Thanks for doing this. I use both a ton but Neve did an A/B test with fresh strings. But any time I would have been using DR for a long time and switched to Broadways I would always immediately think “more open HiFi”. But I generally like aged strings. So now I can choose between them “intelligently”
I’ve used both over the years and enjoyed either of them, I like the feel of the round core over hex core… in the end, I wound up using Stringjoy for the sole purpose of having the ability to pick and choose string gauges
Yeah they’re a little more present in the transients… not really in the “presence” eq range, they just have a little more peak in the transient or something.
Keep up the good work. I love pure nickel round core and just round core in general. They seem to sound fatter and bend easier to me. I think it's because the smooth edge of the core compared to the hex core of modern strings
The best strings would be those with a nickel sound like the DR, but with a coating like an Elixers. How do you think Elixers sound on your Novo? I am getting a Novo and they tend to be my go to strings. For those of us who don't change strings all the time, Elixers do certainly last longer.
Great video and timely, as I've been experimenting with both the DR Pure Blues and the Stringjoy Broadways on my Strat. As to which companies do hex core pure nickel, Ernie Ball does (Classic Rock N Roll), D'Addario does (EPN110), and Fender does (Original Pure Nickel 150). I'm sure others do as well, but these came right to mind, as I tried them all and always went back to DR Pure Blues. Round core is just nicer to play.
Still loving the DR. Once I get through the ton of DRS I bought a year or two ago I’m going to dive into a 9.5 Broadway set and see what I think. Cheers!
@@haskitt I've been playing the DRs for a few months now. I agree they're slinkier than the Broadways but they seem to be a bit darker as well. I love their feel but my main Strat's a bit on the darker side to begin with so if I stick with pure nickels, I think it needs a zingier string.
I'm thinking about trying the DR Nickel round for my archtop Jazzbox..I prefer roundwound to flat, but I've never tried round core...Any thoughts on DR for Jazz?!?!
What do you mean it's failing? I haven't had any particular problems with the D string... or others. Now and then in harp style bridges the ball ends come out, but that's not unique to the DRs for me.
Bravo Scott《☆》The Novo is sounding great. The knot is barely visible on my cellphone◇¿.Thanks for the string edumication. I've never tried either brand. I'm just starting to appreciate new strings for the intonative qualities. My Donner Thinline copy came with light gauge strings & it wouldn't intonate. I put a set of Ernie Ball 10-48 Ultra Slinkies on it & it was near perfect immediately👍😎
Thanks bdog! Some people have said DR Pure blues randomly have trouble intonating, but I’ve had great luck with them. Stringjoy doesn’t seem to have this reputation at all.
I’ve heard this a lot, am pretty picky about intonation and have only encountered it on two strings over several years and probably hundreds of pure nickels. A large portion of that time I wasn’t even doing the “bend before cut” method that many manufacturers recommend.
@@haskitt interesting. Do you find them to be a lot darker in use? For me a big part of the appeal is less fret wear. I just bought a guitar that was strung up with d’addario NYXL and I swear the frets are worn way too much already!
Intonation is very important for a good-sounding instrument but the key is to use the best tuner you can find and be patient when setting up the guitar. I like Peterson tuners. I use round core strings and they intonate perfectly.
It’s all subjective. I’m finding I agree with you, but I think it depends what you’re going for. Also, since the feel is different as well, whatever feels the best always wins, imo.
Pure Blues all the way! It’s slightly warmer and airy. I think Stringjoy’s overhyped and price don’t justify (prolly due to the amount they do spend for advertising their products hence the high price for the consumer) For hex core DR Dimebag is my choice. Tried a lot of brands of strings but always go back to DR.
@@bondz7215 To me DR sound pretty good but they play like crap and are very stiff for bending. At least that was my experience. Tried the Broadways and they’re so much easier and fun to play with no stiffness in the strings
To my ears they sounded very close. DRs were a little fatter and the SJ had a slight bit more clarity. Not enough of a difference to switch. Gonna stick with my trusty DRs.
I hated dr strings when i tried them. These have heavy over tones. On this guitar. Which is nice for clean play. But when you play heavy distortion, you wont want overtones.
I love DR strings but I don't think they sound as good as modern hex/nickel plated strings with humbuckers and P90s -especially overdriven. The crunch and grind is way more pronounced with modern strings. But wiiith Fender guitars into clean amps --->pure nickel all the way.
Thanks for doing this. I use both a ton but Neve did an A/B test with fresh strings. But any time I would have been using DR for a long time and switched to Broadways I would always immediately think “more open HiFi”.
But I generally like aged strings.
So now I can choose between them “intelligently”
I’ve used both over the years and enjoyed either of them, I like the feel of the round core over hex core… in the end, I wound up using Stringjoy for the sole purpose of having the ability to pick and choose string gauges
Yes, the custom gauges are a great plus for string joy
Pretty subtle. I think I lean toward the StringJoy in most of the examples.
Yeah they’re a little more present in the transients… not really in the “presence” eq range, they just have a little more peak in the transient or something.
Keep up the good work. I love pure nickel round core and just round core in general. They seem to sound fatter and bend easier to me. I think it's because the smooth edge of the core compared to the hex core of modern strings
Yeah I was a convert from my first set of PNRC… amazing how much of a difference it makes.
