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Thread: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

  1. #1
    Registered User ColoradoMando's Avatar
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    Default DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    Hello folks. I have really been digging the Nickel strings on my Collings MT2V over the past year.

    For those who have played both Daddario Nickel Bronze and GHS Pure Nickel strings, which do you prefer and why?

    I used the search function, but did not see too many posts comparing the two.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    I tried a set of GHS early on and liked them OK but initially I preferred the Monel Gibson Sam Bush strings and much preferred the D'Addario NB strings which I use on many of my mandolins. Before that I used J-74 or EXP-74 but I like the NB's better. I use them on guitars too.
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    Like anything else, picks or strings will sound different on different mandolins and to different ears. I use the GHS pure nickel and really like them on my mandolin. I would have to say try each and see what works for you.
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    Registered User Pete Martin's Avatar
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    Tried both, prefer the Gibson and Curt Mangan Monels
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    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    The NB are too jangly for my taste. I like the thunk sounds of the nickels on my Ratliff. I’m about to try the different Monel options at the next couple of change cycles.
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    GHS Strung f9 with them today for new they sound really good. About 5 mos ago used a set on collins mt sound good held up almost 3 mos. could gone longer . Been thinking i'll try NB.Hard to beat 10.5 E & 16 A , sound a long with nickel.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete Martin View Post
    Tried both, prefer the Gibson and Curt Mangan Monels
    Quote Originally Posted by MontanaMatt View Post
    The NB are too jangly for my taste. I like the thunk sounds of the nickels on my Ratliff. I’m about to try the different Monel options at the next couple of change cycles.
    There are really not too many Monel options any more. AFAIK, only Curt Mangan makes Monel sets for mandolin. Martin will not make them for mandolin, only guitar and Gibson discontinued the Sam Bush strings. BTW what does Sam Bush play these days?

    Not quite sure what jangly means. I found the Monels quite nice and the NBs just a little warmer, maybe a touch closer to J74s while still maintaining the transparency of the Monels. I think of the range starting from pure nickel-->Monel-->NB.
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    Registered User mcgroup53's Avatar
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    One option no one is mentioning is the possibility of getting Martin Strings Retro (aka Tony Rice) strings packaged for mandolin. I've been pressing Martin to introduce these strings to the mandolin market precisely because I think they'll appeal to anyone interested in DAD NBs or similar compound strings. I love the Retros on my D-28 Authentic 1941, and would love to try Retro mandos on my Kimble.

    Martin has responded to me that this is an idea they're exploring, but for 2-3 years now, they haven't actually introduced them. Maybe if more of us mandolin players besieged Martin with requests, they'd recognize there's market demand and actually start making and selling sets.

  10. #9
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    mcgroup53: I know you and I were posting about this to the Martin rep on Twitter last year or so. I don't really know how many folks are really interested in Monels. BTW have you tried the Mangan Monel strings? They have three gauges. Maybe we don't need Martin?
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    It took me years asking GHS, but finally they did a bunch of testing on gauges and came out with the pure nickel. Martin may yet follow suit.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  12. #11
    Registered User mcgroup53's Avatar
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    Yes, I tried the Magans on mandolin and liked them, I have a set I'm putting on my 1`6" Eastman archtop. I just like that Retro formulation from Martin and would like to see it available for mandolinists sometime, somehow

  13. #12
    Registered User EricLopez's Avatar
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    Default Re: DAD Nickel Bronze or GHS Pure Nickel?

    Aside from the Nickel Bronze strings, D'Addario has Stainless Steel and Nickel-Plated Steel options, both of which I think are severely underrated
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