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High-tension nickel or nickel-plated strings

two fingers

two fingers

Opinionated blowhard. But not mad about it.
Inactive
Feb 7, 2005
33,959
116,685
55
Eastern NC USA
#1
I'll probably wind up going right back to D'Addario XL nickels (I always do). But I'm itching to try something new....again.

1) Nickel or nickel plated - A must for me. My body chemistry makes steel stick to my fingers. Coated strings usually lose their coating for me within hours of putting them on. If you know of a coated steel string that has the longest-lasting coating ever, I may give them a try. But nickel seems like a more likely solution.

2) High-tension - I'm curious about this. I play pretty hard. Low-tension strings give too much for me. I had Dunlop Super Brights on my bass for about ten minutes because they felt like bow and arrow strings to me. Way too much give. I would like to try something with more tension than the XLs.

3) Tone wise, I lean toward bright. Using my amp, pedals and finger technique I can beef up anything.

4) Winding - I'm actually curious about both rounds and flats in this case. Having several P basses right now I am thinking of keeping flats on at least one.

What say you?

Thanks!
 
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#2
I've been test driving the GHS Boomers (custom, 45-60-80-105) on my P for the last couple of months and love the way they sound and feel.

They do feel heftier (ie stiffer) and sound meatier than the D'Addario EXL170BT (45-60-80-107). The only thing about the Boomers, though, is they're not the brightest NPS around; rather, they're more about the low-mid punch and grind.

In terms of the actual tension numbers (pulling weight), the Boomers 45-65-85-105 weigh in at 186.5 lbs. and the D'A EXL165 45-65-85-105 at 174.3 lbs.
 
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#6
trothwell said:
You might like GHS Progressives. 45-105 set has a pretty stiff (in my opinion, perfectly stiff!) feel. Brighter steel-like tone, but made out of a nickel-iron allow.
Click to expand...

Ha! I am thinking of trying these. However, the first review on bassstringonline remarked how the guy liked the LOWER tension. What the heck was he using before???
 
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#7
Out of the nickel strings I've used (don't like SS rounds either), DR Lo Rider were definitely the most stiff, highest tension. I've used 45-105 gauge. I don't like the high tension anymore.
My favorite flats are La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass. I use the 45-105 gauge (760FS), but it's on my P which is tuned half a step down, and they're perfect in both feel and tone to me. They're stiffer in standard tuning, so you might dig em.
 
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#8
It seems that most posters here are talking about 'differences of perceived tension between brands/string lines for the same gauges' because they are not focussing on the effect of gauge on tension. This happens a lot here and it bemuses me.
People are recommending this brand 45-105 set or that brand 45-105 set without knowing what set of gauges the OP finds too loose.

Remember that tension, actual and perceived, is primarily determined by the gauges you choose.
Brand/string line adds in a smaller variation in actual and perceived tension.
Focussing on brand/string line to obtain a desired tension is very silly, but that's what 75% of posts in this subforum do.
two fingers said:
2) High-tension - I'm curious about this. I play pretty hard. Low-tension strings give too much for me. I had Dunlop Super Brights on my bass for about ten minutes because they felt like bow and arrow strings to me. Way too much give. I would like to try something with more tension than the XLs.
Click to expand...
You need to tell us what gauges those sets were, otherwise we don't know what tension you find too loose.
If you want high tension then choose larger gauges of whatever brand you want to try, choose brand for other reasons, whatever the brand is you can acheive high tension by just increasing the gauges far enough.
 
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#10
When I think of high tension (or just plain stiff, depending on your definition) rounds, I think Rotosound, GHS, and Daddario. All make nickel strings in standard gauges that are relatively "stiff" compared to the alternatives. Rotosound nickels and GHS Boomers being the stiffer of the three, IMO. Lots of folks have been playing these for years without blinking an eye, so it's all about perspective also. From my perspective, I go out of my way to stay away from those three brands specifically because of their stiffness, but again, perspective. I consider their standard gauges pretty much unplayable. All IMO, IME, blah blah blah...
 
#11
ixlramp said:
It seems that most posters here are talking about 'differences of perceived tension between brands/string lines for the same gauges' because they are not focussing on the effect of gauge on tension. This happens a lot here and it bemuses me.
People are recommending this brand 45-105 set or that brand 45-105 set without knowing what set of gauges the OP finds too loose.

Remember that tension, actual and perceived, is primarily determined by the gauges you choose.
Brand/string line adds in a smaller variation in actual and perceived tension.
Focussing on brand/string line to obtain a desired tension is very silly, but that's what 75% of posts in this subforum do.

You need to tell us what gauges those sets were, otherwise we don't know what tension you find too loose.
If you want high tension then choose larger gauges of whatever brand you want to try, choose brand for other reasons, whatever the brand is you can acheive high tension by just increasing the gauges far enough.
Click to expand...

1) 10,000 bonus points for the use of "bemused".

2) Regular Light D'Addario XL Nickels 45-130 5 strings.

3) I wouldn't go so far as to say they are "too loose" (hope not....I've been using them for decades). I just want to try something else. And tension that is at least that of the XL Nickels or more would work for me....preferably more....if such a thing exists without going up in gauge because....

4) I find brightness suffers when moving to mediums. So I would rather avoid that route, although your point about tension is correct.
 
#14
What gauge super brights did you use? I use medium nickels on one bass, and they have brightness for days, with great punch. Replaced elixir nickel mediums that just didn't jive. As a medium tension guy, I really like em. I also am a fan of medium gauge DR sunbeams, silver stars, Bootzilla, hi beams, DDT's, etc. Maybe try some nickel lo-riders! Made in 'murica! Greatness awaits!
 
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#15
scuzzy said:
What gauge super brights did you use? I use medium nickels on one bass, and they have brightness for days, with great punch. Replaced elixir nickel mediums that just didn't jive. As a medium tension guy, I really like em. I also am a fan of medium gauge DR sunbeams, silver stars, Bootzilla, hi beams, DDT's, etc. Maybe try some nickel lo-riders! Made in 'murica! Greatness awaits!
Click to expand...

I think lights is what I tried in the Dunlop. And they flopped all over the place for me. Rubber bands.
 

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