Sadowsky Blue Label Steel Roudwounds

[Dp1363]

I am currently using Sadowsky Blue Label Steel Rounds that came with my new Sadowsky. The strings sound great when plucked lightly but I am getting way too much clank when digging in, a bit and the steels are pretty rough on your fingers. I have played mostly nickel strings in the past. I prefer low action but I had to raise my action more than I like to mitigate some of the clank of the Blue Label Sadowsky's.

If I switch to a higher tension string can I effectively lower my action and avoid the clank?

I like the Sadowsky strings they really punch and sustain when I am not digging in, and getting clank. Sadowsky makes a Black label nickel version with more tension. I am wondering if that would save my fingers and allow me to lower my action a bit more.

 

[michael_t]

Have you tried the Blue Label Nickels? Nickels in general are less clanky than stainless steel.

Also, stiffer strings do allow a lower action.

 

[Dp1363]

Have you tried the Blue Label Nickels? Nickels in general are less clanky than stainless steel.

Also, stiffer strings do allow a lower action.

I actually bought set and have not put them on yet.

 

[michael_t]

I actually bought set and have not put them on yet.

First thing first... Why don't you go ahead and try them to see if they can tame the clank without a drastic change in the overall setup?

 

[Dp1363]

First thing first... Why don't you go ahead and try them to see if they can tame the clank without a drastic change in the overall setup?

Thats the plan, but if they vibrate at the same rate as the low tension steels they will still clank. I am thinking the Black label higher strings in nickel might do the trip on both counts. I just hope they have the same tone as the Blue label steels.

 

[michael_t]

Thats the plan, but if they vibrate at the same rate as the low tension steels they will still clank. I am thinking the Black label higher strings in nickel might do the trip on both counts. I just hope they have the same tone as the Blue label steels.

Black or Blue, nickel will sound different from stainless steel. If you want a similar tone but stiffer to allow a lower action, you should try the Black Label Stainless Steel, not Nickel.

 

[nickpc]

Not sure if you've tried this already, but to clean up the clank on my Sadowsky basses I'll cut the VTC to near zero and then add treble back in with the pre-amp.

 

[Dp1363]

Not sure if you've tried this already, but to clean up the clank on my Sadowsky basses I'll cut the VTC to near zero and then add treble back in with the pre-amp.

Good to know. I'll give it a try. Thanks.