Why You Should Try Pure Nickel Strings

[zoso777]

Well, I´ve just put a new set of Gibson VR 09 and they´re great! I was afraid it would have some freting "buzz" but it´s just fine and even better because I feel it has a slight more tension that my old EBalls SS´s 09 (I thought it would be the opposite). It looks IMO, something in between 0.9 -0.10 if you know what I mean, so it´s still very light but no so light as EBall 09. I can´t say enough about tone because I could not play enough but It seems a bit warmer. Bottom line,I´m happy !
Thank you again gmac!

[SpinWheelz]

For anyone who's interested, Musician's Friend has a mega deal on three-pack of DR strings right now: two packs of DR Pure Blues and one pack of DR Black Beauties. All for $12. I picked up a pair of these Black Beauties once (I haven't used them yet), and they go for $10 a pop. We know the Pure Blues are typically $6 a pop. So, a $22 value for $12 seems like a mega deal to me. I think the set's in .10s only.

Buy DR Strings Pure Beauties Pure Blues 3-Pack | .010 Gauge | Musician's Friend

[kingofnima]

so I am used to D'Addario 10s do you think the step to DR pure blues 11s would be too great or do able?

[BlackCat]

I only play nickel strings, I was using the Gibsons, but got a dozen sets of the new Dean Markley vintage reissues for Christmas, and I like them a lot.

I didn't like the DR Pure Blues. They tarnished on me VERY quickly and on my SG with P90's, they simply had no balls at all.

[Lordcares]

Originally Posted by wormburner

The verdict:
The change to the pure nickel DRs was significant. Output increased overall. It's not just the highs that get enhanced, but the whole sound spectrum. The lows are deeper, more articulate, and it made the neck pickup less muddy. Most significantly, the strings push the mids harder, and that gave both pickups more of a PAF growl - VERY NICE vintage sound. I am now closer to the sound in my head.

OMG I'm SOLD!! I now am anxiously waiting for the work to be over...

I got to run over to the local guitar shop and pick up a dr string TONIGHT!

[MrRhoads]

I´m gonna get myself a set of Thommastik, they´re easy to get in sweden...
Anyway i prefer Ernie Ball Stainless steel 10-46 otherwise, it sounds and feels like i hear my fingers alot more than with other strings, more sensible in a way...
In the end it´s all about taste...
Thanks for your thoughts on the string cores i really enjoyed reading it

[zoso777]

Originally Posted by MrRhoads

I´m gonna get myself a set of Thommastik, they´re easy to get in sweden...
Anyway i prefer Ernie Ball Stainless steel 10-46 otherwise, it sounds and feels like i hear my fingers alot more than with other strings, more sensible in a way...
In the end it´s all about taste...
Thanks for your thoughts on the string cores i really enjoyed reading it

It seems that stainless stell is not good for the frets because they´re harder than them! A stronger metal will always attack a softer metal! Wait for the experts tell about.

[gmacdonnell]

You summed it up pretty well, Zoso!

It's all down to Moh's scale of hardness. A harder material will always "beat" a softer one in a match between the two.

Stainless Steel strings, (I personally don't like their sound but plenty do,) for all their benefits will wear out your frets much more quickly, in addition to being harder to bend and having substantially higher tension over a set of pure nickel strings.

But if they're what actually do it for you, then stick with them. Just be aware you might need a redressing soon, and a refret in the near future!

[5F6-A]

Originally Posted by MrRhoads

I´m gonna get myself a set of Thommastik, they´re easy to get in sweden...

you won't regret it

[zoso777]

Originally Posted by gmacdonnell

You summed it up pretty well, Zoso!

It's all down to Moh's scale of hardness. A harder material will always "beat" a softer one in a match between the two.

Thanks, I´ve been reading a lot about guitars,setups,maintenance,tips from luthiers... something I should have learned

[gmacdonnell]

I started learning that stuff awhile back when I got a job helping a local luthier/repairman. It was a great experience, and definitely has helped my playing and understanding of a good setup.

It's also was very interesting and informative to take apart different instruments and amplifiers and see how they're built.

Gibsons, regardless of era, are generally very well-constructed instruments, with a lot of craftsmanship in the building. Other favorites were Hamer, (exquisite all-around,) G&L, Heritage, early Fenders, PRS's, Martin acoustics. For lower-priced guitars, Ibanez always impressed me.

