Nickel roundup?

maurilio · #1 11-09-2006, 10:14 PM

Hello,
I'm willing to try one more time nickel strings. I'd like to know your experience with 5 strings Sunbeam, LowRider nickel and D'addario XL.

What do you like/dislike...lows/highs/mids?... B strings?... Fingerstyle/slap?... etc.

Thanks fellas.

M

tplyons · #2 11-09-2006, 10:46 PM

Very little experience with the DR's, however, I find the Lowriders to be a bit stiffer than I like. That's about all I remember.

I use XL's almost exclusively. Well balanced sound, versatile, tight B strings, great for fingerstyle, slap, picking. You name it, it'll work. GREAT all around string.

tplyons · #3 11-09-2006, 10:56 PM

Very little experience with the DR's, however, I find the Lowriders to be a bit stiffer than I like. That's about all I remember.

I use XL's almost exclusively. Well balanced sound, versatile, tight B strings, great for fingerstyle, slap, picking. You name it, it'll work. GREAT all around string.

maurilio · #4 11-10-2006, 12:16 AM

Thanks tplyons,
back when I used to own a Fodera (early Monarch 5 '87) my main strings where XL. But I hear so much talking about Sunbeam and LR...

M

SUNNyday r. · #5 11-10-2006, 01:39 AM

I think the Sunbeams are a real cozy string to play but I have only used them on 4 strings. I am a fan of lower tension strings but as of late I feel like the DR strings with round cores are hard to set up at a height that feels comfortable without getting string buzz. Are they too loose? Sort of starting to like the feel of more tension. It is always a fine line between low action and acceptable buzz for me. Isn't it Enwhistle that said " I know they buzz, just make sure they all buzz evenly!" The Sunbeams are good strings like most of the other DR strings (except the Extra Life, Yuck!IMO) that I have tried so go for it. They feel nice and have a certain,er, mellowness that feels good under the fingers.

Chopper · #6 11-10-2006, 02:38 AM

I've been using Lowrider nickels for years now on my jazz.

I love em.

Ampeg SVT · #7 11-10-2006, 03:03 AM

I like the XL's especially the twin packs but nickels arent for me, i need stainless steels.

KingOfAmps · #8 11-10-2006, 10:47 AM

Though I've been a consistant user of Fender Pure Nickels (7150) for a long time I recently branched out to the 7250 (nickel plated). The new string sheen has not worn off just yet so I can't report on the difference at this time.

I tried to pick up some DR Sunbeams but not a single store out of five or six that I phoned/visited had them. I even visited the Devil at GC and he did not carry them. ALL the DR dealers around Nashville (including the Devil) push only the HighBeams. I'm not ready just yet to try SS but when I do it'll be Rotosounds first.

bassjigga · #9 11-10-2006, 11:38 AM

Personally I hate stainless strings, but on to your question. I've got fairly extensive experience with all the strings you mentioned. Here's what I've found. I used to use the D'addario XLs pretty much exclusively. Even tone, sort of punchy. Then I switched to DR sunbeams and lo-riders (depending on the bass). They have a soft feel to me at least (tplyons thought the lo-riders stiff) although I use a lighter gauge so that might be why. The Lo-riders have bit cleaner midrange to my ears - almost a hi-fi sort of scooped sound. Nice bark but smooth at the same time. The sunbeams fill in the mids a little more. Nice choice for fretless. After some time using the DRs I had a set of the D'addarios layin around so I decided to use them and after getting used to the DRs YUCK! The D'addarios sounded so bad to me. Really harsh and aggressive and just over the top. If that's what you want you will probably love them. The best way I can describe the difference is that the DRs sound much smoother and more refined. Hope that helps.

maurilio · #10 11-10-2006, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassjigga

Personally I hate stainless strings, but on to your question. I've got fairly extensive experience with all the strings you mentioned. Here's what I've found. I used to use the D'addario XLs pretty much exclusively. Even tone, sort of punchy. Then I switched to DR sunbeams and lo-riders (depending on the bass). They have a soft feel to me at least (tplyons thought the lo-riders stiff) although I use a lighter gauge so that might be why. The Lo-riders have bit cleaner midrange to my ears - almost a hi-fi sort of scooped sound. Nice bark but smooth at the same time. The sunbeams fill in the mids a little more. Nice choice for fretless. After some time using the DRs I had a set of the D'addarios layin around so I decided to use them and after getting used to the DRs YUCK! The D'addarios sounded so bad to me. Really harsh and aggressive and just over the top. If that's what you want you will probably love them. The best way I can describe the difference is that the DRs sound much smoother and more refined. Hope that helps.

Thank you!
Just to compare, what bass do you have(specs), please.

