R. Cocco nickels - plenty of 'snap'!

[Fender32]

Ever since Fender changed their own brand nickel strings (and started making the awful, IMHO, non-silked ones with the coloured ball-ends) I've been searching around for an alternative supplier .

As part of my research, I bought a set of R. Cocco nickel wounds (Link ...) and put them on my Fender (Japan) 'Geddy Lee' Jazz Bass. For me, it proved to be a very satisfying combination .

Previously, I was using the DR Marcus Miller (stainless) set on it, but they were very light sounding (despite being an even thicker gauge) and the 'snap' of the plucked G string had a very slightly 'buzzy' quality to it, with weak output and a fair amount of finger/fret noise . The Cocco set were not only louder, but the 'mechanical noise' was lower and they really slap and pluck well (with a positive 'clank' and firm ringing note on the slap and a tight, clean, but still very funky, 'snap' to the plucked notes) .

Like most nickel strings, they feel (to me) to be a little smoother under the fingers, so fretting is more pleasant too.

Everyone will have their own opinions of course (is there anything more personal in playing a stringed instrument than the choice of the strings themselves ), but I was very pleasantly surprised by the way that these worked on my Jazz Bass - whether slapped or played finger style. They have a lot of the 'warmth' of other nickel strings, but are not afraid to firmly assert their presence when played aggressively (as some lesser nickels can be, IMO/E).

In short, they are something a "wolf in sheep's clothing" among nickel string sets and have a lot of the 'attitude' of stainless strings, along with the power and smoothness of nickels - it all depends on how you play them.

Admittedly, they are expensive, but then so are a lot of the top brands these days. If, like me, you don't get through many sets of strings and really care about the exact tone of your instrument, it might be worth checking out a set .

[SlingBass4]

You should be writing their advertising...then, again, who knows

Against $60 msrp, and $36 street for R. Cocco (for nickels?) - I'll remain loyal to Sadowsky strings

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by SlingBass4

You should be writing their advertising...then, again, who knows

Against $60 msrp, and $36 street for R. Cocco (for nickels?) - I'll remain loyal to Sadowsky strings

Yeah, it does make me sound like a bit of a 'fan boy', I suppose.

Is $36 expensive for a set of strings in the US - I have no idea !? I paid 24 Euros for my set, which is somewhere in between Fender and DR strings, price-wise. They look fairly plain (with no silk and plain brass ball ends) and have quite a stiff feel straight out of the packet, but I like the way that they sound.

Actually, I'm going to get another set for my StingRay, as I reckon that would be an interesting combo (even though I'm pretty happy with the Ernie Ball Slinkys that are on there now ).

End of Advert: Part Two .

[SlingBass4]

I didn't notice you're in Germany (head slapper). $36 CONUS might be considered high by most, where nickels go (typically) from $15 to $30 for a set of 4. I get the 5 pack volume purchase deal of Sadowsky strings (nickel or steel) for $102 + change delivered to my door. *I* consider that a good deal for the quality of strings they are. Whatever one's choice (and it is YOUR choice) - and whatever makes you happy is all that matters. We folks from the US forget how fortunate we are regarding some pricing on strings, instruments, and amps

[Caca de Kick]

I'm currently switching all my basses to R. Coccos. I'm still using the stainless sets. I was a DR highbeam/fatbeam user for years and years, but I've found the mids open up better on the Coccos, and as Andy mentioned, the metal material itself feels smoother and is less 'noisy', while being a little more flexible. Love them.

I'm paying $26 bucks per set from Bass Specialties. I just bought 6 more packs. So no difference in price than DR's.

[fretno]

I've been switching over to them on all my instruments as well . Best strings I've found to date .

[DTF]

I like them , nice high tension, great sound, even like the way they sound dead

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by SlingBass4

I didn't notice you're in Germany (head slapper). $36 CONUS might be considered high by most, where nickels go (typically) from $15 to $30 for a set of 4. I get the 5 pack volume purchase deal of Sadowsky strings (nickel or steel) for $102 + change delivered to my door. *I* consider that a good deal for the quality of strings they are. Whatever one's choice (and it is YOUR choice) - and whatever makes you happy is all that matters. We folks from the US forget how fortunate we are regarding some pricing on strings, instruments, and amps

That is a good price for the Sadowskys - they're more expensive over here (28 Euros, which converts to $40 ).