Of course, that was a while back, and there are plenty of new companies around making great stuff, and I've heard Fender has gotten their act together.

I was always surprised, because Gibson was the only high-quantity manufacturer that held pretty high standards on their electrics, at a time when Fenders were generally awful.

[gmacdonnell]

Sliding Tom found this great article, from Vintage Guitar, at the Snake Oil Brand website:

Snake Oil Brand Strings

It has a more detailed history and analysis than the Guitar Player article I linked earlier, but both are great reads if you're interested in this stuff.

BTW, I've gotten a lot of questions about where to find Pyramid and Thomastik strings. I often order from either:

*Thomastik
Thomastik-Infeld Electric Guitar Strings

*Pyramid
Pyramid Electric Guitar Strings

and

Best Prices and Selection for Rickenbacker, Vox, Hofner and Gretsch

Usually, Chris at Pick of the Ricks will ship the Pyramids for free (he travels quite a bit for guitar shows, so sometimes it depends on that), especially if you order two or more sets. You might just want to email him and ask. He's a great guy and loves what he does.

[zoso777]

Originally Posted by gmacdonnell

Sliding Tom found this great article, from Vintage Guitar, at the Snake Oil Brand website:

Snake Oil Brand Strings

It has a more detailed history and analysis than the Guitar Player article I linked earlier, but both are great reads if you're interested in this stuff.

BTW, I've gotten a lot of questions about where to find Pyramid and Thomastik strings. I often order from either:

*Thomastik
Thomastik-Infeld Electric Guitar Strings

*Pyramid
Pyramid Electric Guitar Strings

and

Best Prices and Selection for Rickenbacker, Vox, Hofner and Gretsch

Usually, Chris at Pick of the Ricks will ship the Pyramids for free (he travels quite a bit for guitar shows, so sometimes it depends on that), especially if you order two or more sets. You might just want to email him and ask. He's a great guy and loves what he does.

Nice post man! Thank you once again!

[zoso777]

Hey gmac, I want to give Snake Oils a try. Which would you recommend? Rock Formula sets? In time, I play basically Led Zeppelin stuff and blues. I know that Page used EBalls SS but I don´t trust the "new" Eballs are the same anymore like those of the 70´s.

[gmacdonnell]

Probably the Rock ones would be best for you: they're a bit brighter and cut through with overdrive better than the standard S.O.B's. Both are great strings, but it sounds like the Rock ones are the sets for you

[zoso777]

Thanks !

[guitarEd]

well, those pure blues, must be the best keep secret out there., most DR strings are very rare around these parts, and anything TI forget it.... Went looking today for some of them pure blues......one store I got, "oh, we dont carry DR's but EB slinkies are better", Thanks man, tried eb's, but I want to try the DR's....
2 other stores, "yeah, we can order them in , gonna take 2 or 3 weeks......, you should be using D'addario's XL something.....they will rock your world man..." Thanks man, tried D'addarios, but I want to try the DR' blues....

man, it is like knocking your head against the wall here, they are not really wanting to help, just pushing the strings they got in stock. Im not asking these guys for string advice, I am asking do you have.....

so, back home to the computer and just ordered 2 sets of the pure blues and 1 set of those TI bebop strings from "juststrings" for another guitar I have.
I got a set of those TI jazz flats on one of my basses, for about 8 years now, and been happy with them. Those are one string that seems to get better with age.

thanks for the testamony for the DR's there, G Macdonnell, it is always nice to read a more in depth review on things like this, instead of the usual, "they suck" or "they rock"

ed

[zoso777]

Very nice thread started by G indeed.

[Horse]

ive been playing the DR PB's fro 3 weeks now, my god i love em, so warm and really bring out a full sonorous tone... ive hardly touched my other two axes since i fitted them to my Epi Standard.

The more i listen to guitar parts in the music i like, the more i think quite a few use nickel strings.... im hitting the tones i want easier, its all sounding more 'pro'.

liking them!

[970harris]

After reading this great thread, I ordered a set of the DR Pure Blues (10 - 46) and have had them on my R8 now for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I did something sort of stupid when I took the old set of Fenders off the R8, which was to change from top-wrapping to conventional stringing. My theory was that, if the Pure Blues feel more slinky than strings that aren't pure nickel, they ought to feel about the same with the conventional wrapping as the Fenders top-wrapped.

