DR nickel Lo-Riders

VroomVroom · #1 12-20-2010, 09:41 PM

Here we go again.

This year I've really fallen in love with Sunbeams. They're installed on nearly all of my basses. Strange thing with the Roscoes, though. Tension. They felt floppy, and even though I dug the sound, I couldn't adjust to the feel.

I'd heard some feedback about the Lo-Riders, with folks saying they sound like Sunbeams, but with a hex core that makes them feel more taught. With a new Roscoe on the way, I figured there was no better time for a test drive.

The result? Feedback seems to be spot-on. They're fresh and not yet gigged, but they sure do pass the living room test. They feel...and sound...like Sunbeams. Mission accomplished.

mwbonsall · #2 12-20-2010, 09:58 PM

They have been my favorite strings for a while, so I am glad a real pro likes them also!

Mark

Big Mother · #3 12-21-2010, 08:42 AM

My favorites as well

lowfreqman · #4 12-21-2010, 08:57 AM

I will have to try them out. After trying and liking sunbeams, I haven't really tried any new strings since.

jmain · #5 12-21-2010, 09:15 AM

My favorites by far. I ran Sunbeams for a while and liked the snap up top. I ran Steel Lo-Riders and liked the tension and snap up top. The Nickel Lo-Riders have the tension, warmth and enough snap for me.

I had been running Sadowsky Blue Label Steels on my ash/maple CallowHill since I got it. I put Nickel Lo-Riders on and I like the tension better (slightly more tension); but really like the added mid warmth and the B string is clearer up the neck.

I like .125 B strings. For me, they feel more consistent with the rest of the set. YMMV.

**nostatic** · #6 12-21-2010, 12:08 PM

How do they compare to the SITs? I have Sunbeams on the Lull and never felt quite right wrt the string feel. The SITs on the Roscoe feel just right. In the way distant past I played LoRiders all the time.

Mojo-Man · #7 12-21-2010, 02:01 PM

Jerry, say it an't so?

I really dig the tone and feel of Sunbeams.
Your going to miss them.
P S Lo-Riders are great also, used them for years.
But, Sunbeams still get my vote, for now. TJM

VroomVroom · #8 12-21-2010, 05:20 PM

I'm the wrong guy to ask about SIT's - I'm just not a fan. Obviously, many others are....so it's not you, it's me.

No missing of Sunbeams. I use them on five other basses and absolutely love them. Honestly though, I can't tell a difference in sound. The notion that the Lo-Riders sound like Sunbeams but have more tension seems spot-on. Again, if the Sunbeams didn't feel too loosy-goosy on the Roscoes, the basses would still be wearing them.

JBFLA · #9 12-21-2010, 06:04 PM

I played T-I's for years, but switched to DR's in the last couple of years. The T-I's were very good strings - very even tension and tone across the strings - but three things made me try DR's. The T-I's are expensive, and they're claims of longer life didn't make any difference for me. I have a fairly light right hand touch and my strings last a good while, even when I was playing 6 nights a week.
The third issue was string gauge. You buy any of their strings (Jazz Flats or Rounds, PowerBass or Infields) and they come in one gauge - didn't work so well on some of my basses (the Jazz rounds are 43-51-68-89!). Though, I still prefer TI Flats over other flats.

The DR's are working very well for me. Price, gauge and tone are consistent but I noticed some floppiness with the Sunbeams - and the price is decent.
One caveat - I play nickle wounds because stainless and my fingers don't get along. It's a body chemistry kinda thing! So I have almost all my basses strung with nickle Lo-Riders or High Beams. I think I prefer the Hex core over the round core.
Problem is (sorta) that the local BigBox stores don't carry the nickle wound (Greg - are you listening?) so I have to buy on-line.

New to me are the coated DR's. Greg has a set of the Black Beauties coming my way soon for the new Roscoe. If I like 'em, I might try a set of the Blue!! Could look good with the Roscoe Cobalt Blue finish!

masonsjax · #10 12-21-2010, 06:20 PM

Yep, sunbeams feel a tad too floppy to me. I absolutely love SITs though, plus my cousin is an SIT vendor, so I get them at cost. The Rock brights sound amazing on the Roscoe.

RocketMusic · #11 12-22-2010, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBFLA

One caveat - I play nickle wounds because stainless and my fingers don't get along. It's a body chemistry kinda thing! So I have almost all my basses strung with nickle Lo-Riders or High Beams. I think I prefer the Hex core over the round core.
Problem is (sorta) that the local BigBox stores don't carry the nickle wound (Greg - are you listening?) so I have to buy on-line.

