Over the last week I have been comparing a LiveSteelStrings E9 Custom Nickel Set with a Jagwire LG E9 Stainless set I put on a week before, by first replacing only odd strings from 3d string down on a Dekley with single-coils, to check how different they worked and sounded when mixed. Identical gauges in the Jagwire and the LiveSteelStrings set - that's how I ordered the LiveSteelStrings E9 custom set I received, so should be a fair comparison.
The fresh wound LiveSteelStrings strings stood visually out between the Jagwires, but I was slightly surprised to find that they reacted, sounded and altogether felt well balanced in this odd mix with every other stainless-wound replaced by nickel-wound. After a few days testing this mix I replaced the other Jagwire strings from 4th string down with LiveSteelStrings, and sound and feel remained pretty much the same as for the brand-mix.
Have to say that I didn't expect that. All the other times I have tested brands against each other like that there have been pretty clear differences in overall sound between brands with identical gauges and material on wound strings in the sets.
Is it just that the nickel-wound LiveSteelStrings are so fresh that they sound so bright - almost like stainless, while the stainless-wound Jagwires had been "on the shelf" for almost a year at my place and who knows how long somewhere else and lost their freshness..?
I do pick "different", so I may of course instinctively have picked the nickel-wound strings slightly different for a brighter sound - more like the sound of stainless-wound - without really noticing what I did, and why. My picking-hand is pretty rusty after years out of practice, but in good moments old reflexes kick in and my "on-the-edge" picking style actually works as it did a decade or so ago to hit each string just right for the sound I want. Thus, I may have fooled myself without realizing it
I do think the nickel-wound LiveSteelStrings have a brighter sound than other nickel-wounds I have used/played though, and that suits me just fine.
Mechanically I have noticed the higher stability in the LiveSteelStrings. They return faster after pulls, and "wander" (detune) less with time and temperature-changes than the Jagwires they replaced, and they were already pretty stable.
As for pedal/lever throw:
Needed no pull-adjustment at all between the Jagwire LG set and the LiveSteelStrings custom set
for plain strings. No audible change in "beating" for all plain strings vs others, which means they all landed less than one cent off for all pulls.
Totally unexpected, but I don't mind
The wound LiveSteelStrings did not raise and lower quite far enough with un-adjusted pull tuning. I estimated the difference to 10-15 cent "too short" for the wound LiveSteelStrings compared to with the Jagwires on - just enough difference so I had to tune out beats with pedals/levers activated again.
This was another surprise, as after having read the on-site description, and experiences other players have had, I expected the LiveSteelStrings to need
a shorter throw/pull than the strings they replaced, not
a longer throw/pull as is the case on my PSG.
It does of course matter which strings the LiveSteelStrings replace, and in my case replacing stainless-wound with nickel-wound.
Maybe I can get comments on my observation that "longer pulls are needed for the wound strings" in my case..? Different core-thicknesses maybe?
All in all I am perfectly satisfied with my LiveSteelStrings E9 Custom Nickel Sets, as they do perform better than any other strings I have ever tried. For me personally it is a plus that I can put on strings from a different brand if I need to without noticing much of a difference, but as long as LiveSteelStrings can deliver the custom sets I need as quickly as they do (despite the slight delay this first time
), I don't think I'll need to go for "different-brand reserves".
Thank you for excellent strings and equally excellent service!
...Guys and Gals..try a set of these strings. You wont be disapointed! 
