Nickel vs. Stainless Steel

[lavmonga]

I play ernie ball regular slinkys, and honestly I didn't even know they made a stainless steel version of this gauge. I'm happy with the nickel strings, but what's up with stainless steel? good? bad? ok?

[Senor SQUID]

whatever you like bro

[N8116B]

I would postulate that the stainless ones are less prone to corrosion.

[papajune]

I usually use ken smith burners nickel which i completely am in love with. I tried almost everything, three years or so of going through any and every type string before i settled on these. I recently was talked into trying sadowsky steels though and I have regretted it since i put them on. To me nickels are soooo much smoother than steels, their softer to the touch and don't seem to have that sticky feeling i get from steels. I will say that my tone with the steel is beefier, i suppose that is the trade off though, they are not a luxurious feeling or easy to move on but they pack a meatier punch than nickels. When it comes down to it though it is all what feels best for you, to me that means nickels, especially ken smiths. My suggestion is to keep trying everything until you find what you like, and don't stop after that until you know what pretty much everything is like and you will have a favorite i promise. Enjoy the hunt!

[Basehead]

I find that stainless "feel" a bit rougher than nickel. I accidentally put a set of nickle Spector strings on my SSD recently. Since I've only strung that instrument with Stainless Steel, at first I thought something felt different. Not bad, just different. Now, I'm loving them. I think I'll keep this bass strung with Nickles. I've only put SS strings on my Fodera as well, but now I think I'll try the nicks on this one.
BTW - I only use nickle slinkys on my Sterling.

[BuffaloBass]

Just took the ss off my new Lakland and replaced with my fav nickles, DR LoRiders.

I find the nickles are both brighter, but not squwaky on plucks, and warmer than SS> SS is more of a full ballz out rock tone, whereas nickels are a bit more nuanced.

Yeah, I dig the silky feel of them as well.

[r379]

Originally Posted by lavmonga

I play ernie ball regular slinkys, and honestly I didn't even know they made a stainless steel version of this gauge. I'm happy with the nickel strings, but what's up with stainless steel? good? bad? ok?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the Nickel EB Slinkys called Hybrid Slinkys? Is that what you've been playing?

If you've been playing steel EBs and like them but you want a different sound you might try the Hybrids.

[colorblindbass]

no,

hybrid slinkies are just a diffrent gauge

[dewbass4]

I prefer the slightly brighter sound and longer string life of D'Addario ProSteels. To me they feel the same as the XL nickels, but keep that new string 'bite' a lot longer.

Try them, if you don't like 'em switch to something else. Strings are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to modify your sound.

[MysticMichael]

I went through a period of several years, during which I played nothing but stainless steels. I love the brilliance and cut of SS, but finally could no longer take the metallic "clank" of steels. So I went back to nickels...

Nowadays, I try to play the brightest nickel strings I can find - all other things being equal, i.e. balance, sustain, decent tension, longevity, etc. Thus far, I've liked GHS Boomer B52s and have also been pleased with Dean Markley Bass Blasters - at least for the price.

Next up: Ken Smith Bass Burners and Rotosound Swing Bass Nickels...

MM

[SuperSnake2012]

I use D'Addario nickels... I've tried a bunch of a SS strings but they make way too much finger noise. I have some DR Hi-Beams on my Jazz bass and I always have to roll off some of the highs to get less clank.

[Warder]

Give DR Sunbeams a try. The best Nickle string on the market.

[r379]

Originally Posted by colorblindbass

no,

hybrid slinkies are just a diffrent gauge

Thanks; I stand corrected. Someone who uses the Hybrids regularly told me that the Hybrid thing meant they were nickel. Guess I shouldn't believe everything I hear.

I wonder what it is that causes EB to call a .045-.105 set Hybrid? That's a pretty common combination of gauges.

[Nikoubis]

Originally Posted by Warder

Give DR Sunbeams a try. The best Nickle string on the market.

QFT.

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

it depends on what kind of sound or techniques im using to be honest...

SS are awesome for pop/slap and picking (IMO) because of the bright, snappy sound that you get from them that give it a sweet and funky tone. Of course im speaking from having this on my hot fender j-bass...

I have nickel-plated steel on my ibanez, they are GHS Bass Boomers (medium gauge) and are awesome but i've found that those and some other of that type to have a warmer, thicker sound, they also tend to buzz less than the SS ones do.

I like them both, depends on what sound you wanna go for. SS's are best for funk techniques IMO, but I use for my Nickel-plated steels for a fat, thick sound

[bohemond]

I use Daddario nickel and Rotos swing bass 66s . Ive always found the steels are easier to bend and sound better doing so

[Terry-MaQ]

The best set of strings I have tried in a while were a set of Stagg nickel strings remarkably, that I got free from work.

I used to use D'addario ProSteels but I find that they deteriorate very quickly, even if you are anal about wiping your strings down after playing.

The Stagg strings are about done now, and I have a set of Warwick Emp's to put on after I bother to wire in my new Seymour Duncan MM!
So I'm pretty excited hehe!

[varunkapahi]

i play a lot of slap pop bass almost as much as finger style. which steels would last the longest with the bright sound not going dead?
d'addario prosteels or rotosound steels? or should i hunt for ernie ball strings in my city??

[bassbully]

Nickel being a softer metal is more forgiving on your frets and hardware. This besides tone is the reason i stay away from them. I like a warm round bass sound and steels give me a loud, ringy rock tone and as i said tuff on frets.

[mr sprocket]

Another DR Sunbeam fan here. I find the Sunbeams very soft and easy to bend. On my 32" scale it is like playing butter. It seems the nickel is easy to cover more styles.