Nickel plated on hex core for 35" thru body - can't find a mfr. that does these

[DelsFan]

I've read a lot of threads and searched for thru-body strings, but haven't come up with anyone who makes a nickel coated hex core string that is long enough for thru-body stringing.

I'm looking for a premium quality extra long nickel hex core string for our Lakland 55-01, and I'm struggling to find anything that meets the above criteria.

My first choice would be DR LoRiders, but they don't come in an extra long length. I'm looking for a warm sound for country, classic rock, and some gospel.

This is what I've found:

DR Long Necks
DRS_TLR5-40 Stainless Steel, taper core, .40 to .120 (Lights) ($35 approx.)
** DRS_TMH5-45 Stainless Steel, hex core, compression wound, .45 to .125 (Mediums) ($38 approx.)

DR Sunbeams – someone wrote that they had used these, thru-body, on their Lakland, but I don’t see on their website that DR makes the Sunbeam in an extra long length…

D’Addario XL nickelwound
DAD_EXL170-5SL (SuperLongs) Nickel plated steel, roundwound, .045 to .130 (Mediums) ($24 approx)
**DAD_EXP170-5SL (SuperLongs) Nickel plated – and coated. Roundwound, not hex core .045 to .130 (Mediums) ($40 approx.)


Lakland Strings
Lakland makes their own strings, but they were selling DR LongNecks for thru body stringing. If Lakland makes a string long enough for thru-body stringing of their guitars, they don’t have it on their web site…


Sadowsky – Designed for 35” scale, BUT NOT THRU BODY
SBS45BXL Stainless Steel on a hex core .45 to .130(Tapered top string) ($31, out of stock)
SBN45BXL Nickel wrap on a hex core .45 to .130(Tapered top string) ($31, out of stock)

THIS THREAD was the only one I found that shed a little light on the subject.

I really want to try the thru-body stringing.
DR LoRiders would be perfect (Nickel wrap on hex core) - but, of course, they aren't available in extra long...
Sadowskys would be great too (and I like the owner's attitude towards customer service), but their extra longs aren't quite long enough for thru-body stringing (according to their web site).

Thanks in advance for your help!

[billbern]

the Lakland roundwound strings all fit through the body on a 55-01.
I tried a set of Dr Hi-beams through the body on mine. I don't think I ordered an extra long set and they fit just fine. So I think the Lo-riders would fit.

[Roland777]

Try Elixirs. The extra-longs are wound out to 970mm, minus 25mm at the bridge (Monorail III-toploader) and 889mm ("35)... means you've got 56mm to spare if you've got a "35 toploader. Should fit your through-body "35.
The DR LoRiders are approximately 960mm (if anything, plus a few millimeters), which means you've got 46mm to spare. Again, should fit.

[Kevdel]

I use Nickel DR LoRiders on both my Lakland DJ 5 and Peavey Cirrus 5 basses and they are both string thru and both 35" scale. I would say they should work fine. Lakland also does make a Nickel string set that would work but I don't know if they are hex core. Hope this helps.

[DelsFan]

"I use Nickel DR LoRiders on both my Lakland DJ 5 and Peavey Cirrus 5 basses"

That's what I'll try.

THANKS VERY MUCH!

[pickles]

DRs and D'addarios are available in extra-long lengths, and the lakland strings are all meant to string through body. Lots of options.

[petch]

Yep, the D'addarios fit easily on my Peavey USA Millennium 5 35" thru the body. I' not too sure that the coated ones you mentioned (I use XLs) are not hex core. In the string shootout in Bass Player mag awhile back, I noticed very few nickel round-core strings, most notably DR Sunbeams... anyway, if you can track down that issue it had a lot of good string info.

[Double Agent]

I believe the DR says their string will fit any scale length up to 37.25". Should be no problem on your Lakland. Looking forward to hearing your results. Lo-Riders are great!