Nickel roundwounds DR vs Dunlop vs Rotosound

[butterfingers1]

Thanks I am planning to try the Pure Blues and finally see for myself.

I am also thinking about trying the Dunlop nickel Super Brights. Any thoughts on how they might compare to the Roto nickels and Pure Blues?

 

[thisheregiraffe]

I haven't tried the Dunlops so I can't really comment. I can't recall having ever seen a pack of them out in the wild at Long & McQuade stores, but I also haven't really been interested enough to go search them out elsewhere. IIRC they are known for being quite flexible feeling. I think they use a smaller core wire to achieve that. Depending on how flexible they are, it could be a pretty big departure from the Rotos. (Or maybe not! Like I said, I haven't tried them myself)

If curiosity strikes again, another nickel roundwound that I really like and would recommend trying is SIT Powerwound Nickels. I don't know of any stores in my area that carry SIT strings, but they are on Amazon so that's where I got them. The price is right, and I thought they felt and sounded pretty great. But at the end of the day, I usually go back to Sunbeams.

 

[butterfingers1]

I'm looking for a reason to try the Dunlops.

I try to buy from Long McQuade, there are three around me, or I order from their website. Also a Nantel here, much less selection, and the famous Steve's Music downtown Montreal. If all these don't have something I shouldn't have it either.

 

[tindrum]

I'm looking for a reason to try the Dunlops.

I try to buy from Long McQuade, there are three around me, or I order from their website. Also a Nantel here, much less selection, and the famous Steve's Music downtown Montreal. If all these don't have something I shouldn't have it either.

There's a HUGE Dunlop Super Bright thread here. Absolutely phenomenal strings. Very flexible and easy playing. Fantastic tone with rich mids. I'm not sure why they chose to call them "bright" as they aren't especially bright (a lot of users would agree). Lots of members here have become devoted converts. I use them on a number of basses and love them. They are unique and quite a departure from the Rotosounds. Due to the lower tension you'll need to slightly tweak your truss rod but then you'll be good to go. That lower tension, however, makes playing effortless.

 

[butterfingers1]

Well, that sounds like a reason.

 

[Tubehed]

I don't think you can go wrong with the Pure Blues. Nice balanced tone. Not too stiff. Not too floppy. They sound excellent on my J Bass and Sting Ray.

 

[butterfingers1]

What do you think of the Rotosound nickels (66 Swing bass)?

 

[tindrum]

What do you think of the Rotosound nickels (66 Swing bass)?

Soundwise I thought they were perfectly fine though lacking in character. Meat and potatoes if you will. That's not to say they sound bad, just "good". My biggest issue was their stiffness. They felt a bit rigid for my tastes.

 

[butterfingers1]

Hmm interesting. They are often described as full and « in your face », with which I would agree.

 

[butterfingers1]

Anyway, it's settled, I will get both the DR Pure Blues and the Dunlop nickel Super Brights. This will be my string experiment for the decade. Thanks for all the comments.

 

[dagrev]

Actually I was planning to try the Pure Blues. I agree with you about the Rotosounds, I like my nickel Rotos. I was just in the mood to try another nickel roundwound. Opinions on the Pure Blues are overwhelmingly positive.

You really don't like them?

No I don't and I tried them on several basses. One of the lease interesting strings I've tried. (Tone wise I'm shooting for big bass with mid punch and no angry piano or clank, but some sweet upper presence when needed.) A few really nice nickles I do like are GHS Boomers and Stringjoys. Another string that doesn't get much praise but I think sound really good is Dean Markley Blue Steels. They are balanced really well from highs, mids to lows. I have not tried their nickle plate version...yet. Good luck and enjoy the adventure.

 

[armybass]

Pure Blues. I've played all three quite a bit. I am buying Pure Blues by the case now LOL.

 

[butterfingers1]

No I don't and I tried them on several basses. One of the lease interesting strings I've tried. (Tone wise I'm shooting for big bass with mid punch and no angry piano or clank, but some sweet upper presence when needed.) A few really nice nickles I do like are GHS Boomers and Stringjoys. Another string that doesn't get much praise but I think sound really good is Dean Markley Blue Steels. They are balanced really well from highs, mids to lows. I have not tried their nickle plate version...yet. Good luck and enjoy the adventure.

