Nickel rounds with a tighter low B

Impostor · #1 09-11-2009, 06:26 AM

Hello, folks, I know this should have already been a much spoken topic, but still...

I currently play two 5-strings, Ibanez SR fretted and Carvin LB fretless, both tuned BEADG. For the fretless, nickels are a must, for the fretted I prefer them too, though right now I'm using the stock Elixirs on my Ibanez because they're still new and because I haven't found a solution to my issue yet.

And the issue is that I've found my favourite nickels. They're LaBella Slappers. I love everything about them except the low B. The heaviest low B they include in their 5-string packs is .128, and for me it is really floppy, especially on fretless. I currently play the first four strings from a .045-.128 Slappers pack and an old .130 Ernie Ball (I guess) low B from the set that the previous owner of my fretless axe had put on it. This .130 B is a bit flabby, too, but not that bad. I've already washed it a couple of times when putting on new E to G strings.

Earlier I used to play the .050-.135 D'Addario XLs on my first cheapo bass, which had a 34" scale, the same as both my current 5-strings. The .135 B was tight, comfortable to play and well articulated, but I don't want to put on all five strings of such a heavy gauge. A .050 set is too much for me now, I'm stuck to .045. But as far as I've looked and seen, all the .045 nickel packs have nothing heavier than a .130 B. That's true with D'Addarios, DRs, and even more so with Slappers.

Unfortunaly, buying a 4-string set + a separate low B is not an option. For example, a separate .135 Slappers Low B is listed in the LaBella catalogue, but it is not available at any of the distributors our local musical stores order from. So, I'm still wondering, is there a decent nickel .045-.135 set on the market, or maybe a .045-.130 set with the low B tighter than the usual .130. Any idea?

stoneboy26 · #2 09-11-2009, 06:58 AM

R.Cocco do a set thats 45, 65, 85, 105 and 130. I play the set with the 125 B and feels pretty good to me - tension is just as tight as the other strings on my basses - so I'd expect something even tighter with a 130.

check 'em out. I was using Foderas which were also great, but I can get the R.Cocco strings cheaper and they feel just as good

Impostor · #3 09-11-2009, 08:00 AM

Thanks for the idea. R.Cocco strings seem a bit hard to find, but still... I searched through the web, and it seems that they only make stainless .045-0.130 sets, and nickels up to .125.

RickenBoogie · #4 09-11-2009, 08:30 AM

EB Slinky's have a couple of new sets, coated, one with a 130 and the other a 135.

Impostor · #5 09-11-2009, 12:09 PM

Could not find coated set with a .135 B on their website, just .045-.130.

BTW, the only EB strings I have ever played were Power Slinkys, .050-.135, and I found them overly tight, very hard to play. Much tighter than D'Addario XLs or even ProSteels of the same gauge. So now I'm kind of afraid of Ernie Balls.