The Steel Guitar Forum

Difference between the stainless steel strings and the nickle covered ones?

The Stainless sound a bit brighter than the nickel.
If your bar is stainless, there's some stiction (or similar force) that increases the bar drag on stainless.
I prefer the stainless myself

JMO Stainless brighter, last longer before becoming dull sounding. Nickel warmer sounding.
The non wound strings are stainless steel in both sets. Hope this helps.

One might argue nickel produces more signal because it pulls the magnetic lines of flux around better being more permeable than stainless. This may acount for the tone difference.
I'm using stainless at the moment but am going to try nickel next string change.

I use George L's strings, which are stainless steel on the wound strings. Plain strings are nickel, not stainless steel as previously noted. The plain strings are the same in both nickel and SS sets.

After using SS strings since I got my Franklin new in 81 (it came with Bill Lawrence SS strings), I don't like the nickel sound. I used to use Emmons Extra Lively nickel on my Emmons PP before the Franklin but my ear has got "tuned" to the SS.

Nickel Live Steel strings for me.

Nickel strings have a chemical reaction with my hands and leave a black substance on them. I like the sound of nickel but have to stay with SS, they don't leave the black substance.

Geo

I use GHS PF500 & 550 which are nickel, including the plain strings. I've used stainless on & off over 40+ years of playing, but still prefer nickel. Nickel may also be a little easier on the changer fingers but I've never worried about it.

GHS Boomers!!!! Nickel!!!Since Sho~Bud quit making them. I'm with Kevin...but....I have 10 years on him..."50"!!!
Tried Stainless One time & one time only! V

Neil,
I ordered a couple of pedal steels from Bill Rudolph.
I got them and wasn't too happy with the sound.
I contacted Bill and asked him if he put stainless steel strings on the Williams. He replied in the positive. I replaced the strings with nickel and then I was happy!

Live Steel Strings for me. Nickel. Occasionally I put on a set of stainless to remind me why I use nickel. Although I do kinda like stainless on C6. they sound a little brighter and don't corrode as fast from my right arm laying on them.

Like Jack, I used Emmons Extra Lively strings, back in the day. GREAT strings.

There are quite a few threads on here discussing this topic. I believe in the last thread, the majority favored nickel strings. In that thread, the discussion centered around less bar noise, easy gliding of the bar on the strings.

Jagwire nickel was mentioned, I purchased 2 sets but haven't put them on the guitar yet.

Tim Russell wrote:There are quite a few threads on here discussing this topic. I believe in the last thread, the majority favored nickel strings. In that thread, the discussion centered around less bar noise, easy gliding of the bar on the strings.

Jagwire nickel was mentioned, I purchased 2 sets but haven't put them on the guitar yet.

You won't regret the Jagwires. My 2nd favorite strings.

Thank you to all that helped ,me with your opinions. I will close the topic now if I can figure out how to close it.

You can't close it. Email Bob and ask him to close it. Or in your first post, hit the edit button, and efit the title of your post. Don't delete the title, but put the words "please close" in the title at the beginning or end of the titls. Leaving the title allows people to find this thread and get information.

What Erv Said!