String material

[jay43]

what do you prfere nickle or stainless and why?

[LilloEsquilo]

Originally Posted by jay43

what do you prfere nickle or stainless and why?

Nickle. Because I don't want to need a fret job every year.

Regardless of Marcus Miller claiming stainless strings don't eat your frets, I found that mine did get eaten. I don't know, maybe he's using stainless frets, and if that's the case, I'm sure he's right, but I have nickle frets (roughly nickle) and stainless strings WILL eat those, and if Mr. Miller wants to see it for himself, I'm sure I'd be glad to show him!

[markanini]

I prefer stainless, less shy in the mid-mids, more solid lows and make tone controls more effective. Just IMHO.

[TomA1234]

I prefer stainless, because I prefer a brighter sound.

I don't find that they chew my frets up, it is probably because I use a fairly light touch when fretting.

[mmbongo]

I prefer nickel, a little wamer...a little punchier..less clangy. Plus easier on the frets

[Jazz Ad]

Nickel. It lasts longer, it's softer on the fingers and it doesn't sound as harsh as steel.

[knuckle_head]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Nickel. It lasts longer, it's softer on the fingers and it doesn't sound as harsh as steel.

d'I do okay by you?

[Rockmusician]

I always use stainless.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

d'I do okay by you?

I use the balanced .136 set on my Spector NS-5. Love them

[Jazz Ad]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

d'I do okay by you?

I haven't mounted my new sets yet.

[Doelle]

I prefer stainless, simply because I my hands won't deal with the nickle, red and itchy.

I came around the bright and clangy by switching to flats

[LilloEsquilo]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Nickel. It lasts longer, it's softer on the fingers and it doesn't sound as harsh as steel.

That is another point I'd forgotten. I tried the stainless, until I saw it wasn't taking long at all to eat grooves into my frets. That's the point at which I knew the stainless had to go, and when I went back to nickle, it was so much easier on my fingers I couldn't believe it. No wonder it eats the frets away it will do the same to your hands too.

Even if I had stainless frets, which isn't a bad idea, I would still stick to nickle because of your hands, and also stainless is brighter than I prefer.

[markanini]

Originally Posted by LilloEsquilo

That is another point I'd forgotten. I tried the stainless, until I saw it wasn't taking long at all to eat grooves into my frets. That's the point at which I knew the stainless had to go, and when I went back to nickle, it was so much easier on my fingers I couldn't believe it. No wonder it eats the frets away it will do the same to your hands too.

Even if I had stainless frets, which isn't a bad idea, I would still stick to nickle because of your hands, and also stainless is brighter than I prefer.

If you liked the stainless tone consider Pressure wounds and ground wounds.

[BassLife77]

nickels sound like some mids are missing. The mids from steels are perfect and growly

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by BassLife77

nickels sound like some mids are missing. The mids from steels are perfect and growly

Not true with DR Sunbeams or Circle K nickels.

[markanini]

I'm with BassLife77, stainless really brings out the mids. Each to their own though.

[markanini]

The way I see it the following ranges are favored for each type:
Nickel-plated steel: Low-mids, highs mids
Stainless steel: Lows, >mid-mids
Pure nickel: Low mids

Then there's Nickel-Iron alloy which is somewhere in-between pure nickel and stainless steel.

[Kenova]

Nickel/Nickel plated for their warmth, midrange, smooth highs and more focus!