Quick Look – Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Strings

By Ted “ Blyss” Gould

This Article Was Originally Published On: February 3rd, 2015 #Issue 15.

First Impressions

I tried fresh sets of the Super Bright nickel strings on both my alder/maple Mike Lull M5V and an ash/maple American Fender Jazz Deluxe. The first thing I noticed was that the strings have the nice and lively “zing” of a brand new set, without the brash rattle most new strings exhibit before they get a good breaking in. My regular gigs include full days of church on Sundays, funk with Zigaboo Modeliste and top 40 with various casual bands around town, and these strings rocked in every setting. The Dunlop Super Bright nickels are bright, with clear highs (without being harsh), and are focused and punchy, with an even fundamental and smooth, round bottom. One might think that a “bright” string would feel light and thin, but I found the tension to be nice and taught and not at all “rubbery” (even though these are marketed as light-tension strings).

What I really liked was that long after I’d put the strings on and played them, night after night, they still sounded awesome. After having been broken in quite a bit, they actually sounded like a fresh set of regular Dunlop nickel strings. Now, the packaging says “designed for slap bass players,” and I get the marketing behind that catch phrase, but I think that these strings are for any bass player that wants a great sounding and, most importantly, flexible string. Having said that, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say anything about the slap tone. These things begged to be slapped! They are bright and articulate with a clear, crisp top and the transition from a finger style to a thump groove or hard pluck is fairly subtle.

What can I say, these are simply great strings. I just didn’t want to rush to put them in a “box,” but they really are a “slapper’s delight.”

A Closer Look

What originally sold me on them was how great they felt right out of the package and how evenly they broke in. I’m sure that you’d agree that how well a string ages is a huge deal. Not many things are as frustrating as having a set of strings go dead after only a few gigs. The standard Dunlop Nickel Wound strings age well but it’s really obvious when they’re dead. I use lotions and skin cream quite a bit which speeds up the aging process of my strings but I really like the way that the Super Brights age and still sound great even when their lives are coming to the end.

What makes it different?

The Dunlop Super Bright Bass strings have a great, flexible feel and are very articulate and responsive. Each frequency has its own space, which allows the player to hear the full range of their instrument. Again, the top is crisp and clear, with detailed mids and a warm low end. I found that these strings broke in fast and lasted a long time in a variety of musical settings. Even as they aged, they retained the same balance and distinction between high, mid and low frequencies.

Lasting Impressions

This is a great string for bassists who don’t want to simply blend into the background. They allow you to sit well in the mix, without being in the way, and step out in front when you’re called to do so. These are great for musicians with command of their instrument and those who have the facility to express themselves in a solo environment.