I have used both sets of these strings on my fretless bass(6 string, tuned BEADGC). That sound of "zingyness" associated with the stainless steel strings lasts quite a while for me. Both sets of strings typically stay in tune for at least 3-4 months, and sometimes longer when the weather is cooler, which is a HUGE deal for me, as I am really concerned about playing in tune. These are my favorite bass strings, period. I was a DR Strings guy for years...and I still like them, but there's something about the sound and feel of both the nickel and steel Stringjoy strings that I prefer now. Thanks to you and Stringjoy for your thoughtful review! ETA I haven't had any problems with fretboard(ebony) wear with either set of strings, btw.

"Bright, but not brittle...warm, but not tubby." is the exact phrase that inspired me to order my first set of nickle strings, and i'm sooooo glad I did.

I've been using the Signatures on my electric guitars and basses for a while now, and really like them. I've also got a set of Orbiters on one guitar and am enjoying those. I do have a set of Rangers ready to go on my new bass. I'm not worried about fret wear since my basses have stainless steel frets. Foxwoods are on my acoustics, too 😁

You are a thinker sir, which is a rare thing! As a teacher of philosophy, I am impressed by your existential thought process, in so much as that as a reviewer, content producer, influencer, and educator, you are actually being advised by 'your' experience rather than someone else's 'prior' experience, and instead of allowing either your method or your understanding or expectation to preclude you having a personal experience! You pursued the authority of reasoned or defined invocation which can be generalized to others (rather than lazily settling on an artistic or ineffable personal evocation that has no generalizable use to anyone else except those in search of an adoptive ideology). That is educationally additive (rather than just corroborative) and therefore it has value. In philosophy a things existentialism, its raw 'existence', precedes any attempt to define, refine, or distill it down to an 'essence'. This is called 'essentialism', and it only subordinately proceeds from its prior existence, to 'possibly' become that which we only later assign as...'obligated' attributes. A things existence therefore must be given priority over its essence, and dealt with independent of it. Your recognition that equipment invites, suggest, or encourage a change in play, above and beyond any sonic attributes (if only to those with comparable instrumental facility and musical sophistication), and must therefore be...allowed, is...next level.

Great video and comparison, Mr. Conrad!! I often go between nickel and steel on my basses, experiment with how they sound and feel, and then let the bass tell me which it prefers.

Very helpful, thank you. I have used both, and I agree 100% with your comments about the differences.

Great job, agree w yr take. I'm nickel all the way, mainly play fretless now and pop, classic rock, blues, jazz. Played steel roundwounds for decades, went flat nickel and it's sweet for how and what I play. I "smoosh" my notes around a lot, FAT featherbed groove is my goal. Rock on!

Try this. Nickel for jazz bass and steel for precision. I find that steel strings evens out the low mids of the precision and gives it punchy lows and bright highs. Whereas jazz bass already sound kind of scooped so you need more mids so it can sing. And you dont need more highs for jazz bass since its already bright as parallel pick ups. Precision + roto swing66 is the sound for me. Yes it hurt the first time i gigged with steels but sound wise I cant go back.

Best video I have found about this topic, thank you so much!

Nickel sounds great for a single performance...however when they go dead, they sound awful. Steel strings sound great new AND broken in! IMO

Love your videos. Always informative. Thanks for posting such great content.

For me the steel is louder and brighter but they’re hard on my fingers, I’m going to try the Nickel coated strings, I’m not a hard or dig in type player anyway, I’m kinda light handed. So thank you for the advice.

I've put 2 stainless on the bass strings, and 3 nickel on the treble strings. I love the combination. I just need Stringjoy to make Ranger singles available before you lose me to D'Addario or GHS :P

I use steels and put Fast Fret on them. Joyous!

what camera are you using? vid looks amazing

I tend to use flats on all my p basses. Rounds of my J basses some with stainless others with nickel. I use nickel for the older type tones and stainless when I need a more modern aggressive tone, I like stainless when I’m using a lot of effects ,

Good video! My current hypothesis is "dead" stainless strings are the sound I'm looking for. I'm about a year into some DR Hi-Beams on my main bass and they're JUST starting to really break in. I've heard old stainless can be easier on the frets than new stainless, as the part of the string contacting the fret gets "polished up" from playing and becomes a less effective fret-eater...

