Nickel strings - DR or LaBella?

Stride000 · #1 08-30-2006, 02:01 PM

That's it plain and simple.

Your preference between both and why.

Anything else better than these?

mgbass · #2 08-30-2006, 02:41 PM

You really cannot go wrong with any of these, but the question is what type of tone are you looking for?

I have great luck with the Sadowsky Brite Nickels, and the DR strings are all fabulous, but what type of music are you going to use them for ?
Enjoy

Stride000 · #3 08-30-2006, 03:03 PM

I have a SR5 and currently using the slinkies. I'm very pleased with my tone (fat, buttery while punchy at the same time) but am the kind of guy who's always looking for something better.

The ideal tone i'm looking to achieve would be a mix between Jamerson and Tony Levin with Peter Gabriel.

I'm playing fingerstyle 95% of the time and freelancing for pop and rock acts.

Asaf · #4 08-30-2006, 03:36 PM

i used the labella for some time and they sounded ok and felt smooth, but the DR are much better when it comes to life and sound of their nickels.
i use the Rotosound "Roto Bass" because they are cheap and sound good on my Jazzbass
and i prefer the Dean Markley "Nickel Steel" on my pedulla pentabuzz.

bkief1 · #5 08-30-2006, 04:02 PM

None of the Above.

The Snake Oil Strings are very long last lasting and provide a great sound over their life. Not an employee...just a VERY satisfied customer. I use them for both guitar and bass.

http://www.sobstrings.net/

HTH

RAM · #6 09-10-2006, 07:46 AM

I use LaBella Slappers on my Jerzy with great satisfaction, and like them more than DRs. It's a feel thing, more than anything...

LaBella Slappers are steel strings wrapped in a nickel outer layer, so they tend to be slightly brighter than pure nickel, but far less bright than steel. On top of that, they have a round core, so they feel more flexible than the DR Nickel Lowbeams.

The Craw · #7 09-10-2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

LaBella Slappers are steel strings wrapped in a nickel outer layer, so they tend to be slightly brighter than pure nickel, but far less bright than steel.

All electric bass strings are steel on the inside.They have tempered carbon steel cores and one or more steel internal wraps. No one puts nickel on the inside.

Slappers have a nickel-plated steel outer wrap. Most nickel bass strings are nickle plated steel, not pure nickel.

Back to the original question, I like the LaBellas better than the DRs, but I like D'addario and EB Slinky better than either.

Ampeg SVT · #8 09-10-2006, 10:02 PM

I use Fender 8250 tapers, I have Daddario XLs currently but Im getting Blue Steels in the mail this week sometime

Philbiker · #9 09-11-2006, 06:50 AM

Personally I've never tried a set of DR strings that I liked. Conversely, I've never tried a set of LaBella strings that I didn't like!

That said, my favorite nickelwound strings I've ever used are those manufactured by Fender.

pickles · #10 09-11-2006, 08:22 AM

Sunbeams are great on SR5s, the round core makes playing fingerstyle on top of the pickup much more comfortable for me.

joelb79 · #11 09-11-2006, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkief1

None of the Above.

The Snake Oil Strings are very long last lasting and provide a great sound over their life. Not an employee...just a VERY satisfied customer. I use them for both guitar and bass.

http://www.sobstrings.net/

HTH

expeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnsive! im paying this for 4 sting bass sets:

Diadarrio Products: $18.50
GHS Products: $16.50
DR Products: $18.50
Fender Products: $17.50

So im sticking to those brands. $35 a set means less pizza to go around, you know?

BaldBass · #12 09-12-2006, 01:36 PM

all my basses are strung with LaBella's......my string of choice

Stride000 · #13 09-12-2006, 05:44 PM

Ok I tried both and here's my experience.

I really really liked the sound of the slappers. Dark, warm, deep bottom.

BUT, I bought two sets in two weeks and had the following problems:

They had horrible balance between strings as the B and E were a lot louder than the other strings. I know they're taper core but i had adjusted the bridge accordingly and still they were louder.

On the second set, the G string unwrapped at the post upon installation, right out of the pack.

On the first set, only the B and E strings were taper core. On the second set the B, E and A strings were taper core. Talk about some unconcistency...!! And I checked thouroughly that both sets were the same model number.

Now for the DR Lo-Riders.

They have a bit more bottom than the slinkies but a lot less than the slappers. The string to string balance is stellar though. They might be a bit too bright and middy for my taste, I'll have to see with time and I might give the slappers another chance but i'm very not sure about that.

pickles · #14 09-12-2006, 06:28 PM

I've had the same experience with LaBellas ... thought it was just me. I've been thinking about trying the "super steps" set to see if its more even.

Lorenzini · #15 09-12-2006, 07:25 PM

Try DR Sunbeams. They will do the trick.

Stride000 · #16 09-12-2006, 09:35 PM

Lorenzini - Have you tried both the Lo-riders and the sunbeams? If so how would you compare them?

I hesitated between the sunbeams and the Lo's but went with the lather cause they were hex core like the slappers so thought they'd be closer in sound.

pickles · #17 09-13-2006, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stride000

Lorenzini - Have you tried both the Lo-riders and the sunbeams? If so how would you compare them?

I hesitated between the sunbeams and the Lo's but went with the lather cause they were hex core like the slappers so thought they'd be closer in sound.

If you search here you'll find lots of discussion on that topic. It depends what kind of feel you're looking for more than anything.