Dean Markley FretMaster

Groover · #1 09-23-2010, 01:35 PM

Anyone using Dean Markley FretMaster strings? Not much information on them online, and I'm not even sure if they are SS or NPS...

These are rounds on the lower half (pickup/bridge), and ground/flat at the neck.

If you have any experience with these, please share.

**251** · #2 09-23-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groover

Anyone using Dean Markley FretMaster strings? Not much information on them online, and I'm not even sure if they are SS or NPS...

These are rounds on the lower half (pickup/bridge), and ground/flat at the neck.

If you have any experience with these, please share.

I have been using FretMasters for years. It's more like the string over the fretboard has been pressure wound. I find them very similar to Blue Steels, bright & stable 30 minutes after putting them on but, much easier on my fingers. It takes 4 to 8 months before they fail to stay in tune for a few hours. That's when I change strings unless there's a gig or I just have to hear a fresh set of strings. It's easy to find them for a reasonable price.

They come out of the package clean! I know because I alcohol wipe strings before I mount them. Some manufacturer's should be ashamed of the dirt they ship on their strings.

I've had FretMasters on my graphite Fretless for 5 years with barely a scratch on the fretboard. There's only a little wear on the fretted bass' frets & not a scratch on it's ebony board.

I am curious about Circle K's hex-core strings & will probably try a set next time the fretted bass needs strings. Otherwise, I am really satisfied with FretMasters.

FWIW I have tried GHS, LaBella, D'Addario, Elixer's, Ernie Ball, RotoSound, Thomastik-Infield, Prism's, Hartke, stainless, nickel + more.

Groover · #3 09-23-2010, 07:05 PM

Nice review, thanks! I plan on using them on 77 precision bass. I've pretty much tried every string out there too (almost..), and I've been using sasowsky flats on this one a lot, but just this evening i threw on an old set of DR MM Fatbeams, and wow... I think I'm ready for rounds again! I had a blast. I have used Blue Steels on a Stingray 4 a long time ago, and I recall really liking them on that bass. I haven't tried them on passive bass, so looking forward to the FretMasters.

I take it you've never tried them on a fretted bass?

Thanks again for the review.

Another question.. Are blue steels round or hex core? (assuming these would be the same). I'll do a search, but I'm surfing with my phone right now and a bit of a pain.. Lol

ggunn · #4 09-23-2010, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groover

Nice review, thanks! I plan on using them on 77 precision bass. I've pretty much tried every string out there too (almost..), and I've been using sasowsky flats on this one a lot, but just this evening i threw on an old set of DR MM Fatbeams, and wow... I think I'm ready for rounds again! I had a blast. I have used Blue Steels on a Stingray 4 a long time ago, and I recall really liking them on that bass. I haven't tried them on passive bass, so looking forward to the FretMasters.

I take it you've never tried them on a fretted bass?

Thanks again for the review.

Another question.. Are blue steels round or hex core? (assuming these would be the same). I'll do a search, but I'm surfing with my phone right now and a bit of a pain.. Lol

Wow. You are being very articulate for posting from a phone.

Groover · #5 09-23-2010, 07:39 PM

Yeah, I'm becoming a pro at this.. Lol

**251** · #6 09-24-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groover

Nice review, thanks! I plan on using them on 77 precision bass. I've pretty much tried every string out there too (almost..), and I've been using sasowsky flats on this one a lot, but just this evening i threw on an old set of DR MM Fatbeams, and wow... I think I'm ready for rounds again! I had a blast. I have used Blue Steels on a Stingray 4 a long time ago, and I recall really liking them on that bass. I haven't tried them on passive bass, so looking forward to the FretMasters.

I take it you've never tried them on a fretted bass?

Thanks again for the review.

Another question.. Are blue steels round or hex core? (assuming these would be the same). I'll do a search, but I'm surfing with my phone right now and a bit of a pain.. Lol

I use FretMasters on Fretted & Fretless Basses

FretMasters have round core wires.

FunkMetalBass · #7 09-24-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggunn

Wow. You are being very articulate for posting from a phone.

It's disgusting that this is surprising in our culture. Proper English is a lost art, apparently.

[/off topic]
I've never tried the FretMasters, but they've gotten decent reviews and it's something I would consider at a later time. My current string-o-choice is a balanced tension set from Circle K. You should buy both sets and do a side-by-side comparison.

Groover · #8 09-25-2010, 09:02 AM

I just got these in the mail today. I was suprised to see that the "flat" part is not flat or even close..., actually by just looking at the strings, they look like regular rounds all the way.

I'm wondering if I got the right thing (the package is correct), so I need a little ID'ing assistance.

The ball ends are silver in color, and the silks are red/magenta-ish (not normal red).

My A strings is also much darker than the other strings.. I know that's not gonna matter in ID'ing :-)

safik01 · #9 07-21-2011, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groover

I just got these in the mail today. I was suprised to see that the "flat" part is not flat or even close..., actually by just looking at the strings, they look like regular rounds all the way.

Mine came just now and I have the same feeling

. When I placed the round and the "flat" part side by side, so I could compare them, I saw a slight difference but still I wouldn't call the output of "proprietary burnishing process CFN-32(C)" flat...