Who makes Fender 7150 strings?

[SeayBass]

How do the DR Hellborg Nickels compare to the Fender 7150s? I've always wanted to try the Helborgs.

Also, the pure nickel strings that come closest to 7150 are the La Bella Chicago Style Nickels, but they are a little brighter and not quite as tense. Very close though. Here's a thread:
La Bella "Chicago Style" Pure Nickel Rounds?

There's lots of good discussion of other pure nickel strings here, too:
Pure

Compared to the fender, I think the Helborg set vibrates more freely. Tone is fuller and warmer to my ear. I think the 7150 is a hex core, but I don't actually know that. I think all DA strings are hex core. Please correct me if I'm wrong...
Anyway I got into nickel alloy strings maybe 18 months ago, and tried a bunch. It's taken me until last week to get to the Helborg set. I'm really happy with them. Until now, I preferred the 7150 (because labella 52 alloy was discontinued).
I may never buy another fender 7150. The fenders are 4 string only with limited gauge and string lengths available. And while that's also true with the Helborg set, the DR strings -all their strings are 37.75" - fit on my 36" scale bass. And I can find a matching DR 5th string easily.

On top of that, these Helborg strings taught me that I am a fan of the round core.

 

[e-flat]

Compared to the fender, I think the Helborg set vibrates more freely. Tone is fuller and warmer to my ear. I think the 7150 is a hex core, but I don't actually know that. I think all DA strings are hex core. Please correct me if I'm wrong...
Anyway I got into nickel alloy strings maybe 18 months ago, and tried a bunch. It's taken me until last week to get to the Helborg set. I'm really happy with them. Until now, I preferred the 7150 (because labella 52 alloy was discontinued).
I may never buy another fender 7150. The fenders are 4 string only with limited gauge and string lengths available. And while that's also true with the Helborg set, the DR strings -all their strings are 37.75" - fit on my 36" scale bass. And I can find a matching DR 5th string easily.

On top of that, these Helborg strings taught me that I am a fan of the round core.

I'll definitely have to try the Helborgs... thanks for the feedback!

 

[michael_t]

Compared to the fender, I think the Helborg set vibrates more freely. Tone is fuller and warmer to my ear. I think the 7150 is a hex core, but I don't actually know that. I think all DA strings are hex core. Please correct me if I'm wrong...

Yes, the 7150s are hex core.

The unique feature of the Hellborgs is they only have one single wrap over a round core instead of the standard multi-layer construction. That may explain why they "vibrate more freely".

 

[SeayBass]

E flat,
I just read your post on labella Chicago nickels. I am sure you'll like the Helborg set. I have no idea if you'll choose it over the rest but I'm sure you will like em.

And I think it's ironic that now that I've celebrated these DR Helborg set, you tell me of a new nickel offering from labella! And in 6 string sets with.118 of low B string! I'll have to check them out, too...I was so bummed when they stopped making the previous nickel set, the 52 alloy -

 

[SeayBass]

Yes, the 7150s are hex core.

The unique feature of the Hellborgs is they only have one single wrap over a round core instead of the standard multi-layer construction. That may explain why they "vibrate more freely".

I think so. And I like it very much

 

[Jim C]

Its only a couple bucks more for the 5 string set which is listed as "in stock", then you can just set the B String aside (?)
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Unless you want a .100 E string and since they couldn't respond to my email since this morning, F'em.
I'm done with any products that make me work to buy them yet they send my advertising crap every other day.
I'll stick with DR and Fret Nation. These guys aren't impotent; they get the job done.

 

[SeayBass]

Dig.
labella is a small company, as is the Chicago music exchange. I think highly of both, but have been stymied by the delay in availability of some labella offerings (including the previous nickel 52 alloy strings). I presume these Chicago strings are exclusive to this store, with small production at a time.
I'll check in periodically and snatch a set when I see my desired gauge and use the DR Helborg in the meantime.

