nickel strings

[domradave]

Is there anything special about nickel strings? My local music store only has them for mandolin. They are D'Addarios. I have always used the bronze J74s. Should I give nickel a try?

[Joey Anchors]

Are they pure nickel or nickel plated?

Pure nickel strings have a slightly warmer sound than PB strings and should last longer.

Nickel plated strings will be bright sounding.

[domradave]

I don't know if they are pure or plated. But if they last longer then they are for me!

[Mike Bunting]

Try Gibson Monel strings.

[Violingirl]

I cannot use or wear or have anything touching me that is nickel as I am allergic. I had to swap out by chi rest and a shoulder rest for my violin as I had a severe reaction. It was awful.

[Ultra Turtle]

I just checked on the Gibson Sam Bush strings, which I've tried. Gibson's description is monel over steel. I've tried several nickel plated, and didn't like any of them. I'm hooked on 80/20 at the moment.

[Cheryl Watson]

I used to use the JS74s. To my ears, they are very fundamental but they have far less tonal complexity and depth. They do last a very long time and feel good on the fingers. Volume is strong too. I guess they work for some mandolins, not so much for others.

[stevedenver]

Cheryl has summed it up perfectly.

Heres my $.02.

In addition to less complex overtones and definition,
Nickle tames excessive treble. period. Without meaning to sound pompous, I think it is this treble factor which appears to make them last longer, because they are slightly DOA when new, not unlike my beloved Tomastik flatwounds.

Or perhaps, more fair a way in which to describe, monel and nickel color the sound of the instrument less, by not being brassy, ringy, etc (all of which are things I like about phosphor bronze-ie added upper end, and piano like overtones).

I use them almost exclusively on electrics, rarely opting for brighter steel.
Other than Tomastiks, I don't use them on any acoustic, unless it has a magnetic pup.

Simple solution? Spend six dollars and know first hand.

It depends on each instrument and the pairing.

[UsuallyPickin]

We all like a certain tone from our mandolins. And our mandolins get that tone from different string pick combinations that added our technique "sounds like" what we want. Monel sounds flat and without the pop and ring that I like to hear from my mandolins. I tried two sets of them. Whether they last a week or a year didn't matter because they came off in a week. I still have the third set sitting around. I thought that they would settle in..... Nope. For mellowing a shrill mandolin or guitar, yes, I can "see" that as a good choice. TR uses a monel string on his instrument and he has TONE. So you pays your money and you takes your chances. At least mandolin strings aren't ridiculously expensive. R/

[Joey Anchors]

Yeah even at $20 a set they are still cheap. When I had to replace my upright bass strings (after 7 years) with all plain gut strings at a cost of $400 and those were only the mid grade quality strings. The top quality gut strings cost $800. So I'll gladly spend $6-20 a set for mando strings.. Lol

[Gunwald]

Just to be sure, you are all aware that the core wire in mandolin strings is made of steel. It is only the wound part of the strings that can be nickel plated steel, pure nickel, different bronzes, or monell. Monell is a nickel base alloy by the way. Stainless steel is another option.

[tree]

Simple solution? Spend six dollars and know first hand.

It depends on each instrument and the pairing.

That's pretty much my philosophy - new strings are a relatively cheap thrill. I vacillate between J74s, J75s and Sam Bush monels, although over time the monels give me more bang for the buck due to my string-killing body chemistry. But I like the sound and feel of a different set every now and then. Viva la difference!

[Willie Poole]

Any thoughts given to the fact that nickel might wear out the frets a lot quicker than Bronze? I have never used any so I don`t really know....

Willie

[mandroid]

A Ferrous nickel alloy is what you want for a Pickup with magnets.

[pops1]

I have GHS white bronze guitar strings on my mando at the moment. I love these strings, they are not too bright as other strings when you first put them on and they are consistent in their sound for a much longer time than phosphor bronze. I wish they would make them in loop end so i wouldn't have to cut the balls off. They work with a magnetic pickup also.

[Joey Anchors]

Pops1 good to see someone making their own set of mando strings out of a set of guitar strings!

[allenhopkins]

5¢ mandolin strings?? I'll take a gross...

[Mike Bunting]

Pops1 good to see someone making their own set of mando strings out of a set of guitar strings!

No big deal, I do it all the time to change out the Sam Bush A strings from 14's to 16.

[pops1]

I have talked to GHS several times about making these in loop end, but they are not interested yet. I can have them make me some, but the minimum is way more string than i can use for a long time. For guitar i am always mixing strings for the set i want, usually light strings on e-a and heavier on the low e. Been doing that for 40 years so making what i want on the mandolin just seems natural.

[Pete Martin]

Try Gibson Monel strings.

The Gibson Sam Bush strings are these. MUCH better than d Addario.

[Jim Garber]

+1 on the Sam Bush Monel strings. I recently discovered them and bought a few more sets for my other mandolins. I am looking fwd to trying them on my snakehead.

[Joey Anchors]

Are the Sam Bush strings round cores?

[Jim Garber]

Are the Sam Bush strings round cores?

No, hex core. AFAIK very few string makers use round cores... maybe DR and Newtone.

Here's Gibson's page on the strings.

Sam Bush pushes the mandolin into new and exciting dimensions and chooses Gibson strings because of their superior tone and long-lasting performance. The Sam Bush Signature Mandolin string set is wound with Monel over a hex core of premium quality Swedish steel, for a pure, natural acoustic tone.

[Joey Anchors]

Hmm.. I'll have to try them. Pyramid makes round core strings which is what I am using at the moment.

[fatt-dad]

another vote for the Sam Bush strings and changing out the A strings.

f-d