Pure Nickel Alchemists Union

[Stan_da_man]

Just purchased a set of Pyramid Pure Nickels.

I was debating whether to go for a set of Sunbeams or these.

I feel the Pyramids will get thuddier than dead rounds. Time will tell...

 

[HaphAsSard]

A pure nickel roundwound set I wasn't aware of (it may or may not be newly-introduced),
the Magma BE170PNSF Superflex / Super Flex
(exposed core; 45-65-85-105; 34" scale, not for string-thru-body - because of winding length, not fragility, I believe)

Magma Strings

www.magmastrings.com

Not yet available through the usual channels:

Electric Bass | Magma Strings

dev.magmastrings.com

ELECTRIC BASS

NICKEL PLATED STEEL: Made of nickel-plated alloy 8%. Bright sound and excellent intonation. Available models: 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 strings, also double ball end, for different tonalities and gauges.STAINLESS STEEL: Made of Stainless Steel, specially designed for people allergic to nickel. Available...

magmastoreusa.com

Magma: Electric Bass

NICKEL PLATED STEEL: Made of nickel-plated alloy 8%. Bright sound and excellent intonation. Available models: 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 strings, also double ball end, for different tonalities and gauges. STAINLESS STEEL: Made of Stainless Steel, specially designed for people allergic to nickel. Available...

www.amazon.com

Invalid Link Removed

Je hebt gezocht naar magma - Stringswings

www.stringswings.be

 

[Verticos]

I really want to try some pure nickel rounds on my 5-string. After reading through this thread, I was hoping to try either Pyramids (first choice) or Fenders (alternate), but it looks like neither have low Bs available. Is that correct?

I'm considering TI jazz rounds as the next best option for me. Are they significantly different than the other two above? Also willing to take suggestions if anyone thinks a different set would be closer to what I've read about the Pyramids and Fenders. I could always commission a Tenorio set, but I'd prefer to get something off-the-shelf for my first foray.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Pyramids (first choice) or Fenders (alternate), but it looks like neither have low Bs available. Is that correct?

Pyramid's even got low F# singles available

Pyramid Pure Nickel Bass Einzelsaiten, 9,40 €

Pyramid Pure Nickel Bass Einzelsaiten Pure Nickel Wound 017 020 025 030 035 040 045 Pure Nickel Wound 050 055 060 065 Pure Nickel Wound 070 075 080 085 Pure Nickel Wound 090 095 100 105 110 115 Pure N

www.saitenmarkt.com

as well as 5-string sets

Bass strings trends and top brands - order now!

TOP SHOP and specialist for bass strings with worldwide instant shipping. News and tips for the article Bass strings, which are important for you.

www.saitenmarkt.com

 

[Verticos]

Pyramid's even got low F# singles available

Pyramid Pure Nickel Bass Einzelsaiten, 9,40 €

Pyramid Pure Nickel Bass Einzelsaiten Pure Nickel Wound 017 020 025 030 035 040 045 Pure Nickel Wound 050 055 060 065 Pure Nickel Wound 070 075 080 085 Pure Nickel Wound 090 095 100 105 110 115 Pure N

www.saitenmarkt.com

as well as 5-string sets

https://www.saitenmarkt.com/Bass-strings::pyramid_1__Pure-Nickel_1__5-String

Oh wow! I should have looked harder; Just Strings, Strings By Mail, and Strings And Beyond all only had four-string sets. I guess I should have looked at international retailers, it makes sense that German/EU outlets might have more diverse stock.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Oh wow! I should have looked harder; Just Strings, Strings By Mail, and Strings And Beyond all only had four-string sets. I guess I should have looked at international retailers, it makes sense that German/EU outlets might have more diverse stock.

FWIW, ProSpec Strings out of Canada has the "Low bottom five heavy" (pt. no. 957 100) set:

Pyramid Pure Nickel Round Wound LB5 Heavy Bass Strings | Pro Spec Strings

Pyramid Pure Nickel Round Wound LB5 Heavy Bass Strings Pyramid 957-100 Pure Nickel Low B 5 string heavy..040 - .060 - .085 - .110 - .140

www.prospecstrings.ca

As usual, an email to them (writing auf englisch is fine) is another option.
Here's their catalogue (pp. 10-11)

https://pyramid-saiten.de/_assets/_pdf/de/bass-guitar.pdf

 

[GwenOnBass]

Pyramid is very responsive to written inquiries, IME.

 

[Verticos]

FWIW, ProSpec Strings out of Canada has the "Low bottom five heavy" (pt. no. 957 100) set:

Pyramid Pure Nickel Round Wound LB5 Heavy Bass Strings | Pro Spec Strings

Pyramid Pure Nickel Round Wound LB5 Heavy Bass Strings Pyramid 957-100 Pure Nickel Low B 5 string heavy..040 - .060 - .085 - .110 - .140

www.prospecstrings.ca

As usual, an email to them (writing auf englisch is fine) is another option.
Here's their catalogue (pp. 10-11)

https://pyramid-saiten.de/_assets/_pdf/de/bass-guitar.pdf

Good find! I may email them to see if they have shipped any of the set I want (958 100 "Low bottom five X-heavy") to a US retailer. Otherwise it's international shopping for me, I guess.

