Going from EB Slinkies to DR Nickel Lo Riders..

tylerwylie · #1 02-11-2011, 01:48 PM

On my 6 string MM Bongo HH. Now, the quick question I hope I can get answered is would a new setup be required for intonation, and would it be hard at all to setup? When I do drastic changes(standard to Drop C, etc) I usually get a professional luthier who charges a lot less than he should to set it up, and I'm always very pleased with how I get it back. The gauges are slightly different... so I'm assuming the bridge saddles might have to be adjusted.

Going from:
http://www.ernieball.com/products/ca...ound-032---130

to:
http://www.drstrings.com/catalog/nickel-lo-riders
Medium 6 String w/130 NMH6-130 30 45 65 85 105 130

Double Agent · #2 02-11-2011, 02:36 PM

Since they are both roughly the same gauge and same makeup (nickel-plated steel over hex core), your changes should be minimal, if you even need to make any. The only strong possibility I can is that you might have to raise saddle for the .105 E string if the saddle is set up to be low for a .100 gauge E string. The seems to be the only major difference between the 2 sets.

I think you'll be happy with the change. While I love the sound of Slinkys when they are new, they go dead on me pretty quickly (anywhere from 2-4 weeks, depending on how busy I am). However, the last set of DR Nickel Lo-Riders I had were on my bass for 9 months and still sounding great. They might be the best all-around strings that DR makes.

tylerwylie · #3 02-11-2011, 05:16 PM

Yea I don't plan on using the DR strings for that long, actually just put in an order for a set of strings for my Bongo, .142 Balanced since I will be tuning down one step, .150 is probably better as far as tension wise but I want to prevent the A string from having an insane amount of overtones being present.

Tuning will be ADGCFA#. I'll throw on the Nickel Lo Riders in the meantime and enjoy them until my Circle K strings come in

.

Double Agent · #4 02-11-2011, 07:24 PM

So, just curious, but why spend the extra money on the DRs then? I would just stay with the EBs if its just a temporary thing.

tylerwylie · #5 02-11-2011, 07:24 PM

I put these strings on, had to raise a few saddles, particularily on the C. The B was raised a tiny bit cause it was buzzing slightly on the 6th fret(though it was doing that on the EB Slinkies too), raised E a tiny bit and A. D and G were pretty much fine.

tylerwylie · #6 02-11-2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double Agent

So, just curious, but why spend the extra money on the DRs then? I would just stay with the EBs if its just a temporary thing.

Because I had already purchased them, wanted to hear how they sound(my first set of DR strings) and the Circle K's will take a while to get here anyways.

Double Agent · #7 02-11-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylerwylie

Because I had already purchased them, wanted to hear how they sound(my first set of DR strings) and the Circle K's will take a while to get here anyways.

Fair enough....make sure to follow up with your thoughts.

Oh, just an FYI, they might take a bit (1-2 weeks) to settle down. All DRs are pretty bright out of the package. Once they settle in, they sound really great and stay that way for a long time.

tylerwylie · #8 02-11-2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double Agent

Fair enough....make sure to follow up with your thoughts.

Oh, just an FYI, they might take a bit (1-2 weeks) to settle down. All DRs are pretty bright out of the package. Once they settle in, they sound really great and stay that way for a long time.

Yea. I'm sure if I had this setup by a professional luthier it'd be perfect with the action. In fact I might tinker a little bit with the bridge saddles to see what I can get, since the tension on these seems to be great.

tylerwylie · #9 02-11-2011, 07:35 PM

Just lowered the action, E had to have the bridge pushed back about a quarter turn on the screw but locked right in with intonation(checked at 12th fret w/ harmonic). Was able to push the strings down pretty far, still have to check the neck after a couple hours of these being on, check for buzzing etc.

bunkaroo · #10 02-15-2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double Agent

I think you'll be happy with the change. While I love the sound of Slinkys when they are new, they go dead on me pretty quickly (anywhere from 2-4 weeks, depending on how busy I am). However, the last set of DR Nickel Lo-Riders I had were on my bass for 9 months and still sounding great. They might be the best all-around strings that DR makes.

You know I've been through two sets of Nickel Lo-Riders on my Euro 5LX and it seems like they lose their "zing" after about a day's worth of playing. Is that would you'd consider breaking in? I've been rotating them and cleaning them in denatured alcohol for recording purposes. It's not that they sound bad after a day, but I couldn't imagine using this same set for 9 months.
I'm not sweating a ton when I play unless something's up with my finger oils or whatever. Maybe I'm expecting too much zing?

Simorchid · #11 02-21-2011, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylerwylie

On my 6 string MM Bongo HH. Now, the quick question I hope I can get answered is would a new setup be required for intonation, and would it be hard at all to setup? When I do drastic changes(standard to Drop C, etc) I usually get a professional luthier who charges a lot less than he should to set it up, and I'm always very pleased with how I get it back. The gauges are slightly different... so I'm assuming the bridge saddles might have to be adjusted.

