What are the warmest and fattest nickel roundwounds?

Ryan Mohr · #1 05-25-2009, 02:14 PM

My main bass is a Fender Classic '60s Jazz Bass. Essentially, an alder/rosewood '60s style J bass. I have DR hi-beams on it. They are great strings with nice, tight, clear lows; growly, but somewhat scooped and polite mids; and bright, extended, crisp, and pure highs with lots of character. Overall, they are very even strings, with a more modern voicing perfect for modern funk.

However, I am a nickel guy at heart. The hi-beams are just too bright, hi-fi, modern, zingy, and flat for my tonal preferences. My ideal tone is vintagey, warm, fat, and smooth, but with clarity in the mids and highs. I want nickels that can capture this vibe. I have tried DR nickel lo-riders and Fender 7150s, but I'm looking for something a little different.

Essentially, I am looking for the warmest, fattest nickel strings out there. I want big, fat, supportive, rich, thick, creamy, round, warm, growly, full low-mids, low-mid and mid-mid present, punchy, clear, articulate, balanced, smooth, sweet, organic, vintage. Warm and fat with clarity.

Here are some strings I am considering:

DR Sunbeam
Fender Super Bass
La Bella Slappers
Thomastik-Infeld Superalloy
Sadowsky Blue Label Nickel

Thanks!

Deacon_Blues · #2 05-25-2009, 02:39 PM

Why not flats, if I may ask? It sounds to me you're about to take one step towards flats but chances are it won't really take you to the sound you want, so why not skip this step and try a set of flats instantly? There's definitely clarity and definition enough in most flats.

By the way, have you considered changing the pickup for something more higher-end? That might have a huge impact on the tone you're getting.

Ryan Mohr · #3 05-25-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

Why not flats, if I may ask? It sounds to me you're about to take one step towards flats but chances are it won't really take you to the sound you want, so why not skip this step and try a set of flats instantly? There's definitely clarity and definition enough in most flats.

By the way, have you considered changing the pickup for something more higher-end? That might have a huge impact on the tone you're getting.

I already have flats on my P bass, I definitely know and love that sound. But, for the SX I want warm, fat nickel rounds.

I really like the stock SX pickups, I changed the wiring harness out for a Bayou wiring harness with CTS pots. I'm not looking to spend to much because it is my backup.

Root 5 · #4 05-25-2009, 03:44 PM

If you want a warm & fat sound you should be using nylon tapewounds. I use them all the time & love them. They are not great for loud aggressive styles but if you play jazz, motown, reggae, blues - they're awesome.

Ryan Mohr · #5 05-25-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Root 5

If you want a warm & fat sound you should be using nylon tapewounds. I use them all the time & love them. They are not great for loud aggressive styles but if you play jazz, motown, reggae, blues - they're awesome.

Thanks for the recommendation, but I'm looking for strictly nickel roundwounds.

r379 · #6 05-25-2009, 04:26 PM

I've used TI Superalloys in the past and they are great strings. I think they'd give you what you're looking for. They're kinda pricey but they last a long time IMO. Kinda bright when you first put them on but they'll calm down after a while. Give 'em a shot.

mattygbass · #7 05-25-2009, 05:39 PM

i love sunbeams, they can get you the sound your looking for, but you gotta let them settle for a week.

sadowsky nickle strings, and believe it or not the lakland nickles are pretty warm also.

ReBass · #8 05-25-2009, 07:24 PM

+1 to the Sunbeams. Those and TI Flats are the only strings I use anymore.

DavePlaysBass · #9 05-25-2009, 10:58 PM

Sadowsky Blues are a great string. Great in a supportative role. But all the strings on your list are pretty good. You probably need to pick a set and go.

pdbass · #10 05-25-2009, 11:02 PM

DR Low-Rider Nickels are some wonderful strings, IME. Warm, fat, super-great fundamental and very little 'break-in'. Not too bright out of the box...

Rezlax31 · #11 05-25-2009, 11:03 PM

Maybe check out the Fender Classic Bass strings. I think they are designed for a vintage nickel sound.

Ryan Mohr · #12 05-26-2009, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattygbass

i love sunbeams, they can get you the sound your looking for, but you gotta let them settle for a week.

sadowsky nickle strings, and believe it or not the lakland nickles are pretty warm also.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReBass

+1 to the Sunbeams. Those and TI Flats are the only strings I use anymore.

The only thing that makes me hesitant towards buying Sunbeams is that they have a strong hi-mid emphasis, and not a lot of the low-mids I love.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass

Sadowsky Blues are a great string. Great in a supportative role. But all the strings on your list are pretty good. You probably need to pick a set and go.

Leaning towards these.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdbass

DR Low-Rider Nickels are some wonderful strings, IME. Warm, fat, super-great fundamental and very little 'break-in'. Not too bright out of the box...

I currently have these, they are great strings but I'm looking for something a little different.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rezlax31

Maybe check out the Fender Classic Bass strings. I think they are designed for a vintage nickel sound.

I have tried these too, they are certainly warm and vintagey, but they aren't fat or "big" enough for me.

Chopper · #13 05-26-2009, 04:42 AM

Mrdak · #14 05-26-2009, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r379

I've used TI Superalloys in the past and they are great strings. I think they'd give you what you're looking for. They're kinda pricey but they last a long time IMO. Kinda bright when you first put them on but they'll calm down after a while. Give 'em a shot.

+1

tornadobass · #15 05-26-2009, 07:18 AM

I'd suggest either D'Addario XL or Black Diamond nickel...both get a big warm sound once they're broken in. The Black Diamonds seem warmer right off while the DA strings would take a week or so.

Ryan Mohr · #16 05-26-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chopper

Read the OP, they are already on the bass but I'm looking for something else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrdak

+1

I'm leaning towards these or the Sadowskys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tornadobass

I'd suggest either D'Addario XL or Black Diamond nickel...both get a big warm sound once they're broken in. The Black Diamonds seem warmer right off while the DA strings would take a week or so.

XLs always have a certain harshness that I am not fond of.

(b)Assman · #17 05-26-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

Read the OP, they are already on the bass but I'm looking for something else.

I'm leaning towards these or the Sadowskys.

XLs always have a certain harshness that I am not fond of.

Agreed strongly on the harshness aspect.

tornadobass · #18 05-26-2009, 02:24 PM

I guess I'm remembering my well-aged XLs

(b)Assman · #19 05-26-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tornadobass

I guess I'm remembering my well-aged XLs

I've got many sets of XL's and most of them are very well aged, and they still sound harsh, not twangy harsh but a harshness residing somewhere in the mids. Or maybe it's due to the lack of warmth on the E-string. XL's have major e-string problems IMO.

Ryan Mohr · #20 05-26-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (b)Assman

I've got many sets of XL's and most of them are very well aged, and they still sound harsh, not twangy harsh but a harshness residing somewhere in the mids. Or maybe it's due to the lack of warmth on the E-string. XL's have major e-string problems IMO.

+1