DR convert

yellofury · #1 06-20-2009, 11:41 PM

So I just slapped on some DR extra life Light gauge (40s)
on my Fender Jazz yesterday and man it has totally changed the personality of this bass!!!

Its amazing how important strings really are
You cant say "strings are strings" . I was using Rotosound Swingbass 66LDs 45-105 exclusively for 10 years. Anyone who has used Rotos knows that they have a very distinct and bright tone. They will also know that they tend to eat up your frets AND your fingers..DOH!!!!

I just recently got into lighter guage strings..I had received a MIM Jazz Bass in a trade and I noticed that the Mexican made Jazz ran circles around my MIA as far as playability and tone. Huh??
How could this be????
It came with regular old Fender Nickelwounds in 40-100
I traded THAT bass to TBer Basstones for a Washburn Status headless with Status Hot Wires Nylon Tapewounds in 40-100
this bass also was sweet to play and now I was convinced to get 40-100s on the MIA JAZZ.

I wanted something completely different from the Rotos and the Red Devils looked kinda cool and I figured at worst I can say I tried them out ..no biggie..With the Rotosounds I always had some fretbuzz in a few frets and playing fingerstyle at times was like wrestling telephone wires on a plank of wood. I got meaty tone but man I had to DIG hard for it....So I put the DRs on and it was amazing.. Absolutely no fretbuzz anywhere. I don't get it... I had worked days on tweaking the bridge and truss rod and shimmed the neck and I couldnt make much headway with the Rotosounds until I started to save some dough for a pro setup....The DRs have turned my Fender into a funk machine..slap is effortless ..harmonics....ditto ..fingerstyle..has insane atack and presence ..on a coated string no less....Im am floored by this product..okay sorry I got long winded. But I haven't been this happy playing my Fender in years....I mean I feel like im falling in love with my #1 bass all over again ..thanks Bass Viagara

iridiumrocks · #2 06-21-2009, 12:04 AM

I'll have to try them after reading your post. I have tried many strings over the years but have always went back to the Rotosounds.

yellofury · #3 06-21-2009, 01:01 PM

loving these DRs

LilRay · #4 06-21-2009, 01:55 PM

I was just a floored as you are. IMO I can be more articulate and control a lot more of my attack/tone with the DR's. Never tried the coated but I dig both sunbeams and fat beams.

DR's Rule

God Bless, Ray

steamthief · #5 06-21-2009, 02:05 PM

I just put a set of Bootzillas on my SR4, soooo much better than the Slinkys they replaced. All the harsh treble response and string noise is gone, all the punchy goodness remains with more low end authority.

naturalkinds · #6 06-21-2009, 02:06 PM

Loving my Lo-Riders.

ralph029 · #7 06-22-2009, 01:13 PM

"Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme" sure does come to mind.

KaizerWilhelm · #8 06-22-2009, 01:19 PM

I swear by DR Lo-Riders They are my go to string, no questions asked. They have been on my basses since day 1.

bassplayer7770 · #9 06-22-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturalkinds

Loving my Lo-Riders.

+1, although I'm using the Nickel-Plated Lo Riders.

I did try some of the coated DRs once, and I didn't care for them. Personally, I liked Elixirs better. YMMV.

Davo-London · #10 06-22-2009, 05:10 PM

DR Sunbeams are THE strings IMHO. I use them on fretted and fretless.

Peace
Davo

Surly · #11 06-22-2009, 08:48 PM

Recently I was looking for a warmer, not so harsh sounding nickel roundwound. I went from Lo-riders to Fender 7150's. Much better tone and feel IMO. It was either the pure nickels or the coated ones and I ended up with the 7150's. Haven't tried the coated ones but they also might do the trick for a warmer tone. I can understand how they can give you that tone, if that's what you like.

Bernie P. · #12 06-23-2009, 08:12 AM

Never tried those red jobs but I did like the NP LR's quite a bit.Just a little to dry sounding to me.I picked up a set of Sunbeams a week ago but haven't been able to bring myself to pull the TI Flats off the Casady yet to try them.

stflbn · #13 06-23-2009, 08:17 AM

I wish someone would make an Elixir type string that kept it's life, but instead of a bright tone the set emulated a milder broken in set of Nickel Roundwounds like Sunbeams, etc.

Bernie P. · #14 06-24-2009, 06:59 AM

Just saw a post over at HC's acoustic git forum from a guy that put blue DR's on his Taylor.Kind of a weird trend with DR???

azarias · #15 06-24-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davo-London

DR Sunbeams are THE strings IMHO. I use them on fretted and fretless.

!!Agree!!

I have nothing but good things to say about Hi-Beams and most especially SUN-Beams!
Try em! People say, "its only nickel plating you wont hear the nickel" BS! they kill...

bohemond · #16 06-24-2009, 09:52 PM

Sunbeams are my favorite nickel plated round core string, and Iv'e tried maybe 10 other brands of nickels. Hi-Beams are my favorite steels. However I just purchased some FatBeams so that may change. The change is very subtle in the low end between those two I hear.

**crustychef** · #17 06-26-2009, 11:47 AM

I just put some DR Sunbeam flatwounds on my fretless corvette. I made the bass come alive. I love the feel of them too. Just awesome, I'm sold on them.

ehque · #18 07-02-2009, 01:03 PM

Not a bass, but

They last a lot longer on acoustic than normal strings. However, my strings did exhibit a tiny bit of flaking after 3 or so months.

They look oh so good, though.

kirkm24 · #19 07-02-2009, 04:02 PM

After hearing all of the rave reviews on here for the past several years, I decided to pull the trigger on some stainless Lo Riders and I must say, I am not disappointed in the slightest. These strings are my favorites so far!

ksandvik · #20 07-02-2009, 04:05 PM

Yes, I'm seriously thinking about switching from Rotos to Lo-Riders on all my basses (onl one one just now.) They have about the same characteristics but have a better zing, especially on the long term.