Pure nickel strings ...D'Addario and others?

[edward]

Hey all,

I am a long-time player of D'Addario XLs (nickel wound), and have loved them for over a decade ...they last for me and I like their tone, not to mention EASY to get and really cheap in 10-packs!

With all the discussion of pure nickel on this and the LP forum, curiosity is now getting the better of me. How would you describe the tonal diff between, say, DA's regular XLs in nick winding vs DA's pure nickel string? And correct me if I'm wrong, the upper three are still plain steel, right? ...so no diff there.

Opinions most welcome, thanks all!!

Edward

[Brien]

The pure nickel strings are a little darker/mellower sounding. I like them, but I go back and forth and appreciate both sounds for what they are. Usually I use the regular XLs, for better snap on the bass strings. The plains are the same.

[Tonefish]

I play both, but since I use-up a set of strings before I put a new set on, the newer ones always sound better. :AOKSomeday I might have to put one of each on new, one after the other, to try to hear the diference...good question.

BTW Pure nickel is just that the nickel plating is pure. They're both nickel plated steel.

[bluesjuke]

My '56 Relic Strat was nice with the nickle plated but really came into it's glory with Gibson Vintage Reissue Pure Nickle strings.
Made it sound much smoother and even improved it's unplugged sound and playability.

I use the pure nickle on my Gibsons except D'Addario XL's on one of the 335's.
Used D'Addario's for years on everything.

Try it, you may be pleaseantly surprised.

[Sadhaka]

The Gibson Vintage Reissues are my favorite as well. Actually haven't tried the D'addario nickels because I didn't feel the need to try anything else after the Gibsons. Fantastic strings, they feel like they have a good mass to them both in feel and tone.

I should probably try them though...

[edward]

Thanks, guys. Darker/mellower hmmm ...maybe I'll give it a shot in the Lester (Standard) as I love the "snap" of my Tele and Strats. Thanks all ...appreciate the feedback! Side note: I guess these aren't very popular strings as DA does not make them available in 3 or 10 packs. Maybe pure nickel is a cork-sniffer's string? LOL

Edward

[Kelly]

Try GHS Burnished Nickels.

[Tonefish]

Originally Posted by kelly

try ghs burnished nickels.

+1 that's my pick too.

[Bloomfield fan]

GHS Burnished Nickel

[mertzy]

+1 GHS Burnished Nickel, or if you find some change under the couch seat try the Snake Oil Originals.

[bluesjuke]

The Gibsons make my Strat vey smooth sounding but I still have all of the great clarity of the Strat sound but they took away an plinky sounds.
There is also plenty of snap and no darkness.
Edit- I might add harmonically rich too.

I would like to try the D'Addario's but they are never available when I ask for them (pure nickle).

The Snake Oils were on a friends guitar and to me there was a decreased clarity so I never bought a set.

[soulohio]

can you get these from musician's friend or Zzounds? I can never find them and my GC don't carry them

Originally Posted by Bloomfield fan

GHS Burnished Nickel

[buddastrat]

I tried some Dean Markley nickel vintage rocker strings, and they were nice, a bit mellow like all nickel strings. I like the more aggressive nickel wound type strings and they last longer. All nickel strings go quick for me.

[teefus]

i have tried a few brands. been using the dr pure nickel blues the longest. tried the ghs burnished nickel and went right back to the dr's. the dr's sounded better to my ears and lasted longer. the ghs BN's are a little smoother sound-wise when new but don't hold the tone as long as the dr's.

[candid_x]

I also use both, depending on the guitar and degree of aggressiveness I'm after at the time. I usually use pure nickel (SOB XL+ 9.5-44) on my maple board (SSS Silhouette Special), and it enhances warm and subtle harmonics, and the cleans sounds heavenly in a vintage sort of way. The down side is that overdrive or distortion sounds a bit anemic. For my rosewood board (HSS Silhouette Special) I use SOB rockers, which has lots more authority and power in the wound strings in overdrive. I also prefer these on my Tele, though again, for sweet cleans it's hard to beat the pure nickel.

I used to often gig with GHS Burnished Nickel 9's and liked them, but I don't think they're made in the slighter heavier 9.5-44. Not very bright when new but they seemed to last quite awhile.