anyone compared D'Addario XL nickel-plated round wounds and DR sunbeam (nickel-plated round wounds) on a fretless? i currently use subeams, but i'm thinking about trying something different. (one thing i do like about DRs is that they last a looooong friggin' time....)

I've had both on a fretted bass and I like the D'Addarios better.

what is it that you like about the D'Addarios?

I've also had both on fretted basses but preferred the Sunbeams...they had more high harmonics than any other string I've ever tried (nickel or steel), which would probably sound fantastic on a fretless- the D'addarios sounded really flat to me (which could be a good thing for a lot of people). I love DR strings because they all seem to have a unique character to them- maybe its just that I've heard so many artists using D'addario that they sound kinda bland to me (though I do really like Chromes still)...I also felt like the D'addarios were dead within a week and a half whereas the Sunbeams lasted over a month before I decided to change them.

The only thing about the D'addarios that I prefered over the DRs was string tension- the Sunbeams are pretty flexible strings and I much prefer high tension- really neither was high enough tension for me.

Karl

what is it that you like about the D'Addarios?

Simply the tone and the feel.:smug:

Sunbeams pwn all. That's about it.

thanks for all the info...much appreciated!

--vincent

I've also had both on fretted basses but preferred the Sunbeams...they had more high harmonics than any other string I've ever tried (nickel or steel), which would probably sound fantastic on a fretless- the D'addarios sounded really flat to me (which could be a good thing for a lot of people). I love DR strings because they all seem to have a unique character to them- maybe its just that I've heard so many artists using D'addario that they sound kinda bland to me (though I do really like Chromes still)...I also felt like the D'addarios were dead within a week and a half whereas the Sunbeams lasted over a month before I decided to change them.

The only thing about the D'addarios that I prefered over the DRs was string tension- the Sunbeams are pretty flexible strings and I much prefer high tension- really neither was high enough tension for me.

Karl

I agree. From what I understand, the XL's are hex core(like DR Lo-riders), hence the tension.

I currently have Sunbeams on my DJ5s , but I'm going try the LoRider nickels on one of them this week.

I love D'addario XL's on my G&L 1505. No reason to ever change.
btw, get the super long scale if you want to string through the body. The regular XL's will work but you'll have to string the B and E through the bridge. Of course I'm talking 5 string here.

+1 for D'addario XL's....great bang for the buck (sometimes Musician's Friend has 'em on sale at 2 sets for a touch above the price of one). I think they speak more with better mids for a "throatier" sound. Life-wise, hard to say with the acidity of my sweat--some short, some long life. My L2K just got some TI Flats and those are a different animal for sure. The DR Sunbeams were nice though. I had the either the Hi-beams or Lo's on a Fender Jazz once to try the DR "phenomenon" and they sounded growly and "raw" in the mix (a good thing, especially with a pick), but, at the end of the day, stainless steels are not my thing (my frets 2nd that :D )

Not to change the 2 brand comparison, but I like Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys (45-100) on my L2K - great punch and nicely priced!

Scott

Another vote for D'Addario XL. I like that the zing comes off them fairly fast, and they seem to last a reasonable time (for me, at least) before becoming too dead to use. YMMV

I have D'addario XL170 on my L2k, and I love it!