D'addario Nickel +1

[eggfart1]

So I recently swapped out my D'addario Nickel's 45-100 for some DR Sunbeams 45-105's because of all the praise I've been reading about...Really underwelmed by the Sunbeams since there is so much buzz due to their lower tension. I get the exact same sound out of the D'addario's and I find them much smoother and softer on the left-hand, as well as no buzz because they're stiffer. Well that was a waste of 33 dollars. I guess more expensive isn't always better.

Oh, I play a Fender '62 P-bass.

[mmbongo]

I found XL's to sound OR feel nothing like Sunbeams. Talk about two different strings! Sunbeams are round core and compression wound, XL's are not. XL's die quickly too.

To each his own! Not all strings work well on all basses.

But, according to your other thread, you never bothered to properly do a set up on your bass. Don't blame the strings for your poor setup.

Plus, according to your post list, you have a new favorite string every week, and every bass you've owned has had 'buzzzzz':
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search...archid=8798493

You need to learn how to do a proper setup.

[madbassplaya]

Yea, I used to use D'Addario's too. Especially their Chromes. But like mmbongo, I found other strings that fit me better and DR Sunbeams are my go to string now.

Sunbeams are round core strings and do have slightly less tension than hex core's but when you change strings you should always be prepared to tweak your set up. Even different hex core strings can vary in tension.

The reason there is so much "buzz" about the Sunbeams is that they are a great string. D'Addario's aren't bad but they are no where near the level that DR is on. I used to say the same things about how expensive DR was and D'Addario is cheaper and better, but I recieved a bass set up for Sunbeams and there's no going back now! The best strings I've ever played! Long life, great tone, nice tension.

I'm not saying don't use D'Addario. Plenty of artist do and plenty of bassist like their strings, I'm just saying give the Sunbeams a fair shake and don't just criticize the product because you didn't have a proper set up.

[eggfart1]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I found XL's to sound OR feel nothing like Sunbeams. Talk about two different strings! Sunbeams are round core and compression wound, XL's are not. XL's die quickly too.

To each his own! Not all strings work well on all basses.

But, according to your other thread, you never bothered to properly do a set up on your bass. Don't blame the strings for your poor setup.

Plus, according to your post list, you have a new favorite string every week, and every bass you've owned has had 'buzzzzz':
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search...archid=8798493

You need to learn how to do a proper setup.

You're a jerk.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by eggfart1

You're a jerk.

At least I know how to adjust a truss rod.

[Blues Bass Man]

Yeah...old mmbongo,and his BS again....ain't nothing new.
Don't feed into his crap....he likes to 'troll'.
As for D'Addario XL's...I love them, and don't really hear a big difference in tone between them and DR Sunbeams.
Use what works best for you. All the time these guys like mmbongo are spending trying string after string.....they should be woodshedding, learning how to play. If they did...they would know a string is a string is a string.

[eggfart1]

Originally Posted by Blues Bass Man

Yeah...old mmbongo,and his BS again....ain't nothing new.
Don't feed into his crap....he likes to 'troll'.
As for D'Addario XL's...I love them, and don't really hear a big difference in tone between them and DR Sunbeams.
Use what works best for you. All the time these guys like mmbongo are spending trying string after string.....they should be woodshedding, learning how to play. If they did...they would know a string is a string is a string.

You're my hero!

[deeptubes]

From reading past posts, some like to leave their strings on for extended periods. e.g. I read one post by a guy who played a '62 P, bought it new in '62, and had the original strings on it. I hate to stereotype, but it seems like those who use high end strings tend to fall in this category. They also seem to like them more the older they get. They like the smoother, softer, warmer tones. I like my basses to be bright. I play a lot of Fenders and have my action set low. I play with my fingers and hit my strings REALLY hard. I get flat spots from my strings smacking the frets. So, I change my strings regularly, depending upon how often I play that particular bass. Drives my wife nuts! The one exception is my fretless, which has nylons on it. I've been using D'Addario 160s - .105 -.050 gauge - for 20+ years. I've tried others, but, comparatively speaking, I've found the D'Addarios stay bright the longest. I can get a soft, warm tone from my bright strings, but I can't get a bright sound from old strings. Just my experiences in 25 years playing.

