I have the fatbeams (40-100) on my Jackson PJ and I love them. They are not rough like a typical stainless steel and I would know. I hate roughness!
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D'ADDARIO NYXL BASS STRINGS
- Thread starter basses51
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- bass strings d'addario nyxl strings
I'm on my second set of NYXL (45-130) and I like them a lot. Sound great to me.
- Jul 20, 2005
- 881
- 76
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Samuel Shen Basses, NS Design, D'Addario Strings
I use XL nickels on a couple of basses (the right match for those basses), and I'm trying NYXL on my Sire V7 fretless 5. They sound good on that bass. XL nickels were not the best match, but the NYXL are MUCH better. I like the tone, the tension, playability and durability. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and try strings. For me, the NYXL is worth trying, but YMMV. I'm a D'Addario guy, but my 5502 just doesn't work with XL's or NYXL's. I was using EB Slinkys for a while, but I have since moved to Circle K's (136 B) and they are the absolute perfect match. Live or recorded. You just have to pay dearly for them.
Been using using XL nickels for several years now. Great feel, plenty of life for me, and unbeatable price. Just ordered a custom set 50/70/95/125T(tuned down to C) of NYXL to try for a upcoming recording project as I've heard nothing but good things about them so far. Cost almost double the XLs I've been buying so hopefully they live up to the hype. Anyone in here use the NYXL specifically in heavier down tuned music? Playing death/doom metal with a lot of heavy dirt on my bass tone. Primarily a Lone Wolf FX Iron Fist(muff style fuzz) and IdiotBox FX Blower Box. Through a Mesa 400+.
I have to say these are my new favorite strings! I was using Dunlop Super Brights for the past 5 years. When my last set became dull I picked up a set of NYXL 45-105's to try them out after what I read about them here on Talkbass.
As far as feel, the Dunlop SB's have a lower tension and are looser than the NYXL's. I was getting a lot of clank with Dunlop's when digging in, from them being so loose. While lower tension is comfortable on your fingers, it opens up other issues, like clank and lowered responsiveness.
The NYXL's have slightly more tension, still very comfortable to play but better responsiveness and without the annoying clank of the Dunlop SB's. The NYXL's sound rich, and full sounding but with definition. The NYXL's are nickel, not quite as zingy as SS's, which is the sound I was looking for.
So far, the NYXL's really promise what they preach, when it comes to staying in tune once you break them in. I also seem to be getting much more volume out of my bass with the NYXL's.
The NYXL's are twice the price of the Dunlop SB's, but are well worth it IMHO.
As far as feel, the Dunlop SB's have a lower tension and are looser than the NYXL's. I was getting a lot of clank with Dunlop's when digging in, from them being so loose. While lower tension is comfortable on your fingers, it opens up other issues, like clank and lowered responsiveness.
The NYXL's have slightly more tension, still very comfortable to play but better responsiveness and without the annoying clank of the Dunlop SB's. The NYXL's sound rich, and full sounding but with definition. The NYXL's are nickel, not quite as zingy as SS's, which is the sound I was looking for.
So far, the NYXL's really promise what they preach, when it comes to staying in tune once you break them in. I also seem to be getting much more volume out of my bass with the NYXL's.
The NYXL's are twice the price of the Dunlop SB's, but are well worth it IMHO.
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I have recently tried them, and I wasn't a fan. They initially had a nice clear tone, but as it was stated, the string didn't have the character behind it that my favorite strings do.
On that note I'd like to say I am a complete DiAddario fan. I used them in the 80's, stepped away for years using rotosound 66's, but came back to them after having constant issues with dead string from rotosound.
After discovering the DiAddario Pro Steels, I simply haven't been able to find another string that compares. In fact I feel so strongly about them, they would probably be the only product I would ever endorse. I was offered an endorsement by elixir string once, but I won't endorse what I don't use.
