Your favorite Nickel Tapered 5 string set?

[Jason Bonilla]

My favorite sting sets are the DR Sunbeams and DR PureBlues, however one of my main basses and another I’m in the process of getting are old school Spector’s with the tight bridge ends, which you usually have to fight the bridge to pop in the end of the string by the ball. I feel that, especially with this coming bass that has a piezo system, it will be beneficial if not necessary to move on to a new string set that has tapered B strings to make restringing easier as well as having the core of the string sit easier on the piezo piece of the bridge. DR seems to only make steel tapered strings, and I’d really prefer nickel. Any suggestions?

 

[michael_t]

I've been using SIT Power Wound Nickels 40-100 with either an exposed-core .125 or a taperwound .130 for the B. I do have to order the B's as singles but Jason at Fret Nation is always helpful when it comes to singles and custom sets. SIT PWNs are very well priced as well.

 

[Jason Bonilla]

That’s the thing though, I’d rather find a set that comes with a nice tapered B without having to order separately. I think labella might make a set? Or GHS?

 

[michael_t]

My favorite sting sets are the DR Sunbeams and DR PureBlues...

I’d rather find a set that comes with a nice tapered B without having to order separately...

How about Dunlop Super Bright Nickels then? If you like the flexibility of DR round cores, you would probably like the Dunlop. They are hex core but due to the small diameter of the core wire, they feel almost as flexible as the Sunbeams and the Pure Blues.

Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Plated Steel Electric Bass Strings Long Scale Set 5-String Tapered B 45-125T DBSBN45125T

 

[michael_t]

Sadowsky Blue Label Nickels... 40-125T or 45-130T. They're a bit pricier, though.

Sadowsky Blue Label Nickel Bass Strings Sets

 

[Ggaa]

Using a tapered B only, got it separately, Daddario XL nickel 45-125, set should be great too.

 

[tb-player]

Get a 4 string set of D’Addario EXL170 nickel strings and add this for the B. Killer strings.

https://a.co/d/7x6qj0G

 

[michael_t]

Using a tapered B only, got it separately, Daddario XL nickel 45-125, set should be great too.

Get a 4 string set of D’Addario EXL170 nickel strings and add this for the B. Killer strings.

I’d rather find a set that comes with a nice tapered B without having to order separately.

 

[Chris Chong]

Get a 4 string set of D’Addario EXL170 nickel strings and add this for the B. Killer strings.

https://a.co/d/7x6qj0G

View attachment 5375842

yes. Same for me.

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

Dunlop Super Brights come in a 45-130T and they're great.
Also Sadowsky strings come with tapered B's.

 

[dpaul]

Dunlop Nickels, DBN45130T. Tapered .130 B string, great mid-punch. The tone lasts quite a while, and when they do fade I throw them into a container with some denatured alcohol for 24 hours. They sound brand new again

 

[micguy]

I use SIT Power wounds on one bass, but custom gauges - 40-55-70-95-130. The challenge with buying full sets is that there are literally none on the market that hit my preferred tension (35 pounds per string) for all the strings - if you like even tension on all strings, the correct B string to match a 95 E (which is light tension wise) is a 130 - nobody offers that in a stock set.

If you go online and order the gauges you want directly from SIT (Curt Mangan will also do this, and they put your name on the package), you get....

 

[michael_t]

I use SIT Power wounds on one bass, but custom gauges - 40-55-70-95-130. The challenge with buying full sets is that there are literally none on the market that hit my preferred tension (35 pounds per string) for all the strings - if you like even tension on all strings, the correct B string to match a 95 E (which is light tension wise) is a 130 - nobody offers that in a stock set.

If you go online and order the gauges you want directly from SIT (Curt Mangan will also do this, and they put your name on the package), you get....

View attachment 5376369

Can you also do the same with either the exposed-core .125 or the taperwound .130?

 

[Jim Nazium]

Ken Smith Burners are available with taper core. I think there's a set with only the B tapered, and also a set with the A, E, and B all tapered.

 

[laklandplayer]

Newtone from England <www.newtonestrings.com> you can order them in either hex core or round core,
nickel or stainless, tapered or non-tapered for any length and in any gauge you want.
I order them on their web site and they are made to order so the turn around is about 2 weeks. I was looking for a stainless round core tapered string (like a High Beam but tapered) and no one in the USA makes a tapered round core string and then I discovered Newtone. Their customer service is good and the strings feel and sound great.

 

[Jason Bonilla]

Anyone have experience with the LaBella Rx/non RX nickel 5 string sets? I hear those have tapered cores as well

 

[Thumpin6string]

My all-time favorite tapered nickel strings were the Carvin strings made by LaBella. They had tapered B, E and A strings. The B was the most punchy and defined B string I've ever had on a bass. From what I could find, they were similar to the LaBella Slappers. They appear to be a nickel version of Super Steps. Carvin is gone and it looks like LaBella no longer makes the Slappers, but there are a few 4 and 5 string sets floating around on Reverb and Ebay. I haven't found any nickel strings that sounded as good. Good luck with the search.

 

[laklandplayer]

I use SIT Power wounds on one bass, but custom gauges - 40-55-70-95-130. The challenge with buying full sets is that there are literally none on the market that hit my preferred tension (35 pounds per string) for all the strings - if you like even tension on all strings, the correct B string to match a 95 E (which is light tension wise) is a 130 - nobody offers that in a stock set.

If you go online and order the gauges you want directly from SIT (Curt Mangan will also do this, and they put your name on the package), you get....

View attachment 5376369

Yes, balanced tension is a real thing. I experimented for a long time and I compiled a set of gauges that work for me. Most commonly available sets don't address balanced string tension but D 'Addario makes some balanced sets as does Kalium. Not only does the balanced tension help your playing it prevents the neck from twisting due to uneven tension across the neck itself.

 

[Jason Bonilla]

My all-time favorite tapered nickel strings were the Carvin strings made by LaBella. They had tapered B, E and A strings. The B was the most punchy and defined B string I've ever had on a bass. From what I could find, they were similar to the LaBella Slappers. They appear to be a nickel version of Super Steps. Carvin is gone and it looks like LaBella no longer makes the Slappers, but there are a few 4 and 5 string sets floating around on Reverb and Ebay. I haven't found any nickel strings that sounded as good. Good luck with the search.

I found 4 6 string sets of Slappers at Chuck Levins that they gave me for 17 bucks each , let’s hope they’re not dead on arrival since they’ve been on the shelves for so long.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I found 4 6 string sets of Slappers at Chuck Levins that they gave me for 17 bucks each , let’s hope they’re not dead on arrival since they’ve been on the shelves for so long.
View attachment 5379003

Lucky you!