“Clearly not the same as the original”: D’Addario under fire for allegedly faking its response to AI accusations

D’Addario has come under renewed fire from the guitar community over its handling of a recent AI scandal the company found itself embroiled in.

Last week, the string and accessories giant was accused of using AI generated guitar music in a demo video for its new NYXL HD electric guitar strings. It was also criticized for deleting comments and blocking users who were leveraging the accusations.

D’Addario strongly denied the claims and defended deleting comments, saying it was safeguarding the guitarist who featured in the demo video from harassment.

While admitting it had made a mistake by using such a heavily processed track for the demo, D’Addario asserted it “was not created by AI” and that “all guitars were tracked in real-life”.

The company also shared a follow-up video of the recording’s workflow, which seemingly showed the multiple guitar tracks and production that was used.

However, the response has found itself at the center of renewed controversy, with commenters and YouTubers accusing D’Addario of further fakery with its BTS video.

YouTubers Danny Sapko and KDH have both scrutinized the clip, alleging the song depicted doesn’t match up to the original demo and claiming it is in fact a completely different recording.

Both Sapko and KDH highlight glaring differences between the original demo video and D’Addario’s response. In certain instances, the guitar playing doesn’t match up. There are inconsistencies between lead lines and rhythm parts throughout the track.

The audio between the two also drifts out of sync when played side by side. Sapko says this is particularly damning, as he notes that music generated by AI platform Suno – which many commenters are accusing D’Addario of using – doesn’t stick to an exact tempo and can drift.

“Whether it’s AI or not, the video evidence they have provided is clearly not the same as the original,” Sapko insists.

Sapko and KDH aren’t the only ones to voice their skepticism over D’Addario’s response. Big name YouTubers, musicians and producers have also weighed in on the Instagram comments.

It just got much, much worse. - YouTube

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“A generally pathetic attempt at saving face, and insulting to the musical community you serve,” bassist Adam Neely wrote. “Proof you shouldn’t let interns post on socials,” Music is Win’s Tyler Larson added.

YouTuber and producer Malyan wrote, “It really feels like you're insulting your customers (and endorsers) intelligence, and it’s such a shame. I’d stake on this being the real version, and the other being AI. As for the reasoning for the other existing in the first place, we can only guess.

“My best guess would be that this artist used generative AI in the creation process, re-recorded it in and played it, and then somehow the demo version made it onto the final video for release.”

When approached by Guitar World, D’Addario declined to comment on the fresh allegations and said it stood by its initial statement.