What are the Benefits of Pure Nickel Strings?

[Twang Tone]

I mostly use Fender or Ernie Ball, Nickel Plated Steel (NPS) strings on all my electric guitars. But lately, I've been fancying a change from the norm, and Fender make a Pure Nickel set in the gauge I use (.010-.046). Does anyone here use Pure Nickel strings? If so, what do you like about them? Are there any benefits over NPS strings?

 

[Tony Done]

I've tried them, and didn't like them as much as nickel-plated steel - too warm and mellow. I'm impressed with Cobalts, and plan on trying M-Steels.

 

[soulman969]

As Tony Done posted they have a warmer mellower tonality which may or may not work for you. I tend to like them on certain guitars with certain pickups that have a lot of transparency and are more open and airy.

You might look at then a more vintage type string.

 

[Lupo]

I confirm. Are warmer. From a certain point of view "old sounding" as in 1950 there were nickel string only...
On my strat I use nickel platerd, on the tele pure nickel... but you have to try and find if you like in the specific guitar/amp/puck-up setting... is one of the many parameters you can play with.

 

[Nick Fanis]

If your name mirrors the guitar tone you love,they are NOT for you

 

[Alamo]

If your guitar is on the ice-picky side, pure nickels might cure that without changing pots and pickups. because, as mentioned above they have a warmer, mellower tonality. hey, that's the vintage sound in my book.
the surface feel is much smoother.
they are a bit more stiff and you may not bend a string as far as other makes

I find nickel plated strings tend to start off with a bright, overtone rich rattle & buzz, which quickly wears off after a couple of hours playtime. then its constantly downhill when they start dying.
not so the Pure Nickels. they're more consistent in tone from the start 'til end of life.
they never seem to break, IMHO.
they last much longer than anything else.

since you're in the UK, check out Thomann's Pyramid strings for a bargain price.
our US brethrens who like these strings have to dig much deeper in the wallet to get them.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/pyramid_egitarre_saiten.htm

 

[6BQ5]

If your name mirrors the guitar tone you love,they are NOT for you

I'm inclined to disagree. Pure nickel strings were the most available option when alot of our twangier heroes were in their day.

They definitely have somewhat mellower response, but they also have more midrange and (to my ear) a little more bloom to the note.

In addition, the thing I like most about them is that the string tension at pitch seems to be a little bit lower. I have a much easier time with bends or "shaking" chords near the nut, and it just feels to me like I have an easier time playing them in general. Obviously, thats a question of preference, but point being there is a difference in feel, not just sound. I agree with Alamo that they are more consistent throughout the life of the string too. I use dunlop pure nickel. I don't know about their availability in the UK, but they're inexpensive in the US and I like them the best of anything I've tried.

 

[Tim S]

Nickel-plated steel strings came about as a cost savings measure since they are cheaper to make than pure nickel strings. They were marketed as some sort of sonic achievement and the folks, bless their souls, believed it.

Another advantage of pure nickel strings happens to be less fret-wear. If you have a vintage instrument, this should be pretty important to you since a re-fret drops the value of the guitar.

 

[NardeeMacPennis]

I haven't changed strings in a year but, I've used pure nickel in the past and like them.

 

[Rayner]

Keep looking at other stings as I keep breaking the bottom 2 strings, right on the bridge, nothing sharp there, I think its sweat sitting there as they seem to break internally, yet the external wraps are still intact. Is this a problem pure nickel or other type is likely to solve?
Using Ernie ball regular Slinky's at the moment which only last couple of weeks on the E and A strings.

 

[TNO]

All nickel strings are not created equal. I've been really happy with Curt Mangans... not as muted in the highs as some of the other big brands. Never tried Pyramids but would like to compare them to the Mangans.

 

[ZackyDog]

I use pure nickel because that is what my guitar heroes (i.e. George Harrison) used. To me, they sound sweeter and richer than nickel plated strings. I'm partial to Pyramids because the plain strings (silver plated German steel) sound better than regular tin-plated, Swedish steel strings.

 

[vjf1968]

Curt Mangan pure Nickel User for years. Use them on all my electrics: Strat, Tele, Hallmark, Gretsch, and Chapman except my Rick 660/12. I use Thomastick Infelds flats on that.

The Pure Nickel strings seem to retain there tone and last longer.

 

[vjf1968]

Nickel-plated steel strings came about as a cost savings measure since they are cheaper to make than pure nickel strings. They were marketed as some sort of sonic achievement and the folks, bless their souls, believed it.

Another advantage of pure nickel strings happens to be less fret-wear. If you have a vintage instrument, this should be pretty important to you since a re-fret drops the value of the guitar.

Yep nothing drops the value of a vintage instrument more than making it playable.

 

[midnight340]

I use Pure Nickel exclusively… Thomastik Infeld "Blues Sliders." They cost more but last a long time without losing their life/sound. They have ruined me for all other nickel strings, including Pyramids.

 

[Mike Eskimo]

If your guitar is on the ice-picky side, pure nickels might cure that without changing pots and pickups. because, as mentioned above they have a warmer, mellower tonality. hey, that's the vintage sound in my book.
the surface feel is much smoother.
they are a bit more stiff and you may not bend a string as far as other makes

I find nickel plated strings tend to start off with a bright, overtone rich rattle & buzz, which quickly wears off after a couple of hours playtime. then its constantly downhill when they start dying.
not so the Pure Nickels. they're more consistent in tone from the start 'til end of life.
they never seem to break, IMHO.
they last much longer than anything else.

since you're in the UK, check out Thomann's Pyramid strings for a bargain price.
our US brethrens who like these strings have to dig much deeper in the wallet to get them.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/pyramid_egitarre_saiten.htm

Like...I don't know...what's that guitar where the bridge pickup can slice off the top of your head ?

Uh...

Oh ! A Telecaster !

GHS Nickel Rockers or D'Addario Pure Nickel are the only strings I use on Tele's.

I like year old-sounding dead strings and those get me there faster than anything.

 

[dented]

Makes it easier to dime your amp

 

[Hexabuzz]

+1 Mangan's.

They also make a round core pure nickel now as well

 

[Ricky D.]

I've used Fender pure nickel for many years. I just like the sound.

DR pure nickel when I have to, but I get too many bad strings there. If I get six good strings, they sound as good as Fender.

 

[soulman969]

All nickel strings are not created equal. I've been really happy with Curt Mangans... not as muted in the highs as some of the other big brands. Never tried Pyramids but would like to compare them to the Mangans.

I'm another fan of Curt Magnan pure nickels which are also available in the half sizes I prefer.