D'Addario XS x Taylor Guitars | A Conversation with Jim D'Addario, Bob Taylor, and Andy Powers

In honor of D’Addario XS becoming the preferred string of Taylor Guitars, we’re delighted to have captured this unprecedented meeting of three legendary minds, Bob Taylor, Jim D’Addario, and Taylor CEO Andy Powers.
Learn more about this powerful new collaboration here: ddar.io/xs_taylor
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00:00 Intro
00:52 Jim D'Addario & Bob Taylor's longtime friendship
02:20 D'Addario's early days
03:10 Taylor's early days
07:34 Taylor CEO Andy Powers on guitar strings
08:28 Guitar Strings 101
13:48 How XS Strings sound on a Taylor Guitar
15:41 Taylor Guitars & D'Addario partnership
18:08 Innovation
25:32 Sustainability
34:02 The Future of Guitars
37:05 The Secret to Success
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[@twinrock54]

It is a wonderful thing when we can get insight from people we admire about what they do and why. Taylor has a tradition of having it's leaders speak out, but being introduced to the depth of thinking of Jim D'Addario was great. American ingenuity on display. Fantastic!

[@IraDuncan]

I sure hope there was a PSD outside that room making sure the collective experience and value of each of those people was protected well. I could listen to Bob and Andy for hours. And seeing the face of D'Addario was pretty darn cool. Well done gentlemen. Very well done.

[@evanskopp8477]

Three innovators, inventors, and process improvers.

[@andy.pitcher]

what a lovely thing to capture.

[@roadbiker1]

Love it! I am a big fan of D'Addario strings, and I have three Taylor guitars: an 814ce, a 356ce, and a GS Mini. All using D'Addario strings. IMO, it's about time that Taylor moved to D'Addario strings! Kudos to both Taylor and D'Addario. Congratulations!

[@pyrocoyote1922]

I bought a builder’s edition 324ce it came with elixirs and I have been an elixir fanboy since 2004. I’ve heard good reviews on the Internet of the Daddarios so I tried them out and they are huge difference. I don’t think I’ll go back to elixirs. Then I just got the email saying that Taylor is now partnering with the Daddario in my opinion it’s a great move.

[@weswilson53]

I’ve had a set of XS on my non-Taylor acoustic since November of 2021, they still sound and look great! D’Addario is the best!!

[@roadbiker1]

Glad to hear that you are considering GS Mini, et. al. length strings!

[@jerbear1601]

We need a 13 to 53 set for the GA guitars! They are sadly not available from D'addario.

[@ninaharlach6978]

Legendary

[@chrishammonds72]

D’addario XS are my new favourite strings. Have replaced all the elixirs on my acoustics after doing a test between the two strings to see the longevity and they both lasted 6 months easily but the XS didn’t flake off like the elixirs do and are less bright like elixirs so they win for me. Now they’re coming in 3 packs which works out cheaper too.

[@daddarioandco]

Thanks for your feedback, Chris!

[@gabegoodman1396]

Amazing!!!

[@EricDaw]

great conversation, love it

[@meloche1syndrome]

33:32 cuz that's what you're getting 🤣 Love that

[@stephenblyskal5666]

I have tried D’Addario strings on my Taylor guitars and really like the tone I am getting from them.

[@RobertAndrew24]

Legends!

[@BassfaceMD]

Great conversation!

[@zmongi1]

Awesome video.

[@truce11]

Thanks for making this

[@thomasdemartino6109]

It’s about time. Have loved the XS strings on my Taylor 322ce 12-fret and won’t ever go back.

[@dean8842]

Does anybody know the name of the tune that Andy plays around the 14:00 mark? I'm sure I've heard it before but its name eludes me... Thanks in advance for any info you can provide me!

[@rzh3443]

I am trying the XT versions. They seem more non coated sounding to me. They didn't say why the switch from Elixir but they didn't criticize them either. Can't wait for the D'Addario XU model (LOLs).

[@hinertscigarettes]

Which taylor that he used in this video?

[@texhaines9957]

Hmm, selling less strings because the strings last longer? Why not play more? Or buy more guitars? Not sure how long these last with my playing regimen, but I'll find out. Hopefully, they last longer than what I play now.

[@twoeagles19]

What. Is the preferred XS string , the light or medium ?

[@KevinLearnsMusic]

Depends on your guitar model, Taylor has a page online with their recommendations for each guitar model, you can search online for "string gauge reference taylor" (I'm not sure if my comment will be blocked if I share the link, I'll try as a reply to this comment)

[@LMacNeill]

I've got a big ole orange streak right across the ebony bridge on the Taylor A12e I just bought. And a couple of small reddish-orange spots on the ebony fingerboard. I think they add character. I despise waste. And destroying 9 out of 10 ebony trees just because of some minor color differences is *extremely* wasteful. I'm glad Bob Taylor made the decision he did regarding the ebony in Cameroon.

[@BarndtTom]

So many words, so little content. If someone finds the information what makes the XS strings better than the Elixir Strings, please point me to the minute in the video.

[@martinsundland7614]

It just might be the sound of the string: you either like it or you don't. I've been using D'Add XS's for a while and I prefer them over Elixir. Plus, it could simply be a business decision based on not much more than the bottom line. You are, however, welcome to your skeptical mindset.

[@RyanChenMusic]

I’ll offer the other side: I tried XS and prefer elixir. Found the tone preferable to XS which sounded almost too even across while elixirs had a little scoop to the mids, at least on my guitar. Also I love elixirs HD light set (which ironically was made for Taylor guitars). But I agree with Martin, this is probably a business decision above all else.

[@mikeferris408]

I was blessed enough to save and afford a new Taylor 814ce builders edition, I bought it at The Upper Bout in Champaign il on S. Neil St. my hometown. A mom n pop old school music store that have the absolute best most friendly staff.. yes a shameless plug if yr ever in the Champaign Urbana area bc they truly love music, gear and their job and it’s become a hangout for every level of player and their not just there to sell you something, hey.. I’ll say it’s good if it truly is and they really are. Most don’t hesitate with a complaint here in America but don’t normally give good true praise when it’s well deserved, we just sorta say to ourselves… that’s right.. I should be treated that way as a costumer right? Well I like to say great things about great people working for a great company/store! Now about these strings.. these baby’s really do make a world of difference and sound! A year ago I thought, ok.. I’ll try these expensive set of string for my at the time was a not so expensive accustic guitar n boy o boy I really was blown away at the sound I was so stunned the very second I hit the g chord once tuned up. It’s the best.. the best sounding acoustic strings I’ve ever heard in my life. It takes a lot to get my praise, companies must earn it and I’m not so fast to speak it at 1st.. I make sure it’s true by time and personal experience. So support local mom n pop stores if you can.. buy local.. sure some items may be a few bucks more but if they treat you with friendly genuine service for me personally I like to support it with my wallet and not just kind words. You’ll find on the other hand you’ll save money just as well and get better deals the longer you’re a loyal customer! I love these strings.. I love my Taylor 814ce builders edition and I love my local guitar shop the upper bout!