Rope core strings

[Kevinlee]

I've gotten some really useful advise as far as strings go from you folks at talkbass but I'm still researching a little, with the price of bass strings I think it wise. Anyway I was wondering if anyone can give some feedback on ropecore strings, good brand and also will these pick up through a magnetic p.u. ? I had some labella chrome or nickle wound with nylon core but they did not pick up. Had to use bridge p.u. only, and I like combining the pick ups.

Thanks
Kevinlee

[Francois Blais]

Kevin,
Ropecore is the generic term for stranded-steel core. There's no rope in there.
If you want to use a magnetic pickup you'd better sticking to all-steel strings, being solid-core or rope-core. Nickel wound is even better with magnetic pickups because it has stronger magnetic properties than steel.
Helicores are nickel wound, and so are Corellis '380 series, Pirastro Permanents and Super-Sensitive's Supreme.
There may be others too.
But full-steel strings like Spirocores or Thomastik Superflexibles will work good with a magnetic p.u. too.

[olivier]

I must correct François here: Thomastik Superflexible are rope-core.

IMHO they have a somewhat warmer sound and more bow-friendly than Spirocore, also by Thomastik.

[Francois Blais]

By "full-steel" I didn't mean "solid-core".
I used that expression because I was talking of nickel wound strings, and then I listed the Thomastiks, which are made of steel only.

But you're right, the Superflexibles, (as the Spirocores), are rope-core strings, although the way the core is threaded is different in the Spicorores.