Edit - I'm used to really heavy flats on my main bass (not a 5er). I've been using LaBella '54s for the last two years. I'm thinking of maybe even going for the 818 100 (.050 - .110) plus a .140, .145, or .150 single for the low B. I don't think it will bother me at all after the '54O bridge cables...

As an aside, I've noticed this disconnect between 4- and 5-string sets for a while now. Here's an example from the pyramid catalog:

Heaviest 4-string set:
818 100 X-heavy - .050 .070 .090 .110

Heaviest 5-string set:
958 100 Low bottom five X-heavy - .045 .065 .085 .110 .140

What? Just cause you add a fifth string doesn't mean I want .005 off of the others. They're not the only manufacturer I've seen do this.

 

[Gab124]

Just discovered this thread after buying a set of the GHS BN, which I have had before and liked. New bass guitar this time though, now on a Mike Lull PT4 with two Thunderbird pups. Really like the tone and playability, but now, as a result of reading Talkbass, I've had to order a set of the Gabriel Tenorio pure nickel and may have to get some Pyramid to compare to. Should be a fun few weeks of testing!

 

[GwenOnBass]

Gabriel Tenorio pure nickel

Wow, 75 spacebucks/set

 

[Gab124]

Wow, 75 spacebucks/set

Yup, pricey. Every now and then I will splurge on a set like that. Most strings I can get 8 months plus out of, if not a year, so if these are really good it's not a bad yearly price.

 

[markjazzbassist]

The Tenorio are nice I’ve owned them and played them

 

[HotelX]

Agreed Tenorio are very good strings. They do have sales every once in a while

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Anyone know if the Pyramid .160 pure nickel round is tapered by default? If not, is there a protocol to request it be so? If that is possible.

Pyramid Pure Nickel Bass Einzelsaiten .160w, 28,50 €

Pyramid Pure Nickel Bass Einzelsaiten Pure Nickel Wound 017 020 025 030 035 040 045 Pure Nickel Wound 050 055 060 065 Pure Nickel Wound 070 075 080 085 Pure Nickel Wound 090 095 100 105 110 115 Pure N

www.saitenmarkt.com

 

[Prodigus Filius]

To answer my own question in a seemingly deceased thread, Max from Saitenmarkt says the .160 is not tapered at the ball end. Shame. I wanted to try the 160 Pure Nickel, but would prefer a taper at that gauge, as per the D'addario XL tapered 160 I currently use

I have done diy tapering on a an XL nickel plated .145 and it seems stable. But given that I to have the 160 Pyramid shipped from Germany to Australia, I don't wanna chance it with a diy tapering of the Pyramid 160. If it went pear shaped, I'd be left with the other gauges of strings I would have ordered along with the 160 (120 80 60). Wouldn't really want to use them with the D'addario XL tapered 160. Anyhow I will ponder. Maybe I might get the 160 non tapered and see how it goes un modded. Decisions, decisions

 

[LetItGrowTone]

It's still a great thread. Thank you.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

I've also put the question to Max at Saitenmarkt about whether the Pure Nickels are constructed with a round or hex core. I've read in this thread that Saiten told a poster they were hex core. But I've read posts elsewhere on TB saying they are round core. Google AI says they are round core in some searches, but hex with a search term variation. Hopefully this conflicting info can be straightened out via info from the manufacturer.

 

[rzero]

This was posted in this thread. Looks the E string on their flats is the only bass string with a round core:

I heard back from Pyramid (very fast response!) and here are the facts straight from the manufacturer:
“
We produce our bass strings on hexagonal steel core - only the low E from set chrome nickel flatwoun comes on round core.
“

This is news to me about the Gold flatwounds, but it makes sense that many think they’re pure round core construction. For instance, when I’ve looked at the core before installation, I’ve looked at the E string since it is easiest to see core wire shape on the heavier strings.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

This was posted in this thread. Looks the E string on their flats is the only bass string with a round core:

That is the post I was referring in my previous post , wherein the poster got info from Saitenmarkt that the Pure Nickels were hex core. I don't doubt the veracity of the post at the time it was posted. Maybe construction changed since that post was made (5 years ago) Because, as said I have read other posts on TB that say round core. And as mentioned, Google AI stating round core with some search terms and hex with another. I still want to hear directly myself from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