Eggfart, if you don't know how, you should learn how to set up your bass(es). After you do it once or twice, you'll realize how suprisingly easy it is. All musicians should know how to set up their tools of the trade. I've probably saved more than $5000 over the past 25 years, simply by setting up my own basses. And, they all play and sound freaking awesome. I recently brought my main axe in for a fret grinding, had them set it up while they had it. First, the guy pretty much argued with me, telling me I didn't need fretwork. I had already gone down every fret during a string changing. I stretched a string across the top of each fret and noticed gouges at spots on particular frets. Don't just eyeball my bass and then argue with me about what it needs. I forgot what a smart-ass, know-it-all, prick this guy is. I dropped off an amp that had a motherboard go, and they had it for more than a month without fixing it. Ended up taking it somewhere else and had it back in 3 days, but that's another story. Second, very unhappy with set up. Neck was TOO straight, almost arrow straight. They didn't use Fender specs on my 27 year old Fender bass. What the hell, man?! Had to re-set it myself. I use the procedure in my P Elite manual on all of my basses, Fender or not. Here's a link: http://support.fender.com/manuals/in...83)_manual.pdf Set up procedure starts on p.9. You'll need a capo. And, a digital micrometer is more precise than a 6 inch ruler. You can get one from amazon.com for about $10. Another link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new You probably already have the rest of the necessary tools.

Jam on, brother!

[JTE]

Buzzing due to low tension is fixed by setting up the bass for the.strings.you're using.

[arsie]

Originally Posted by eggfart1

You're a jerk.

The fact that he is a jerk and the fact that you do not know what it means to do a set up, are not mutually exclusive. You still do not know what it means to do a set up.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by eggfart1

You're my hero!

That doesn't help your case any. BluesBassBoy has been trolling here for about a year now. We nicknamed him 'Ubertroll'!

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by Blues Bass Man

Yeah...old mmbongo,and his BS again....ain't nothing new.
Don't feed into his crap....he likes to 'troll'.
As for D'Addario XL's...I love them, and don't really hear a big difference in tone between them and DR Sunbeams.
Use what works best for you. All the time these guys like mmbongo are spending trying string after string.....they should be woodshedding, learning how to play. If they did...they would know a string is a string is a string.

That means a lot coming from a guy who has 62 posts and is in the process of taking his first bass lessons (oh did you forget those PM's you sent me a while back?)

Gain some experience, then you can try to run with the big dogs. Until then, you may go now.

[madbassplaya]

This thread has gotten interesting.

mmbongo is no troll. I consider him a friend on the forums. Sometimes our tastes differ and we might but heads occasionally over gear but the point is this: when you change strings and they are different from what your bass is set up for, you need to do a set up.

Also criticizing a player's skill because they have experimented with strings and know what they like is in bad taste IMO.

We don't have to attack each other guys. Let's keep it kosher, we're all bassist. Well, some of us are, I just pretend to play.

[Blues Bass Man]

@mmbongo...LOL ! Your a funny guy....log off, put down the gear magazines, and take some lessons.

[lowendgenerator]

What is this, Harmony Central? Keep it classy guys.

[lowendgenerator]

Originally Posted by JTE

Buzzing due to low tension is fixed by setting up the bass for the.strings.you're using.

PS....THIS.

FWIW, I use XLs almost exclusively at home, but when I play gigs, I go to the DRs. They can handle my sweat a little better.

[RBX4]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I found XL's to sound OR feel nothing like Sunbeams. Talk about two different strings! Sunbeams are round core and compression wound, XL's are not. XL's die quickly too.

To each his own! Not all strings work well on all basses.

But, according to your other thread, you never bothered to properly do a set up on your bass. Don't blame the strings for your poor setup.

Plus, according to your post list, you have a new favorite string every week, and every bass you've owned has had 'buzzzzz':
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search...archid=8798493

You need to learn how to do a proper setup.

Lol

[RBX4]

I wanna try sunbeams!

[JTE]

I've used D'Addario strings off and on since 1977 on basses, and use them exclusively since about '72 on guitars, both electric and acoustic. They simply make great strings, and have excellent customer service. I used XL-165 (45/65/85/105) primarily for years. But after trying Sunbeams in the same gauges, I like the DR much better. I like the sound about equally, but the Sunbeams are a bit more supple under my left (fretting) hand. Of course, I had to tweak the truss rod and make some slight saddle adjustments when I switched them on my '83 VS '62 Precision. But that's to be expected anytime you change brand, gauge, or style of strings.

Get over it- if you like the D'Addario stay with 'em, but don't blame the strings for you not doing a basic set up.

John

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by JTE

Get over it- if you like the D'Addario stay with 'em, but don't blame the strings for you not doing a basic set up.

John

/endthread

...and thanks everyone for your support!