Nickel or Stainless

markman · #1 07-29-2005, 08:30 PM

How can I tell if the roundwounds on my bass are nickel or staniless?

rsautrey · #2 07-30-2005, 07:32 AM

Nickel, or more commonly nickelplated steel, has a very shiny silver appearance. It is usually smoother feeiling and sounding than stainless steel. Stainless steel is a darker gray color. It is rougher in feel and sound (more high end response) and IMO lasts longer overall than nickel/nickelplated strings.

Daniel Baskin · #3 07-30-2005, 09:15 AM

Isn't it the opposite in color? You are right on with everything else, but I'm positive that steels are the bright, shiny metalic ones and nickels are dark grey.

rsautrey · #4 07-30-2005, 10:24 AM

Nope. Stainless steel is the darker gray metal.

relayer66 · #5 07-30-2005, 03:23 PM

SS is darker and rougher feeling.

Daniel Baskin · #6 07-30-2005, 03:41 PM

Ok then, I'm convinced, but that must've meant that the round-wounds that I got with my current bass must have been really old. Or they could have been ever older steels that completely lost all brightness, but I doubt it because it had great intonation still. I dunno.