Nickel or Steel?

[Rewbass]

Hi there! I'm thinking about giving a try to steel strings since I'm starting to look for a brighter sound, but just 'a bit' brighter, that's why I'm not sure and wonder your opinion about it. 
I've always used DR Sunbeams Nickel-Plated Round Core. I would try the same strings but stainless steel, like Fat-Beams. Any thoughts?
I like warm but a bit bright and clear sound. 

(It's to play on my P-Bass BTW).

Thnx in advance for your answers.

Edited Friday at 15:20 by Rewbass

[Dood]

For a brighter tone, D'Addario Pro Steels work really well on my Ash bodied Precision bass. The bass has quite a full sounding pickup on board so those strings pair well. The thing I like about using steels is that you can turn the tone down a little to find a sweet spot - but you can't coax zing out of a string that doesn't have those qualities. 

 

That said, I like the brightness of the D'Addario NYXL and even the XL Nickels fresh and crisp out the packet! "Ready to go" tone! 

[Lozz196]

Yeah I’d give the steel Fat Beams a try, I find nickels on Precisions to both lack the top end I want and to be a bit too warm in the mids so always put steels on them (Elixirs in my case) for a similar bright & clear sound.

[Skybone]

Big fan of D'Addario Pro Steels on my 4003. Tried a few different types, but the Pro Steels just sing IMO.

[Gank Bass]

+1 for pro steels, they last a good while too

[Norris]

Another pro steel user here

[Terry M.]

9 hours ago, Rewbass said:

I've always used DR Sunbeams Nickel-Plated Round Core. I would try the same strings but stainless steel, like Fat-Beams. Any thoughts?

The same (Sunbeams) but stainless steel = High Beams. I doubt you would regret giving them a try. I really like them personally. Probably the smoothest feeling stainless steel strings I've ever tried.

Edited yesterday at 00:32 by Terry M.

[NancyJohnson]

15 hours ago, Rewbass said:

Hi there! I'm thinking about giving a try to steel strings since I'm starting to look for a brighter sound, but just 'a bit' brighter, that's why I'm not sure and wonder your opinion about it. 
I've always used DR Sunbeams Nickel-Plated Round Core. I would try the same strings but stainless steel, like Fat-Beams. Any thoughts?
I like warm but a bit bright and clear sound. 

(It's to play on my P-Bass BTW).

Thnx in advance for your answers.

 

You're going to be on the receiving end of dozens of recommendations, so start saving £££.

 

I'll play along. 

 

Elixir Nanowebs.  They're coated, either coated stainless steel or coated nickel plated steel; I'd say out of the box their steels have a slightly more zingy tone over the nickel-plated ones, but they just settle and then sets become indistinguishable from each other.

 

Oh, and they last for ages.

 

 

[pineweasel]

16 hours ago, Rewbass said:

I've always used DR Sunbeams Nickel-Plated Round Core. I would try the same strings but stainless steel, like Fat-Beams. Any thoughts?

Fat Beams will retain the feel of your round core Sunbeams and give you more of the sound you’re after. I loved them on my Fender Jazz Bass.  

[Jamieboy]

Having been a long time nickel user I recently tried a switch to steel. First some fat beams and then very recently hi beams.

 

I got used to the rougher texture pretty quickly. To me both have a lovely low tension and response.

 

Perhaps a controversial view but Fat beams didn't actually seem significantly brighter to me than various nickle-plated roundwounds I'd used on my basses recently (NYXL, lo rider nickel, dragon skin nickel). Decent strings though but not quite what i expected.

 

Hi beams are as I expected/wanted them to be - really bright and clear, piano-esque almost.