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Best Alternative to DR Nickel Lo-Riders

1

18reisd

Aug 12, 2012
17
0
#1
Hey All,
I just got a new set of Nickel Lo-Riders for my jazz bass, which i really love, but about a week in, the g-string broke, and I have a gig tomorrow, but I can't find a replacement set at any nearby music stores. Can you recommend me a similarly tensioned nickel set that breaks in quickly that I can use for my g-string?
 
#3
I will be playing Rush at the gig, but I'm also going to be playing blues songs like Born Under a Bad Sign, so I need a good string for bright tones and fat, deep almost p-bass sounding tones. (Sorry I forgot to mention this also)
 
#5
There don't seem to be a lot of hex core nickel wrapped strings on the market.

Looks like SIT makes a Power Wound set and Hartke also makes one, but they probably won't sell them as singles anywhere near you. Any nickel wrap (even if it's round core) probably won't be even noticed as any different to the audience, it'll probably only be a minor tension difference for you.

I'd try and track down what caused the string break (bridge saddle burrs?) so that you can avoid it from happening in the future.
 
#6
I'm fine with nickel wrap as I only need a short term replacement. I not quite sure how as the bass was being set up and the guy that broke it put on a super low tension, (I prefer higher tension) clanky string. What do you think about Dunlop, or D'Addarios, as previously mentioned?
 
#7
18reisd said:
I'm fine with nickel wrap as I only need a short term replacement. I not quite sure how as the bass was being set up and the guy that broke it put on a super low tension, (I prefer higher tension) clanky string. What do you think about Dunlop, or D'Addarios, as previously mentioned?
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I had to throw a Dunlop nickel wrapped E string on my DR lo-rider nickel stringed bass just before a recording session.

Realistically, the main difference I had was that the tension is a little lighter, and that since it was a brand new string, it was brighter than its broken in brethren.

All in all, it's not a dealbreaker. No one will notice but you and it's just a stopgap measure that can be remedied properly when time/budget permit.
 
#8
Unrepresented said:
I had to throw a Dunlop nickel wrapped E string on my DR lo-rider nickel stringed bass just before a recording session.

Realistically, the main difference I had was that the tension is a little lighter, and that since it was a brand new string, it was brighter than its broken in brethren.

All in all, it's not a dealbreaker. No one will notice but you and it's just a stopgap measure that can be remedied properly when time/budget permit.
Click to expand...

I'll try it. I also heard that rubbing your strings after eating something greasy deadens them. Is this fact or just an old wives tale?
 
#14
Coolhandjjl said:
For a G, probably any nickel round will do except D'Addario XL's. They are probably the furthest thing away from Lo-Riders that you can get.
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How do you come to that conclusion? They are both nickle on a hex core. The D'Addario may have a little more zing out of the box, but they break in quickly and are similar in tension. More detail please, keeping in mind we are talking a quick fix not long term solution.
 
#15
mmbongo said:
:eyebrow:

Not a whole lot. Only about 90% of the strings that are sold.

Dunlop
Boomers
SIT
D'Addario
Slinky's
Rotosound Rotobass
Smith Burners

Any shop should have at least one of those.
Click to expand...
I stand corrected. I've had trouble finding nickel wrapped hex core strings when I go to shops. When I can find nickel wrapped they're usually round core. Guess I hadn't searched hard enough.

I really wish that retailers would make core type more easily searchable.
 
#16
smogg said:
How do you come to that conclusion? They are both nickle on a hex core. The D'Addario may have a little more zing out of the box, but they break in quickly and are similar in tension. More detail please, keeping in mind we are talking a quick fix not long term solution.
Click to expand...

D'Addario XL's are a very percussive string, IE, lots of attack and fundamental with very little harmonic overtone. A very modern scooped tone. That's their niche, that's why people buy them.

Compared to the DR rounds series like Hi Beams, Lo Riders, Fat Beams, Sun Beams, etc., those are all designed to be richly harmonic with lots of overtones, perfect for grind and growl with a strong mid presence. Just because they both have hex cores and similar tension means nothing.
 
#17
I'll give you that on the Hi Beams, Fat Beams, & Sun Beams. But; the Nickel Low Riders are just that, nickle wrapped around a hex core. Not really all that different than any other quality nickle round on a hex core. Again we are talking "quick fix" for a live gig with in 24/48 hours, not a studio recording session. In this situation the emphasis is on finding a suitable temp replacement for the short term, not saying that string A is more that or less than equal to string B. Kid just needs a G nickel round to hold him over and may not have access to a single DR as quickly as he needs it. In this instance it comes down to go to the nearest open shop and select from what is available. Beats playin' with only 3 strings, eh? ;)
 
#19
Unrepresented said:
I stand corrected. I've had trouble finding nickel wrapped hex core strings when I go to shops. When I can find nickel wrapped they're usually round core. Guess I hadn't searched hard enough.

I really wish that retailers would make core type more easily searchable.
Click to expand...

I'll make it easy for you!

Round core roundwounds:
DR Beams/Neons/ExtraLife/Hellborg
Fodera
Dean Markley Super Rounds
TI Jazz Rounds

That's about it. Might be one or two more I'm not aware of.
 

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