How to distinguish different D'Addario strings?

[falco]

I bought a bass guitar with D'Addario strings on it. I am shure that they are D'Addario's because of colored ball ends, but I am not shure whether they are "Nickel Wounds" or "ProSteels".

Does anyone know how to distinguish these two series of roundwound strings without buying another set to compare?

[j3ss3]

Actually, Fender strings use the same coloured ball-ends as D'ads, big difference between nickel plated and SS would be the feel imo, nickels feel way smoother...

Not really familiar with Daddario's rounds, but if they use silks, can't you check for those? There's a silk identification thread just a bit below...

[wcmatn01]

XL nickels are "shinier" for lack of a better way to describe it. Pro Steels have more of a dull grey finish.

[FromTheBassMent]

So, per the first two responses, the answer is no, you can't tell them apart unless you have something to compare them with. How would you know if they're "smoother" or "shinier" unless you had simultaneous access to whatever is "rougher" and "duller?"

[falco]

No, they have no silk. Actually I might have some old set of Nickel wounds to compare them with, but I have never had ProSteels, that's why I need to be shure that Nickel Wounds and ProSteels doesn't look the same... Could it help you if I provided a picture?

[Invisible_Sun]

Nickle strings have a slight yellow hue. Steels have a greyer hue.

You have to look pretty closely, or have a very good picture to tell.