Going from:
http://www.ernieball.com/products/ca...ound-032---130

to:
http://www.drstrings.com/catalog/nickel-lo-riders
Medium 6 String w/130 NMH6-130 30 45 65 85 105 130

I also have a bongo 6 HH and am currently using EB Slinky nickles .032-.130. I find them a bit clacky even after many hours of playing time. I would be interested to hear some feedback on how the DR's work out for you.

Double Agent · #12 02-22-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

You know I've been through two sets of Nickel Lo-Riders on my Euro 5LX and it seems like they lose their "zing" after about a day's worth of playing. Is that would you'd consider breaking in? I've been rotating them and cleaning them in denatured alcohol for recording purposes. It's not that they sound bad after a day, but I couldn't imagine using this same set for 9 months.
I'm not sweating a ton when I play unless something's up with my finger oils or whatever. Maybe I'm expecting too much zing?

If that is the case, then I would go with the stainless Lo-Riders on your Spector. When I had a Spector Euro 5er, all I used were the stainless Lo-Riders and they were awesome....very aggressive, but awesome. Of course, I was in a metal band at the time, so........

The bass that had the nickel Lo-Riders on it was a Peavey Cirrus 5er. The Cirrus is very clear-sounding, but not a particularly warm sounding bass. In the R&B band I play in now, I need a smoother sound for most of the material we were playing, with just enough zing to sound good for the occasional slap passage. The nickel Lo-Riders warmed that Cirrus right up, sounded fat and smooth, but still crisp on the highs, however not overly bright and definitely not an aggressive tone. It sounds like the nickels might not be for you, they are definitely not a zingy string. But, then, most nickels aren't and, even if they are, they don't stay that way for long before they "die". I guess I just like the "dead" tone of the nickel Lo-Riders more than other nickel strings, but they really worked for what I was doing at the time.

Of course, now that I'm back on a Jazz bass, I'm preferring the stainless Lo-Riders again. When I was playing Spectors, I remember trying the nickel Lo-Riders and not liking them, so maybe they aren't a good match for Spectors. However, I've used them on the Cirrus I mentioned earlier and a EBMM Bongo 5er with very good results. Guess it's a trial/error kind of thing, which is why there are so many types of strings out there.

LilloEsquilo · #13 02-22-2011, 09:16 AM

I would just caution that on the stainless strings, I saw GREATLY increased fret wear, with non-stainless frets. I used Hi Beams and they eat up frets like a pitbull on a hotdog. If that's ok, then they are great strings. I just didn't want to do a fret job every 6 months.

bunkaroo · #14 02-22-2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double Agent

If that is the case, then I would go with the stainless Lo-Riders on your Spector. When I had a Spector Euro 5er, all I used were the stainless Lo-Riders and they were awesome....very aggressive, but awesome. Of course, I was in a metal band at the time, so........

The bass that had the nickel Lo-Riders on it was a Peavey Cirrus 5er. The Cirrus is very clear-sounding, but not a particularly warm sounding bass. In the R&B band I play in now, I need a smoother sound for most of the material we were playing, with just enough zing to sound good for the occasional slap passage. The nickel Lo-Riders warmed that Cirrus right up, sounded fat and smooth, but still crisp on the highs, however not overly bright and definitely not an aggressive tone. It sounds like the nickels might not be for you, they are definitely not a zingy string. But, then, most nickels aren't and, even if they are, they don't stay that way for long before they "die". I guess I just like the "dead" tone of the nickel Lo-Riders more than other nickel strings, but they really worked for what I was doing at the time.

Of course, now that I'm back on a Jazz bass, I'm preferring the stainless Lo-Riders again. When I was playing Spectors, I remember trying the nickel Lo-Riders and not liking them, so maybe they aren't a good match for Spectors. However, I've used them on the Cirrus I mentioned earlier and a EBMM Bongo 5er with very good results. Guess it's a trial/error kind of thing, which is why there are so many types of strings out there.

Funny thing is I did try a set of SS Lo-Riders on the 5LX and they sounded pretty dull to me out of the package. I thought they would be super bright. I have one more unopened set I was going to try so we'll see how that goes. I've currently been using the Dunlop Nickels on the 5LX but I'm not sure I like those as much as the DR.

tylerwylie · #15 02-22-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simorchid

I also have a bongo 6 HH and am currently using EB Slinky nickles .032-.130. I find them a bit clacky even after many hours of playing time. I would be interested to hear some feedback on how the DR's work out for you.

The DR's were definitely darker than the EB Slinkies. The DR's were not going to sound as aggressive as Slinkies out of the packages but definitely maintain a deep warm tone for a long time. I've not been able to get my ideal tone out of them yet though, as I'm looking for something that'll be slightly brighter and keep that brightness for some time. Circle K set is shipping Friday according to Skip.