chromes and nickel

[jlo95]

what is the difference between chrome strings and nickel strings. is there a dif between nickel and nickel plated?

[mmbongo]

Chromes is the brand name that D'Addario calls their flats, so Chromes sound like flats....dull and thuddy. No snap or punch.

As for nickel vs. nickel plated, assuming you're talking about rounds here...pure nickel is a little mellower than nickel plated steel.

[Meatrus]

I'm pretty sure, based on what I have read Chromes are Stainless Steel, which has been polished. So Chrome isnt a different string material. Most brands of flats are SS, except a very few, TIs are Nickel, and Rotosounds flats are Monel (a different material), although that isnt a complete list, just the ones I'm aware of.

9 times out of 10 when people say Nickel strings they mean Nickel plated, as they are most common. Pure Nickel strings arent that common, Fender make some, and Rotosound used to have "pure Nickel" written on their Nickel pack, but dont have it anymore. There may be some others, but Nickel plated steel is the norm.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Chromes is the brand name that D'Addario calls their flats, so Chromes sound like flats....dull and thuddy. No snap or punch.

Punchy is the exact word I use to describe Chromes. Dull would be the last word I'd use to describe them.

[TomB]

Chrome is D'Addario's model name for their flats. Different universe from nickel vs. nickel-plated. We're talking round-wound now. I didn't find a lot of difference between all nickel and nickel-plated round wounds. TI offers some all nickel strings that are pretty nice, and of a more average tension than TI flats.

[KeiBau]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Punchy is the exact word I use to describe Chromes. Dull would be the last word I'd use to describe them.

I would agree with this. Chromes are the brightest of my flats. That is compared to TI Jazz flats, La Bella Deep Talkin' flats, and Sadowsky flats.

[Lukejt]

I've got a set of EB flats, they're nickel plated and brighter than my SS GHS Precisions. I like them a LOT.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Punchy is the exact word I use to describe Chromes. Dull would be the last word I'd use to describe them.

Compared to the Dunlop and DR Sunbeams that replaced them, Chromes are absolutely dull. Very high tension too, they felt like power line wires on my L2500.

[Jaco who?]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Compared to the Dunlop and DR Sunbeams that replaced them, Chromes are absolutely dull. Very high tension too, they felt like power line wires on my L2500.

"Compared to" is the key phrase - compared to DR high beams they're even more dull, and even more stiff, but compared to Fender flats, they're very zingy and easy to handle.

I know, because I never label my old strings, I just put 'em in whatever old string package I have lying around at the time.

I strung my jazz with what I thought were old chromes, and couldn't remember them being so lifeless, thuddy, and stiff, then I remembered: chromes, dark blue silk, Fender flats, sort of a lime green silk.

I may have to try some of the "ECB80" Chromes in the 40-95 gauge - they might just be about perfect.

[mangle]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Punchy is the exact word I use to describe Chromes. Dull would be the last word I'd use to describe them.

+1

Chromes are punchy!

[T. Alan Smith]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Compared to the Dunlop and DR Sunbeams that replaced them, Chromes are absolutely dull. Very high tension too, they felt like power line wires on my L2500.

For the sake of the OP, we should be comparing apples to apples. In comparison to typical flats, Chromes are quite the opposite of "dull." Flats, good ones, tend to be quite punchy as well. Where the punch of rounds might hit you in the chest, flats hit you in the gut. One is not necessarily better; just different. The individual situation determines which is better. While I prefer stainless rounds on my fretted Stingray, I prefer flats on my P bass and nickel grounds on my fretless Stingray. We have a whole crayonbox of string choices out there. Let's play with more colors.

[Jefenator]

Pyramid Gold flats are "pure nickel" and they make any other flatwound I've tried so far (TI, Fender, Roto, GHS and Chromes) seem like rounds by comparison. (And I love it! )

My experience does not support the notion that all flats are inherently "dull and thuddy" with "no snap or punch". (But then, I've been eyeball-deep in flats and haven't slapped on a fresh set of rounds for quite some time.)

I've been surprised by just how distinct all the flatwound types are from each other.

[david fitch]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Chromes is the brand name that D'Addario calls their flats, so Chromes sound like flats....dull and thuddy. No snap or punch.

As for nickel vs. nickel plated, assuming you're talking about rounds here...pure nickel is a little mellower than nickel plated steel.

Chromes are not "dull and thuddy" at all.Chromes are very bright with lots of punch.When the gig demands flatwounds,Chromes are the strings I use.

[steelhead2]

just purchased some Steve Harris Roto's,,jury is still out but=i LOVE chromes,,that i know,even more so now,,