The best strings would be those with a nickel sound like the DR, but with a coating like an Elixers. How do you think Elixers sound on your Novo? I am getting a Novo and they tend to be my go to strings. For those of us who don't change strings all the time, Elixers do certainly last longer.
Great video and timely, as I've been experimenting with both the DR Pure Blues and the Stringjoy Broadways on my Strat. As to which companies do hex core pure nickel, Ernie Ball does (Classic Rock N Roll), D'Addario does (EPN110), and Fender does (Original Pure Nickel 150). I'm sure others do as well, but these came right to mind, as I tried them all and always went back to DR Pure Blues. Round core is just nicer to play.
yeah the pure blues are really unique. I may mix it up on my guitars, but 1 or 2 will always have the pure blues.
I play Broadways but hearing that DRs offer a more slinky feel has my interest. Definitely going to give them a try.
Still loving the DR. Once I get through the ton of DRS I bought a year or two ago I’m going to dive into a 9.5 Broadway set and see what I think. Cheers!
@@haskitt I've been playing the DRs for a few months now. I agree they're slinkier than the Broadways but they seem to be a bit darker as well. I love their feel but my main Strat's a bit on the darker side to begin with so if I stick with pure nickels, I think it needs a zingier string.
@@haskitthave you tried 9.5 broadways yet? What do you think? I like 9.5s in general but want to try pure nickel round wound.
hey Scott i have a gretsch i bought in 2007 and it still has the same strings on it !
Ha! Don’t forget your tetanus booster! 😂
Liked the Stringjoy set with all combos except for the bridge setting in the clean amp.
Yeah I tended to like the Stringjoy in all the dirty sounds more than Clean. Really add definition to Overdrive
@@haskitt yeah, on the overdriven sounds, I almost couldn't believe that a simple string change made such a big change in the sound! Very audible....
I'm thinking about trying the DR Nickel round for my archtop Jazzbox..I prefer roundwound to flat, but I've never tried round core...Any thoughts on DR for Jazz?!?!
DR Pure Blues are great string, but I have a problem with the D string windings failing. Have you experienced this as well?
What do you mean it's failing? I haven't had any particular problems with the D string... or others. Now and then in harp style bridges the ball ends come out, but that's not unique to the DRs for me.
Maybe it's just me, but I cannot hear a difference. Maybe that's a good thing? I like my DRs
Bravo Scott《☆》The Novo is sounding great. The knot is barely visible on my cellphone◇¿.Thanks for the string edumication. I've never tried either brand. I'm just starting to appreciate new strings for the intonative qualities. My Donner Thinline copy came with light gauge strings & it wouldn't intonate. I put a set of Ernie Ball 10-48 Ultra Slinkies on it & it was near perfect immediately👍😎
Thanks bdog! Some people have said DR Pure blues randomly have trouble intonating, but I’ve had great luck with them. Stringjoy doesn’t seem to have this reputation at all.
My only worry with round core is intonation
I’ve heard this a lot, am pretty picky about intonation and have only encountered it on two strings over several years and probably hundreds of pure nickels. A large portion of that time I wasn’t even doing the “bend before cut” method that many manufacturers recommend.
@@haskitt interesting. Do you find them to be a lot darker in use?
For me a big part of the appeal is less fret wear. I just bought a guitar that was strung up with d’addario NYXL and I swear the frets are worn way too much already!
Intonation is very important for a good-sounding instrument but the key is to use the best tuner you can find and be patient when setting up the guitar. I like Peterson tuners. I use round core strings and they intonate perfectly.
The DR’s sound more harsh, Stringjoy more balanced
More nasal high meds come through with stringjoys….could work for some genres but not as versatile a tone as the more balanced DR’s
I can’t understand how people think the StringJoys sound better or close… They sound awful to me and the DR are beautiful
It’s all subjective. I’m finding I agree with you, but I think it depends what you’re going for. Also, since the feel is different as well, whatever feels the best always wins, imo.
Pure Blues all the way! It’s slightly warmer and airy. I think Stringjoy’s overhyped and price don’t justify (prolly due to the amount they do spend for advertising their products hence the high price for the consumer)
For hex core DR Dimebag is my choice. Tried a lot of brands of strings but always go back to DR.
@@bondz7215 To me DR sound pretty good but they play like crap and are very stiff for bending. At least that was my experience. Tried the Broadways and they’re so much easier and fun to play with no stiffness in the strings
I tried dr once and instantly hated them.
To my ears they sounded very close. DRs were a little fatter and the SJ had a slight bit more clarity. Not enough of a difference to switch. Gonna stick with my trusty DRs.
it's a close one for sure. I ended up really liking the stringjoys, but I'm sticking with the DRs for the moment.
I hated dr strings when i tried them. These have heavy over tones. On this guitar. Which is nice for clean play. But when you play heavy distortion, you wont want overtones.
I love DR strings but I don't think they sound as good as modern hex/nickel plated strings with humbuckers and P90s -especially overdriven. The crunch and grind is way more pronounced with modern strings. But wiiith Fender guitars into clean amps --->pure nickel all the way.
Agreed, though I keep round core pure nickel on my guitars until I'm recording something where I want extra bite, then hex core nickel plated