Yes, and you should always do this with string through. Then there is no difference between that and through bridge.
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Sadowsky strings: black label vs blue label
- Thread starter Fran Diaz
- Start date
Yes, and you should always do this with string through. Then there is no difference between that and through bridge.
I tried the black Nickels and didn't really like them. However, I like the blue nickels very much. Nice and warm but still defined.
How do the Blue Nickels compare to the Blue Stainless? I tried a set of Blue Stainless and thought they were awesome. Lasted a LOOOONG time and have great mid punch with very good highs without being overly harmonic. They are not too zingy at all. But have plenty of brightness. Got over the stainless sticky string feel after a gig or two. But I'd love to try Nickels.
Sooo. How do the Blue Nickels sound compare to Blue Stainless?
Sooo. How do the Blue Nickels sound compare to Blue Stainless?
I have the same question. But I am coming from the other direction with Blue Nickels on my RV5. And the description you give is pretty much how I would describe the Blue Nickels. I have been playing the Blue Nickels for almost 3 months. And they still sound good.
yes it works on lakland 35"
i use sadowsky XL for my 55-02 string thru body. the silk taper at the top does not go into the first fret like most long scale sets. the sadowsky XL will fit perfectly thru body. i use them on my 55-02
they probably wont work for some other basses, but lakland i can say works
Chef
In Memoriam
yes it works on lakland 35"
i use sadowsky XL for my 55-02 string thru body. the silk taper at the top does not go into the first fret like most long scale sets. the sadowsky XL will fit perfectly thru body. i use them on my 55-02
they probably wont work for some other basses, but lakland i can say works
Hmm...it's been a while, but I used them on my DJ5 and 5502 when I had them. I would think that if you went thru the body, the taper on the B string would not ride properly in the saddle. I just strung thru the bridge and they were fine.
Chef
In Memoriam
Chef
In Memoriam
Okay, tactical question....For tension IME on the original BLACK; med nickles verses stainless -> noticible higher tension on the nickles. I like the lower tension on the stainless, so the question is: tension on the BLUE Nickle verses BLACK Nickle??? (I think I saw "lower"). Also, tension compare on the BLUE Stainless verses BLACK stainless? (are BLUES even lower here???). I'm thinking I might need to get some Blue Nickels and put 'em on the 2 P's and a J and let 'em roll....
I've loved my Blue Label Nickels on my Yamaha for over a year now. (I should change, but have a hard time justifying it when they still feel and sound great)
I'm really looking to pick up a 6 string Spector soon, too bad these strings won't be an option for me.
I'm really looking to pick up a 6 string Spector soon, too bad these strings won't be an option for me.
I just made the switch on my NYC JJ5 from blue nickel to blue stainless steels after having the blue nickels on for about 6 months. The blue nickels are definitely my favorite nickels strings I've tried to date. I've had the SS blues on my bass for about a week, so far I'm loving them more than the blue nickels, but then again I'm slapping a lot more. If I had to compare the two I'd say the SS's are much more snappy and have more bite when slapping, while the nickels are more growly. Hope that helps.
Okay, got some Blue SS meds on my Precision and LOVE 'EM! A little less tension then the originals for mediums, they're good to go for me.
Have a new set of Blue Nickle meds and need to decide which bass to put them on: '51 re-issue or the rosewood board/ash bodied MIA P...
*Looks pretty good but it looks like the Low B string doesn't sit right on the saddle when stringing through the body. Looks like it rides on the full outer wrap instead of on the taper. Any noticeable problems with it this way? Were you able to adjust the action and intonation to compensate for it?
I've been playing DR Hi Beams for a good year and have been perfect on a Yamaha BB1200 w/EMG PJ.
I put them on a LEJ 6 and that was pretty kewl too, but sound better on the BB1200.
Recently I tried DR Lo Riders on my LEJ 5 and they're a bit too dark for my taste. So, I just purchased a set of SS Blues and will post in about a week with MHO.
I put them on a LEJ 6 and that was pretty kewl too, but sound better on the BB1200.
Recently I tried DR Lo Riders on my LEJ 5 and they're a bit too dark for my taste. So, I just purchased a set of SS Blues and will post in about a week with MHO.
I put the Sadowsky Steel Blues on my LEJ... After I strung it up I plugged into a little HARTKE Kickback 10/120 watt and was impressed, but thought; maybe it's just the "new string" thing and a relief from the darkness of DR Lo Riders....
Playing through a Thunderfunk 550, MESA PH 2x10 and 1x15, not only was I impressed, but the drummer that I play a lot with commented how full and definitive my sound was...
I'm very happy with the strings. My only disappointment is that I couldn't string through the body, because the strings were too short, but they sound so great; forgiveness is large!!! I am going to try the XL version and stringing through the body next... Ya never know, maybe I'll like the sound better through the bridge????
