funkle Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 (edited) Obviously I am an idiot. But I’ve been playing bass for 25 years and never really understood the fuss about steel roundwounds, until now. I’ve been used to nickels all my life. I think I flirted with steels once about 15 years ago, and for some reason decided they weren’t for me. Just put some D’Addario Pro Steels on my Celinder PJ. It’s a match made in heaven. Where on earth have I been? Much clearer bottom and top, top easily tamed by EQ knob if needed, and the roughness of these Steels isn’t too bad. Incredible thump and punch, beautiful. You probably had my epiphany already. But damn, I might put these on all my basses now. So good. Edited February 14, 2021 by funkle 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mep Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 Welcome to the club. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted February 14, 2021 Author Share Posted February 14, 2021 I never realised how much I didn’t like the mids on nickels. How odd. I mean, they have a place, but, I really do prefer the sound of these steels. D’Addario wins my favourite string brand as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 Love steels - nickels....not so much 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 Yup, Stainless Rounds all the way. Always get patches of white, dead skin whenever I use nickel strings, never get that with stainless. Plus they last longer too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilebodgers Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 It’s funny, I have always used rotosound stainless, but I thought I’d try d’addario XL nickels on my p-bass since lots of other people use them. So far I really don’t like the top end sound, at least from new. They are zingy, but not in a pleasing way. I’ll stick with them until they dull down a bit and see if they improve. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 I love the feel of nickels, with the most comfortable nickels I`ve found so far being Ernie Ball Super Slinkies, which die too quickly, and Elixirs. But I just prefer the sound of steels, and am really liking Elixir steels at present. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshy Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 (edited) Nope I have never dabbled with stainless ones, always nickel. I do have a set of DR Hi Beams on the shelf, maybe I should chuck them on a P bass Edited February 14, 2021 by walshy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killed_by_Death Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 I prefer stainless over NPS (Nickel-Plated Steel). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono Bolton Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 I've never been a big user of nickels, if I'm not using flats then Pro Steels are my string of choice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killed_by_Death Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 If you want even brighter, try Cobalt. Cobalt flats sound close to roundwounds & will last forever. Cobalt rounds are the brightest strings out there. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 This is interesting! I've been playing nickelplated steel ever since I picked up my first bass, and have never looked at anything else. When I first tried Elixir nanowebs I was sold, and I've pretty much stuck with them until I got my first headless Status and needed double ball strings. I'm now playing their own brand Hotwire double ball strings, which incidentally are Stainless Steel and feel and sound great. I now have two sets of stainless steel Elixirs waiting to be used on two of my regular 5-strings and after reading this thread I might just have to stop waiting 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 The biggest problem I’m looking at now is I have 8 basses and might want steels on all of them 😂 Anyone have a good supplier for D’Addario? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 On 14/02/2021 at 20:15, walshy said: Nope I have never dabbled with stainless ones, always nickel. I do have a set of DR Hi Beams on the shelf, maybe I should chuck them on a P bass Ha ha, that's the closest I've got to steels as well. I also have a pack of Hi Beams in the cupboard waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Funny to hear all the love for Prosteels, I tried them and couldn't get them off fast enough, I love Roto steels though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 (edited) Do you suffer from faster fret wear using steels instead of nickel ? I assume they are stainless steel and harder than nickel Edited February 19, 2021 by BassAdder27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 I think you do suffer faster fret wear. But if I can keep a bass that long, I’ll pay up for the refret. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestar Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 On 15/02/2021 at 07:24, funkle said: The biggest problem I’m looking at now is I have 8 basses and might want steels on all of them 😂 Anyone have a good supplier for D’Addario? I understand that Fender branded strings are made by D’addario snd are quite a good price. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestar Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 I’m a big fan of DR Fat beams and buy them direct from the US 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 2 hours ago, lonestar said: I understand that Fender branded strings are made by D’addario snd are quite a good price. Unfortunately, Fender don't do Stainless Roundwounds anymore. Damn fine strings they were too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoulderpet Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 17 hours ago, Skybone said: Unfortunately, Fender don't do Stainless Roundwounds anymore. Damn fine strings they were too. They were great strings, shame they discontinued them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 I’ve just been reading and watching Scott Whitley waxing lyrical about GHS Super Steels. I was always a D’Addario EXL nickel guy, but the last few years I’ve been using EB Cobalt flatwounds pretty much exclusively (LaBella nylons on my Rob Allen). I was put off of SS strings due to the roughness I experienced once or twice (I don’t recall the make/s). Maybe time for a revisit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestar Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 22 hours ago, ezbass said: I’ve just been reading and watching Scott Whitley waxing lyrical about GHS Super Steels. I was always a D’Addario EXL nickel guy, but the last few years I’ve been using EB Cobalt flatwounds pretty much exclusively (LaBella nylons on my Rob Allen). I was put off of SS strings due to the roughness I experienced once or twice (I don’t recall the make/s). Maybe time for a revisit. I also really like the DR nickel plated low riders. They’re stiff, bright but feel nicer on the fingers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 I've always played SS strings. But my Jazz came with Fender nickels on it and they suit it down to the ground. I find different basses make different music, different strings is part of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestar Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 56 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: I've always played SS strings. But my Jazz came with Fender nickels on it and they suit it down to the ground. I find different basses make different music, different strings is part of that. I had those on my FSR mex precision. They are really nice on there too. These I think: https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/string-sets-c865/bass-guitar-c34/fender-super-bass-7250m-nickel-plated-steel-bass-guitar-strings-45-105-long-scale-p928 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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