 

[bassdude51]

Those pre-2010 7150s were made by Fender at their own factory in Mexico. There is a general consensus that the old Fender strings (7150/7250/8250) made by Fender were nicer than the current ones made by D'Addario.

Yes, michael_t is correct. I have an old pack of Fender Flat Wounds and the package says they are made in Mexico from USA materials. Since then, Fender has changed their flats. They used to only have silk on the butt end and now they are on both ends. The old flats used to be quite high tension and now they are lower tension.

I had also heard in the past, Fender strings were made by GHS. Not sure about that.

As to who makes Fender's strings now, I don't know.

This thread is informative and I've enjoyed reading the posts.

 

[michael_t]

I had also heard in the past, Fender strings were made by GHS. Not sure about that.

During Fender's early years, V.C. Squier was the OEM company who made strings for Fender. Then three people from that company later ended up forming their own company now known as GHS.

 

[michael_t]

As to who makes Fender's strings now, I don't know.

D'Addario since 2010.

 

[SeayBass]

update
I picked up my p bass yesterday; it had the DA fender 7150 strings on it. I left them on there a year hoping they would warm up, but they still have the scrapey tone that the old 7150's lack. So I pulled them. I'll not be going back for more. I put an old set of La Bella quarter rounds on there. THat should last me forever or until the E string dies, which ever comes first

I broke one of the Hellborg strings -A- trying to tighten my truss screw without loosening the A. Rookie move. I lack a spare set, so I put on the Pure Blues quantum Nickel set (used) I was keeping for spare. The Pure Blues sound more conventional, with a big sound and more bite. Not like the old Fenders, but a good string.

So nothing sounds quite like the old 7150's but I'll be sticking with the JH strings. I find them to be cleaner and more transparent, lacking what I'll call more colored or fabricated tone when compared to most strings. I put them between Sunbeams and Hi beams https://www.drstrings.com/sound-samples unfortunately they're not modeled on this page.

I've now used of DR nickels- Pure Blues, Sunbeams, and now the Jonas Hellborg strings, which are all their nickel alloy strings. I much prefer the Hellborg. I cannot the Sunbeams, I like the Pure Blues kinda, but wouldn't choose them over hi beam.

As far as other nickel alloy strings to date: I have also tried the LaBella 52 alloy which was good (i prefer the feel and tone of Jonas set), nickel boomers dynamite, dunlop, fender, new fender (DA), NYXL, Thomastik superalloy, all of which have more present 2kHz type bite to the tone that I don't want. The Thomastik Jazz Round get an honorable mention, but they're too floppy for my basses.
So I'm going to stick with the Helborg set for a while. They're not the 7150 of old, but they're my current favorite of that type of string that's out there.

 

[Paulabass]

This is weird. I spent a week at all three N.American Fender factories. Fender was so proud that they make their own strings, and in Ensenada I stood around the string shop and watched in fascination as they made strings.
BUT, all the Fender instruments I've bought lately have come with D'addarios from the factory.
Did Fender give up making strings in Mexico? Maybe they were losing money?
All I can say in 100% certainty is Fender was making their own strings in 2006, and don't seem to now.

 

[michael_t]

All I can say in 100% certainty is Fender was making their own strings in 2006, and don't seem to now.

D'Addario took over the production of Fender-branded strings in 2010. Keep in mind, though, they're still made to Fender's specs.

 

[Root 5]

I've been using the newer versions that I suspect is made by D'addario, and they sound like absolute garbage by comparison. Totally frustrated by the new versions, I'm desperate to find a suitable replacement because the new Fenders just aren't getting the job done.

Wow. Not my experience at all with the current 7150s. They sound rich and warm with good bite when needed.

 

[SeayBass]

yeah as this thread goes on it reads like we're bashing. Written always comes on a bit strong.

But I started this thread because I like these strings so much. So I agree with you! And yes this thread has become a bit of a catalogue of my exploration of nickel alloy strings. Heh