Pure nickel or nickel plated rounds

the low one · #1 05-01-2007, 05:55 AM

I’m going to bite the bullet and put rounds on my fretless MIM Jazz. There seems to be 2 types of nickel strings, nickel plated and pure nickel. For example Fender make a nickel plated and a pure nickel string. Is there any difference between them? If so which is better?

I usually use Elites 40 60 80 100’s steel on my fretted bass so was thinking of trying the Elites nickel in the same gauge as I like the tension and feel etc, and they are a good price.

Philbiker · #2 05-01-2007, 06:36 AM

I don't know the difference but I LOVE Fender's Nickelplated Steel "Super Bass" strings to death.

bgavin · #3 05-01-2007, 03:20 PM

A compromise might be the ground-wounds or half-rounds. These are usually all nickel round wire which is ground down to mostly flat.

They are not as bright as round, nor as thuddy as flats. They are also not as hard on the board as rounds, nor as kind as flats. T'weener strings, all the way around.

I was running light weight EXL-220 rounds on my MIM J-fretless and with light playing, noticed they were polishing the board. More playing would result in grooving the board. I switch over to DA Chrome Flats, but haven't played them enough yet to form an opinion.