Guest MoJo Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I expect the D'Addario representative that posts on this forum could answer this question for me, but I'm interested to know whether Stainless Steel or Nickel Plated Roundwounds are the more popular choice among the bass playing community. Just a bit of fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 (edited) Something I've often pondered... Edited March 12, 2019 by TheGreek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 Got to be steels surely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 (edited) A few years ago I decided to try a new brand of strings every month. Amongst others I went through GHS boomers, Fender nickels, Dunlop Superbrights (should be banned under trades descriptions - they're average bright at best) and various others, both nickel and steel. When I got to stainless steel DR Hi Beams the search was over. I just prefer the feel and zing of steel roundwounds. Edited March 11, 2019 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 Phosphor bronze trump all for rich, bright sounds, but unfortunately only suitable for acoustics... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 Some professionals have told me that with fretless they prefer Nickel because of the middle growl. My choice has been stainless for ages. Roundwound for fretted and fretless. Flatwound only for double bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I have one allergy and it's nickel. Stainless all the way for me not surprisingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I was surprised by the results, I voted steels, but I thought Nickel would be more popular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 Stainless Steel for me at present. It’s horses for courses really, depends on what I need at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 I would have thought that NIckel / Nickel Plated would be the most popular selling strings. Personal preference would be Stainless, but again, that's personal preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 I'm a signed up nickel DR Sunbeam purist - stainless steel has too much jangle to start with but then loses it dramatically, whereas nickel seems to be more consistent over time. That's my experience. Davo 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naxos10 Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 +1 for Davo's comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 I'm with Davo on this as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzbass Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 hmmmm looks like I need to try stainless steels...... I'm already confused as to what I prefer between nickel rounds, flats and half rounds.....now I'm adding SS lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_M Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 Nickel for me too - must have tried them all over the years but came back to and settled on DR Nickel Lo-Riders. Trying out the LaBella Nickel RX's on my 5 string on Mark Stickleys' (Bass Direct) recommendation and they've settled in really nicely after 3 days play. Another +1 for Davo's comment on the SS jangle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 seems the nickel users are slow to start but once going they will out-pace the SS every time 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted March 13, 2019 Share Posted March 13, 2019 Level pegging now. But did I vote for steel or for steel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deedee Posted March 13, 2019 Share Posted March 13, 2019 16 hours ago, Davo-London said: I'm a signed up nickel DR Sunbeam purist - stainless steel has too much jangle to start with but then loses it dramatically, whereas nickel seems to be more consistent over time. That's my experience. Davo That’s been my experience too. Nickel for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted March 13, 2019 Share Posted March 13, 2019 Nickel for me too, apart from preferring the sound and feel I like that they don't damage the frets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted March 13, 2019 Share Posted March 13, 2019 Always been SS for me. Nickel are nowhere near as rich tonally or have enough harmonic content for me. Plus every nickel set I've ever used (varying brands), I seem to kill very quickly. It's all about the Piano tone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted March 13, 2019 Share Posted March 13, 2019 On 11/03/2019 at 14:51, Cato said: A few years ago I decided to try a new brand of strings every month. Amongst others I went through GHS boomers, Fender nickels, Dunlop Superbrights (should be banned under trades descriptions - they're average bright at best) and various others, both nickel and steel. When I got to stainless steel DR Hi Beams the search was over. I just prefer the feel and zing of steel roundwounds. Tried the Fatbeams? I find they have a more even tone and stay really stable tonally as they age. Hi Beams I like but found they got more middy as they got older. Mind you if you're changing them every month you might not be getting the same sounds as me! I find a set of DRs will last me a year or two before going dead. .... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted March 14, 2019 Share Posted March 14, 2019 I'll take nickel if I can get 'em, but I'm happy enough playing stainless steels - I happily used Rotosound RS66 in stainless steel for years, before a friend pointed out that they also did a nickel-plated version. So it's nickel if I have the choice, but I'll happily default to stainless if, say, offered a discount bundle of Warwick Reds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyKnees Posted March 14, 2019 Share Posted March 14, 2019 I've always used SS, tried nickel in the past and didn't like them at all, however I've recently tried them again on my Dingwall ABZ5 and I'm starting to think they have a better tone for some of the funkier stuff I play... so at the moment I'm completely on the fence, although I did vote for SS for historic reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Culture Posted March 14, 2019 Share Posted March 14, 2019 Tried a few Nickels in recent years but, more recently, thought I'd give the Newtone SS Diamond strings a go. That's it, search over - I've got them on my passive, active and fretless basses now. Maybe those formative, early playing years with Roto Steelies just left too much of a mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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