Steel String sound without eating my fingers?

santucci218 · #1 01-31-2008, 10:26 AM

I love stainless steel strings, especially D'addario and Ken Smith ones. They are bright and growly and i love em for my playing style, but they feel almost...dry on my fingers. after a while it starts to hurt my fingers...any strings that make a good attempt?

SC Bassboy · #2 01-31-2008, 10:31 AM

I've never run across a nickel string that sounds like stainless. You might try a little trick I picked up years ago. Before I begin to play, and any time my fingers start to hurt from too much friction, I simply rub my plucking fingers on my nose. This wipes natural oils from your skin on your fingers and lubricates them. It works wonders. The idea came from the old story about Jaco keeping a chicken bone in his bass case to use for finger lube.

Double Agent · #3 01-31-2008, 11:10 AM

The best feeling SS strings I have used for sound AND feel are DR Lo-Riders. All SS strings are rougher than nickel, but I have had some SS string that absolutely destroyed my fingers and I gig 2-3 weekends a month. The DRs are the easiest on my hands and they sound great, the Hi-Beams are also SS and lots of praise but I've never used them. I think they would be even easier on your hands because they have less tension than the Lo-Riders. You might want to check into DRs.

Phalex · #4 01-31-2008, 11:24 AM

Alloy-52 is supposed to be about as bright as SS. You might want to look into B-52's.

meev992 · #5 01-31-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

Alloy-52 is supposed to be about as bright as SS. You might want to look into B-52's.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navig...2+string&Nty=1

Would'e? · #6 01-31-2008, 12:13 PM

I've used both the Lo-Riders and High-Beams. The High-Beams might be a bit kinder to the fingers because of the lower tension, but neither of them are a deal great rougher than your typical nickle-coated steels IMHO.

You might look into the DR Extra Life strings. They are coated SS on a round core and very kind to fingers, even in comparison with nickles. You do lose a little bit of high end because of the coating though.

Snarf · #7 01-31-2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC Bassboy

I've never run across a nickel string that sounds like stainless. You might try a little trick I picked up years ago. Before I begin to play, and any time my fingers start to hurt from too much friction, I simply rub my plucking fingers on my nose. This wipes natural oils from your skin on your fingers and lubricates them. It works wonders. The idea came from the old story about Jaco keeping a chicken bone in his bass case to use for finger lube.

GROSSSSSSSSSS

SC Bassboy · #8 01-31-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarf

GROSSSSSSSSSS

So are vaginas, but I like them too.

Infernal Affair · #9 01-31-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarf

GROSSSSSSSSSS

I don't see what's so gross about it. He's rubbing his finger on top of his nose, not picking it.

i_got_a_mohawk · #10 01-31-2008, 03:11 PM

Your finger tips should develop calluses which will stop the strings being uncomfortable?

nosajwp · #11 01-31-2008, 07:10 PM

DR Hi-Beams are about the smoothest feeling stainless wound strings I've ever used...never had a problem with them.

AllenBass7 · #12 01-31-2008, 09:15 PM

Eventually your fingers will get so tough and leathery that you can play as long as you want without having them hurt.

I mean... I've torn the skin apart and burst my blisters, blisters and my thumb knuckle is harder and thicker than my non-slapping hand.

Anyways Steel Strings sound like Steel Strings.
Your choice though

Lorenzini · #13 01-31-2008, 09:21 PM

Fingers hurt? They'll get better and stronger the next time.

MAN UP!

jsingles · #14 01-31-2008, 09:28 PM

if coated is your thing, elixer strings work wonders with their SMOOTHE feel, they also last a ridiculously long time. gotta like the feel and sound of them tho...

calluses also work wonders

Rocketpriest · #15 01-31-2008, 09:41 PM

If the Smith steels are too rough for you, I don't know that you and the stainless steel strings are going to be friends. Try Sadowky's stainless steel strings, they're absolutely amazing (I'm so sad they don't come in 6 string sets

). On the other hand, I hadn't realized that DR Lowriders were SS strings, I could swear they felt like nickels. Of course, after playing on the broken glass-like Carvin steel strings for a couple of years it's a wonder my fingertips have feeling left at all. They should, by all rights, be nothing but marred flesh and callous (unidentifiable by fingerprinting - can't catch me, coppers!).

...Seriously, try the Sadowsky's.