarity (or the longevity), and the same goes for the trebles too. I did not feel these are the same trebles as the EJ45. Overall decent nevertheless. If I want to keep the cost of strings lower (and I do most of the times) I order at least 1 more bass set for every full set of any string I like. E.g. If I would be sure I would use EJ45 for the next months I would buy an extra pro arte bass set so I could change the basses only in maybe a month, and not the trebles that last definitely longer. That could cut the costs significantly over a few months period of time.

[@nitiphanAIDS]

Thank for make this comparison. May I ask you, which one do you like and why?

[@andreaskikinas]

Hello. Thank you for the comment. On most cases I would say the EJ45 which is a neutral sounding set and a good point to start on string searching on most guitars. The EJ45 feel better on the fingers too as the Alabastro feel harder, because they are denser, but do not give more volume nor projection. The EJ45 have better basses too and intonate perfectly across the fretboard. The Rubino, Alchemia and Sugar from Aquila strings can make a more economic guitar sound a bit brighter and maybe better in some cases. The Ej45 are also very durable and in most cases will not break while installing them causing distress to professional players and students alike.

[@edgardodomingo5029]

I'm content with d'addario ej46 normal basses and ej46 ht trembles.

[@carnifexia1725]

I admire the birds in the background haha Do you play with nails or without ?

[@andreaskikinas]

Me too 🙂 I often record in my balcony. I play with nails. Very short but never without.

[@Vengaard]

Wow I have those D'addario Strings and wanted to buy exactly those Aquila strings next. Technology is really spying on us haha but thanks for the video

[@andreaskikinas]

That is exactly what it does even if you only think of it and have never searched for it. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to comment!

[@TheHugoFoxx]

They pretty sound similar to gut strings. And they sound actually more flamenco as well. Maybe the D'Addario feel softer under your finger tips, but the other ones sound more genuinely Spanish to my ears.

[@danstune]

That makes sense.

[@simondanielssonmusic]

I believe that every guitar has a set of strings that it responds the best to. There is no perfect set of strings that will sound great on every guitar. My go-to set for my guitar (2021 Asturias Standard Cedar) has always been Savarez Alliance mixed tension, but I have ordered a set of Alabastros for my guitar as an experiment to see if they will sound better.

[@andreaskikinas]

Thanks for the comment. What you say is very true. I will add the player to the equation as 2 different players are very probably to choose a different set of strings for the same guitar, as each one hears differently and expects different things from the guitar. For example on an Alhambra 3c that a student of mine is playing, I preferred nylon but he prefers fluorocarbon like alliance because he feels otherwise his guitar sounds dull. Alabastro is very stable set to start with when trying Aquila. If you like savarez alliance though you might want to try Aquila alchemia or sugar, both in superior tension as the normal tension basses will feel very light to you if you play the mixed tension from savarez that actually has hard tension basses. I find the alchemia closer to fluorocarbon than their other sets.

[@simondanielssonmusic]

@@andreaskikinas thank you for the headsup, but the lighter tension is also the reason why I’m getting the alabastros since I have never used lower tension strings before and want to try! I’ll buy my usual savarez as well so I can easily swap if it gets way too weird for me haha My guitar teacher is one of those that loves high tension strings and a high string height - it supposedly makes you guitar sound louder and the basses won't rattle etc. But when I get the chance to play one of his guitars it feels like torture haha

[@andreaskikinas]

@@simondanielssonmusic My teacher also liked high tension and high string height so he lent me his Kohno to play for my diploma 15 years ago. That guitar sounded like a piano with savarez corum new Cristal high tension and not piano at all with the medium tension savarez. So I played with the high tension for 2 weeks and on my diploma concert and it was as you described.. a torture.

[@sergius28]

🎼🎼👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@andreaskikinas]

Thank you very much for the comment sir!!

[@kevinpike3962]

Very nice review!!!! I think i like the Aquila best…. Both sound great!

[@danstune]

Glad to know!

[@danstune]

The Pro Arts have so much more round, sweet tone. My preference based on your excellent demo. Thanks!

[@andreaskikinas]

It is exactly as you say. Thanks for the comment!

[@danstune]

@@andreaskikinas Appreciate it!

[@jamilabbas6384]

EJs do sound sweeter

[@andreaskikinas]

@@jamilabbas6384 yes, they do

[@davidscotbrown3241]

Wow... never heard several of these pieces playing with such a shocking lack of sensitivity!!!

[@andreaskikinas]

Thank you for your comment sir and for your time. I am sorry you hated the video (actually audio). What have lead you here? A forum or just searching?

[@davidscotbrown3241]

@@andreaskikinas Dear Andreas, I didn't hate the video, but please, these pieces are not about speed; Lagrima, as an example, is about feeling sad and far away from home; this piece when played should refect that as opposed to a race through the notes. Your techical ability is not at issue here, but if you feel where the tunes are coming from, wow, your interpretations could soar!!

[@andreaskikinas]

@@davidscotbrown3241 Dear Mr David, I am sorry for upsetting you with my interpretations. I did not mean to do so. I also did not mean to take my time to interpret as one fast take of each piece was all I had. My intention was only to demonstrate the qualities of the Aquila strings soundwise. This is not an excuse of course, so I am sorry again for bothering you. If you are interested on my way of interpreting music please see maybe the video I have on the opening of my channel which is a piece of my teacher (teacher I had when I was studying classical guitar). I am not suggesting these speeds (for example in Lagrima) in any way or interpreting the way I see best most of this music, just trying different registers of the fretboard for better evaluation of the string sound. I tend to play much slower these pieces when I play performing in small concerts. Thank you again for your time on commenting. Hope I did not ruin your day, or night.

[@davidscotbrown3241]

@@andreaskikinas Dear Andreas, you are obviously a sensitive person, just embrace these brilliant works with that emotion and let it shine through your playing. You did not ruin anything; just showed a very capable musician who only needs to slow down... feel the music in order to capture our hearts.

[@timliu2726]

Surely interpretation is up to the person interpreting it, and a performance should be judged according to purpose.

[@TheRealJanKafka]

They both sound like crap in your hands. You really shouldn't be playing in public.

[@andreaskikinas]

Hello friend. What is exactly the sound of crap? Oh, I know, my playing has the sound of crap! Thanks for commenting and to be serious, I am sorry for ruining your day. Would you accept my apologies for the awful experience you had? How did you see the video? Through a forum or just by chance? Peace and love to you and your loved ones. Be well.

[@TheWalrus835]

What a hater.

[@floriansipos9397]

You really shouldn't comment like this.

[@scorpiocurse7969]

What the heck is your problem?

[@danstune]

I think you sound great! Thank you!