Why You Should Try Pure Nickel Strings

[roadhog96]

Originally Posted by dubyatf

Thanks for the additional info.. I'm looking at the Pyramid site and I don't see round core listed (maybe I'm just missing it - or it's a 'given'). PYRAMID Flatwound Strings for Guitar, and Bass

OK, Pyramid's web site is not the best site. Over a year ago Max the owner said he was going to ad them to his site but obviously he's not got around to it. There are several dealers who sell them. I personally do business with Toneman. He is very good to do business with. He can custom order sets the way you want even though they are not listed on his site or anyone else for that matter. I have mine special ordered I use the 10-48 Classics with the silk wrap ball ends. Nobody sells them like this. The Pyramid Maximum Performance strings are Nickel but have a Hex core wire so don't get them confused with the Classics which have a 50's and 60's style core wire. Email him and request something if it's not listed. http://www.tone-man.com/pyramid.htm One other thing, talk about quick service, I order them and have them within 3 days, from California to CT.

[dubyatf]

Originally Posted by roadhog96

OK, Pyramid's web site is not the best site.
...

Excellent! Thanks man!

[Lance_S]

Maybe you guys could help me. I switched over to the Ernie Ball pure nickle 11's. They last quite a bit longer than the last set which were the Fenders (they rusted really fast, even though I wiped them down after playing each time). Here's my problem. The high "E" string has a plunky twang to it. I don't know how to describe it, just not full and not warm. Harsh and plinky. Especially when I bend it and hit it hard.

Anyone else have an experience like that with those EB strings, I know many here use or have used them, the other strings don't sound that way, just the high "E"

Thanks.

[JGV]

Originally Posted by Lance_S

Maybe you guys could help me. I switched over to the Ernie Ball pure nickle 11's. They last quite a bit longer than the last set which were the Fenders (they rusted really fast, even though I wiped them down after playing each time). Here's my problem. The high "E" string has a plunky twang to it. I don't know how to describe it, just not full and not warm. Harsh and plinky. Especially when I bend it and hit it hard.

Anyone else have an experience like that with those EB strings, I know many here use or have used them, the other strings don't sound that way, just the high "E"

Thanks.

Pull the string out of the saddle slot and rest it on the saddle where there is not a notch. If the effect goes away, it is the saddle slot (either a burr, or not filed correctly).

[joe19680]

I am going to try the DR Pure Blues nickels...

Just a side note i wish there was a string as good to set off the gold hardware on my Epi. Gold strings would look so awsome but not practical...lol

[jco.1]

You'll love them. They sound great, and to me they feel very slinky. Try a set of your regular gauge, and try a set one gauge thicker. I am willing to bet you won't find much of a difference, if at all.

[joe19680]

was thinking of the mediums 10-46... at the price i'll try med and lite...

was wondering about string cleaners and saw the Tone Gear string cleaning tool. Looks pretty neat. cleans 360 with no solution. 12 bucks. No reviews i could find anywhere. Wondered if anyone had used it or what is used by most?

[Lance_S]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Pull the string out of the saddle slot and rest it on the saddle where there is not a notch. If the effect goes away, it is the saddle slot (either a burr, or not filed correctly).

I will try that, thanks. But the saddles are brand new. I just replaced the old one a couple months ago with a Faber setup. The come pre-grooved from the factory and are really smooth. I will give it a shot tho, thanks!

[Lance_S]

Originally Posted by joe19680

I am going to try the DR Pure Blues nickels...

Just a side note i wish there was a string as good to set off the gold hardware on my Epi. Gold strings would look so awsome but not practical...lol

Google is your friend: DR "EXTRA" Life Color Coated Guitar Strings - Hexagonal Core

Black, Blue, Red and Silver.

One of our members posted his LP with Red. Looked terrible to me but it really popped. I haven't seen pictures of the other colors, black might be cool, silver possibly.

Post pics if you get a set strung up.

[Lance_S]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Pull the string out of the saddle slot and rest it on the saddle where there is not a notch. If the effect goes away, it is the saddle slot (either a burr, or not filed correctly).

Jeff,

Thanks for the input. It was indeed the saddle.

[joe19680]

Originally Posted by Lance_S

Google is your friend: DR "EXTRA" Life Color Coated Guitar Strings - Hexagonal Core

Black, Blue, Red and Silver.

One of our members posted his LP with Red. Looked terrible to me but it really popped. I haven't seen pictures of the other colors, black might be cool, silver possibly.