Thanks

M

HMZ · #11 11-10-2006, 01:56 PM

I use both the D'Addario's XLs and DR lowriders and find I like the D'Addarios better because they are are a bit stiffer and have more growl the the DR's. By the way Musicians Friend has D'Addario XLs two packs on sale for $22.89 get deal!!!

maurilio · #12 11-10-2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HMZ

I use both the D'Addario's XLs and DR lowriders and find I like the D'Addarios better because they are are a bit stiffer and have more growl the the DR's. By the way Musicians Friend has D'Addario XLs two packs on sale for $22.89 get deal!!!

Hello there, thank you.
I know about MF, but they don't carry the superlong one

M

bassjigga · #13 11-10-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurilio

Thank you!
Just to compare, what bass do you have(specs), please.

Thanks

M

Zon Sonus Special 5 - single coil barts, bart pre.

Zon Sonus Elite 4 fretless - dual coil bart pickups, polyfusion pre.

Alembic Essence 4 - maple neck-through, mahogany body, purpleheart accent, birds eye maple top. Vol, blend, low pass filter preamp.

I've tried them all on all the basses except I haven't used D'addarios on the Alembic. I found the Lo-riders were better for the fretted basses, especially the Zon. The sunbeams gave the Sonus Special a bit too much mids (already a mid-designed bass). Again it all depends on what you want though.

Joebone · #14 11-10-2006, 04:08 PM

Over the last year, I've had D'Addario nickels on two basses, but otherwise have had Sunbeams on my main instruments. I'm strongly leaning toward the Sunbeams. I like the flexiness, which seems to respond nicely to vibrato and the occasional pull, although I understand that speed-demons may prefer higher tension as they run their riffs. And here's a wierd one - when playing each of the D'Addario-strung axes without an amp (a good '73 P-bass and a Zon Sounus Custom), it seemed llike the D'Addarios pulled a harsh sound out of the instrument, almost like odd-order harmonics were getting emphasized. Maybe this leads to desireable "growl," but for me, I'm preferring the Sunbeams....

bassjigga · #15 11-10-2006, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joebone

...it seemed llike the D'Addarios pulled a harsh sound out of the instrument, almost like odd-order harmonics were getting emphasized. Maybe this leads to desireable "growl," but for me, I'm preferring the Sunbeams....

I noticed the same thing. Only amplified it's even worse. I use Glockenklang amp/cabs so any harmonics or overtones that are there come through the speakers. Sounded less like growl to me than it did just nasty dirty nastiness.

HMZ · #16 11-10-2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurilio

Hello there, thank you.
I know about MF, but they don't carry the superlong one

M

What scale bass do you have? I'm pretty sure the D'Addario long will cover 35" if that helps and if you need to know for sure I can find out my guitar player works for D'Addario.

maurilio · #17 11-11-2006, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HMZ

What scale bass do you have? I'm pretty sure the D'Addario long will cover 35" if that helps and if you need to know for sure I can find out my guitar player works for D'Addario.

Thanks!
I have a Roscoe 35". The regular long scale doesn't fit, but I saw the MF has actually the super long scale, my bad!

Anyway... just got back from a gig, with XL nickel,

, not convinced! too mellow!?

I guess I'll stick with SS....

Now, my favourite SS DM SR2000 are a tiny bit too bright and thin... I'll try the Sadowsky and I'll see...
'soon...

M

HMZ · #18 11-11-2006, 04:11 AM

I used SS for years but my fingers and hands would bleed and peel.
I think I had some kind of allergic reaction but some told me that was unlikely but since I switched to nickels I don't have that problem any more. When I did play SS I used DR Low Riders and SIT rock brights in gauges 45-65-85-105.

**petch** · #19 11-11-2006, 06:57 AM

I currently have two basses strung with the XL's and two strung with Sunbeams. I do prefer the Sunbeams for their slightly more supple feel, but I do not hear the harshness in the XL's that the others are talking about. I do like the mids on the Sunbeams better. I have no experience with the Lo-Riders. I don't care for Stainless and only use nickel.

Jerry Ziarko · #20 11-11-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurilio

I have a Roscoe 35". The regular long scale doesn't fit, but I saw the MF has actually the super long scale, my bad!

???????????? My Roscoe came with long XL's on it and I even replaced them with another set of long XL's. They fit fine although the step in the winding fell on the nut. It did not affect the tone nor the intonation one bit. That being said, I tried to like them once again, but still changed them after a few gigs. I am now using TI Super Alloys (my favorites) but I'm not convinced they are the perfect match for this bass.
I used Lowrider SS on a Modulus for years and felt they were the exact string for that bass. I would like to know how much different the Lowrider nickel and stainless are from each other.
It's amazing how one brand can make such a difference in the tone of a particular instrument. I am also just as surprised how willing people are to totally give up on a certain pre amp in their bass, when something as simple as a different type of string could give them the results they desire.