Well...that didn't pan out. The Pure Blues strung conventionally felt noticeably tighter --- lot's of dropped strings initially when I'd try and bend. Got used to that pretty quickly, though, and they do seem to be holding up longer than the Fenders. I'll get another set, top wrap them, and see if I notice any difference...

The note in the box about not needing to stretch them, however, is pure BS IMO. I did stretch them, though not as much per the recommendationi as the box and not as much as I normally would. I then played a little bit and they went right back out of tune --- significantly out, like a full half step --- like nobody's business. So I went back and stretched them like I would any other brand and they stayed in tune just fine after that.

Interestingly, I had my Singlecut LP Special RI in the shop over this same time period to get the action raised a little bit. (I'd had it set too low and was cutting off alot of the sustain on notes in the upper register.) My tech put a new set of Fenders as part of the action adjustment. So I spent most of Monday night playing the Special, and my reaction was WOW, those Fenders sure sound f---ing nice with the P-90s!

I suspect I'll just stick with the Fenders, but we'll see what that next set of the Pure Blues holds top-wrapped on the R8.

[gmacdonnell]

The note about not stretching them is more about the life span of the string than for keeping them initially in tune, i think.

I've noticed that when I used to stretch (not heavily but a medium amount,) the strings would lose treble and focus quite a few days earlier, and more dramatically.

If you're stringing up before a gig, you should stretch them. If not, it's better to let the string adjust on its own, unless you will be replacing them relatively soon.

[GuitarnLax36]

Hey guys I just put in ernie ball pure nickel 10's last night been playing with them last night and today. They dont really sound that much different to my normal ernie balls but they seem a bit brighter and they feel a bit different which I really like. They sound great though

[ASG]

Hey gmac great info here. I have been a D'Add man for years ... was tempted by the concept of coated, tried elixir but didn't like 'em/ Your tips will save us a lot of time finding better tone.

Anyone have similar pointers on Accoustic strings? I pretty much have stuck with D'Add Phos. Bronze

[Es Paul]

Originally Posted by GuitarnLax36

Hey guys I just put in ernie ball pure nickel 10's last night been playing with them last night and today. They dont really sound that much different to my normal ernie balls but they seem a bit brighter and they feel a bit different which I really like. They sound great though

Really? I noticed a dramatic difference when I started using them. I thought they sounded less bright than the Reg. EB 10's. They feel less elastic. Tighter. I think thats where most of the sound comes from. Enjoy them none the less. They are great strings but, if you play like I do, you'll be changing them out once a week.

[GuitarnLax36]

Originally Posted by Es Paul

Really? I noticed a dramatic difference when I started using them. I thought they sounded less bright than the Reg. EB 10's. They feel less elastic. Tighter. I think thats where most of the sound comes from. Enjoy them none the less. They are great strings but, if you play like I do, you'll be changing them out once a week.

yeah I defintaley noticed that the feel a bit different. Maybe they dont feel that different to what I normally use which is just the regular ernie balls nickel wound? Anyways I am enjoying them

[Lapkin]

i just picked up some Dr Blues, hope to string em up some time this week-looking forward to it

[alexx]

very nice thread, dudes

[Stevehose]

Has anyone tried GHS Light Burnished Nickel? I saw them online and was wondering if these are any good? Great thread btw.


Buy GHS Light Burnished Nickel Guitar Strings | .010 Gauge | Musician's Friend

[Adwex]

Originally Posted by Stevehose

Has anyone tried GHS Light Burnished Nickel? I saw them online and was wondering if these are any good? Great thread btw.


Buy GHS Light Burnished Nickel Guitar Strings | .010 Gauge | Musician's Friend

I tried them once (they're on my guitar right now)....I immediately hated them. They sounded great acoustically, but through the amp, they just sounded horrible, I think. I'm going back to Ernie Balls.

[Stevehose]

Originally Posted by Adwex

I tried them once (they're on my guitar right now)....I immediately hated them. They sounded great acoustically, but through the amp, they just sounded horrible, I think. I'm going back to Ernie Balls.

I think the EB's are hex core, do you notice any difference between those and round core?