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D'addario NYXLs vs. DR Pure Blues

I love my DRs, but my guitar tech really hates them. Apparently they buzz more and don't intonate as well as D'Addarios, which I haven't played in many years. My hunch is the NYXLs are XLs with a more flexible core wire...am I right? Anyway it might be worth a try, according to my tech.

You are correct Sir!
Your tech has found the difference between round core and hex core strings!
 
Actually I was using the nickel low riders, which are hex core
Well the round core DRs definitely have less tension than daddario. Not sure about the DR hex core strings because DR does not publish a tension chart like daddario does, or at least I've never seen it!

I am really loving the NYXL strings! They are like a cross between XLs and Pro Steels!
 
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So, you actually like them better than the Sadowsky Blue Labels?

You were raving about the Sads in another thread not long ago.

Yes, after several weeks of testing both strings the NYXLs last longer, sound better and play better. I still think the Sadowskys are real good strings, but I did receive several dead B strings and didn't like the hassle of waiting on a replacement. NYXLs are very consistent and have not had 1 dead string yet, knock on wood!
Also I was not actually considering NYXLs for 5 string because they didn't have taper cores B strings available until just recently, like last week I believe!
 
Apples to Pineapples comparison.
I put Pure Blues strings on a Spector Legend Tonepump Jr equipped 5 string. It is growley and aggressive.
I put NYXL's on a 2000 EBMM SR5. It should be aggressive and growel by it's very nature. It does not. It is very polite and fluffy sounding. I believe I made a bad choice with these strings.
I'm actually glad to hear this. I normally play roto ss and go for an agressive tone I just ordered NYXL for a jazz that I purposely built to be more polite and hi-fi, althouh fluffy wasnt a word I had in mind to be honest. Hopefully they fit the bill.
 
I was a long time DR guy - Sunbeams, Nickel Lo Riders - before switching to D'Addarios. I started with the Balanced Tension sets on my 4 string basses which feel great to me. Since there are no 5 string BT sets, Jason from BSO helped me build a set from a combo of packaged sets and singles. .125, .100, .80, .60, .45. These are the best feeling/sounding strings I've had on any of my 5 string basses. Recently got a set of NYXLs to try. The stock set felt great am about to get some of the now available singles to make it like my custom set. Should be here tomorrow so I can test out on weekend gigs. So far I really, really like the NYXLs - except for the expense at almost 2X what standard XLs cost. Hopefully if they become more popular they will get more reasonable in price. I tried the DR Blues which I loved at first but the thing I really like about them that made them different from Sunbeams went away pretty quickly, like after about 2 weeks.
 
NYXL's are still staying bright, and lasting waaaay longer than DR Pure Blues! This is after several weeks of heavy playing including an outdoor gig (opening up for the Reno Aces baseball game) in 105 plus degree weather in direct sunlight. I am thoroughly impressed with NYXL strings. Tonally they are a cross between XL's and Pro Steels, but with the tension closer to Flex Steels. I love them and they are now my favorite string!
:cool:
 
There is quite few saying DR Pure Blues is the ones to go for. I am a five string player and have changed from [This invalid link has been removed]s to [This invalid link has been removed] and I really enjoy the NYXLs, I will probably not change again (in the near future).
 
There is quite few saying DR Pure Blues is the ones to go for. I am a five string player and have changed from [This invalid link has been removed]s to [This invalid link has been removed] and I really enjoy the NYXLs, I will probably not change again (in the near future).

I use both and would say they are pretty similar. Slight edge to the NYXLs over the Pure Blues as they tend to stay brighter and have more of a stainless steel quality to them. If you change strings more often, DRs tend to be a little cheaper at least here in the US. I just ordered a new set of the NYXLs for my J 5, really enjoying a well used set of Pure Blues on my J 4. I find different strings work with different basses. Have given up trying to standardize on one brand on type. Viva la difference!
 
I have recently played both the pure blues and NYXL strings since I am now going to Rounds after years of playing flats. I went to rounds after finding out flats just don’t work for me on active basses.
Although it’s been a ride for me to adjust to rounds I like both strings. I feel the NYXL are smooth and have good tone but prefer The DR pure blues. The feel and tone is great but they are a little less zingy then the NYXL strings. My 55-02 has the pure blues on it now and I really like them. Last week I tried SS Lo riders by DR the other day and Really like them stirring the pot even more.
They might be better than the pure blues time will tell since I only played the Lo riders about a week. I really feel you can’t go wrong with either of theses strings. These strings cost more then other rounds on the market but I feel they are worth it in quality ,sound and feel.
 
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NYXL is hex core and PB is round core.
NYXL feels smoother than PB.
NYXL have a little bit higher tension which is hard feel.
NYXL have longer life IMO. For PB, I changed about every 6 weeks. For NYXL, I changed about every 2 months. For NYXL can keep the high mids longer.
NYXL is expensive.
PB is the brightest nickel string IMO.
NYXL sounds balance but more live than other nickel string.
I prefer sunbeams for vintage bass such as 57/62 p, 60s J.
But NYXL is my favorite nickel string for my Rosewood/alder/60 location soapbar Sadow NYC and PB is my favorite nickel string for my ebony board nordy pus MM.

I think you'd better to try. You cannot find a set of string suit for all of your basses.
 
NYXL is hex core and PB is round core.
NYXL feels smoother than PB.
NYXL have a little bit higher tension which is hard feel.
NYXL have longer life IMO. For PB, I changed about every 6 weeks. For NYXL, I changed about every 2 months. For NYXL can keep the high mids longer.
NYXL is expensive.
PB is the brightest nickel string IMO.
NYXL sounds balance but more live than other nickel string.
I prefer sunbeams for vintage bass such as 57/62 p, 60s J.
But NYXL is my favorite nickel string for my Rosewood/alder/60 location soapbar Sadow NYC and PB is my favorite nickel string for my ebony board nordy pus MM.

I think you'd better to try. You cannot find a set of string suit for all of your basses.

Ok... So this is an old thread just resurrected. But as I have played both the Pb's and NYXL's fairly extensively and quite recently, I think I have a pretty good handle on both.

I will agree on most of the points that Murphy states. The PB's are great strings, but there is something about the overall "gestalt" of the sounds that NYXL's produce. I have 3 five string basses and have had both sets on all three. I prefer the NYXL's on my Yamaha TRBX605 and Ibanez BTB675, but think I like the PB's a bit better on my Jazz5er. It's close on that one and I've since moved to Sunbeams on my jazz basses which I think is the right move.

If you like the PB's and just want something a little "crisper" and haven't tried the NYXL's, you really should.
 
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I recently tried the NYXLs and they are my new favorite string. Amazing all around.

I've had a set on my BTB675 for a couple months. While they sound great when crisp and new sounding, they have broken into a really mellow sound. Somehow on my last bass gig I got the EQ set so they sounded much like an upright double bass. A couple guys actually comments on that sound. And yet, I can kick the EQ into gear for slap or something brighter and they still have "it".

While I like them a lot on my Yamaha TRBX605 I think the NYXL's, on this bass, have been supplanted by Ernie Ball Cobalts Flats. Talk about a different sound altogether????