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Which nickel strings and why?

two fingers

two fingers

Opinionated blowhard. But not mad about it.
Inactive
Feb 7, 2005
33,959
116,684
55
Eastern NC USA
#1
OK...I"ll try to keep this short.

I've used EB Medium Slinky strings and D'Addario strings for years (available at local dealers). Then I tried some DR's (stainless steel) and loved the tone (after they broke in) but hated the feel. I'm looking for a nickel (or nickel coated) string that really brings out low mids and is maybe not quite as "trebly" as the DR's. I don't mind trying out several sets, but I just need a starting point. I play a Fender Roscoe Beck 5, an Ibenez BTB 5, and a standard MIJ Jazz 4. I usually run through an Ampeg SVT 6 with the 8-10 cab but sometimes just a Countryman DI or a Rolls active DI. I do a lot of fill-in gigs so I play just about every kind of music you can think of. I'm kind of heavy-handed so a little extra tension wouldn't hurt, but not my main focus. So what should I try? I guess I'm just looking for something "better" than the Slinky's and EXL's. Thanks!
 
#4
DR Nickel Lo-Riders might be what you're after.

They are bright, but not over-the-top and harsh like stainless steels. They're also much smoother under the fingers than stainless. They have great low mids and punch, and tension feels just right to me.

They last a long time too.

Sound reminds me of the D'Addario XL's, but I think it's smoother.

Great strings.
 
#7
DR Sunbeams. I used D'Addario XL-165 for years (and D'Addario strings in general since 1973), but because they don't fit string-through-body basses, I had to either special-order the extra long version of the D'Addarios or just grab a set of what the local store had on the shelf. The Sunbeams sound great, and have a more supple feel than the D'Addarios.



John
 
#9
JTE said:
DR Sunbeams. I used D'Addario XL-165 for years (and D'Addario strings in general since 1973), but because they don't fit string-through-body basses, I had to either special-order the extra long version of the D'Addarios or just grab a set of what the local store had on the shelf. The Sunbeams sound great, and have a more supple feel than the D'Addarios.



John
Click to expand...

From what I remember, Sunbeams were the only DR strings I liked even though I'm currently using Fenders.
 
#16
Nickel rounds? Like many of the others I'd go with:
Fender 7150s
Fender 7250s
SIT Power Wound
I've used all three sets almost exclusively the last 10 years. They all feel good, sound good, and last quite a while. A possible fourth place would be GHS Pressurewounds, which sound a little darker.
 
#17
Sparkdog said:
DR Nickel Lo-Riders might be what you're after.

They are bright, but not over-the-top and harsh like stainless steels. They're also much smoother under the fingers than stainless. They have great low mids and punch, and tension feels just right to me.

They last a long time too.

Sound reminds me of the D'Addario XL's, but I think it's smoother.

Great strings.
Click to expand...
+1000 My string of choice. Smooth, Punchy, warm and long lasting.
 

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