Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for METAL

[Phantasmagoria]

I've been curious about them for a while. When it comes to guitar tones I've always liked a degree of warmth & roundness as opposed to trebly, overly cutting. ear-piercing sharpness. But then, I'm not crazy about being lost in a pile of mud either.

Always associated pure nickel strings with clean or Jazz tones and you hear how they're great for 'vintage tones' but you need to avoid them for Metal.

Very untrue!!

I just put a set of 10-46 DR Pure Blues (good starting-point based on a lot of recommendations I came across) on my maple/mahogany neck-through (wanted to tame the slightly sharp highs) and the tone is FANTASTIC!! I can't believe the difference they made in both tone and feel. Sure they're rounder, darker (slightly) & fatter but also way sweeter & juicier. I don't see any dramatic decrease in cut or attack either. Notes still pop & sparkle, something I love about this guitar, but they're warmer, sweeter & fuller sounding. Bends are easier & slides are smoother. The difference in overall harmonic richness is pretty amazing too. Another thing you keep hearing is how they're not great with high gain & that you'll need to raise your pickups/turn up your amp's gain etc to compensate for their supposed lack of output...

again...Not true at all!

I made no adjustments at all.

These things just sing for metal...Adrian Smith, Petrucci, Gary Moore, Mike Amott, James Murphy-type lead tones & thick, chunky, dark rhythm tones all day long that KILL for anything from classic/80's metal to Doom, Prog, Death Metal & beyond...

While I'm not a fan I would actually see these working great for bands like Necrophagist, or even Meshuggah. They certainly don't lack bottom end tightness, on the contrary..they're chunky as hell!!

Really love these things...I'm going to get a bunch of sets for my other guitars.. :headbang:

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

Hell yeah! I started with these years and years ago and I always make sure at least one of my geets has a set on. Love em.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

Nice lads, Tld i might try a set. i use ernie ball 9-42 nickel wound so it would be interesting.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

That's what I mainly use too. I think you'll dig em.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

That's what I mainly use too. I think you'll dig em.

That's it i am sold. i am buying a set just for fun and experimentation.

I saw Gary Moore's name mentioned that should be enough for me.

 

[Diego]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

Anything that sounds thin/plinky/trebly usually gets better with pure nickel strings.
I usually drop 10-46 EB Rock and Rolls in my SSS Strat. Sounds much better with those on than with regular Elixirs.
I liked them in my Ibanez too. Turned a doublecut into a rival for a Les Paul! Super thick and meaty sounding.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

Hell yeah! I started with these years and years ago and I always make sure at least one of my geets has a set on. Love em.

Cool, I nearly bought those ^ instead...lots of love for them around lol, but I ended up going with the DR Pure Blues. Definately going to give those Rock 'n Roll's a try though. Have you ever tried the DR's in comparison?

@Diego: Yeah, they're really pretty thick/meaty sounding...might be overkill in a really dark sounding guitar with dark pickups, but they sound just great in this one.

Kramersteen, give them a go...you won't regret it . I use 9's on some of my guitars and I'm sure these will be perfect for them.

...and yeah, Gary Moore's name being mentioned should be enough for anyone

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

You'd do it for Randolph Scott.

 

[loversmoon]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

I recently started using SIT's Rock N Roll set. Im digging em. I was using daddario but I have found that I am liking the SIT strings a lot more.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

I used to use their ^ Powerwound strings for a while, but then they got hard to find here & I went back to regular D'addario's. The recent D'addario's really don't work for me at all...they just are'nt the same as they used to be. Way too bright & thin/harsh...

Sfarzo SFT screamers (nickel/iron alloy) are also some amazing strings though. I bought a couple of sets of those along with the DR Pure Blue's & put one of them on my Ibby Sabre & they're really sweet sounding strings. They feel/bend like the DR's but they're more open and a bit brighter....plus I've never heard strings sustain so long.. it's pretty weird (?!)

While the DR's are excellent on my maple/mahogany neck-through (rather bright) guitar, the Sfarzo's are great for the Sabre (very well balanced sounding axe) ...Goodbye D'addario!

 

[loversmoon]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

I love the DR's as well. They are hard to find in my area but there's always sleezebay.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

I've had issues with the DR Pure Blues recently,but I Love the EB Rock N Roll sets...I pretty much only use these and the D'Addarios,but it depends on the guitar..I Love pure nickel strings!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

I just got a set of the EB's to try, but I'm going to have to wait till I need to change strings on one of my guitars. What difference might one expect between them and the DR's?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

I just got a set of the EB's to try, but I'm going to have to wait till I need to change strings on one of my guitars. What difference might one expect between them and the DR's?

Both great strings tonally..I've had issues with intonating the DR Pure Blues,but the EBs in my case are reliable and consistent..Less expensive also.

 

[LReese]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

For me nickel strings are a subtle, but a nice difference at times. Its not all that though.

 

[Severen]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

I have switched to GHS Burnished Nickel Rockers for Guitar since my old favorite Fender 150 Pure Nickel changed for the worse some years ago. I really like them and wish GHS made them for Bass as well.

I will always be a Pure Nickel Strings fan. It just feels and sounds right.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

Pure Nickle is warmer and rounder but wears much more quickly and get's too dark for me after a few plays.
If I changed strings after every gig I would use them but don't and will stick to my XL 120's!

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

You'd do it for Randolph Scott.

This almost got me to break 666.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

The DR Pure Blues are currently camping my Burny LP, which I consider my main guitar.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Pure nickel strings..what a difference! had NO idea they'd sound this good for ME

I've been using DR's since the mid 90's and I don't use anything else.

A good buddy of mine swears that they don't intonate well but I think he's crazy. :sad:

Associating a type of strings with a particular genre is what companies WANT you to do.
Don't do it because it doesn't mean anything.

I do however keep a framed 2x3 picture of Brooke Shields on my pedalboard to improve tone.