M
You're whetting my appetite for the Pure Blues. I need to find out for myself why they can be so polarizing. Yet I like the bass tone you describe looking for.

 

[butterfingers1]

No I don't and I tried them on several basses. One of the lease interesting strings I've tried. (Tone wise I'm shooting for big bass with mid punch and no angry piano or clank, but some sweet upper presence when needed.) A few really nice nickles I do like are GHS Boomers and Stringjoys. Another string that doesn't get much praise but I think sound really good is Dean Markley Blue Steels. They are balanced really well from highs, mids to lows. I have not tried their nickle plate version...yet. Good luck and enjoy the adventure.

I see you have a Thunderbird in your photo. If the strings go on this special bass it might explain your impressions of the Pure Blues.

I have a single-coil and a split-coil pbass. The single coil especially is harshly bright with the tone open, harshly everything actually. Both are much more sensitive to strings, amps, and the tone knob.

I also have an Epiphone Embassy Pro with same Probucker pickups as in the Thunderbird Vintage. This bass is considerably darker.

 

[dagrev]

I see you have a Thunderbird in your photo. If the strings go on this special bass it might explain your impressions of the Pure Blues.

I have a single-coil and a split-coil pbass. The single coil especially is harshly bright with the tone open, harshly everything actually. Both are much more sensitive to strings, amps, and the tone knob.

I also have an Epiphone Embassy Pro with same Probucker pickups as in the Thunderbird Vintage. This bass is considerably darker.

I do like Thunderbirds!

I also have a '06 as well. Two VPs to the left and a '76 and '64. The strings on the '64 are Infeld Supperalloys. Nice lows, good mids and highs without being brittle or harsh. The VPs sound very close to the '64 (the gold standard IMO).

Also have one of these you might find interesting.

It's a '64 as well. Darker than the '64 Thunderbird. Go figure. I played a new Embassy and it was really dark as well for some reason. Likely strings being dead at GC, or so I thought.

I have a '55 Pbass as well, so I know what you mean about how they sound, though mine isn't crazy bright--but easily could be very easily. I like TI Jazz Rounds on it as of late. Warms it up a bit and adds some nice mids. Oddly enough, I used to use rotos years ago on it! You are right, those PUs are a little more tricky to dial in with strings and settings. Kind of like Strats.

On the VPs with Probuckers GHS Boomers sound fantastic! Stringjoy's sound similar. Big and punchy.

 

[butterfingers1]

Wow nice. Epiphone and Gibson make really special bass guitars. They stand out in every way, each model is different, and they are polarizing like the PB strings!

 

[butterfingers1]

The new Embassy Pro is darker than single coil Fenders, but punchy dry and tight with a subdued but signature mid. Articulate and percussive.

The only other basses I might get some day are Epiphones, EB3, Tbird, and JackCasady.

 

[dagrev]

The new Embassy Pro is darker than single coil Fenders, but punchy dry and tight with a subdued but signature mid. Articulate and percussive.

The only other basses I might get some day are Epiphones, EB3, Tbird, and JackCasady.

The Epi VP is absolutely killer and the best buy under $1k. Quality is really great. As an owner of the real McCoy, it's a Thunderbird way more than the modern Gibsons. Way more. The shape is what they have in common not the tone. I Gibson with VP PUs would be a match made in heaven. The modern Gibsons are dark and very different sounding. Save your money and get a VP--or two for the price on one used Gibson.

 

[butterfingers1]

Good or not, I only buy Squier and Epiphone and learn to like them (it's not hard).

Good thing stores are going into lockdown again here. I am surrounded by at least 4 within 20 minutes.

Epiphones and Tbirds are much maligned in forums yet are big sellers here. They must be played because I don't see any in pawn shops or classified ads.

 

[dagrev]

Good or not, I only buy Squier and Epiphone and learn to like them (it's not hard).

Good thing stores are going into lockdown again here. I am surrounded by at least 4 within 20 minutes.

Epiphones and Tbirds are much maligned in forums yet are big sellers here. They must be played because I don't see any in pawn shops or classified ads.

Nothing to learn to like about a Epi VP.