2 brand new DR High Beam low B's breaking within a month???

[Ghost Signal]

So I bought a used Jazz Plus V almost a year ago and it has been the best bass I've ever played. After I bought it, I started really paying attention to strings so I could find a type that I really liked. I wanted to find MY BRAND, so to speak.

I had never really dug Ernie Balls or D'Addarios. The bass came with fairly fresh Dean Markley SR2000's (I think they're called) and I liked the sound of them, but the tapered end thing made me wary, because I beat my bass HARD. Sure enough, I snapped the E at the bridge.

Then I tried DR High Beams and really liked them, aside from the low B being just a little too floppy for my playing and that narrow spacing between it and the edge of the neck. But I really liked the sound so I stuck with them. Set #1 I played until they were just dead (not long for me). Set #2, I snapped the E at the bridge again, so I figured I may have a bridge issue. But then sets #3 and #4 happened...

Set #3: I buy them and sit down to put them on. When I go to put the low B on, everything is fine until it starts wrapping around the tuning peg and then it just completely unwound. I'd like to point out that I did follow the instructions for crimping the string. Luckily, my old low B was still okay so I was able to put it back on and play the show that night. However, I did email DR about this and to my surprise the sent me a pack of strings and a sticker for free, which I thought was very cool. So I sit down to put set # 4 on, and the same thing happens. I was furious, because I'm not inept at this. I've done it plenty of times and never had a problem. Anyway, that same old low B saved my ass again after a wipe-down with some alcohol. I didn't even bother emailing DR again because I figure they'll probably think I'm a con artist by this point.

Anyway, I'm wondering what the hell the problem is here. Has anyone else ever had this issue with any strings or basses? Any ideas on whether it's faulty strings or result of the bass? Thank you.

[elgecko]

Sharp burr on you saddle. Find it and file it down.

[73jbass]

On Hibeams you need to make a 90 degree bend in the string ,then clip it. Sounds like the core is coming undone.

[Ghost Signal]

They didn't break at the saddle.

And I DID bend the string before I clipped it.

[Ghost Signal]

"Set #3: I buy them and sit down to put them on. When I go to put the low B on, everything is fine until it starts wrapping around the tuning peg and then it just completely unwound. I'd like to point out that I did follow the instructions for crimping the string. Luckily, my old low B was still okay so I was able to put it back on and play the show that night. However, I did email DR about this and to my surprise the sent me a pack of strings and a sticker for free, which I thought was very cool. So I sit down to put set # 4 on, and the same thing happens. I was furious, because I'm not inept at this. I've done it plenty of times and never had a problem. Anyway, that same old low B saved my ass again after a wipe-down with some alcohol. I didn't even bother emailing DR again because I figure they'll probably think I'm a con artist by this point."

I made these points very clear in my post guys...

[mark roberts]

Originally Posted by 73jbass

On Hibeams you need to make a 90 degree bend in the string ,then clip it. Sounds like the core is coming undone.

+1. And if you are playing as hard as you say, it's a good bet that you will be changing strings often...particularly the "bigger" strings (I've found them to be more prone to deadness with not even pounding hard playing).

[Ghost Signal]

Right. I know this already, and I change strings quite often as a result of my hard playing. Therefore, I know enough to know to crimp the string. I also know that there's no reason why a BRAND NEW STRING out of the box should unwind AT THE TUNING PEG before it's even been plucked once.

[73jbass]

Are you giving it at least 3 wraps around the tuning peg?

[Ghost Signal]

Originally Posted by 73jbass

Are you giving it at least 3 wraps around the tuning peg?

They haven't even gotten that far. Mind you, this is the low B I'm talking about, so three times around the peg might be a little impossible considering the thickness of the string and the length of the peg.

But no. They started unwinding maybe halfway through the first turn.

[Ghost Signal]

Bump.

[Ghost Signal]

bump

PS Don't let my attitude scare you...

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Ghost Signal

bump

PS Don't let my attitude scare you...

I've been using Hi Beams for quite a few years now, and have probably changed about 30 sets with no issues. You might have just gotten a bad string (it happens)... even a bad couple of strings.

I realize that you said you crimped the string, but with these unusual round core strings, they will unwind if you don't do the crimp right. Not saying you didn't, but there are positives and negatives to any design. With the unusual round core of the Hi Beams, you get that wonderful (for me anyway) low tension and smooth feel, at the expense of having to be a bit more careful when putting them on... making sure you have a hard 90 degree bend prior to both cutting and installing the string.

To not have to deal with this, the DR Lo Rider Steels are DR's version of a more traditional hex core design, so no special care needed. They are tighter tension than the Hi Beams (so that might help with your B string 'floppy' issue), and have a bit more brightness in the upper mids than the very smooth, almost hi fi voicing of the Hi Beams. Great strings also if you want a bit more 'grind' and a bit more tension than the very smooth and relatively loose feeling Hi Beams.

[SteveC]

I have been using these for years and I don't even do the 90 degree thing.

[D.A.R.K.]

i have had bad strings from dr many, many times over the years, they have replaced every one i've requested to be replaced. same story with another friend of mine. i love the way they sound and when they work they are solid, so i put up with what seems to be a lacking qc made up for by amazing support.
fwiw, the most re-ocurring issue for me has been the anchor wire around the ball end breaking(multiple basses), the other issue being core separation(even with proper crimping/ cutting as directed by dr).

[countrybassist]

[quote=KJung;10247918]
... they will unwind if you don't do the crimp right. QUOTE]

+1

[mdogs]

Used DR Hi Beams exclusively for a lot of years and never had a problem like this. Always made sharp bend and then cut them maybe 1/8" beyond the bend. Not the bass and not the strings...