WILLY K. - CRACKSHOT
"Before anything else, I am a musician who currently owns, modifies, and maintains over 200 instruments. For me, guitar strings are the most crucial factor in my playing performance. I’ve tried strings from various brands, but whenever the texture felt good under my fingertips, the durability or expressiveness left something to be desired, and or if the expressiveness is good, the texture feels unnaturally stiff—so I’ve always had to rationalize and find a compromise to some extent when using strings. However, after discovering DR Strings, all those shortcomings were eliminated. Dragon Skin+ is the coated string I’ve encountered that feels the least artificial, is the most intuitive, and offers the widest range of expressiveness. While the strength of coated strings lies in their durability, this often comes with a slight artificial feel and limitations in expressiveness. However, I believe DR Strings’ Dragon Skin+ is the only string that has perfectly addressed these issues. They’ve become my go-to strings, providing the most stability in various concert and recording settings while ensuring I’m always in top playing condition. DDT is the most perfect gauge specifically designed for drop-down tunings—available exclusively from DR Strings—and is optimized for the D standard tuning, which is the default tuning for our band, Crack Shot. Capable of withstanding even the most dazzling and technically demanding playing while maintaining flawless tonal balance, rock-solid durability, and pitch stability, these strings are permanently installed on all my super-stretch and high-technique guitars—including my Kramer, Jackson, Charvel, and the Gibson Victory model I’ve been using frequently lately—that require flashy performances. You could say these are the strings that have accompanied me on the most stages. Lastly, Pure Blues is a string set that pairs perfectly with my trusty Gibson Les Paul. Boosting the saturation on a tube amp to create a lead tone that’s about to burst and then playing a Gibson Les Paul directly connected to a fuzz or overdrive pedal—that’s a blissful moment any rock guitarist would love. Playing a Les Paul with different strings in that situation would ruin the whole day. For my playing, Pure Blues—which brings out the emotion created by my fingertips and the nuances expressed in the vibrato of the strings—is the final piece that completes my sound."
PRODUCTS
Drop-Down Tuning DDT™
Nickel Plated Hexagonal Core with Accurate Core Technology™ Electric Guitar Strings
Model: DDT-10
DDT™ (Drop Down Tuning) Electric guitar strings lock in at even the lowest tunings, thanks to DR's Accurate Core Technology™. Coating the hexagonal core wire increases tuning stability and maintains intonation at any tension by helping lock the nickel-plated steel wrap in place. Accurate Core Technology also extends the life of the string by creating a barrier against dirt and sweat between the core and the wrap wire. Now you can drop lower and change tunings often with pitches that are clean, clear and rock solid!
Dragon Skin+™
Coated Quantum Nickel Electric Guitar Strings
Model: DEQ-10
DRAGON SKIN+™ strings sound huge, are easy to play, and have outstanding endurance. Dragon Skin+ upgrades both the core and the wrap wires to be exceptionally musical, balanced, and loud. Accurate Core Technology™ creates grooves on the core to cradle the wrap wire, allowing the strings to ring out to their full potential.
Designed to feel and sound better,
Dragon Skin+ is unlike anything out there.
The difference is real.Pure Blues™
Pure Nickel Round Core Electric Guitar Strings
Model: PHR-10
Pure Blues™ electric guitar strings recreate the unmistakable tone and feel of classic American rock and blues. The moment you put them on, you will notice a distinctive warm, balanced sound that produces rich overtones and a pure vintage vibe. Chords ring out sweet and round. Leads become more present with punchiness and sustain. And your fingers are rewarded with smooth playability and highly responsive touch sensitivity.
BIO
Guitarist Willy K formed the band Crack Shot in 2013 and has continued to serve as the band’s leader, producer, and guitarist. Notably, he became the third artist in South Korea to be named a local endorser for Gibson Guitars, and he is also actively involved as an international artist for Moore Audio and Orange Amplifiers. In terms of awards, he has competed in various band and music competitions held throughout South Korea and has won every single time without exception, resulting in six Grand Prizes, two Silver Prizes, and one Bronze Prize. During his competition journey, he proved his artistry and energy by winning the audition program “Super Band 2,” which aired on JTBC in 2021. Currently, following their first full-length album *After Midnight* and second full-length album *New Wave*, they are continuing their musical career with various digital singles through numerous musical challenges and experiments. Starting with the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival—one of South Korea’s leading rock festivals—they have performed at countless festivals across the country, as well as on programs such as *KBS Open Concert* and *KBS Immortal Songs*, leading the way in popularizing rock and metal music.
Instagram: @crackshot_official