I often flip out strings to try something new, because, well, you never know. But so far, the texture and growl I get from the Pro steels when I dig in I just can't find with anything else.
Having said that, I felt the nyc strings were a good compromise, almost a hybrid between a nickel and steel string. They were very clear, had a nice body, and were easier on the fingers. (I'm playing a bass strung with them now, so I'm trying to be as accurate as possible)
They did have the nice piano sound I like at first, but they seemed to die a lot faster than the pro steels. It's not a bad sound, but they just lost that shimmer I love.
Tension was very comparable, but was looser, much closer to DR Brites. I prefer a higher tension string so they don't get floppy when I get aggressive when I dig in to get the body of the sound out of the string. These had a little less. Not enough to be annoying, but enough to be noticeable.
The big let down for me was the character. My beloved pro steels have this great ability to be very smooth when played lightly, but have a great midrange growl when I dig in. It's a sound i chased for many years. I had it with the rotosounds, and the ProSteels, but it's not there with the nyc's. They are much smoother and more pedestrian.
If you like nickel strings, but crave a little more chime, these would be a great choice. Additionally, if you are out off by the roughness of SS strings, these seem smoother to my touch and definitely a better feel than the rotosounds.
They mellow a lot faster than the pro steels, but still have a good sound. They aren't dead by any means, just more mellow than my liking. Still, they have a good sound.
They are definitely worth a try if you like a smooth sounding SS string.
As a bonus they came with a sticker, just like the old days with Diaddario!
On that note I'd like to say I am a complete DiAddario fan. I used them in the 80's, stepped away for years using rotosound 66's, but came back to them after having constant issues with dead string from rotosound.
After discovering the DiAddario Pro Steels, I simply haven't been able to find another string that compares. In fact I feel so strongly about them, they would probably be the only product I would ever endorse. I was offered an endorsement by elixir string once, but I won't endorse what I don't use.
I often flip out strings to try something new, because, well, you never know. But so far, the texture and growl I get from the Pro steels when I dig in I just can't find with anything else.
Having said that, I felt the nyc strings were a good compromise, almost a hybrid between a nickel and steel string. They were very clear, had a nice body, and were easier on the fingers. (I'm playing a bass strung with them now, so I'm trying to be as accurate as possible)
They did have the nice piano sound I like at first, but they seemed to die a lot faster than the pro steels. It's not a bad sound, but they just lost that shimmer I love.
Tension was very comparable, but was looser, much closer to DR Brites. I prefer a higher tension string so they don't get floppy when I get aggressive when I dig in to get the body of the sound out of the string. These had a little less. Not enough to be annoying, but enough to be noticeable.
The big let down for me was the character. My beloved pro steels have this great ability to be very smooth when played lightly, but have a great midrange growl when I dig in. It's a sound i chased for many years. I had it with the rotosounds, and the ProSteels, but it's not there with the nyc's. They are much smoother and more pedestrian.
If you like nickel strings, but crave a little more chime, these would be a great choice. Additionally, if you are out off by the roughness of SS strings, these seem smoother to my touch and definitely a better feel than the rotosounds.
They mellow a lot faster than the pro steels, but still have a good sound. They aren't dead by any means, just more mellow than my liking. Still, they have a good sound.
They are definitely worth a try if you like a smooth sounding SS string.
As a bonus they came with a sticker, just like the old days with Diaddario!
Not for me. I agree with him.
I habe used regular XLs for decades. For my basses, the XL Nickels do have character. Bright but smooth. The NYXL to me added a bunch of "stuff" I didn't want.
I work hard on dialing in my mids. My Mesa Walkabout has a glorious para mids section in the EQ. The best way I can describe my experience with the NYXL is that they put back everything I had worked hard to dial out. High mid honk and brittle highs. I like a bright, low mid heavy, yet smooth tone. Regular XLs nail that. NYXL not so much for me.