Post pics if you get a set strung up.

black blue red or silver... not what i was shooting for... Gold is what i would like... could put acoustic strings on and hang it on the wall for show...lol

But now I have to say a big thanks for this whole thread!!! those DR Pure Blues breathed new life into my Epi. With the chambered body the tones that come out of it are just amazing! Very noticeable difference, and only on my little 15 watt Marshall MG... cant wait to get to my friends this weekend and plug into the half stack and hear it... Will be using these from now on... might try some of the other more expensive ones mentioned later, but for the money the DR's are great! everyone should have these... Thanks again!

[Lance_S]

Joe,

There are other companies out there that produce them, keep looking, you find them Gold. If you do, let me know, they would look good with my Gold hardware!!! Black would be killer on a black LP>

[gmacdonnell]

Here you go:

Just make sure to spray before the strings go on the guitar!

Just kidding, of course!

[joe19680]

Originally Posted by gmacdonnell

Here you go:

Just make sure to spray before the strings go on the guitar!

Just kidding, of course!

dont think this would be good on the strings but would be a good idea for changing my burst into a gold top....lmao

[gmacdonnell]

Originally Posted by joe19680

dont think this would be good on the strings but would be a good idea for changing my burst into a gold top....lmao

You laugh now, but wait until you see a vintage guitar that someone tried that on!

That was one of the worst days in my brief career as a repairman's assistant. We got in a '69 Les Paul Custom that had been "modified." Rustoleum, enamel Fire engine red. Didn't bother to tape over the bindings, brass nut, tuner washers, or cavity plates. Since it was enamel, it not only ruined the original finish, but it chipped off in huge chunks all over the guitar, (James Hetfield might've liked it, actually!) Ripped out the OEM pickups and sloppily soldered in a Dimarzio Super Distortion, and Super 2.

They drilled two mini-toggles into the top for what was probably supposed to be a coil tap and a phase. (it actually was one static and one buzz switch.) The frets had been ripped out and replaced super jumbo wire, which was totally worn down, and poorly installed. And the cherry on top was under the terrible paint job it had been routed for a Kahler, and then filled in. It was the ultimate 80's, "Let's hot rod Dad's old crappy old guitar!" example.

This was back in the early days of eBay, and some poor sucker bought it, thinking it was a great deal as a "fixer upper." We had to break the news to him the guitar was so beat, it would cost more to restore it than buying a pristine example, (at least back then it would've.)

Rick, the repairman, I believe still has a picture of it on the wall, to remind him, whenever the job is getting bad, it could always be, much, much worse!

[joe19680]

Well alittle searching has turned up Optima 24 ct Gold strings.. Optima Electric Guitar Gold, .010 - .046, EB2028RL

a little on the expensive side and round wound...

Has anyone ever used these or heard of them before?

[gmacdonnell]

Brian May uses them, that's all I know about them...

[Lance_S]

$37.00

[joe19680]

i know $37.00... but for 24 karat gold? wish i knew more about them.. just would be a cool thing for the gold hardware match that i have hated in the past and has grown on me so much...not gonna spend that much tho...unless of course they come with a review here like the DR's did, and only when the cash flo would allow...

"LOOKING COOL COSTS" quote from my old man...lol

[SpinWheelz]

Well, I've finally given nickel strings a good shakedown. I didn't want to post sooner because I wanted to give them a good whack. I loaded a set of DR Blues .10s onto my Les Paul, and the tone was IMMEDIATELY apparent. I suspected that I might've been "hearing things", so I played for a few weeks more, and true enough, the tone was tastier than I've experience on this guitar. However, it did come with a "cost", if you can even call it that - these strings, especially the higher ones, feel much harder than my other .10s (I've also used DR Black Beauties and D'Addario wound-G strings). But that was hardly enough to detract from my fondness for the tone I'm getting.

I bought a pack of GHS .11s for my Epiphone P93 Riviera, can't wait to them them out. In the meantime, I'm buying a case of these DR Blues .10s!

[gmacdonnell]

Glad you like them DR Blues!
They're great strings.

If you get a chance, try out some Thomastik's or Pyramids: they're similar, in some ways, but inho, much easier to bend, and a bit warmer in tone.

Congrats!

[Lance_S]

Gmac,

What type of thomastik's are you using, I didn't see any pure nickel strings though I did see the nickel over steel. Which ones are your using and where do you get them?

Thanks.

[gmacdonnell]

Originally Posted by Lance_S

Gmac,

What type of thomastik's are you using, I didn't see any pure nickel strings though I did see the nickel over steel. Which ones are your using and where do you get them?

Thanks.