Good advice! Thank you for the video.

Very well made video, thx !

In my case, I have used both types of strings for a long time, but I personally feel that the Stainless Steel ones are brighter and last longer with shine. In particular, I have used Dunlop (longer lasting) and Ernie Ball (shorter lasting) strings on my P-Bass and my Thunderbird, and they seem noisier with steel, which yes, they are less soft and more opaque, but I prefer a sharper sound... Greetings from Mexico!!

I use stainless - first, because they last longer - I have sweaty hands...second, I'm so allergic to nickel coated strings, lols

Прекрасный тест и прекрасные выводы! Спасибо, Philip & Stringjoy!

...and I did not hear the most important question - which strings are softer and require less strength to press??

so. i like a more "vingate" and warm sound. i play very softly, like, timid. i want the flat steel strings because i want them to last long before a change. if you told to me that the bright and punchy sound of the steel will be gone, im digging it. i might get the dunlop. ahh still cant decide.

Very interesting however I'd have loved to see the addition of nylon strings in the comparison. I think that would be a bit more interesting but since Stringjoy doesn't make nylon strings . . . . . . . .

Liked the commentary but wanted to hear more of the strings.

I have to imagine the difference is similar to guitar where the nickel strings retain a sort of worn in sound throughout their life and the steel strings are bright of the bat and stay that way for a defined period then quickly drop off.

Great Video

Totally disappointed there was no comment on BBQ sauce.😂 But seriously, Stringjoy should just sell a branded hand sanitizer to rub on strings and call it BBQ sauce for insta string deadening.

I like my bass to sound like a piano, so SS for me

Wow that p-bass sounds amazing 🙂

It's a bit weird why people call them both "nickel" and "steel." Both strings are made of steel and both are nickel plated as well. Steel doesn't have enough lubricity to be used bare like that and would slice through your fingers. Stainless strings may give you the impression that the string is tackier because it's harder. Also the thing on fret wear is not a chance. You will wear your frets faster with stainless. Stainless is harder than regular steel and guess what happens when you rub a harder metal against a softer one? If you have stainless frets then you'd experience the same amount of wear of using nickel plated frets with nickel plated strings.

or you could get a good set of strings?

I love stainless strings they last longer for sure

If strings feel rough to your fingers they’ll wear your frets faster regardless of the material but it’ll be worse with stainless steel.

Never really understand when people call stainless steel strings "steel" when both strings are steel, with one having a nickel plating on the outer wrap, and the other string having a stainless steel outer wrap. Why not just call them "nickel" and "stainless"?

Round wound stainless stell all the way I tried nickel once thought they sounded like shit.

Anyone ever tell you you look like a young Kurt Russel (complimentary)?

I like stainless steel round wounds. They are hard on the frets and fingers, but in my experience I've found they keep their sound longer then nickel.

DR Sunbeams (Nickel) ---- Just because..........! 😄

I have a set of 5 year old Elixir Stainless Steels on one of my basses. Still sounds slappable, just looks ew.

You can't really do a comparison between nickel and steel strings without popping slapping and plucking. That is where you really hear the big difference........

Stainless sound brighter,...but or not as smooth on the surface of the strings,.....it's like playing with chicken wire. Some people are allergic to nickel which causes your hands to peel and flake.

That grabby/ tacky feel on steel strings makes me want to jump out a window, but I was surprised how much I liked their sound on this video. Maybe my brain was messing with me when I played stainless strings, but I thought they sounded terrible at the time.

Is the comment about different string life between nickel and steel is this opinion, or is there scientific data to back this up? Opinion is ok, but call it out.

Haha Did I just hear DeeLite, Groove is in the Heart?

Stainless steel or nothing. Nickel is garbage no matter what brand.