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DR Nickel Lo-Riders

#63
Ricky Rioli said:
Yes, the 45-105 NLRs have a significantly more gentle feel than Boomers and Roto Bass!
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This is good news.

One of the bassists from my church plays a Yamaha TRB-5, which he has converted into a passive Jazz. It's wearing a 3-yr-old set of Round Core Boomers (45-65-80-100-126) that will need to be replaced soon. Meanwhile, I happen to have a set of NLR 45-65-85-105-125 in my personal stock that I won't be using for myself.

I initially thought the NLR 45-125 might be too stiff for him compared to the RCB, but based on your assessment about them being "significantly more gentle feel than (hex core) Boomers", they might be okay.
 
#70
buldog5151bass said:
Lo Riders feel very similar to Rotosound Swings.
Click to expand...

Ricky Rioli said:
Ignoring feel for a moment, any idea what the total tension for the 45-105 set is?
Click to expand...

DR doesn't publish tension info anywhere, so we can only guess. My educated guess would be 175 lbs. (+/-).

buldog5151bass said:
Look up 4 posts.
Click to expand...

You're talking about FEEL as in stiffness/flexibility; @Ricky Rioli is asking about the actual tension as in pulling weight.
 
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#71
I’m just getting around to trying these 45-105 nickel low riders on a new Fender AO 60s jazz.

Don’t know tension numbers and I don’t follow them anyway — if they feel good and you can get around on the bass and do the things that you want to do ..

But I find these very comfortable to play on, just slightly more taut than the stock Fender nickels that were on the bass when I bought it. I like the tone more than the Fenders too — more “mature” with a more musical midrange and less clang. Also, like that they sound like they will have a little thump to them once they are worn in.

I’m coming mostly from flatwounds, so qualify with that
 
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#75
Selim said:
I’m just getting around to trying these 45-105 nickel low riders on a new Fender AO 60s jazz.

Don’t know tension numbers and I don’t follow them anyway — if they feel good and you can get around on the bass and do the things that you want to do ..

But I find these very comfortable to play on, just slightly more taut than the stock Fender nickels that were on the bass when I bought it. I like the tone more than the Fenders too — more “mature” with a more musical midrange and less clang. Also, like that they sound like they will have a little thump to them once they are worn in.

I’m coming mostly from flatwounds, so qualify with that
Click to expand...

I’ve used nickel lo-riders for prob 25 years, with forays into other types. Always seem to return to the DRs. On my Fenders and Sadowskys, they have a character that gives me my near ideal sound. Plenty of sensible highs (another poster years ago said something to this effect), very comfortable for a roundwound I suppose due to the type of winds, plenty of articulate bottom, good stiffness to accommodate my often ham-handedness, they retain their broken in tone for a very long time, and they refresh very well after a DA bath.
 
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#76
:unsure: I've decided that the NLRs aren't for me – I've found that the final little bit of stiffness / tension / whathaveyou that Boomers and Rotosounds have is essential for me.

Playing with a very light touch, I need that nervy quality to get a lively sound. The NLRs are almost there.... I momentarily tried raising the tuning little by little until they felt right for me. I was at least half the way from E standard to F standard. (Having stared at some tension charts, I think that's getting on for another 8–10 lbs, very approximately.)

As people have said, they've a very comfortable texture, and I can see why all the appreciative things about the tone have been said :thumbsup:
 
#77
Ricky Rioli said:
Playing with a very light touch, I need that nervy quality to get a lively sound. The NLRs are almost there.... I momentarily tried raising the tuning little by little until they felt right for me. I was at least half the way from E standard to F standard. (Having stared at some tension charts, I think that's getting on for another 8–10 lbs, very approximately.)
Click to expand...

Rotosound Swing Bass 66 Nickels 45-65-85-105 = 184.97 lbs.
GHS Boomers (hex core) 45-65-85-105 = 186.5 lbs.

This means I wasn't too far off when I guesstimated the NLR's tension at 175 lbs. (post #70) ;)

Based on my own experience, I'm sure there will come a time down the road when you will appreciate lighter strings as you advance in age. So, not all is lost... I would hang on to those NLRs if I were you. :D Who would have thought I'd be playing 40-95 even five years ago!
 
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#78
michael_t said:
Rotosound Swing Bass 66 Nickels 45-65-85-105 = 184.97 lbs.
GHS Boomers (hex core) 45-65-85-105 = 186.5 lbs.

This means I wasn't too far off when I guesstimated the NLR's tension at 175 lbs. (post #70) ;)
Click to expand...
I knew you could be relied upon to think back to that guesstimate :D

I know we all know that stiffness =/= tension, but nonetheless, the other sets of strings that I've really liked the feel of:

Pro Steels 50-65-85-110 = 181 lbs
Chromes 45-60-80-105 = 184 lbs

Quite tempted to experiment with XL Nickels 50-65-85-110 = 183 lbs
 
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#79
What am I giving up going from 45-105s to 40-100?

I like the 45s and I like the thump (something I need for the predominant music styles I’m involved in). I don’t want to lose that thump by going to a lighter gauge. But I also am trying to optimize things to be comfortable for playing long shows.

I usually use flat wounds. This is maybe the first year I’m using rounds.

Thanks!
 

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