Nickel or Stainless

Paul Norman · From: Washington, North Carolina, USA

I have been using Stainless Strings. What is the
basic difference in the Nickel or Stainless.
Seems like the Stainless would last longer, but
I see Paul F and Ricky Davis are 2 that use them.

Sonny Priddy · From: Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA, R.I.P.

The Only Strings That Are Nickel Are The Wound Strings Anyway. SONNY.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

IMO most stainless strings (except flatwounds and "ground wounds...partially smoothed) have a slightly harsher "bite" than nickel - as Sonny noted, plain strings are the same, but on wound strings I have found nickel to be my preference, as I hear a smoother, more mellow tone. I would venture to guess most audience members couldn't tell the difference...but it matters to me when I'm playing, so I stick with nickel-wound.
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Bill Stroud · From: Dresden, Tennessee, USA * R.I.P.

I'm with Jim SLiff on this one I like the Nickel myself better.
More mellow...
Bill

Jerry Gleason · From: Eugene, Oregon, USA

I think it really depends on the guitar. When I played an older MSA, Stainless wound strings sounded better than nickel. On my Carter, the same strings had too many overtones, and that kind of "cluttered up" the sound. Nickel works much better on that guitar.

Try both, and see what works best on your instrument.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

I'm using GHS Boomers...Not sure what type they are,They sound good to me. Winking

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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Jonathan Cullifer · From: Gallatin, TN

I use nickel...they don't last as long as stainless but by the time the wound strings go dead, it's past time to change the strings for the sake of breakage. But they sound much better to me than stainless.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've used SS strings since 81 when I got my Franklin D-10 new. It came with Lawrence SS and when they renamed them George L's I continued to use them. I've tried others including Nickel and the SS have the tone for me and the guitar is set up for the slightly shorter pulls that SS have.

I do find the Jagwires, that I've tried 3 different times, to be "stiffer and harsh" compared to the George L's.

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Stainless every time for me.

Don Sulesky · From: Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH

I have been using the GHS SS for about 5 years.
I have tried others but always go back to the GHS SS for their uniformity of tone and shorter pull than nickle.

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

I like the stainless George 'L's' the best of any I have used. But to each his own.

Ernie Pollock Very Happy

http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75/stock.htm

Dave Diehl · From: Mechanicsville, MD, USA

I'm with you Ernie on the George L Stainless. Jeff Newman sold me on them years ago. Actually they are correct on the brightness versus the mellow tone between the two. Both seem to last about the same amount of playing time for me.

David Doggett · Posted 29 Mar 2008 9:11 am

I like the brighter sound of stainless steel on the lower strings. And they last longer, as do Jagwires on my upper strings.

Louis Vallee · From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Nickel wound strings sounded better than Stainless wound on my Carter. Same thing for my old GFI.

Anyway I dont like the brighter sound of stainless wound.

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I like the nickel wound personally. They seem to play quieter and smoother than SS. I've noticed on some guitars that SS left marks on the fingers on the changer. I use Frenchy's Steel Mill strings also.

Gary Dunn · From: near Camel City, NC

If tone is really in the touch of the right hand, then does it really matter what kind of pick a player uses--at least as long as it is a heavy-gage pick?

And how much difference can be attributed to the sweetness factor from the player's pick choice?

Gary Preston · From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

I use the Jagwire Herby Wallace Signature Stainless Steel strings with the 038 on the tenth string . I have yet to brake a string using a Jagwire ! I am very pleased with the Jagwire strings and Danny Hulihen is a great guy to get them from . G.P.

J PARKER · From: Meridian Miss

I prefer the nickel wound strings cause not so bright and they have a great sound as well on the guitars that i have played. I use the GHS Boomers. Jim

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Tommy Young · From: Ethelsville Alabama

I USE STAINLESS SIT STRINGS ON ALL MY MAX-TONE MODIFIED GUITARS UNLESS SOMEONE SPECIFIES DIFFERENT AND THATS ONLY BEEN THREE TIMES IN THREE YEARS

TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS
WHEN YOUR GUITARS TONE HAS TO BE ITS VERY BEST
662-328-5742 tyoung52@wildblue.net

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