Smoothest feeling stainless steels

[B String]

I've been using Nickle strings for many years. I don't have oily,
acid skin, so my strings last for a long time. I've always found
stainless steals to feel harsh under my fingers.
I have a bass right now that would benefit from stainless
steel's. Is there a stainless out now in a medium gauge that
doesn't feel so harsh under the finger?

[Meatrus]

DR highbeams, and Dunlop stainless sets are quite smooth. But if you go for the Dunlops dont expect too much high end, they are more like a Nickel set IMO.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by B String

I have a bass right now that would benefit from stainless steel's. Is there a stainless out now in a medium gauge that doesn't feel so harsh under the finger?

Yes. All the DR stainless steel strings - Hi Beams, Fat Beams and Lo Riders - would qualify. Each is available in all the usual gauges - including medium gauge...

MM

[B String]

I'm using D'addario nickle strings now. How different is the
feel of the D'addario stainless from the nickles?

[KingRazor]

You can really feel the steel in daddarios for a short while but before long they become pretty easy to play on imo.

[MarkusBass]

Seems like a coated stainless would feel pretty good.

[TimB 619]

Don't know about the new ones, but Fender 7350 stainless rounds were some of the smoothest I think I've ever touched. Inexpensive too.

[Caca de Kick]

The two smoothest I've ever used: DR highbeams and MTD.

I've been getting at least a good year out of each set.

[Craig_S]

The smoothest I've used are FatBeams. I'll stay with nickels.

[Doug Parent]

If you are close to the Carvin store in LA, you might try the La Bellas they stock, they are also very inexpensive. I would say the tension is medium and they are very consistent.

[mophead]

Elixir with the nanoweb coating are smooth and last quite awhile.
Fatbeams are nice also.

[Jaco who?]

Fatbeams. Don't let all the threads about how they "go dead" too fast fool you. People say that because they just sound so incredibly good when they're brand new. They still sound nice and full after they get broken in, at least on an active bass with a treble control - you can turn that thing, ya know. I get 9 months out of a set with probably an average of 1 1/2, 2 hours a day. I'll stop endlessly raving now.........

[CElton]

Originally Posted by B String

I'm using D'addario nickle strings now. How different is the
feel of the D'addario stainless from the nickles?

The steels are quite a bit more tacky than the nickels, but they settle in nicely in both feel and tone in my opinion.

FWIW, I'm a DA user and string up my basses with both nickels and steels depending on what the bass wants.

As mentioned above, the DR steel offerings are the "smoothest" feeling strings. They actually feel closer to nickel than steels. Great strings.

[The F-Bomb]

I use DR Highbeams and they feel & sound great. I can't vouch for the other DR brands but I definitley recommend the highbeams.

Good luck

[MarkusBass]

I was thinking about this...how about some bright nickels? Love Dunlops, and they're bright. They feel better than any round wound I've played too.

[Lorenzini]

Ah, DRs are the way to go here. Dunlops are very similar.

Like it was mentioned above, Dunlops have less initial zing (read: they aren't unnaturally clanky) but last long and sound good for a while.

They are the best "installed/restrung the day of" strings you can buy, imo. They sound good immediately and last.

[B String]

I might just try the Carvin strings. You never know.
The Fat Beams look interesting too. I like a little tension for my
low action.