Stainless Steel or Nickel Plated?

[DiazRomero]

What's your preference/experience with stainless steel and nickel plated strings?

[danomite64]

My preference has always been Nickel. Stainless strings feel rougher to me, and to my ears, have less mids in them. I did use stainless Rotosounds for a while, and liked them more than the Blue Steels I was using before them, but then I found out Rotosound made nickels about 8 years ago, and haven't bought a stainless set since.

[Flounder102Bass]

stainless steel strings are more brighter like for alot of slaping

[bass_lord_mutha]

I like stainless on my fretted basses and nickel on my fretless basses (whenever I have one, that is).

[tylerwylie]

Was always averse to stainless steel strings until I found DR and more recently, Fodera.

[Montanamike]

I play Sadowsky blue SS on all my fretted and nickel on my fretless. Some say that ss is too bright, I say that's what a tone knob is for.

[jmattbassplaya]

I've never cared for SS strings. Most of the ones I've used have felt a lot rougher than their nickle counterpart, and they always seem to have stiffer tension (though that might be my brain playing tricks on me).

[fretlessguy]

I prefer nickel. Less fingernoise with slightly warmer sound. Easier on the frets and fingerboard. I do, however, like a set of stainless strings from time to time.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I've never cared for SS strings. Most of the ones I've used have felt a lot rougher than their nickle counterpart, and they always seem to have stiffer tension (though that might be my brain playing tricks on me).

Have you played DR Hi-Beams? They are very smooth and have a lot less tension compared with Rotosounds Swing 66 and La Bella Hard Rockin' Steels. Hi-Beams are the best bass strings ever in my opinion.

[soulman969]

I've used DR High Beams on a Modulus and loved the match with that bass but typically I'll play nickel or alloy on my Jazz Basses.

[tylerwylie]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

Have you played DR Hi-Beams? They are very smooth and have a lot less tension compared with Rotosounds Swing 66 and La Bella Hard Rockin' Steels. Hi-Beams are the best bass strings ever in my opinion.

Haven't tried the Fodera stainless steel sets yet then I guess?

[rocknrollmouse]

I like nickels, for the warmer sound, also I find them more consistent over their life than ss - when ss are new they're very bright and twangy (tho' kind of fun) when played in loose this and the warm-up a bit.

Interesting that many say they find nickel smoother feeling than ss. When new, I find nickels definitely have a unique feel to them, that I don't quite know how to describe (although this quickly goes during playing in).

[markanini]

SS just sounds bigger

[darthplagis]

SS for me. im allergic to nickel and get bad contact dermatitis if i play a nickel strung bass/guitar.

good job i love the low biting grunt of SS then eh?

[AHDBassist]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

Have you played DR Hi-Beams? They are very smooth and have a lot less tension compared with Rotosounds Swing 66 and La Bella Hard Rockin' Steels. Hi-Beams are the best bass strings ever in my opinion.

My favorite. All I use now.

[miketallica315]

I use SS. They last so much longer, and I like how they sound. On my fivers I use La Bella hard rockin steels and Dunlop Trujillo's on my four string. I love the aggression of stainless steel strings.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by tylerwylie

Haven't tried the Fodera stainless steel sets yet then I guess?

No, I haven't. Are they that good?

[tylerwylie]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

No, I haven't. Are they that good?

If Hi Beams are your favorite, definitely worth a try. Different character, similar to both Hi Beams and Fat Beams though. Better? You be the judge. :-)

[DiazRomero]

I've been using SS for about 25 years because I like the tone and I'm a creature of habit. I make adjustments with my tone knob for different songs and venues. I started this thread because I was getting ready to buy some new strings (I do that every couple of years) and was wondering what other bassists preferred and why. I appreciate all the various opinions. I guess it comes down to personal preference and how we define our own unique and individual voice.

[gottawalk]

Originally Posted by markanini

SS just sounds bigger

Sorry, man, your comparison just doesn't work. You are playing two totally different styles and in doing so, play with a totally different technique in a different tonal range of the bass. You should play the exact same thing with both sets of strings to make the comparison. I can't tell the difference because there is too much difference...