Oh, I stock the Nickel Lo-Riders! I also swore off stainless steel, though my reason was touch/feel rather than my personal pH.

They might not be on my site (though I think they are), but I definitely have them here in the store.

VroomVroom · #12 12-22-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBFLA

...I play nickle wounds because stainless and my fingers don't get along. It's a body chemistry kinda thing! So I have almost all my basses strung with nickle Lo-Riders or High Beams....

Not to be a pain, but could you clarify? Any chance you mean "Sunbeams" instead of Hi-Beams? I had the impression that Sunbeams were the nickel version of Hi-Beams.

FWIW, I totally dig Hi-Beams, and the Marcus' version, Fat-Beams. I've found that I like the lower midpoint of Sunbeams, but otherwise don't have a significant preference of nickel over stainless.

I'm really digging these Lo-Riders, particularly on my fretless. The bass has the classic Bart pickups, and these strings seem to be the perfect compliment to those open, fat, mids.

JBFLA · #13 12-22-2010, 05:55 PM

Jerry -
I still have one bass strung with Hi-Beams ( Lakland DPLEll).
Bad habit - I tend to go overboard when I see a deal on strings.

Current new inventory, not strung on basses:
Lo-Riders 4string set
Lo-Riders 5 string set
Sunbeams 4 string set
TI Jazz Round 4 string set
TI Flat 4string set
GHS Boomers 4 string set (Extra long for my '78 StingRay)

Unknown 5 string flat set; removed for Lo-Rider 5string set

I'm Bad, I'm Bad, I know it, I know it...
...more string sets than basses.

**Ryan L.** · #14 12-24-2010, 01:23 PM

Do the nickle Lo-Riders have a little bit better mid presence than the SS ones do?

**nostatic** · #15 12-24-2010, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

I'm really digging these Lo-Riders, particularly on my fretless. The bass has the classic Bart pickups, and these strings seem to be the perfect compliment to those open, fat, mids.

Hmm, I may have to try them. The D'Addarios that came on the FL aren't my favorite string. Though I'm pondering Black Beauties just because it might look baddasser (new word) and match the RA. Though feel and tone will win out in the end

jmain · #16 12-24-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan L.

Do the nickle Lo-Riders have a little bit better mid presence than the SS ones do?

Yes, I believe they do. And a little less bite on the top.

**Ryan L.** · #17 12-24-2010, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmain

Yes, I believe they do. And a little less bite on the top.

Cool, I might just order a set then. My biggest complaint with the SS ones is that I seemed to lose a lot of my mids with them, compared to Black Beauties.

VroomVroom · #18 12-26-2010, 10:25 PM

First gig in the bag....I think these are keepers. To my ears, they sound like Sunbeams...which was my hope. Tension is perfect.

Regarding the mids, and not direct feedack since these are the first Lo-Riders I've tried, so keep that in mind. As with the Sunbeams, I wouldn't say the mids are emphasized, but I would say the specific point of emphasis is lower in the frequency range. SS strings, in general, and in my experience with Hi-Beams and Fatbeams, all seem to have a higher midpoint, which really emphasizes the sizzle. Sunbeams, and nickel Lo-Riders, still have sizzle, but it's a little more subtle.

Great strings - I have totally become a DR fan over the past two years. I really love Sunbeams, and now I can add Lo-Riders to the mix.

ksandvik · #19 12-26-2010, 10:36 PM

For me Lo-Riders are like Rotosounds soundwise but somewhat tamed (concerning the fingers) and last far longer. Nice tension in the strings!

KJung · #20 12-27-2010, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

Here we go again.

This year I've really fallen in love with Sunbeams. They're installed on nearly all of my basses. Strange thing with the Roscoes, though. Tension. They felt floppy, and even though I dug the sound, I couldn't adjust to the feel.

I'd heard some feedback about the Lo-Riders, with folks saying they sound like Sunbeams, but with a hex core that makes them feel more taught. With a new Roscoe on the way, I figured there was no better time for a test drive.

The result? Feedback seems to be spot-on. They're fresh and not yet gigged, but they sure do pass the living room test. They feel...and sound...like Sunbeams. Mission accomplished.

+1 Smooth nickel tone, tighter tension than the SunBeams (which are just 'too much of a good thing'). The SunBeams are basically 'Hi Beam Nickels', and the tension is just a bit too low for me.

While I'm a stainless steel guy, I love the Lo Rider Nickels on a more mellow instrument (i.e., like an alder/RW J, or the fat, smooth Roscoe type instruments). Very nice match-up, and after a gig or two, they settle down into a nice growl and lose that upper treble response. GREAT strings!