Flat Wound Chromes: are they nickel or not? + a Q about black finger residue

[rockdog]

I will be switching to flat wound, or at least trying them out. I found only one www reference to the D'Addario flat wound Chromes being "nickel" but I am not sure how accurate that is. The packages I have seen in stores don't refer to what they are made of or coated with or plated with.

This all worries me because I want the kind of string that doesn't give me coal miner's thumb. I have been playing other people's basses here and there and getting serious black residue on my fingers. I have a sensitivity to metals; it worries me for that reason.

What causes the residue? Steel? Nickel? I assume steel.

I want to get some flat wounds and even $24.99 is an investment since I am out of work. So I want to try to dodge as much trial and error as I can.

Also, should I be careful to get the same gauge that I am used to in my round wounds? Or heavier or lighter?

Has anybody tested flat Chromes for sustain? Not sure what I'll do without mad sustain.

I want to try flats for several reasons, one of which, rounds sound horrible in loops unless you're really careful not to make sliding noises. I like looping.

[Webtroll]

I have a set on an older Precision that haven't made my fingers turned black. I don't know if they are nickle or steel but they look and feel great, and they certainly make the P bass sound better than it ever has before (well, back when I used to use Ken Smith steels and a pick it sounded great as well, but very different).

[GianGian]

They feel much looser than the Daddario nickels, so if you like tight strings, it would be wiser to get a heavier gauge, but keep in mind that their tension is higher and you will have to do truss rod adjustements. I always though that they were made of chromium (?), anyway, I have never had problems with residues, and I've been playing these strings for about a year.

[Sundogue]

D'Addario Chromes are Stainless Steel, not nickel.

[paganjack]

the residue only comes off on your fingers for a few days. once they are broken in enough, you won't get smudginess on your digits.
i use chromes on two of my basses, they are great!

[stflbn]

or, you can wipe them down with alcohol when new before you put them on.


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