Favourite nickel-plated string?

[Nashrakh]

As someone who had been playing flats exclusively for the past ten years or so, DR Sunbeams were the only ones I could get along with. Couldn't get along with anything D'addario offers, for example, nor the Ernie Ball slinkies. I've yet to try the Foderas though.

(Opinion subject to change.)

 

[Danny C]

DR Pure blues mostly and just started diggin Dunlop Nickel wound. 45-105. Amazon has good prices on both.

 

[HolmeBass]

Well not much help from me - nickel Sunbeams are my go-to strings.

 

[Ralph Manak]

Based on your stated history, you may be pleasantly surprised by SIT Silencers. (I like them, and my preferred strings are ... Sunbeams, light gauge.)

 

[JW56789]

GHS Boomers or Bassics, D'Addario XL's, or the Fenders, in that order. I'd rather pay less and change them more often than shell out for something pricier.

 

[smogg]

I play five string basses so it's,
D'A balanced tension nickles. EXL170BT 45-60-80-107+130 and
Ken Smith Compressors (nickle) 44-62-82-105+125T
In a pinch I'll use a stock set of DR nickle Low Riders or SIT power rounds. I really prefer hex core over round core.

The maple neck bass gets the compressors. My #1 gets the D'A strings.

 

[Benj-jammin]

I was a long time user of the DA XL 170's.......love those strings, but last year, I converted to the Dunlop Medium/bright 45-100 Nickels. Solid, consistent fundamentals, with a bit less over zing than the 170's. The EB Super Slinky's would be comparable, IMO

 

[40Hz]

I match the strings I use to the individual bass. And most of mine have different strings on them. So I can’t say I really have a favorite.

But nickels I use and like are:

GHS Boomers (a true rocker’s bass string)
GHS Balanced Nickels (great feel)
DR Sunbeams (ideal all arounder)
DR Pure Blues (nice scooped vibe)
TI Jazz Rounds ($$$!)
Kalium Hybrids (can sometimes be hard to get)

Lately I’ve also been experimenting building my own custom gauged sets with Stringjoy singles. And I’m happy to say Stringjoy makes a really nice string.

 

[Jason Bonilla]

Partly due to COVID boredom, but also because I recently went from two basses to one. I had a Precision with flats and a Jazz with rounds. Now I just have the one Jazz. As much as I love flats, truth is, they aren’t all that versatile. I want a nickel-plated string.

I had light Sunbeams on the Jazz, but I don’t know. Not enough tension and they had this strange feeling as if they were rolling over when playing. I’m thinking maybe regular Sunbeams or Nickel Lo-Riders, but I also want to hear what else is out there. I’ve been hearing a lot about SIT, for example, which is intriguing.

If you didn't like the roll over feeling on the sunbeams maybe you should stay away from the SIT Foundations because that feeling is VERY noticible on the foundations. Tried them once and was out off by that feeling. Decided to stick with Dr after that. I'm not saying don't try them, but maybe not the best choice to experiment with.

 

[jhfishn]

I just went throug anothr round of string experimentation.

i thought I'd settle on D'Addario 170's but really like the sound of the NYXL in the 45-100 range.
But .... and I thought this wasn't supposed to happen otherwise I'd still have them ... they went dead withing a week. Not 1 but 2 different sets of NYXL's and at the price point I could no longer give it the benefit of the doubt

Priot to that and for years I was a staunch DR Sunbeam medium light 45-100 (I just favot the feel of this guage) and tried the Pure Blues but went right back to Sunbeams.

I too had issues occasionaly with floppiness ... so I gave the DR Lo-Rider NMLH45 45-100 a try and regardless of what I try out .... I wind up going back to them. They have just enough tension, superb tone and feel and last a good amount of time.
Mind you ... these are not the normal DR Lo-Riders ... they are similar to me to the D'Addario 170's and NYXL in guage and fell under my fingers.

For some reason I just cannot get used to a 45-105 no matter what I do

This is for my USA Lakland Bob Glaub .... I have a Skyline 44-64 Deluxe that has Rotosound SM77 Hybrid flats and they are 40-100 and feel great but again I feel that little bit of weirdness with the 40 and 60 .... I can't figure it out but the feel of these and tone again are superb and clear.

We are a finicky bunch for sure!!!

 

[Citizen Nara]

Fender 7250ml

 

[Aussie Player]

SIT Power Wound.
Never looked further after trying them a dozen years ago. (Actually, I tried GHS Balanced Set and they are very good as well, though SIT is my mainstay)
And the do, Stay in Tune. I play whole nights without a worry no matter which bass I am using.
Getting a year out of a set is easy too as they maintain clarity and punch very well.

 

[Vinny_G]

These ones for a bright sound and an extremely even feel.

These ones for a softer, warmer sound and a smooth feel like silk.

 

[NOZMEDA]

I just went throug anothr round of string experimentation.

i thought I'd settle on D'Addario 170's but really like the sound of the NYXL in the 45-100 range.
But .... and I thought this wasn't supposed to happen otherwise I'd still have them ... they went dead withing a week. Not 1 but 2 different sets of NYXL's and at the price point I could no longer give it the benefit of the doubt

Anyone else having issues with NYXLs? I tried my first set last weekend. The E string was DOA. Did notice a kink near the ball end before putting on but didn't pay it much attention. Had Amazon replace it with a whole new set and the E string sounded awesome but became pretty dull before the day was even over while the other three still sound great. Reported the defect to daddario and I was excited that they also sent me two new complementary E strings! But I can't use them because they're the wrong length! Haha so yeah NYXLs are not for me but I've always liked the EXLs before this.
For multiscale I've always had great experiences with Payson fanned fret strings. You can receive from him in well under 3 months. Around a week or so. Not all companies can say that.

 

[Vinny_G]

Anyone else having issues with NYXLs? I tried my first set last weekend. The E string was DOA. Did notice a kink near the ball end before putting on but didn't pay it much attention. Had Amazon replace it with a whole new set and the E string sounded awesome but became pretty dull before the day was even over while the other three still sound great. Reported the defect to daddario and I was excited that they also sent me two new complementary E strings! But I can't use them because they're the wrong length! Haha so yeah NYXLs are not for me but I've always liked the EXLs before this.
For multiscale I've always had great experiences with Payson fanned fret strings. You can receive from him in well under 3 months. Around a week or so. Not all companies can say that.

I read somewhere that there are sometimes fake D'Addario string sets floating around on Amazon. I don't know if it's true.

 

[rockinrayduke]

Daddario XL220BT 95-40 for a while now but I’m going to try those Pure Blues come string change time.

 

[Hundred proof]