Nickel strings?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nigel
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Nigel

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After hearing Ed played them, I tried them. Fender EVH’s...and man, so musical!

I’ve played slinky’s forever, and the bright/edgy highs that cut are kind of harsh.

Not so with the pure nickel fenders (d’addario). The treble is more musical sounding, but at the expense of bite.

Makes me want bigger pot values like Ed! I usually flip my JB and SD to tame the treble but with these strings I kinda want to flip them back.

What’s everyone playing string wise?
 
Fender Nickel 150's 9-42's is all I play but I did pick up some Dunlop 9-42's nickel wound that are pretty good too. Initially I only used them on my Frank EVH guitar but it's all I use now. After playing nickel for so long now regular DR's and Slinky's seem too bright and harsh to me as you have stated and they bend easier, I'm just much more comfortable with them now.
 
Anyone change pots or flip pickups and the like to get more bite after you switched?
 
I’ve tried 1 and even 2 Meg Ohm pots and it just seems to make it brittle. The 500K just works. Nickel strings and Fender plastic picks are “it” for EVH, but I prefer GHS Boomers for most hard rock tone, with stainless or nylon picks.
 
I have been through a shit ton over the years, but I do like D'addario. Been playing the NYXLs for 5 years or so, but I gotta say, I bought some XTs to put on a guitar with birghter pickups and those XTs are awesome. I will keep using NYXLs on 1 of my axes, and XTs on the other two that have Blackened Winter pickups which are kinda sharp. the XT's make them a bit more musical.
 
I’ve tried pure Nickel before, but I just like the aggressive edge of nickel plated. However, I think with EQ, you can get what you want out of either. I mainly use Dunlop 9-42. When I catch them on sale at Sweetwater at 3 packs for $9.99, I’ll usually buy about 15 packs at a time.
 
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I play both A440 & drop D > .011 to .056 bishes.
Anything else is un-civilized.
 
Anyone change pots or flip pickups and the like to get more bite after you switched?

I have flipped LP and SG neck pickups for ever since I was turned onto it by an old friend a decade ago. Also I would switch to 500k pots, and different NOS PIO cap values. That is when my Les Pauls really woke up to what they are today.

I don't flip them on superstrat though. Never did as much for me.
 
I used GHS burnished nickel string for years. Then in 2001, I switched to GHS boomers.
 
I've been using Curt Mangan pure Nickel 10-46 on my carve top Koa Suhr and am amazed how good they sound. I use D'Addario 10-46 on all my other guitars. The difference is really significant! I had no idea... Lol.
 
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