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07-07-2005, 08:37 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kent, WA | | | What exactly does a chrome coating do?
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Recently, I have been studying up about strings so I can find a string that is best suited for me, rather than simply choosing between medium gauge stainless rounds to nickel rounds to flats. I have heard that a chrome coating gives strings a smoother-than-normal sound and based on my knowledge of chrome, it would make the strings last a very long time and they would have the shine of stainless strings.
So is this all? I mean did I actually hit the mark? There has got to be at least a little more. Thanks.
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07-10-2005, 03:10 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Columbus OH | | | I have never, EVER heard of a chrome-coated bass string. Can you give me an example of a manufacturer? Or is this theoretical?
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07-11-2005, 01:13 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: new jersey | | | chrome, interesting.... |
07-11-2005, 04:54 PM
| | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Eric Moesle I have never, EVER heard of a chrome-coated bass string. Can you give me an example of a manufacturer? Or is this theoretical? | D'Addario Chromes |
07-11-2005, 05:16 PM
|  | I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize! | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Daniel Baskin Recently, I have been studying up about strings so I can find a string that is best suited for me, rather than simply choosing between medium gauge stainless rounds to nickel rounds to flats. I have heard that a chrome coating gives strings a smoother-than-normal sound and based on my knowledge of chrome, it would make the strings last a very long time and they would have the shine of stainless strings.
So is this all? I mean did I actually hit the mark? There has got to be at least a little more. Thanks. | I think you are probably talking about D'Addario Chromes. Yes they have an outer chrome ribbon. But the real reason they are so smooth is because they are flatwound.
Roundwounds have a core with a wire wrapped around it. Very bumpy. Flatwounds have a core with a flat ribbon wrapped around it to give a smooth surface.
I believe that the chrome gives them a brighter tone than most flatwounds. Not as bright as a roundwound though.
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07-11-2005, 06:32 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Nashville TN | | | I do not believe the string is "chrome-coated". Chrome by itself is very brittle--ever see an old chrome bumper that's been dented? The chrome immediately flakes off where the dent is, because chrome does not bend well.
Not good for a string that must be bent over a tuning peg and over a bridge saddle.
However, chrome can be mixed into steel to form an alloy. The resulting steel is not necessarily brittle--that depends on the temper (the heat treatment) of the steel.
I believe D'addario Chromes makes their strings with steel that has chrome alloyed in it. |
07-11-2005, 10:58 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kent, WA | | | Thanks, this helps. I was just curious about this because I found it hard to find any hard information about this. I was probably also thinking about chrome in its steel alloy combo as well. Again, thanks for clearing that up too.
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Having technique is not only knowing technique, but knowing how to apply technique to music. In this respect, monster chops are relative.
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07-12-2005, 05:49 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Aarhus, Denmark | | Optima, who makes the gold plated strings formerly known as Maxima, makes a string called Chrome. Don't know if it's chorme plated or just a name, but the Golds are gold plated so it could be. I can't find their website.
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07-12-2005, 05:59 AM
|  | No need to ask, he's a smooth... Moderator | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Midlands UK | | | Steel with chrome in it is indeed an alloy - it's called stainless steel.
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Originally Posted by SBassman  Man, I'd soil myself playing in a band like that. | |
07-12-2005, 07:17 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Nashville TN | | | Strings *could* be plated with gold--gold is malleable, which means it can bend and deform (unlike chrome).
But the big question is "why would you coat a string with gold?" Sure, the gold resists corrosion, but pure gold is incredibly soft, the frets would wear right through it. After a while all the gold coating would be worn off...Kinda like those "elixir" strings that were polymer coated, IIRC. |
07-12-2005, 09:40 AM
|  | Fingers, pick, and a little bit of slap | | Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Terrapin country (Crofton, MD) | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by nashvillebill Strings *could* be plated with gold--gold is malleable, which means it can bend and deform (unlike chrome).
But the big question is "why would you coat a string with gold?" Sure, the gold resists corrosion, but pure gold is incredibly soft, the frets would wear right through it. After a while all the gold coating would be worn off...Kinda like those "elixir" strings that were polymer coated, IIRC. | The Elixir polymer coating holds up surprisingly well IME. I've never tried the gold Maxima strings, but you're certainly right that gold is very soft and I'm suspicious about how long it would last against nickel frets. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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