I'm usually a Hi Beams guy but I'm getting into nickels more and more and I remember trying Nickel lo riders once and liking them. I've also read good things about Pure Blues. Had anyone compared the two?
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DR Pure Blues vs Nickel LoRiders
- Thread starter bassnyc1
- Start date
Yup. I’m also a long term Hi Beam fan. Doing that comparison now as a matter of fact. I like both. Obviously the LR are hex core and the PB round core. I find the LRs to have more of a low mid punch compared to the PBs. The PBs sound pretty balanced to me and are more full range in comparison to the Lo Riders but that isn’t what I want necessarily on a Precision. I’m hoping to record both next week to get more objective feedback for myself. Right now I have the Pure Blues on a 5-string (Ibanez EHB 1005) and I like them a lot on that bass. They really work well there. The Lo Riders are on my Precision. Also a good fit. Lots of punch. I’ll be putting a set of Pure Blues on a second Precision to compare. I’m leaning more towards the Lo Riders at the moment but I will know more next week.
Thanks for your reply!
I also like a more mid punch than full range and even though I like hex core strings, I favored hi Beams to steel lo riders. As I said before, I want to explore nickels more because of the smoother feel. I've got D'Addario nickels on my P bass now but they're lacking. I tried nickel lo riders years ago and liked them. I've also used GHS Pressurewounds in the past and like the feel. I'm thinking maybe the pure blues are more like Pressurewounds?
I also like a more mid punch than full range and even though I like hex core strings, I favored hi Beams to steel lo riders. As I said before, I want to explore nickels more because of the smoother feel. I've got D'Addario nickels on my P bass now but they're lacking. I tried nickel lo riders years ago and liked them. I've also used GHS Pressurewounds in the past and like the feel. I'm thinking maybe the pure blues are more like Pressurewounds?
Based on my experience, GHS PWs and DR PBs are very different both in tone and in feel. PWs are smoother in texture (rollerwound), firmer in feel (hex core) and punchier in tone with stronger mids (Alloy 52). PBs are more balanced and refined in tone, and looser and more flexible in feel (round core).
I also prefer the Nickel Lo-Riders over the Pure Blues.
I hear ya. At this point, I'm leaning towards nickel lo riders. I've already passed on Sunbeams because from what I've read, they seem to be too tame. Maybe the pure blues would be the same? Pressurewounds are great but I prefer a heavier gauge (45-105) which the NLR's are available in. I've ordered my set. I'll report back with my thoughts. In the meanwhile, everyone else please give your opinions.
PBs do have a little more bite in the mids than SBs.
PW M7200 (44-62-84-106) are very close to the LR 45-105 both in tension and stiffness.
Which has a better response in the high mids?
I have a TMB 300 that I am considering putting either of these strings on (probably leaning towards 40-100 for the gauge but unsure) and would be interested in opinions on this.
I have a TMB 300 that I am considering putting either of these strings on (probably leaning towards 40-100 for the gauge but unsure) and would be interested in opinions on this.
Pure Blues for high-mid bite, Lo-Riders for low-mid punch.
Well, I received my Nickel Lo Riders yesterday and I put them on last night. I was only able to play at a very low volume through my practice Amp but so far I like them. Smooth and deep. I'll report again when I can play at stage volume.
These are my two faves, and I’ve spent a lot of time recording and testing the two for tonal differences. For me it boils down to these differences:
Pure Blues are like a flat EQ. NLRs have a slight midrange bump. PBs allow me to get a smoother tone when I want it, and I find they blend into a mix the way I want them to.
NLRs are slightly more tense, PBs are slightly more soft. I get the tone I prefer with light gauge strings and less finger force so again PBs ftw.
Because of the round core, you have to kink the PBs when installing or risk dead strings.
Both are the best strings I’ve played in 30 years of playing.
Pure Blues are like a flat EQ. NLRs have a slight midrange bump. PBs allow me to get a smoother tone when I want it, and I find they blend into a mix the way I want them to.
NLRs are slightly more tense, PBs are slightly more soft. I get the tone I prefer with light gauge strings and less finger force so again PBs ftw.
Because of the round core, you have to kink the PBs when installing or risk dead strings.
Both are the best strings I’ve played in 30 years of playing.
I’m also a long time hi beam user. I have them on all my more modern sounding basses. For my jazz and precision, I have pure blues 50-110. They sound great and feel awesome. Plenty of bite, but not as harsh as the hi beams can be. They last a good bit too.
“Harsh”—yes. It’s a very relative term of course*, but I agree.
*Any sound can be deemed "harsh" relative to another, subjectively.
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absolutely. I love my high beams in the right context, usually for active basses or metal music. But when I need to play something less aggressive sounding, the Pure Blues nail it for me
I use several types of DR’s and while bright I’ve never found Hi Beams to be harsh in the slightest. In fact one of the most remarkable things about them is how present and aggressive they can be while also being very refined. It’s like you are running through a great compressor almost. I don’t know how they do it.
They are a great string. I think it is how they are wound. If you read the inside of the package it gives a brief description of the process. I love them. They work well on just about any bass.
Could you also describe the Sunbeams along these lines? Pure Blues vs Nickel Lo-Riders vs Sunbeams.
To my ears, Sunbeams have a warmer and fuller bottom with a nice sparkly top end, but slightly less "bite" and less "punch" compared to the other two.
Thanks. Are Nickel Lo-Rider closer than the other two to the feel (tension and flexibility) of a typical hex core nps string set?
NLRs are hex-core NPS roundwound, so yes. SB and PB, being round-core, are more flexible and looser in feel.