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

I'm currently switching all my basses to R. Coccos. I'm still using the stainless sets. I was a DR highbeam/fatbeam user for years and years, but I've found the mids open up better on the Coccos, and as Andy mentioned, the metal material itself feels smoother and is less 'noisy', while being a little more flexible. Love them.

I'm paying $26 bucks per set from Bass Specialties. I just bought 6 more packs. So no difference in price than DR's.

Hi Mike !

I bet that these R. Coccos will sound amazing on your StingRays . Wish that I could be around to hear them on your Wal, too .

I also liked the DRs before, although I preferred the (nickel) Sunbeams on my pre-EB 'Ray.

You and I have quite similar taste anyway, as far as basses, amps and tones go, so I suppose that I shouldn't be surprised to read that you're a fan of these strings as well, Mike .

Originally Posted by fretno

I've been switching over to them on all my instruments as well . Best strings I've found to date .

Cool !

Originally Posted by DTF

I like them , nice high tension, great sound, even like the way they sound dead

Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing how they are when they get really well broken in, too . Personally, I like quite 'dead' sounding nickels on my Fender basses (apart from the Geddy Lee Jazz, upon which I try and slap in a bad-ass, funky way ).

The original idea behind trying these strings was to find a replacement for the old Fender nickel-plates s/s strings, which I was really fond of (on my P and J basses) . If these RCs can retain their midrange punch and deep low end, whilst losing a little 'sparkle', then I think that they should be just about right .

[Caca de Kick]

Originally Posted by Fender32

Hi Mike !

I bet that these R. Coccos will sound amazing on your StingRays . Wish that I could be around to hear them on your Wal, too .

They especially sound amazing on the '78 StingRay. That bass was awesome with Highbeams, but now is so deep it puts Barry White to shame.

I finally picked up the Coccos in February at the urging of an old friend. Not knowing what they even sounded like, I did my own test stringing up several of my old favorite strings on several basses at the same time to see how I still liked them after they all aged the same. Still on and the brilliance is outlasting my old favorites, but they just feel so much better on the gig.

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

They especially sound amazing on the '78 StingRay. That bass was awesome with Highbeams, but now is so deep it puts Barry White to shame.

I finally picked up the Coccos in February at the urging of an old friend. Not knowing what they even sounded like, I did my own test stringing up several of my old favorite strings on several basses at the same time to see how I still liked them after they all aged the same. Still on and the brilliance is outlasting my old favorites, but they just feel so much better on the gig.

Good to hear . So many strings that I've tried in the past (especially stainless ones) sound great after a week, but die within a couple of months (I don't gig, so 'two months' represents just a few dozen hours of practise in my case).

If these new Coccos can age as gracefully as the old Fender ones that I liked (on my Fenders, not on my StingRay ), then I'll be happy.

[jongor]

How's the tension?

I see they make a Richard Bona signature set 39-99, pretty light!

I wonder how flexible they are...?

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by jongor

How's the tension?

I see they make a Richard Bona signature set 39-99, pretty light!

I wonder how flexible they are...?

I can only comment on the one set that I've tried (0.04 - 0.10 nickels) .

My feeling is that they have good, firm tension (they're not sloppy), but are fairly flexible with it. The windings on the strings feel to me like they are a fatter gauge than than on many other brands (wrapped around a thinner core, presumably). The fat windings give the strings a slightly coarser feel to them, but the thinner core adds to the flexibility, IMO. Some strings, especially s/s ones like Rotosounds, feel to me like the windings are finer and more numerous and the core is fatter to compensate for that.

I'm guessing that it's a hexagonal core on the Coccos though, as they are not quite as bendy as DR Hi-Beams (which are wound onto a round core) and the Coccos certainly have more of a hard 'snnap' and less of a prolonged 'twwaangg' to them when plucked hard during slap 'n' pop style playing .

Interestingly, my set are almost the same gauges as the Richard Bona set (which are also nickel, BTW), but each string in the RB set is just 1/1000th of an inch thinner ! Can anyone really feel the difference at such a microscopic level - even Richard Bona !? Apparently so .

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Fender32

I can only comment on the one set that I've tried (0.04 - 0.10 nickels) .

