Bad set of DR's but GC made everything OK

BassBob1 · #1 10-09-2011, 08:02 PM

Being home from college due to my extended columbus day weekend I finally had a chance to fix the grounding issue on my P bass copy. So i brought my 08 MIA fender jazz home too. I decided i would put the chromes that were on my jazz on the p bass, get some rounds for the jazz (since every once in a while i have an impulse to put rounds on my jazz cus let's face it, a flat just can't sound like a round) and take them both back to my apt later this week. So I run up to guitar center and get a set of DR sunbeams (which were my favorite rounds before i switch primarily to flats a year ago. though i used d'addario XL's a lot too). I get home, open them up and start to string up the E. Before the string was even close to the correct tension for an E the string pulled apart/popped between the tuning peg and the nut. I was shocked, nothing like that has ever happen to me before. So quite mad, I called up guitar center and explained the situation. The manager told me I could come back in and exchange them for a new set since I hadn't cut the other strings yet. Guitar center said they would deal with DR. So a ran back out got the strings, strung up the jazz and did a set up. All is well now. My P bass copy sounds like a p with flats and my jazz sounds just how I like it to sound. Now to see how long I keep either of those sets of strings on. I hate how fickle I can be when I start experimenting with strings. The cost sucks too.

Anyway, sorry for the long winded post. I'm just a little curious if anyone else has had an issue with strings breaking like that before since its new to me. Also I like to highlight the great things GC has done for me since I see a good amount of CG bashing every once in a while.

stepswork4me · #2 10-09-2011, 08:08 PM

I've been using DR's for 17 or 18 years and have never had one issue with them.

grendle · #3 10-09-2011, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepswork4me

I've been using DR's for 17 or 18 years and have never had one issue with them.

+1

Almost 20 years here ( mostly hi beams) . 1 bad set, low b broke at the saddle 2 min after I strung it up. Store gave me a new set no questions asked. Great strings.

Solboy · #4 10-09-2011, 08:24 PM

I bought 4 sets of Hibeams back in March & the first pack I opened was missing the B string. But I still use them. Sweet strings

BassBob1 · #5 10-09-2011, 08:30 PM

Yeah I figured it was super rare and I am in no way knocking DR. Sunbeams were the only strings I used from about mid 2009 to maybe fall 2010 or so went through 3 or 4 sets IIRC. They are definitely great strings and despite what will probably prove to be a microscopic occurrence i would still recommend DR rounds of any kind to anyone.

mmbongo · #6 10-09-2011, 09:21 PM

Don't forget you have to crimp them before installing them or they could break like that, due to the round cores.

stepswork4me · #7 10-09-2011, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Don't forget you have to crimp them before installing them or they could break like that, due to the round cores.

Huh? Crimp?

darkstorm · #8 10-09-2011, 09:39 PM

That was nice of GC to do replacement. Ive had a dead in pkg string with DR neon sets and one that broke near the nut. Sunbeams are nice, but they proved a little lacking in the top end for me compared to the neons. Still, a very good alternate choice.

JB36 · #9 10-09-2011, 09:40 PM

I had a set of Sunbeams that I installed with crimp. I then had the bass setup by a respected pro to resolve a buzzing issue. The E string pulled apart on him with only a couple of hours of play time. I emailed a pic to DR and they sent me a replacement string and another full. Not sure if this was a mistake or not. I did a have to call them a couple of times for the replacement.

mmbongo · #10 10-09-2011, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepswork4me

Huh? Crimp?

Read the inside of the packaging

This only applies to round core strings, since they don't have the 6 edges of a hex core to grab onto the windings.

stepswork4me · #11 10-09-2011, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Read the inside of the packaging

This only applies to round core strings, since they don't have the 6 edges of a hex core to grab onto the windings.

OBKB.... I don't have a package lying around but I'll check it out next time I buy a set. It just seems strange to me. I've been using mostly High Beams for a very long time, have never installed them in any special manner, and have never had any issues. I used to play very aggresively with a pick and only broke strings after I boiled them. I don't boil them any longer. I was a kid and thought that was the only way to keep them bright.

soulman969 · #12 10-09-2011, 10:23 PM

I re-strung my Modulus with DR Hi Beams over 15 years ago and I loved the sound and playability of them on that bass. I played and jammed quite a bit in those days and never had a single problem with them.

I just bought a CV Jazz Bass and the previous owner had put a very muddy sounding set of flats on it. I played an American Deluxe a few years back with stock Fender 7250M's and want to get the Squier as close to that sound and feel as possible. Through the help of Jason from bassstringslonline.com we were able to determine the best DR string option was NPS Low Riders or Sunbeams.

I'm glad we found the solution within the DR line because I sure loved the way the DR's sounded on my Modulus and if I'd have been smart I'd have put them on the Jazz Bass too.

SLaPiNFuNK · #13 10-09-2011, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Don't forget you have to crimp them before installing them or they could break like that, due to the round cores.

+9000 on this...

With the Round Core strings, the windings will come off since they do not grip on to the core like the windings do on Hex core strings.

Also, if you cut the string too short cutting where there are layers of windings (rather than on the thinnest winding), you can have this issue.

Most importantly... Glad you were able to get a new string!

James Judson · #14 10-10-2011, 12:34 AM

Ovation owners manual says crimp the string 90* then wind onto post (1972). Since then thats what I do on all bass and guitar strings. Just make sure you crimp the string enough to allow it a couple wraps around the tuning post. Works well except if the scale is to long and the crimp is not on the colored wrapping. Then the string will snap at the crimp. Learned that by experience.

I have experienced a dead (read thump and no sustain) string on a new set a couple times.

Maybe someone should chime in here in case a particular string manufacture does NOT recommend this.

stepswork4me · #15 10-10-2011, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Judson

Ovation owners manual says crimp the string 90* then wind onto post (1972). Since then thats what I do on all bass and guitar strings. Just make sure you crimp the string enough to allow it a couple wraps around the tuning post. Works well except if the scale is to long and the crimp is not on the colored wrapping. Then the string will snap at the crimp. Learned that by experience.

I have experienced a dead (read thump and no sustain) string on a new set a couple times.

Maybe someone should chime in here in case a particular string manufacture does NOT recommend this.

No colored wrapping on DR's.

**BullHorn** · #16 10-10-2011, 02:58 AM

Yeah, DR is a good company. I love the sound of old DR strings almost as much as I love the sound of new DR strings.

mmbongo · #17 10-10-2011, 06:44 AM

stepswork4me · #18 10-10-2011, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Thank you, Sir. I guess I've been doing this already. When I string, I put the end of the string into the hole in the tuner, hold it in place, and severely bend it as I tighten it up. If not, then I guess I've just been lucky for all of these years.

mmbongo · #19 10-10-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepswork4me

Thank you, Sir. I guess I've been doing this already. When I string, I put the end of the string into the hole in the tuner, hold it in place, and severely bend it as I tighten it up. If not, then I guess I've just been lucky for all of these years.

Yeah you're still not doing it right

The whole point is to crimp the string BEFORE you cut it. I crimp, then cut about a half inch beyond the crimp, and make the crimp point the severe bend in the tuner.

stepswork4me · #20 10-10-2011, 10:18 AM

Just luck I guess.