DR Nickel Lo-Riders??

Double Agent · #1 03-17-2008, 11:11 AM

So, I've been using DR Lo-Riders for the last two years now. I love their sound and how long they last. I have also found that, for stainless strings, they are very easy on the hands. However, as gigging season is starting to pick up I wonder if they are still too rough for me. I just played gigs this past Friday and Saturday night and I've developed a blister on the middle finger of my picking hand and busted through the callus on my index finger on the same hand. It wouldn't bother me, except that I also have a gig tonight (Monday) and I'm not sure how I'm going to pull it off. I've been playing bass for 10 years, gigging regularly most of that time (2-4 gigs per month) and this has been a recurring problem with SS rounds, but not as much with the DRs as other brands like Roto or D'addario. I slap too much to use flats. So, I am thinking of switching to nickel rounds.

Now, I now that DR makes a nickel set of Lo-Riders. Does anyone here have experience with both sets? How similar is the tone between the stainless and nickel versions? I know the nickels won't be quite as zingy, but that's OK as long as they still have some trademark DR brightness. I really like the tone of the SS Lo-Riders once they broken in over a week or two. Also, do the nickels last as long as SS, or do they die quicker?

dezspet · #2 03-17-2008, 11:24 AM

IMO the nickel is darker indeed, but last long as well. I have changed to Hibeam recently, which might be a better compromise in your case. But I don't slap too much and I always prefer darker/warmer tones, so at the end of the day the best thing you can do is to give it a try!

5StringPocket · #3 03-17-2008, 05:31 PM

I've been quite pleased with the sound of nickel DR Lo-Riders. They have enough brightness for a nice slap tone but aren't as harsh as the steels.

Parabolic Box · #4 03-17-2008, 06:17 PM

Have you tried Hi-Beams?

pbass2 · #5 03-17-2008, 07:16 PM

I switched from the SS LR's to the Nickel on all my roundwound basses. I love 'em. I REALLY like how they sound on my Sadowsky Jazz--not harsh at all, but plenty of sensible highs. My fave roundwound by far for recording too.
In fact I have a set of Roto SS Swing Bass sitting here unopened I'll gladly trade someone for a set of Nickel Lo-Riders

Double Agent · #6 03-18-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parabolic Box

Have you tried Hi-Beams?

No...mainly because I wanted the higher tension found in the Lo-Riders. I don't like strings with a loose feel to them. I dig in pretty hard with my right hand and the feel of the Lo-Riders allows me to do that without the string getting all flubby on me. Now, I don't know that Hi-Beams wouldn't work because I tried Lo-Riders first and loved them so much that I haven't felt the need to try anything else.

I think the nickel Lo-Riders might be the way to go here based on some of the other replys I'm seeing. But, I would still welcome any thoughts and opinions anyone has to offer.