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Post subject: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 5:28 am
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I'm not saying the pure nickel strings are no good. In fact, they are fantastic. I started switching to pure nickels including Original Bullets about 2 months ago and am beginning to get bored with the sound. I have been using plated nickels for years and feel like going back to Super Bullets. I find that pure nickel is limited to certain genre of music whereas plated nickel is more versatile. Do any of you feel the same? All comments appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 8:05 am
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I have no opinion as I have only used Fender 3250L Super Bullet Electric Guitar Strings 9-42 with my strat since I got it in Feb, 2013
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and D'Addario EXL110 Nickel Light Electric Guitar Strings on my SG since I got that one in Dec. of 2010
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but I sure want to follow this post to see other opinions, maybe with the right persuasion I may even give some other brand a try.
Thank for starting this post
mud


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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 8:19 am
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I avoid nickel whenever I can, due to allergy concerns. Even if you don't have nickel allergy, long term repeated exposure can cause it to kick in without warning.

The only two brands I know of where the manufacturer has actually stated that they're nickel free are Ernie Ball Cobalt and Rotosound British Steels.
The former are loud, and very good strings, but I prefer the latter, due to how they feel, and how they don't stain your fingers black like the Cobalts do.

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Bauzer wrote:
I find that pure nickel is limited to certain genre of music whereas plated nickel is more versatile

I haven't heard of any plated nickel strings (which would at least reduce nickel contact exposure). Do you mean nickel plated strings, which would be the opposite?


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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 4:18 pm
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Thank for your comments guys. I have tried nearly all the brands and my favourite was EXL110. But I've never tried pure nickels until the last couple of weeks. Here they are:

Gibson Electric Guitar Vintage Re-Issue Pure Nickel, .010 - .046:
Nice tone. Stiff strings. Tremolo raised significantly. Tunes up easily. Does not last for more than few of hours play.
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Original Bullet™ 3150R, Pure Nickel, Gauges .010-.046:
Nice tone. Not as stiff as Gibson. Harder to tune up or stay in tune. Lasts slightly longer than Gibson. Plain strings feel sharp on fingers after long play. Some say these are exactly the same as Gibson, but I don't know.
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PYRAMID Nickel Classics Round Wound (011-.048):
Great strings. Tunes up almost immediately. Balanced tone, sound and volume between strings. More versatile than the above. Very smooth plain strings. Doesn't hurt fingers like Fender. Still playing it. Lasts and lasts. Gauge 11 may be too stiff.
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I think I'll settle with either Pyramid or Original Bullet but in 010-.046. A fresh pack of each is on their way.


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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:49 pm
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Keep in mind that it's only the winding on the bass strings that are nickel, even for "pure nickel". The cores and the treble strings are steel. So if it's the treble strings that don't last or don't sound the same, that won't have anything to do with nickel or not.


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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 10:54 pm
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Yes, me and my friend got bored.


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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2017 11:56 pm
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Hey Art, FYI ... Fender 350s are stainless.

Stainless contains nickel, BTW, but it's the 3rd ingredient after iron and chromium.
Still, prolly the best you could do given what's available.

I find the stainless variety to be more suited to the Tele than the Strat, myself.
Then again, I've only ever tried the 350s for stainless.

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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 12:25 am
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To answer the OP ... no; I don't get bored with nickel.

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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 12:50 am
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I know the plain strings are steel.

In many cases they feel different between manufacturers e.g. some are stiffer and some smoother.

Pyramid make their plains differently though. They are silver plated as with the core in their wound strings.

Nonetheless, I am getting used to the pure nickel sound. Although sometimes they feel like a one trick horse.

Plated nickel seems to be more versatile but I'm tweaking my amp. In the meantime I'm still liking the pure nickels.

Edit: pure nickels can get me the sound plated nickels can't. Whereas, I can tweak my amp should I need a more robust sound.


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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 1:22 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Hey Art, FYI ... Fender 350s are stainless.

Stainless contains nickel, BTW, but it's the 3rd ingredient after iron and chromium.
Still, prolly the best you could do given what's available.

I find the stainless variety to be more suited to the Tele than the Strat, myself.
Then again, I've only ever tried the 350s for stainless.


I'm mainly a Tele and SG player (although my Yamaha Revstar sees more and more use - the P-90 pickups have grown on me), and steel strings work well.

Having caught another allergy due to long term exposure (something used in many hair conditioners), I try to avoid what is generally known to have a high risk, like nickel. When there are alternatives that work, why add risk with more exposure to the #1 allergen, is my thinking.

The Rotosound British Steels work pretty well. Their bass strings are easy to bend and fingerpick, and sound good to me. If they were good enough for Jimi Hendrix and Brian May, they're good enough for me :)

The downside is that I have to order them online, because I can't find them at regular music stores. Then again, the acoustic guitar and fiddle strings I use (Thomastik-Infeld mostly) have to be ordered online anyhow, so that's no biggie. And I can use whatever strings are available in a pinch, even nickel; it's just long term exposure I try to cut down on.

For exclusive pick use, I can see how nickel wound strings are popular, as nickel tends to stay slick even after lots of use. Can't say that for steel or cobalt strings.
And with paramagnetic properties somewhat higher than stainless steel (but less than cobalt steel), you can still keep the bass gauges fairly thin.


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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 2:29 am
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Hi arth1,

I found this video you might like :lol:



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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 2:36 am
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I've been using D'Addario EXL110s for the last thirty years.
I like the tone, feel and consistency.
I'll use Ernie Ball's equivalent gauge if I can't get the EXL110s.

I've recently started using D'Addario EJ16s on my acoustic - I like the tone and feel, and the consistency is a given.

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Post subject: Re: Do you get bored with vintage strings?
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 3:08 am
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stratmangler wrote:
I've been using D'Addario EXL110s for the last thirty years.
I like the tone, feel and consistency.
I'll use Ernie Ball's equivalent gauge if I can't get the EXL110s.

I've recently started using D'Addario EJ16s on my acoustic - I like the tone and feel, and the consistency is a given.


I love the EXL110 too. They are my favourite. I wanted something else for this new strat. So I tried pure nickels. If this doesn't work I might go back to EXL110 or Super Bullets. They easy to play and more versatile.


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