Stainless Steel Strings

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 11 Aug 2003 12:55 pm

I had been unhappy for a while with the lack of bite in my lower strings, upper frets. I could maybe get two days of good sound up there with fresh strings before the sound got kind of listless. I just tried some stainless strings and I think I really like it. There's a bit less body, more zing. And after a week they still have some life. I just ordered some bulk dozens from juststrings so I guess I'm sold on this.

---I was sort of surprised, after what I've read, but I didn't need to retune any pedals. [This message was edited by Jon Light on 11 August 2003 at 01:57 PM.]

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 11 Aug 2003 1:21 pm

Jon, nickle and ss strings both have the same steel cores, which is what affects pedal tuning. Only the windings are different.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 11 Aug 2003 1:32 pm

Hmmm...thought I'd read that ss required longer pull but what you say makes sense so I'm probably making it up.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 11 Aug 2003 4:56 pm

I use SS strings.
I once tried Nickel.

I'm certain I had to retune the hex nuts on the wound strings, especially the low B.
(I'm only talking about the E9 neck)

It was George L strings. Funny that you didn't have to. I'm not talking about a minor tweak, either.

Nickle strings weren't bright enough for my taste.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 11 Aug 2003 6:02 pm

GHS SSes seem to have a lot more "Boing" and seem to hold it longer than the "boomers".

I noticed the do seem to take more changer length, but I didn't "document" it. I just adjusted and played through.

EJL

Jeff A. Smith · Post by **Jeff A. Smith** » 11 Aug 2003 6:31 pm

I've been trying the SIT Sho-E9 nickel set, after using SIT stainless for a few years. I remember having to pretty drastically change at least the low B, but I forget which way. The nickel 10th string is a .036, while the stainless was a .034.

Even if the cores of a stainless and nickel bass string are the same, might it be that the windings react differently, affecting pitch? I don't really have a clue.

I liked the nickel pretty well, so I have three sets of Tommy White Jagwires to try, which I bought on special.

No doubt the stainless were far brighter, but right now I'm trying a different direction.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 12 Aug 2003 2:09 pm

No question, they are two different flavors and I'm real glad the choice is out there. Seems to me the ss has a lower output---or maybe it's the overtone signature that is thinner in the fundamentals--or is it just the opposite? but I'd say the the nickels were fatter, the ss thinner, and that zing is exactly what I was looking for to wake up the lower strings, higher frets. Plus the longevity thing. It's such a tease when you put on fresh strings to be reminded of how it should sound (presumably, like me, one has waited a bit too long before changing them and they are dead as yesterday's hamburger) only to have that go away from you within a couple of days. Definitely more grace period from the ss.
And I do confirm that they required no more tuning tweak than normal bump and bruise and climate change occasionally call for. Go figger.
Just spent a chunk of change at juststrings.com for bulk dozens. Sure brings down the cost of sets. Unfortunately it prevents me from trying some of the other recommended strings.

Nicholas Dedring · Post by **Nicholas Dedring** » 13 Aug 2003 10:00 am

Hey Jon...

Hank's isn't the same now that you can't see the big racing goodyear tire... when did they do that???

Do you find that there's less noise of the bar against the windings when you slide with nickel? I've been wondering whether the SS strings have more of the sizzling sound when you slide in either direction... anyone else have experience switching back and forth?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Aug 2003 10:15 am

I once put on a set of strings and they just didn't sound or feel right. I took a look at the packaging and discovered they were stainless. They came off in a heartbeat! I guess I'm from the old school and just like the sound and feel of nickel strings. The bar also slides over them easier.
Erv

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 13 Aug 2003 11:18 am

When a stainless bar is used with stainless strings, there's a lot of friction. That problem is minimized with a chromed bar. A set of nickel strings sounds great for one day and then is ready to be changed on my guitars. Stainless strings will last me a month or more without losing their brightness and ability to stay in tune and fret accurately. I buy SIT's by the dozen and pay about 1/3 less for strings, compared to sets. That's what works best for me -- stainless -- chrome bar (like a BJS) -- and cheaper by the dozen.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 13 Aug 2003 12:00 pm

Yep--that's what I was about to tell you, Nick. But something else also----bar noise is something that 'goes away' as you progress. It's a combination of better bar technique including playing more with the nose of the bar (somewhat figuratively, somewhat literally speaking--think 'nose down' and lift the back end a bit--it's sort of technique, sort of mindset) and just forgetting about the noise--not letting yourself get distracted by it. Eventually you will wonder if the noise went away or if you just stopped caring, like did the aspirin cure the headache or did it just go away by itself--who cares, it's no longer an issue. Can you tell that I came home from work dehydrated and just slammed down two tall boys? I do go on sometimes.

As to the Hank's tire, yeah, my hemmies are acting up and I was sitting on it. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

----juststrings.com won't tell you what kind of strings they are selling in dozens--they just say that it's a major manufacturer (and we all know by now that there's just a handful of manufacturers out there making strings to the specs of the different labels) but I think I once heard that they are SIT. Wouldn't swear to it. I once calculated t6hat if I actually changed the strings in full sets (which I don't) it would come to around $3.50 per set. Obviously, there's an initial outlay (duh) and one could argue that there's a shelf life issue. But the dozens come packed in long bags (not coiled) with dessicant and I've never found any corrosion so....[This message was edited by Jon Light on 13 August 2003 at 01:07 PM.]

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 13 Aug 2003 6:38 pm

I always used nickel strings, until recently. I put a set of Jagwire SS on and was pleasently surprised at the new tone. Very sharp, crisp, and clear. But, the swishing sound was driving me crazy. Couldn't figure out what was going on, until I read on the forum about SS strings and a stainless bar. So, I'm bying a new chrome bar when I get to St.Louis