The only other strings that ever sounded this great were the DR M5-130 Hi Beams on my LEJ 6 and Hi beams 45-105 on my Yamaha BB1200 w/EMG-PJ
I'm impressed!
Playing through a Thunderfunk 550, MESA PH 2x10 and 1x15, not only was I impressed, but the drummer that I play a lot with commented how full and definitive my sound was...
I'm very happy with the strings. My only disappointment is that I couldn't string through the body, because the strings were too short, but they sound so great; forgiveness is large!!! I am going to try the XL version and stringing through the body next... Ya never know, maybe I'll like the sound better through the bridge????
The only other strings that ever sounded this great were the DR M5-130 Hi Beams on my LEJ 6 and Hi beams 45-105 on my Yamaha BB1200 w/EMG-PJ
I'm impressed!
Black vs. Blue Update
Well guys i just threw on a set of SS Black 105's and took off my current SS Blue 105's. From my "bedroom" setting along with some nice tracks to play along with, i feel like they both sit very well in a mix.
I've heard a lot of talk about ppl favoring the blues over the black, but to me, i think it's nice to switch between them. At least right now, i don't feel the blacks have noticeably higher tension than the blues. So don't be dismayed form trying the Blacks for fear that they'll be difficult to play with.
Also, i feel like the Blacks have a nice mid presence that the Blues just don't seem to. I think the blacks are more "in your face" than the blues, which is probably why most people go with the blues. But it's not so up front that it's clanky. I had/have had to dial back quite a bit of 800 Hz. on my amp even with the blues because my bass is a lightweight swamp ash/maple board with single coils, so i don't have the clanky going on like some ppl have felt when using the Blacks.
All in all, i think it's a nice departure from the blues. I'll probably switch back again in a few months when these can't be brought back to life with denatured EtOH! Heck maybe my mind will change later!
Honestly, Roger Sadowsky is right ... you've got to try both sets on your bass in order to appreciate the differences. I'm glad i did give the blacks a shot, despite many ppl's preference to the blues, because i've got a nice growl* coming from my J bass that i didn't have with the blues. (The growl is totally tamable with some VTC roll off and other EQ tweaks (to get it more Blue SS sounding if you know what i mean)).
Thanks for reading. Hope this helps anyone who is still on the fence.
-Anthony
Well guys i just threw on a set of SS Black 105's and took off my current SS Blue 105's. From my "bedroom" setting along with some nice tracks to play along with, i feel like they both sit very well in a mix.
I've heard a lot of talk about ppl favoring the blues over the black, but to me, i think it's nice to switch between them. At least right now, i don't feel the blacks have noticeably higher tension than the blues. So don't be dismayed form trying the Blacks for fear that they'll be difficult to play with.
Also, i feel like the Blacks have a nice mid presence that the Blues just don't seem to. I think the blacks are more "in your face" than the blues, which is probably why most people go with the blues. But it's not so up front that it's clanky. I had/have had to dial back quite a bit of 800 Hz. on my amp even with the blues because my bass is a lightweight swamp ash/maple board with single coils, so i don't have the clanky going on like some ppl have felt when using the Blacks.
All in all, i think it's a nice departure from the blues. I'll probably switch back again in a few months when these can't be brought back to life with denatured EtOH! Heck maybe my mind will change later!
Honestly, Roger Sadowsky is right ... you've got to try both sets on your bass in order to appreciate the differences. I'm glad i did give the blacks a shot, despite many ppl's preference to the blues, because i've got a nice growl* coming from my J bass that i didn't have with the blues. (The growl is totally tamable with some VTC roll off and other EQ tweaks (to get it more Blue SS sounding if you know what i mean)).
Thanks for reading. Hope this helps anyone who is still on the fence.
-Anthony
Nice post and +1. The main difference I hear is in that upper mid area, and I also have a moderate weight ash Sadowsky with maple board and singles. So, even with the blues, I have to significantly dial back at that 800hz or so level with most cabs. With the blacks, it was a bit too much up there for me.
It's funny in that I LOVE DR Hi Beams, which have a very smooth upper mid response. Playing solo, the Hi Beams rule (and they sound good in a mix too.. don't get me wrong... in general, my favorite string). The Sadowsky strings have that upper mid gank to them, but when you adjust the upper mids a bit, they just PUSH through a mix, and growl like crazy.
Here's a clip I did yesterday of my NYC vintage ash/maple with Sadowsky singles and broken in Blue Label steels. I kept the amp flat (and it is an amp that is relatively 'flat' on the scope when set flat) and played through a nice little LDS 115 cab (no tweeter). The singles and blues just snarled without (IMO) sounding upper mid harsh to me. Nice strings!!!!!
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This bass with Hi Beams sounds much smoother, wider, and more sizzly than grindy. With the blacks, I found the grind to be too much for me.