I've had a set my Moollon J5 for about 6 or 9 months - can't remember and I use other basses too. I've been very happy with them. I've been a long time XL user and to me these are just a little bit nicer - more character, slightly lower tension, broader range of tonal options. Set I have was custom gauge so pretty pricey. I also play some DR's and to me these are like DR Pure Blues compared to Sunbeam. Unfortunately there's a huge price difference. Given then XL are some of the cheapest strings out there interesting that NYXLs are so much more. Hoping that will change if they become more popular.
Prosteels are amazing strings - especially for the price you can get them for. I recently tried them again after some years away with other strings and realized why I should never have stopped using them in the first place. They felt kind of strange and lifeless at first with a ton of zing but after about an hour of playing it was like my bass kind of settled into them. I don't know how to describe it other than that.
Gigged with them on Saturday night and they played so effortlessly it was to the point that my ESP Jazz Bass has a pretty pronounced dead spot after the 7th fret on the G string and they almost completely solved it!
My experience with Prosteels is the same. Once some of the zing dies down they balance out a little and seem to gain a little more in the mid department. I think they feel pretty good for stainless steel rounds too but the Prosteels seem to be a love/hate string for most. Kinda like Rotosound Swing Bass 66 stainless.
I love these strings have had a set on my 64 jazz and done shows with my reggae band and jazz quartet, and a handful of funk gigs in between. Great supple feeling that make me want to play. I like the tension a lot more than Dunlop SB and the tone is a lot fatter after 6 months..I have used boomers, xl nickels and quarter rounds. These are now my favorite string. Have been able to buy a few sets under 20 on eBay. The feel is similar to fat beams in my opinion .
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I'm currently trying them on my Lakland 55-02. I'm a Prosteel lover. To me the strings I've used yet, second were the Sadowsky Blue Label.
For the moment I'm not impressed by these NYXL. And I find them really overpriced! My guess is a big part of the price is the package.
I'll give another tomorrow. But I don't think these strings will replace the fantastic an,d cheap Prosteel..
For the moment I'm not impressed by these NYXL. And I find them really overpriced! My guess is a big part of the price is the package.
I'll give another tomorrow. But I don't think these strings will replace the fantastic an,d cheap Prosteel..
That's good to know. I love Prosteels also. I was considering them but now I won't bother.
Well..... Just try them and give us a feedback. They are very good strings, but way overpriced to me.
I'll give a better try tomorrow. But for the moment Prosteel remain my main strings. Also, tapered Prosteel a far superior to the non-tapered IMO
I'll give a better try tomorrow. But for the moment Prosteel remain my main strings. Also, tapered Prosteel a far superior to the non-tapered IMO
40Hz,
If you like Rotos, I'd recommend Marcus Miller Dunlop Super Brights. Similar tone and feel but last longer.
Thanks for jogging my memory on XL Reds! Those were cool strings, and IIRC, they were very affordable!
You're right on the money about Swing Bass 66's, IMO. I also haven't found another set of strings that sound like them. Although it's been many years since I've had a bass strung with them.
I've used the standard D'Addario XL's for decades, I haven't tried the NYXL's though. Looking at the price of them, I probably won't bother trying them out.
I do. But I like them more once they settle in a bit. I don’t really like new string sound that much. Less zing and fizz and more ring and foam if that makes any sense? (More like a cream stout rather than a pilsner maybe?)
Do the Dunlops keep that super bright new quality as long as their name implies?
40Hz,
They keep their tone but if you prefer the Rotos once they settle in, the MM Dunlop Super Brights may NOT be the string for you. I love the crispness of these strings and they seem to maintain that tone quite well.
They keep their tone but if you prefer the Rotos once they settle in, the MM Dunlop Super Brights may NOT be the string for you. I love the crispness of these strings and they seem to maintain that tone quite well.
I used Dunlop SB's for years but I have switched to D'Adarrio NYXL's. I have to say I like the NYXL's much better than the SB's. There are many varying opinions when it comes to strings so YMMV.