I use these on Tele's when I want a lighter string:


And these for most everything:


I usually get them from Just Strings, though Musicians Friend has them too. Thomastik-Infeld Strings

FYI, "Pure Nickel" refers to the wrap around the core, not the core itself.
The shape of the core, (most are Hexagonal, but vintage strings, DR, Thomastik and Pyramid are round) has a huge impact on the feel and tone of the string. But it needs to be steel so that it gives a strong singal to the pickups.

Most strings these days are steel, wrapped with steel, plated with nickel, and use a hexagonal core. This usually leads to much less pliability, (harder bends and vibrato,) a harsher, brighter tone, and a string that wears out much more quickly.

[gmacdonnell]

These are the other brands mentioned:

Pure Blues


Pyramid Electric Guitar Strings

And lastly, S.O.B. are great, and come in 2 flavors: Original, which are warm and thick. And Rock, which are brighter, with more cut.

Snake Oil Brand Strings


These are all great strings, and can be had for between $6 and $17
If I'm short on cash, or to stock up for a tour, I get DR Pure Blues, and they're wonderful. They could cost twice as much and they'd still be worth it.

[thornie]

Originally Posted by gmacdonnell

Glad you like them DR Blues!
They're great strings.

If you get a chance, try out some Thomastik's or Pyramids: they're similar, in some ways, but inho, much easier to bend, and a bit warmer in tone.

Congrats!

Thank you tons for the great thread. I just have a real quick question regarding string gauge...

I've been playing Ernie Ball regular slinky 10's for about 5 years now, and haven't played 9s since I was a teenager. If I understand correctly, if I were to try out a set of Pure Blues, I should go with the 11s? The Pure Blues 11s would feel most similar to my 10s? I ask because I've tried regular 11s before and they weren't my thing at all. Also, I'm very much happy playing 10s, and wouldn't be into playing a set of nickel 10s that feel like 9s. Thanks so much for your or anyone elses input on this.

[Horse]

Originally Posted by gmacdonnell

Glad you like them DR Blues!
They're great strings.

If you get a chance, try out some Thomastik's or Pyramids: they're similar, in some ways, but inho, much easier to bend, and a bit warmer in tone.

Congrats!

im getting addicted to trying these nickels, thanks for the posts and the recommendations brothers

[gmacdonnell]

Originally Posted by thornie

Thank you tons for the great thread. I just have a real quick question regarding string gauge...

I've been playing Ernie Ball regular slinky 10's for about 5 years now, and haven't played 9s since I was a teenager. If I understand correctly, if I were to try out a set of Pure Blues, I should go with the 11s? The Pure Blues 11s would feel most similar to my 10s? I ask because I've tried regular 11s before and they weren't my thing at all. Also, I'm very much happy playing 10s, and wouldn't be into playing a set of nickel 10s that feel like 9s. Thanks so much for your or anyone elses input on this.

No problem: I'm so glad other people chimed in with their great thoughts and ideas as well. A lot of this information isn't readily available, but it should be.


In your case, being used to 10's, you want to start with the DR 10's just to see how you like them. They most likely will feel looser than what you're used to, but you might like it. I wouldn't say it's the same as switching to 9's, but its definitely a more slippery feel.

If you definitely don't want anything looser than your current 10's, then starting with 11's wouldn't be a bad idea. Some guys here who use a lower action noticed more buzzing when they switched to nickel strings of the same gauge. because the strings are lower tension.

A lot of guys move up 1 gauge when they switch to pure nickel, but plenty of guys keep the same gauge and enjoy the new feel.

And if you tune down to Eb, (I do on some guitars) you probably need to go up a gauge.


Hope that helps!

Good luck man!

[roadhog96]

Originally Posted by gmacdonnell

These are the other brands mentioned:

Pure Blues


Pyramid Electric Guitar Strings

And lastly, S.O.B. are great, and come in 2 flavors: Original, which are warm and thick. And Rock, which are brighter, with more cut.

Snake Oil Brand Strings


These are all great strings, and can be had for between $6 and $17
If I'm short on cash, or to stock up for a tour, I get DR Pure Blues, and they're wonderful. They could cost twice as much and they'd still be worth it.

Thes Pyramid Maxium Performance strings have a HEX CORE wire. It's the Pyramid Classics that have the ROUND CORE . Toneman Pyramid Strings

[Lance_S]

Gmac,

You the man, thanks for the info.

Peace.

[gmacdonnell]

Originally Posted by roadhog96

Thes Pyramid Maxium Performance strings have a HEX CORE wire. It's the Pyramid Classics that have the ROUND CORE . Toneman Pyramid Strings

I didn't realize I posted the Max Performance strings. Thanks for clarifying. I actually haven't ever tried their Max Performance strings, but I will one day: i'm sure they're terrific.

No problem, Lance, glad to help!