dean markley blue steels vs. dr high beams

[stanger503]

exactly what the title states...this is for a medium light 4 string set.....no other questions to this except that straight forward one that brought you here.......

[Chad Michael]

Both sound and feel fantastic out of the package.

If you boil (re-cycle or clean string sets to restore that new roundwound feel and sound) the DR's fall apart whereas the Dean Markley's are ready for another cycle.

Been there done that.

[Changles]

i have a set of dean markley blue steels on my bass at the moment, they're pretty underwhelming really, considering all the hype

i haven't played dr before so I can't compare, but I'm going to buy a set soon, anything to be rid of these dean markleys!

[stanger503]

the reason im asking ill say this first i guess...i have a set of dr highs on my spector and a set of dean markleys on my sx jazz and the jazz just takes the spector tonally through and through with the sansamp di.... i just wanna know what i should throw on the spector next because they really are both amazing strings, i just need somthing a little heavier than the lights on rite now and was debating which to go with

[pickles]

The markleys are aggressively bright at first, have a harder mid punch, are much coarser, quite a bit stiffer, and when they die they fully die (much sooner than the DRs fully die). The DRs have a softer feel, smoother finish, are quite bright at first but settle in to a lower level of brightness that they retain longer than any other string I've tried. They have a very natural and almost vocal sound. I like both sets but prefer the DRs.

Nothing else sounds like a J-bass, you probably just prefer that sound to the spector sound. I doubt the string change will help much.

[stanger503]

your probably rite..a spector sounds like a spector which i love and a jazz like a jazz which i also love. but like i said theyre lights, so im hoping to bring out more of the spector growl, i think i might give the dr's a few weeks try and then try the marks out...i just wanted to see what everyone thought about the two

[octaverazor]

i don't know about dean markley's, but changed from ernie balls to dr's. i play a warwicks double buck and just brought that bass to life. i always loved the sound of my warwick but those strings just made it pop. i never know a string could make that much of a change.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by pickles

The markleys are aggressively bright at first, have a harder mid punch, are much coarser, quite a bit stiffer, and when they die they fully die (much sooner than the DRs fully die). The DRs have a softer feel, smoother finish, are quite bright at first but settle in to a lower level of brightness that they retain longer than any other string I've tried. They have a very natural and almost vocal sound. I like both sets but prefer the DRs.

Nothing else sounds like a J-bass, you probably just prefer that sound to the spector sound. I doubt the string change will help much.

+1 to all the above. The Blue Steels are definitely more aggressive and grindy, and when they go, the go bad.

You might want to try a set of the DR Lo Riders. They are kind of in-between the Hi Beams and the Blue Steels... tighter and a bit more punchy and grindy than the very smooth DR Hi Beams, but less squawky and ganky than the Blue Steels.

[Gordon of Eden]

Originally Posted by pickles

The markleys are aggressively bright at first, have a harder mid punch, are much coarser, quite a bit stiffer, and when they die they fully die (much sooner than the DRs fully die). The DRs have a softer feel, smoother finish, are quite bright at first but settle in to a lower level of brightness that they retain longer than any other string I've tried. They have a very natural and almost vocal sound. I like both sets but prefer the DRs.

Funny, I was going to say the exact opposite in favor of the blue steels. I guess it comes down to a players own perception and personal style. I find the DR's a bit stiffer and more brittle sounding to my ear where as the BS's have more give and a "wetter" for lack of a better term "Boinginess" when slap'ed that I love. The finerstyle tone is warm and fat with a bright top. I can usually get 2 solid boils out of a set and I actually prefer the tone after the 1st boil to the new out of the pack tone.
I do mostly play J style instruments and an EBMM stingray 5 as well.

[BrentSimons]

I've tried Blue Steels a couple of times and found them to feel "sticky" for lack of a better word. I tried a set of DR Hi Beams a while ago on my Rick and thought they sounded pretty good.
BS

[VroomVroom]

Originally Posted by pickles

The markleys are aggressively bright at first, have a harder mid punch, are much coarser, quite a bit stiffer, and when they die they fully die (much sooner than the DRs fully die). The DRs have a softer feel, smoother finish, are quite bright at first but settle in to a lower level of brightness that they retain longer than any other string I've tried. They have a very natural and almost vocal sound. I like both sets but prefer the DRs.

Nothing else sounds like a J-bass, you probably just prefer that sound to the spector sound. I doubt the string change will help much.

Another 'echo' for this post - very well said. As I was reading down the posts in this thread I was mentally typing my response...there's really nothing I can add. I played Blue Steels for many years, and have been using these DR's on my Sadowsky for the past two years.

[thrashard340]

All I've ever used were Blue Steels. It has suited me well over the years. I don't experience the sound degradation that some of you guys described above. Back in the day, I also used GS Boomers and just wasn't happy with them. I'll give the DR's a shot though.

[Bernie P.]

I much prefer the nickel wrapped DM Blue Steel's over any steel's I've tried.

[joplin]

Originally Posted by pickles

The markleys are aggressively bright at first, have a harder mid punch, are much coarser, quite a bit stiffer, and when they die they fully die (much sooner than the DRs fully die). The DRs have a softer feel, smoother finish, are quite bright at first but settle in to a lower level of brightness that they retain longer than any other string I've tried. They have a very natural and almost vocal sound. I like both sets but prefer the DRs.

Nothing else sounds like a J-bass, you probably just prefer that sound to the spector sound. I doubt the string change will help much.

The Dean Markleys are rougher than the DR strings? Jeez.

I had a set of DR Fatbeams and took them off because the strings were pretty rough... I put a set of Fender 7250 on - MUCH more low end and the strings are way smoother to the fingers.

I've been thinking about trying a set of Dean Markleys but not so sure now...

[joplin]

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 to all the above. The Blue Steels are definitely more aggressive and grindy, and when they go, the go bad.

You might want to try a set of the DR Lo Riders. They are kind of in-between the Hi Beams and the Blue Steels... tighter and a bit more punchy and grindy than the very smooth DR Hi Beams, but less squawky and ganky than the Blue Steels.

Which of these do you think have higher tension? I had a set of Fatbeams on but the tension was sorta low and it didn't take much to un-intentionally clank against the fretboard. I have a set of Fender 7250s on and like the tension...

[Hamrhed]

I used to use Blue steels years ago, but they just didnt last long at all. The whole selling point was the 'cryogenic process' kepping the zing going longer (so to speak)... I'd say w/o the Cryo they last about 3 days I have used Drs primarily since (Fats, BBs, Bootzy's) and they are much better sound, feel, and durability-wise I believe

Originally Posted by joplin

The Dean Markleys are rougher than the DR strings? Jeez.

I had a set of DR Fatbeams and took them off because the strings were pretty rough...

I think that you'll find the Hi Beams to be smoother feeling than the Fats or Bootzy's, at least imo