Description
Ever notice how one string on a set feels like it’s fighting you while the next one gives in too easy? That’s the tension mismatch problem D’Addario solved with the EXL115BT Balanced Tension set. Instead of just scaling gauges up the traditional way, D’Addario ran the numbers so each string in this Medium set pulls with comparable resistance across the board — your fretting hand applies roughly the same pressure string to string, whether you’re bending the .011 or digging into the wound .050.
Under the hood, you’re still getting the classic XL Nickel Wound formula: nickel-plated steel wrapped tightly around a hex-shaped, high-carbon steel core. That construction is what gives XL strings their long sustain, cutting bright tone, and rock-solid intonation — the same recipe that’s made them D’Addario’s most-used electric set for decades, across genres and rigs.
Where the Balanced Tension approach really shows up is in playing feel. Bends land more predictably, chord strumming feels more even top to bottom, and fast picking or slapping across strings loses that jarring stiff-to-loose transition. It’s a small change on paper that makes a noticeable difference the moment you plug in.
- Gauges: Plain steel .011, .015, .019 / Nickel wound .028, .037, .050
- Mathematically balanced tension for consistent feel across all six strings
- Round wound nickel-plated steel for classic bright XL tone
- Corrosion-resistant packaging keeps strings fresh until you break the seal
- Made in the U.S.A. on precision, digitally controlled winding equipment
If you’re the type who swaps strings before every gig or session (aren’t we all), keep a few sets of these in rotation — the difference between a dead set and a fresh EXL115BT is night and day.
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