Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
What ages better, nickel or stainless?
- Thread starter sigmafloyd
- Start date
hi matante,
never saw your question?
besides, why would anyone care about ss or nickel dead strings??? sorry i don't get it, i just don't get it.
never saw your question?
besides, why would anyone care about ss or nickel dead strings??? sorry i don't get it, i just don't get it.
hi matante,
never saw your question?
besides, why would anyone care about ss or nickel dead strings??? sorry i don't get it, i just don't get it.
Look at the OP in this thread. He's talking about stainless roundwounds which have been on a bass for 10 years. Obviously they are quite dead. There are people out there who actually prefer the sound of dead strings--not only flats, but roundwounds as well.
Dug up an old P bass with the strings that were on it 5 years ago, Smith Rockmasters. Nothing much deeper and punchy to me. And a few from the crowd actually said it sounded great.
Maybe changing strings out every month or two is not necessary?
Maybe changing strings out every month or two is not necessary?
bassgod0dow ana king_biscuit have the exact oppopsite opinion !! , just shows how much these forums are speculative .
Personally i just keep my SS sets alive for ages by playing with clean hands and wiping the strings with IPA after every use , Nickel strings seem to get fret dents easier causing mechanical damage dulling the response .
Personally i just keep my SS sets alive for ages by playing with clean hands and wiping the strings with IPA after every use , Nickel strings seem to get fret dents easier causing mechanical damage dulling the response .
For those who haven't heard the clip of Ed Friedland's 10 year old SS strings referred to by the OP:
I've always found that I'm perfectly happy with the tone of old "dead" strings, but I change them due to the loss of sustain. What strikes me about that video is that his strings have plenty of sustain after 10 years.
ty matante,
now i get what you meant about "Old" strings.
i have used very old strings too & i guess i kind of like them too because i've always liked the deep dark sounds of an electric bass. hell, i used to play a pelham green gibson ebo w/a deep as hell humbucker on my sg styled bass which i bought in '64 to replace my stolen fender jazz. by the way, always played flatwounds on everything then.
now i get what you meant about "Old" strings.i have used very old strings too & i guess i kind of like them too because i've always liked the deep dark sounds of an electric bass. hell, i used to play a pelham green gibson ebo w/a deep as hell humbucker on my sg styled bass which i bought in '64 to replace my stolen fender jazz. by the way, always played flatwounds on everything then.
Those strings are LaBella Hard Rocking Steel M45s. It's a great string, and in general, I've found LaBellas to be have a longer than average useful life. Of course, my preference for dead strings is mostly for P Bass. On a J, or an active instrument I do like to keep the strings relatively fresh. And while they are dead... there is some response left, but your results will vary. Everyone has different body chemistry and that will change the outcome. My hands are pretty dry, if you have sweaty paws, or are a bit more acidic in your makeup, the strings may not last as long.
Or, as I saw in a club once, scoffing a Burger and fries between songs . Oh dear .....
I know my great grandfathers nickel plate colt 1903 still looks pretty good. I'll go with Nickel.
