Can anyone suggest song steel strings that aren't so harsh on your fingers? I've tried D'addario Steels in the past and they just destroyed my fingers. Are all steel strings this harsh?
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Steel Strings
- Thread starter 5string5fingers
- Start date
- May 16, 2009
- 625
- 743
- Disclosures
- Former Manager, Bass San Diego
DR stainless strings are a little smoother than most stainless steel. DR's coated strings are even more smooth to the touch. I'd say D'Addario Pro Steels are a tad rougher than DR's and Rotosounds are the worst in terms of roughness... like playing a cheese grate.
- May 16, 2009
- 625
- 743
- Disclosures
- Former Manager, Bass San Diego
Have you ever had a problem with the coating deterioating on the elixirs or DR? How long does it take before the coating begins to come off?
- May 16, 2009
- 625
- 743
- Disclosures
- Former Manager, Bass San Diego
I haven't played the DRs for any real amount of time, but recall that they feel similar to the Elixirs. As far as coating in general, it really depends too much on personal physiology. People have varying levels of oils, acids, and other dermal secretions, and that will effect how long the coating lasts. As far as problems go, I've heard of people noticing "tags" or "flakes" peeling off of coated strings, but haven't ever seen it myself.
Steel will always feel slightly rougher, I would try Highbeams, they are quite smooth for SS strings as the wraps are very close.
I'm not sure why Elixirs were mentioned, they are Nickel with a coating. And if your after a string which sounds like SS ignore the DR coateds too, they sound more like dead Nickel rounds than SS IMO. Despite them being steel that is, just that coating destroys the highs.
I don't think the coating kills the highs. Black Beauties are still very bright. BB's are Hi Beams that are coated. They sound like a set of regular Hi Beams that have been used for about a week. DR's last forever even without coating.
I guess it depends on what you are used to, I wasn't saying it as a criticism of the strings really, as I'm sure they are perfect for some people.
About them being like Highbeams, I honestly couldn't disagree more. I'm aware they are Highbeams underneath the coating, but that doesent mean the coating wont change their sound. The extra lifes sounded closer to dead Nickels or even bright flats than Highbeams to me. I have seen many people comment similar, but never anyone who finds them bright (no doubt they will be here soon
).I haven't actually ever tried the Xtra lifes, but the OP will find the High Beam DRs much easier on the fingers than the ProSteels. I'd try those first, since they're quite a bit less money than the coated - to me those things are an answer to a question I never asked about.....
bamba22
Commercial User
About them being like Highbeams, I honestly couldn't disagree more. I'm aware they are Highbeams underneath the coating, but that doesent mean the coating wont change their sound. The extra lifes sounded closer to dead Nickels or even bright flats than Highbeams to me. I have seen many people comment similar, but never anyone who finds them bright (no doubt they will be here soon
+1, when I had Extra Lifes I found them to be quite dead, not even close to being similar to SS strings.
As for non abrasive Steels, I like DRs. They are by far the least cheese graterish steels I've used.
A lot people talk about having a lighter touch but while thats true, I find it hard to get a hard aggressive tone out of a bass when you're daintily touching it. I might just suck it up and just get D'Addarios again and just deal with the rough strings, or just stick with nickels since there seems to be a big debate on tone of coated strings and not.
