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Similar strings to DR Nickel Lo Riders?

G

greenmachine69

Apr 2, 2025
45
130
#1
I bought a pack of DR Nickel Lo Riders a while back out of curiosity. Absolutely fell in love with them. Something about the feel and the tone really spoke to me. But now I can't find them anywhere, I have to order off Amazon or some other site.
I don't have a huge problem with doing this, just wanted to see if anyone else liked these strings and knows of any other Medium, Hex core, nickel-plated steel strings that are similar (or better) and that I can get in-store at guitar center or some other retailer.
Also, is there any place I'd be able to order Lo Riders in bulk? I saw Daddario has those big ol' boxes of strings, was wondering if DR offered anything similar.
Thanks guys
 
#3
greenmachine69 said:
I bought a pack of DR Nickel Lo Riders a while back out of curiosity. Absolutely fell in love with them. Something about the feel and the tone really spoke to me. But now I can't find them anywhere, I have to order off Amazon or some other site.
I don't have a huge problem with doing this, just wanted to see if anyone else liked these strings and knows of any other Medium, Hex core, nickel-plated steel strings that are similar (or better) and that I can get in-store at guitar center or some other retailer.
Also, is there any place I'd be able to order Lo Riders in bulk? I saw Daddario has those big ol' boxes of strings, was wondering if DR offered anything similar.
Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Nickel Lo-Riders used to be my #1 nickel rounds, but SIT Power Wound Nickels are now my favorite. Similar tone and feel but for less money.

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#6
Not sure anything is going to sound quite like them except for them...but yeah Fretnation is a good place to get strings as linked above.

Are you just not getting enough life outta the strings? Maybe some slightly broken-in SS lo-riders might do the trick for you, as they'll sound similar to the nickels after some use, but may stay in that sweet spot for longer.
 
#9
I've always had good experiences with these two:
Fret Nation - Basses, Guitars, Strings, Cables, Amps, Cabs, and more! Fretnation
Invalid Link Removed StringsByMail

I've heard great things about these as well. I think some of the people running these are here on TalkBass:
Guitar Strings and Beyond - Buy Guitar Strings Online and Save! Strings and Beyond
Instrument strings and more for everyone | GimmeSomeStrings Gimme Some Strings
Rocket Music Rocket Music SHop

I usually buy my strings online anyway, since brick-and-mortar stores don't always have the gauges or whatever I like. As for strings like DR Lo-Rider Nickels... I can't think of any (and I'm a notorious string GASer- gotta try 'em all). There is something unique about DR strings. If you compare DR Sunbeams (round core nickels) to other round core nickels like GHS RoundCore Boomers, they're completely different animals.
 
#10
michael_t said:
Nickel Lo-Riders used to be my #1 nickel rounds, but SIT Power Wound Nickels are now my favorite. Similar tone and feel but for less money.

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I'm with you on this. I was a nickel lo-riders guy for a long time, and then I worked at Strings By Mail for a few years and tried just about everything. SIT makes great strings and is an underrated company, IMO. I love the Power Wound Nickels and the Power Flats but I really dug the Foundations. Since leaving SBM I've been using DR Pure Blues and Sun Beams, but I recently put on a set of Nickel Lo-Riders and I've been loving the sound I'm getting out of them.
 
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#12
Stan_da_man said:
Nothing really sounds like Lo Riders in my opinion. Roto Nickels have a similar vibe so maybe try those?
Click to expand...
buldog5151bass said:
I use Nickel Lo Riders on my P and nickel Roto Swings on my jazz.
Click to expand...

I liked Lo Riders on Jazz Basses - Nickle Rotos on Ps. :D
I didn't consider them interchangeable as strings - "similar" like you said.
But I never tried them the other way around - I just liked them the way they were on those basses.

They were some of the last rounds I was using, as I gradually went to a less "bright" tone.
Over the past 2 years, I've pretty much strung everything with flats now....
 
#13
michael_t said:
Nickel Lo-Riders used to be my #1 nickel rounds, but SIT Power Wound Nickels are now my favorite. Similar tone and feel but for less money.

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Good to see this post.

I made my old Ibby into an BEAD bass a few days ago and used four strings from a set of Power Wounds 45 - 125s. I thought they felt a bit like Nickle Lo Riders but just a little less stiff. Even though they were installed on a completely different bass I was curious enough to think about trying Power Wounds when I wear out the Lo Riders. Now I will.

Thanks!

SIT and DR are my go to strings.
 
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#14
michael_t said:
Nickel Lo-Riders used to be my #1 nickel rounds, but SIT Power Wound Nickels are now my favorite. Similar tone and feel but for less money.

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
This was going to be my answer. I also like the Foundations, but they are much lower tension than the Power Wounds, depends on if you like that or not. Right now all of my basses except one have Power Wounds or Foundations on them.
 
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#15
Wow, didn't expect so many replies. I put on the Lo Riders a while back and have been trying different ones but none really compare. I'll check out those links. Also, I'm based in Dallas.
Most recent ones I've put on are the medium hybrid Nickels from Dunlop. Not my favorite but they are softer which I like. Just not tense enough. That's why I like the hex cores. Every SS string I've tried is way too bright. My band and I play rock mostly but a lot of what we play leaves me decently exposed, plus I don't prioritize sticking out in the band enough to sacrifice my preferred tone. My view is that proper EQing can do the trick.
 
#17
I can't recommend FretNation.com enough.
Jason, the owner, is super helpful and quick to respond.
He's a DR dealer and even has actual DR black beauties on his site, because he custom ordered them.
(Normal DR "short scale is really like medium scale/thru body short scale)

I order custom DR DDT sets through Jason where i pick my own gauges that DR offers, and they put them together for me even in their own boxes with handwritten gauges on the outside. Feels super custom as far as strings go. Its a 3 set minimum, but it gets discounted for bulk orders

For a standard string set, he also would probably offer a deal for bulk.

if you use the chat on his site, he answers almost immediately!
 
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#18
Not_Shane said:
I can't recommend FretNation.com enough.
Jason, the owner, is super helpful and quick to respond.
He's a DR dealer and even has actual DR black beauties on his site, because he custom ordered them.
(Normal DR "short scale is really like medium scale/thru body short scale)

I order custom DR DDT sets through Jason where i pick my own gauges that DR offers, and they put them together for me even in their own boxes with handwritten gauges on the outside. Feels super custom as far as strings go. Its a 3 set minimum, but it gets discounted for bulk orders

For a standard string set, he also would probably offer a deal for bulk.

if you use the chat on his site, he answers almost immediately!
Click to expand...
Agreed, I get almost all of my strings from Jason and have for years.
 
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#20
DR were my absolute go to strings for many many years and still are for the most part. Most of my P's have Nickel Lo Riders and my J's have Pure Blues. But, a couple of years ago I bought a bass from Nino Valenti and it had Sadowsky blue label nickel rounds on it and they were fantastic. He told me they were an NOS set that he had for a few years and he thought that they had changed manufacturers since they were made. But, I bought some new sets of them, which I believe are made by Labella, and they are about the same as the set I got from Nino. I would say that the tension is a little higher than the Lo Riders.
 
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