Nickel or steel?

[Guitard]

Today I had decided that I wanted throw a set of 11's on my guitar, I went to my local string vendor and asked for a set of D'addario 11's and they were all out.

I was suddenly faced with a dilemma, I had not used any other strings for years. Now I had to decide wich ones to get. I decided on a set of nickel wound Fender Bullets because that is what the D'addarios are wound with.

Now I'am curious as to what differences in sound I should expect between steel and nickel wound strings. Anything really noticeable?

 

[Tapehead]

I think the main thing you'll notice is the nickel strings last longer. A less corrosive alloy.

 

[pchorman]

Isn't one of these metals more ferrous than the other, such that the larger strings that are wound with one of these metals will react more efficiently with the pickups? This should affect sustain and tone somehow. I just can't recall which, so if someone knows, please set the record straight.

 

[tombuur]

I was not aware of the difference between nickel and steel until recently. It all started when I got a Strat Fender Custom Shop. Until then I played happily along with a Japanese Strat with whatever strings were available. Getting the Custom Shop I just needed to get things perfect, and that has tormented me since.

Fender Bullet come as pure nickel or nickelplated steel. Pure nickel is the original and was used in the 60's. Nickel is supposed to give less "finger noise" when you slide your fingers over the strings. However, I discovered that nickel strings tend to loose the fresh sound of new strings more quickly. You know, that typical sharp Fender quack like Hank Marvin playing or old spaghetti westerns soundtracks. Well, with steel it keeps on like that almost forever. Maybe Fender nickelplated the steel strings as a compromise between the two.

I'd say that pure nickel sounds better, but only for a day or two. So unless you change strings that often, steel is better... Damn, I bought ten sets of nickel before I changed my mind. However, unwound strings are the same, so I might use those when I break one.

 

[OneLouder]

In my experience nickel strings (well bass strings at any rate) do indeed reduce the finger noise... I however prefer steel strings. They seem to have a better edge to the sound.