Example of Google AI using search terms "pyramid pure nickel round bass strings review" that says round core
https://www.google.com/search?q=pyramid+pure+nickel+round+bass+strings+review&sca_esv=f5ae96e688f1c6a3&biw=320&bih=456&ei=EiW_acGPJ63RwcsP_eXB6AY&oq=pyramid+pure+nickel+round+bass+strings+review&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIi1weXJhbWlkIHB1cmUgbmlja2VsIHJvdW5kIGJhc3Mgc3RyaW5ncyByZXZpZXcyBRAAGO8FMggQABiiBBiJBTIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBUjJNVCiJljgK3ACeAGQAQCYAd4BoAGfCaoBBTAuNC4yuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIDoALrAcICChAAGLADGNYEGEeYAwCIBgGQBgSSBwUyLjAuMaAH2xayBwMyLTG4B-ABwgcFMC4xLjLIBwyACAA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#sbfbu=1&pi=pyramid pure nickel round bass strings review
And using search terms "pyramid pure nickel round bass strings contruction"

Google Search

And search terms "pyramid pure nickel round wound bass strings" that give result stating hex core

https://www.google.com/search?q=pyramid+pure+nickel+round+wound+bass+strings&sca_esv=f5ae96e688f1c6a3&udm=50&fbs=ADc_l-aHJKCxetkbp8HihrVlWP2E1iNtw1c6Bqm2EL8gFYaWSYxrIPO0Uw9d1XjTJ7RJppJKRCzubuWABMtzDYJZwTlTqhqCv98YggpFCTMIa0qy_4bgUggaNKH0vxtO79W1aEDb6cWHVQkDptBf3VkSg0ozYd6RkW4h2B4c7rmzTnEsRfLF1VHx47XodDzroWmL2PpQHLu-cgVi_AYYil5ukA-Y4AoXCSv-pBh7zedYSawxByWJ7YU&aep=1&ntc=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi1-tHxj7KTAxVPd2wGHZzeA6MQ2J8OegQIDRAE&biw=320&bih=456&dpr=2&mstk=AUtExfAQnm3WFLTs79bKl9oSbePmN8a_FXL47w8cD9dFczHjH3cUZqKeb8FXmiqP42mjRuMSPc4Yu8QFN28MHAYwy-EJ7n05nAE6LhYrBdKIiaKXS8ymQg070wJKQFlXG14ltt_C-zdO81ujXydMQptjO9HvODR-o-yHyaw&csuir=1

 

[rzero]

That is the post I was referring in my previous post , wherein the poster got info from Saitenmarkt that the Pure Nickels were hex core. I don't doubt the veracity of the post at the time it was posted. Maybe construction changed since that post was made. Because, as said I have read other posts on TB that say round core. And as mentioned, Google AI stating round core with some search terms and hex with another. I still want to hear directly myself from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

Example of Google AI using search terms "pyramid pure nickel round bass strings review" that says round core
https://www.google.com/search?q=pyramid+pure+nickel+round+bass+strings+review&sca_esv=f5ae96e688f1c6a3&biw=320&bih=456&ei=EiW_acGPJ63RwcsP_eXB6AY&oq=pyramid+pure+nickel+round+bass+strings+review&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIi1weXJhbWlkIHB1cmUgbmlja2VsIHJvdW5kIGJhc3Mgc3RyaW5ncyByZXZpZXcyBRAAGO8FMggQABiiBBiJBTIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBUjJNVCiJljgK3ACeAGQAQCYAd4BoAGfCaoBBTAuNC4yuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIDoALrAcICChAAGLADGNYEGEeYAwCIBgGQBgSSBwUyLjAuMaAH2xayBwMyLTG4B-ABwgcFMC4xLjLIBwyACAA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#sbfbu=1&pi=pyramid pure nickel round bass strings review
And using search terms "pyramid pure nickel round bass strings contruction"

Google Search

And search terms "pyramid pure nickel round wound bass strings" that give result stating hex core

https://www.google.com/search?q=pyramid+pure+nickel+round+wound+bass+strings&sca_esv=f5ae96e688f1c6a3&udm=50&fbs=ADc_l-aHJKCxetkbp8HihrVlWP2E1iNtw1c6Bqm2EL8gFYaWSYxrIPO0Uw9d1XjTJ7RJppJKRCzubuWABMtzDYJZwTlTqhqCv98YggpFCTMIa0qy_4bgUggaNKH0vxtO79W1aEDb6cWHVQkDptBf3VkSg0ozYd6RkW4h2B4c7rmzTnEsRfLF1VHx47XodDzroWmL2PpQHLu-cgVi_AYYil5ukA-Y4AoXCSv-pBh7zedYSawxByWJ7YU&aep=1&ntc=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi1-tHxj7KTAxVPd2wGHZzeA6MQ2J8OegQIDRAE&biw=320&bih=456&dpr=2&mstk=AUtExfAQnm3WFLTs79bKl9oSbePmN8a_FXL47w8cD9dFczHjH3cUZqKeb8FXmiqP42mjRuMSPc4Yu8QFN28MHAYwy-EJ7n05nAE6LhYrBdKIiaKXS8ymQg070wJKQFlXG14ltt_C-zdO81ujXydMQptjO9HvODR-o-yHyaw&csuir=1

The post says he heard it straight from Pyramid.