When you've been happy with Nickel Lo-Riders, what bass were they on?

[Bob_Ross]

LOL. Hasn't happened yet, and at this point it never will; two strikes and yer out.
But for the record, the two basses I tried them on were a Peavey Unity, and a Veillette-Citron.

 

[LanEvo]

How much do you pay for the SIT? The two sets of Nickel Lo-Riders I just ordered cost me $18 ea. as part of a 4-set deal.

if you’re getting LoRiders for $18 that’s a screaming deal. They’re typically $24-25. The SIT Ellefsons are about $13-14.

 

[michael_t]

The SIT Ellefsons are about $13-14.

Wow, that's pretty good! Where do you get them from?

 

[80jazz]

Love the tone, but the BNs require a little more muscle to play. It may end up wearing Nickle Lo-Riders again at some point.

Depending on what you mean by muscle, a lighter gauge may help (depending on exactly what gauge you are using).

 

[Marko 1]

DR Nickel Lowriders (45-125) presently on:
Squier VM P5
Yamaha BB415
Fender MIM Jazz V
Ibanez ATK305

Was on, but changed to experiment with Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats:
Sterling Ray 5

Recently-strung to BEAD Fender P with a spare set of Rounds just to experiment playing with that tuning (love it), will decide later between the DRs and the Flats.

 

[CTW68]

Depending on what you mean by muscle, a lighter gauge may help (depending on exactly what gauge you are using).

40-101 BN and 40-100 NLR. The BNs are noticeably stiffer and are slightly tenser even though they're round core. The TR needs a tweak when going between the strings. It's not a huge jump in feel, but I notice it.

 

[80jazz]

I now have only one bass with 40-100 (40-130) strings and that is because it is a 35" 5-string that finding strings has been somewhat difficult for. I would have to set the bass up with low action in order for my fingers to like that.

I CAN do it though, so IMO lowering your gauge may not really help. I would suggest 40-95, but if you notice a difference in gauges above (and I am not doubting you), you may or may not like the 40-95.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

The BNs are noticeably stiffer and are slightly tenser even though they're round core.

When I tried the Fender pure nickels, which are hexcore, I was astonished at how much more stiff they were than the nickel-plated steels. Very much an educational moment! And then such a mellow sound despite the effort.....

 

[tindrum]

I have a ‘77 Jazz and I’d been chasing that Marcus Miller tone for a while. I wasn’t crazy about the tone I was getting on it so I decided to put in some Alleva Coppolo pickups (which came up in the classifieds here) since I really liked what I had heard from AC basses.

I took it to my tech along with some nickel Lo-Riders (to preserve my frets I thought) and man, that bass with the Alleva Coppolo pickups sounds incredible! I plan to stick with these strings until they don’t make them anymore or I die.

That Jazz sounds incredible! It’s like a completely brand new instrument. I never thought I would modify it but man this was the absolute best decision ever!View attachment 4608130

Man…that is an AWESOME looking Jazz! Just killer.

 

[Swerve]

I owe nickel lo riders an apology. I had tried the SS version before and liked them, though not as much as SS Roto 66’s. I tried the nickel lo riders on a parts p/j bass I have because they get so much praise and man I hated them. I even commented on here they were some of the worst strings I’ve ever tried.

Well luckily I rarely throw strings away so they sat dormant for a while. On a whim I decided to try them on a jazz bass just to see if they were really as bad as I had thought but in this context they sound killer! Phat, awesome mids, great slap tone, just really funktastic.

I don’t know what the big difference is but never rule out any strings without giving them a fair shot on another bass. Sometimes its just about the right combo.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Always get worried when an old thread of mine gets revived, asking myself nervously, what ignorant rubbish was I coming out back then? This one wasn't too bad

Somewhere in the three years since then, I did get to try the Lo-Rider Nickels ..... they didn't really work out for me. My very gentle touch didn't really get them singing. Rotosound's nickel-plated steels, for example, have a nervy quality that makes it easy to get a vibrant sound out of them even when just tickling them. By contrast, I found Lo-Riders weren't pushing back. I'm sure I'm very much the exception that proves the rule, so take no notice......

 

[eriky4003]

I'd like the answer to the OPs question, too? I had purchased and installed Nickel Lo-Riders, in error (I'm a stainless steel guy). The set was either installed on the Rickenbacker or Yamaha BB300. Regardless, both basses sounded amazing when those strings were installed.

 

[Toptube]

Browsing through old threads about Lo-Rider Nickels, there's plenty of description about what they're like — a bit stiff, lots of low mids etc — but not much context given for where they were when they really sang.

So it would be great to hear on which basses they worked for you — and perhaps which strings they did better than, on that bass.

I've a G&L SB-1 — so an MFD split pickup — on its way, which I'll definitely be stringing with nickel-plated steels, and I'm wondering if Lo-Riders Nickels should be the first strings I try on it.

I tried Nickel Lo-Riders on a CIJ Fender Jaguar with dual jazz pickups. They are good strings. But it turns out, that bass prefers stainless. And I do consistently use Stainless Lo-Riders, on that bass in particular.

Funny thing is, I don't feel Lo-Riders are particularly stiff or high tension. However, my fave NPS string for the past few years, are GHS roundcore boomers. They have a tight and full low mid. and crunchy high mid. and the notes come out really well defined. Whereas I feel like Lo-Riders are not as well defined, as you go up the neck. I also do not like the Lo-Rider low B. Both the NPS and Stainless Lo-Riders have these negative qualities, I feel. That Jaguar loves their particular take on stainless tone, however. (its a classic maple neck and alder body. and is modded with Lollar 60's Thunderbird pickups).

Back to RC Boomers: They also are balanced tension and have a really positive feel to the way they play. And interestingly firmer than the "roundcore" construction might imply. GHS generally uses thicker core wire than some other brands, IIRC. I use them on a Carvin Icon 5 with Nordstrand Big Singles. (Its got a 5 piece Walnut and White Limba (Korina) neck. And Swamp Ash body wings.)