My feeling is that they have good, firm tension (they're not sloppy), but are fairly flexible with it. The windings on the strings feel to me like they are a fatter gauge than than on many other brands (wrapped around a thinner core, presumably). The fat windings give the strings a slightly coarser feel to them, but the thinner core adds to the flexibility, IMO. Some strings, especially s/s ones like Rotosounds, feel to me like the windings are finer and more numerous and the core is fatter to compensate for that.

I'm guessing that it's a hexagonal core on the Coccos though, as they are not quite as bendy as DR Hi-Beams (which are wound onto a round core) and the Coccos certainly have more of a hard 'snnap' and less of a prolonged 'twwaangg' to them when plucked hard during slap 'n' pop style playing .

Interestingly, my set are almost the same gauges as the Richard Bona set (which are also nickel, BTW), but each string in the RB set is just 1/1000th of an inch thinner ! Can anyone really feel the difference at such a microscopic level - even Richard Bona !? Apparently so .

Is it possible that Bona's strings are wound on a thicker core with thinner that changes the tension and feel of the strings? What about a different material (ie, nickel wrap, steel core)?

Maybe yours are actually the same size. I've noticed many strings vary by +/- .002 from what the gauge actually says. The gauges are estimates and probably only stay the same for tradition and marketing purposes.

[Joebone]

I converted from DR Sunbeams to the R. Cocco nickel rounds, and am not looking back. More girth and fundamental to the sound, but no lack of overtones if that's what you want to bring out. A bit more tension than the Sunbeams, but not tight like D'Addarios - a nicely balanced tension, to my mind. They are killer on my Sadowsky Metro R5-24, and I'm headed toward my third set (they seem to last about 6 months, and I like them a little on the dead side). I also have had good results on a Lakland 4-94 and Glaub, and am now preparing to get some more as I dabble in Stingrays. The most amazing thing about these is that pitches seem to center better with them, on all of my basses and in all registers - it's the darndest thing that I can't explain, but it has a lot to do with my digging them as I do.

[tylerwylie]

Their 4's are expensive compared to other 4's, but their 5's and 6's are within reason.. Wonder why?

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Is it possible that Bona's strings are wound on a thicker core with thinner that changes the tension and feel of the strings? What about a different material (ie, nickel wrap, steel core)?

Maybe yours are actually the same size. I've noticed many strings vary by +/- .002 from what the gauge actually says. The gauges are estimates and probably only stay the same for tradition and marketing purposes.

You're very probably right with your first suggestion there, FMB . There probably is more to it than just a 1/1000th of an inch reduction in the core/windings. As you say, a different ratio between the core and the wrap would make for a whole different playing experience .

Now why didn't I think of that .

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Fender32

You're very probably right with your first suggestion there, FMB . There probably is more to it than just a 1/1000th of an inch reduction in the core/windings. As you say, a different ratio between the core and the wrap would make for a whole different playing experience .

Now why didn't I think of that .

Because you probably haven't run as many arbitrary calculations of string construction as I have out of complete interest/boredom. There was some thread where I went through and actually figured out the relative mass difference of two identically-gauged strings with different core/wrap sizes. Lol


EDIT: And because I keep having this thought while reading the thread title, "Stop buying strings that snap, OP - they're expensive."

[Larmer]

Originally Posted by jongor

How's the tension?

I see they make a Richard Bona signature set 39-99, pretty light!

I wonder how flexible they are...?

I highly recommend trying them out. I currently have them on my Kubicki.
I'd say they have the best of both worlds, the airy and smooth feeling of a .95 set, yet the tension is as good as on a .105 set.

[mstott25]

I'm going to pick some up for my jazz bass...I have flatwounds on everything right now but I'm getting a P-bass shortly and will slap some nickels back on my jazz...

I went from DR Sunbeams to Sadowsky Blue Label Nickel and like both but slightly prefer the Sadowsky's. I've been eager to check these R. Cocco's out though...

[Joebone]

Originally Posted by mstott25

I'm going to pick some up for my jazz bass...I have flatwounds on everything right now but I'm getting a P-bass shortly and will slap some nickels back on my jazz...

I went from DR Sunbeams to Sadowsky Blue Label Nickel and like both but slightly prefer the Sadowsky's. I've been eager to check these R. Cocco's out though...

Do it! Just stopped off to buy two sets; replacements on my Sadowsky Metro R5-24, and and a set for Stingray 5HH with ebony board that threatens to displace the Sadowsky as my main axe. These are THE JAM!