NSD: Elixir Nickels

[CameronJ]

I’m about to string my Dingwall Super PJ5 with some of these after hearing many good things about them. No particular reason why I chose the nickels over the steels to be honest.

I’m thinking I’ll check into this thread over a period of months and report in on how well they’re retaining their fresh tone.

Wish me luck!

[Lozz196]

You’re in for a treat, I use these on my Jazzes to get a bit of warmth/tame too much top end and have been very impressed. My main bass for home use at moment has had them on since around Feb this year and they still sound good.

[CameronJ]

That sounds promising @Lozz196. Have you ever tried the Steels by comparison?

Edited September 17, 2020 by CameronJ

[Woodinblack]

I will be listening. Want to know it is worth the extra!

 

[Lozz196]

53 minutes ago, CameronJ said:

That sounds promising @Lozz196. Have you ever tried the Steels by comparison?

Yes I have the steels on my Precision, been on since about April and similarly still sound great.

[CameronJ]

41 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Yes I have the steels on my Precision, been on since about April and similarly still sound great.

Presumably there’s no difference in feel between the nickels and the steels as they’re wrapped/coated anyway?

And presumably the tonal difference is much like the difference between ordinary uncoated nickels vs steels?

[ped]

28 minutes ago, CameronJ said:

Presumably there’s no difference in feel between the nickels and the steels as they’re wrapped/coated anyway?

And presumably the tonal difference is much like the difference between ordinary uncoated nickels vs steels?

They don’t do steels in the 40-95 size so I’ve never used them but been using the nickels for years. The set on my Vigier are probably more than two years old and still sound fresh 

[Lozz196]

My steels are 50-105, whereas nickels are 45-100 so can’t say exactly re the feel due to higher tension, but sound wise yes it’s same as regular nickel/steel comparison, nickels warmer & steels edgier.

[gjones]

They were on a P bass I bought from Basschat and I really liked the feel and sound of them. I have now got a set on one of my Jazzes.

They sound great......and are so smooooooth,

[CameronJ]

Just had a quick play and can confirm they feel delightful. Sound wise they sound like fresh nickels so I suppose time will tell!
 

Watch this space...

[Chienmortbb]

I put elioxirs on my Washburn Jumbo and that put me off. I found they did noy play well  much like myself) I might give them a whirl next time though.

[thodrik]

I put a set of Elixirs on my Vigier last November. The B string is still really tight and crisp some ten months later. Normally I am changing strings every 6 weeks or so, so the Nickles are really saving me loads of money.

 

[CameronJ]

5 hours ago, Chienmortbb said:

I put elioxirs on my Washburn Jumbo and that put me off. I found they did noy play well  much like myself) I might give them a whirl next time though.

They didn’t play well in what way? Didn’t like the feel?

[Chienmortbb]

5 hours ago, CameronJ said:

They didn’t play well in what way? Didn’t like the feel?

The feel was OK but they were quite dull. To be fair they were Bronze strings so they would not be that bright to start with. They were much better than the Dunlops that they replaced.

[CameronJ]

Ah, I didn’t realise Elixir did bronze strings!

[skidder652003]

slaptastically fresh still after 6 months on my jazz, remarkable really...

[Happypants]

On 17/09/2020 at 18:13, CameronJ said:

Just had a quick play and can confirm they feel delightful. Sound wise they sound like fresh nickels so I suppose time will tell!
 

Watch this space...

How are they holding up? (Or did they?)

Edited March 30, 2021 by Happypants
English.

[CameronJ]

58 minutes ago, Happypants said:

How are they (or did they) hold up?

They’re great. Can’t say I’ve noticed a change in tone to be honest. I recently changed to TI Flatwounds on the bass they were on (purely for the tonal variety of having a bass with flats) but it’s nice to know they’ll still sound good when I put them back on. I potentially have a long gig at the end of the year - a Panto in Wales with 8 performances a week for 2 months - that’ll be a serious test for the Elixirs as my hands sweat quite a bit when playing live!

[Happypants]

Great, thanks, I’m going to give them a twirl on the jazz. I’m guessing the panto is covid dependent so fingers crossed for you. 

[CameronJ]

9 hours ago, Happypants said:

Great, thanks, I’m going to give them a twirl on the jazz. I’m guessing the panto is covid dependent so fingers crossed for you. 

Thanks man, yeah it’s COVID dependent - hopefully by November it’ll be doable!

Re: the strings, I’d really recommend them, they feel nice under the fingers and sound the way good strings should. I got the Nickels so can’t comment on the steels from personal experience, but I’m sure they’re just as good if steels are your flavour of choice.

[CameronJ]

Just to add that when the factory strings die on my Xotic XJ 5er, I’ll be buying another set of Elixir nickels for it. I’m not one who delights in changing strings all the time (unless it’s rounds to flats/tapes or vice-versa for a completely different tone) so these are a no brainer.

[Crawford13]

+1 for the longevity of nickel Elixirs. I usually change strings every 8 weeks, I am 6 months in to the Elixirs. 

I prefer the sound of fresh NYXL's to the Elixirs, however the Elixirs win by lasting atleast double the time with consistent tone. 

[Happypants]

Now on the Fender Jazz 4 so I’ll let you know how I get on - I didn’t realise how dead my old strings sounded. Initially I thought I’d ordered the wrong lengths as the E string taper appeared to start before the nut when strung through the body. Once tuned up it seats in the nut properly but only just; the other strings are fine. To be fair there was a warning on StringsDirect to measure the existing strings which I ignored!