DR Dillema : Highbeams or Extralife?

ehque · #1 10-28-2007, 07:49 AM

Hi guys. My local DR dealer has decided to STOP stocking 6 string bass sets for DRs. At all. So i have to order through them, and the minimum order is FIVE sets, setting me back about 1 month's of allowance.

Considering 5 sets of any string will last me 5-10 years, i was wondering, should i stick to DR Highbeams, which i have tried and liked a lot, or should i "upgrade" to extralife coateds? I really like the look of the black beauties (i know, shallow me)

Tony G · #2 10-28-2007, 07:57 AM

I personally think that the DR extralife strings don't last as long as the High beams.

ubado · #3 10-28-2007, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xgabriele

I personally think that the DR extralife strings don't last as long as the High beams.

+1

Yup, the extralife's don't = extra life.

They seem to go south rather quickly compared to the non-coated. I prefer Elixer's for coated... no cool colors, but they outlast the DR's (however the tone is different and are more expensive, sometimes evilbay has a some good prices). IMO

ehque · #4 10-28-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubado

+1

Yup, the extralife's don't = extra life.

They seem to go south rather quickly compared to the non-coated. I prefer Elixer's for coated... no cool colors, but they outlast the DR's (however the tone is different and are more expensive, sometimes evilbay has a some good prices). IMO

if i was dead set on a coated string elixir would not be my choice. Firstly the strings feel like plastic, and the coating starts unraveling at places like the bridge pretty quickly.

What strings are Extralife based on, Hibeams?

joegeezer · #5 10-28-2007, 06:31 PM

Both are great!

CraigG · #6 10-28-2007, 07:50 PM

I did not find the coated DR's to really last very long. And, they get ugly when the frets start to wear through the color. Look like banded snakes. If you already have a string that your like in the Highbeams, stick with them. Another brand that I have tried that I found lasted a while are the Fodera Victor Wooten Signatures.

sublime0bass · #7 10-30-2007, 06:23 AM

i'm disappointed by my high beams

kind of loose, kind of sticky (not new string sticky), and not an overall good sound for steels. empty tone.

Tony G · #8 10-30-2007, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sublime0bass

i'm disappointed by my high beams

kind of loose, kind of sticky (not new string sticky), and not an overall good sound for steels. empty tone.

What strings do you prefer to Hi-Beams then? Everybody has a different definition of what plays and sounds good to them. Personally I feel that Hi-Beams are one of the best playing, most musical strings available on the mass market. Does that mean they will work for you? Absolutely not. But they work great for me.

ehque · #9 10-30-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xgabriele

What strings do you prefer to Hi-Beams then? Everybody has a different definition of what plays and sounds good to them. Personally I feel that Hi-Beams are one of the best playing, most musical strings available on the mass market. Does that mean they will work for you? Absolutely not. But they work great for me.

Agree. Im the OP. Can someone tell me what Extralifes sound like, compared to Highbeams?

And when you say they dont last very long, do they fall short of the Hi-beams? They break? or just the finish falls off?

Tony G · #10 10-30-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehque

Agree. Im the OP. Can someone tell me what Extralifes sound like, compared to Highbeams?

And when you say they dont last very long, do they fall short of the Hi-beams? They break? or just the finish falls off?

In my opinion, the extralife strings sound great fresh out of the box, kind of like slightly worn in hi-beams, though with a touch more growl. The tension feels the same, but they feel slicker than hi-beams of course due to the coating. However, they start sounding dull and thuddy to me to quickly. I can use a set of hi-beams for a couple of months no problem. I can't even seem to go 3 weeks with the extralifes before they are too dead sounding for my ears. On the two sets I had, I never had a problem with them losing their color like others have noted, but is possible that I didn't have them on long enough, considering at the most, the longest I've had them on is aout a month.

ehque · #11 10-30-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xgabriele

In my opinion, the extralife strings sound great fresh out of the box, kind of like slightly worn in hi-beams, though with a touch more growl. The tension feels the same, but they feel slicker than hi-beams of course due to the coating. However, they start sounding dull and thuddy to me to quickly. I can use a set of hi-beams for a couple of months no problem. I can't even seem to go 3 weeks with the extralifes before they are too dead sounding for my ears. On the two sets I had, I never had a problem with them losing their color like others have noted, but is possible that I didn't have them on long enough, considering at the most, the longest I've had them on is aout a month.

Did they break, fail, or did you swap them out?

Cos you see, my bass is BRIGHT. i dont mind dark strings.

Tony G · #12 10-30-2007, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehque

Did they break, fail, or did you swap them out?

Cos you see, my bass is BRIGHT. i dont mind dark strings.

I haven't had a string break in over 10 years. The only reason I change my strings is when they start to sound dull and lifeless to me.

pickles · #13 10-31-2007, 08:45 AM

Hi beams without a doubt.

Lonnybass · #14 10-31-2007, 08:55 AM

I tried the Red Devils on my new custom J-style and thought they sounded good, but definitely a tad muffled compared to my standard Hi-Beams. They've already been swapped off.

Lonnybass