DR Hi Beam Flatwounds

kirkm24 · #1 11-19-2008, 12:13 PM

These are kind of mysterious in that a lot of people haven't used them yet and there isn't too much on here about them. I got a set and tried them out on my P bass today and I was really impressed. I had posted previously about how I had tried all of these different flats and decided to go back to rounds because I couldn't find the right balance of tension, feel and tone.

I believe these strings may fit that happy medium for me. First of all these strings are extremely smooth. So smooth that there are no gaps between the windings. The strings are literally like round steel rods on your bass. They feel great to the touch but aren't ultra silky and shiny like Sadowskys.

Like others have said the strings are a little more tense; but not too much more than TI's. They are looser than Sadowskys or La Bellas. You can easily do bends and vibratos on them and they are very easy to play overall. To my touch, they are as easy to play as the Fat Beams on my other bass.

Tone wise, they are very fat and full sounding but at the same time they are very articulate. They almost sound like rounds with the tone knob fully cranked minus the fret noise. With the tone knob rolled off about 50%, these sound very thumpy.

Of all the flats I have tried, I like these the best. I think they are a good bridge string between flats and rounds. Traditional La bella players might not like them but guys who are looking for a happy medium between rounds and flats might really like these. They have the ease of playing like rounds but the tone of traditional flats but with some added detail and articulation.

brandonwong · #2 11-19-2008, 12:21 PM

That's a perfect review of the strings! and a perfect blend between rounds and flats. Thanks!
I tried them on a P5 but took them out shortly because I was looking for a traditional flat sounding string. (The Lakland Joe Osborn Signature fit the bill)
Otherwise the Hi-Beams flat would be a happy medium.

Mastermold · #3 11-19-2008, 12:33 PM

How long have you had them on, Kirkm? I wonder if they aren't broken in yet, and if that's why they're less thumpy than other flats.

kirkm24 · #4 11-19-2008, 02:17 PM

To be perfectly honest, I just installed them this afternoon so they're definitely not broken in. My review was based solely on initial impressions (I guess I should have clarified that). I would have to assume that the strings will get more thumpy and the hi end will dull down as they age. I really like them as they are now but I'm sure they will continue to sound good as they age.

Mastermold · #5 11-19-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkm24

To be perfectly honest, I just installed them this afternoon so they're definitely not broken in. My review was based solely on initial impressions (I guess I should have clarified that). I would have to assume that the strings will get more thumpy and the hi end will dull down as they age. I really like them as they are now but I'm sure they will continue to sound good as they age.

Okay, well if you don't mind please follow up with a further review in a few weeks. I've been wanting to try these flats out for a while now and I'm really curious to know what you think when they've settled in.

kirkm24 · #6 11-19-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastermold

Okay, well if you don't mind please follow up with a further review in a few weeks. I've been wanting to try these flats out for a while now and I'm really curious to know what you think when they've settled in.

Will do. I can't remember the last time I was this excited about a set of strings.

Woofenstein · #7 11-20-2008, 11:25 AM

To anyone who has used these strings for a month or so - how do they compare with Chromes and TIs? I'm interested in a flat that retains a new string sound, but with the feel of flats. Do the DRs deliver? There's not a ton of info out there yet...

sevenyearsdown · #8 11-20-2008, 11:28 AM

I've been using these for a little over a year now. I will not use anything else now. Aside from the tone, the smoothness is unreal - you can't even tell there is a winding there. They get better over time too.

Mastermold · #9 11-20-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

I've been using these for a little over a year now. I will not use anything else now. Aside from the tone, the smoothness is unreal - you can't even tell there is a winding there. They get better over time too.

How does their tension compare to La Bellas, Chromes, Fenders, etc?

sevenyearsdown · #10 11-20-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastermold

How does their tension compare to La Bellas, Chromes, Fenders, etc?

I can't speak for La Bellas, but it was night and day to fenders of the same gauge. I did have a set of fender flats on a P-bass, and when I changed them to the DR's the neck relief almost disappeared (it was a squier bass though - so take that for what it is worth). It just required some setup. Having said that - the tension didn't rack my playing at all. In fact - the smoothness on the DR's kind of improved my playing just because of how easy they are on the fingers. I now have them on my MIA-P, MIA-J, and the Squier. I mainly play the MIA-P these days, and couldn't be happier with the tone I get using the DR's.

kirkm24 · #11 11-20-2008, 05:14 PM

As I said, the tension is tighter than TI's but not as tight as La Bellas or Sadowskys. I went from low tension rounds to these and did witness a slight change in relief but not too drastic. The neck is still really straight. I'll also mention that I am stringing these through the body since that is the only option I have with my bridge. Under full tension, the strings appear alright in this configuration so I do not think this will be a problem. Another Tb'er e-mailed DR and asked if these could be strung through the body and they said it was fine so I will take their word for it. I think that really only the heavier La Bella strings have an issue with stringing through the body.

I have a gig this weekend and I plan on using this bass for it so I will report how it sounds in a full band mix with these strings and be better able to attest to their durability under gigging conditions for whatever that is worth.

sevenyearsdown · #12 11-21-2008, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkm24

Another Tb'er e-mailed DR and asked if these could be strung through the body and they said it was fine so I will take their word for it. I think that really only the heavier La Bella strings have an issue with stringing through the body.

That was me. I heard a lot of TBer's proclaiming that the world could come to end if I strung flats through body. I got a little concerned about it, so I emailed them. DR said that practice would be fine. I have also heard the La Bella's actually warn you right on the box not to string 'em through body, though I can't confirm this.

kirkm24 · #13 11-21-2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

That was me. I heard a lot of TBer's proclaiming that the world could come to end if I strung flats through body. I got a little concerned about it, so I emailed them. DR said that practice would be fine. I have also heard the La Bella's actually warn you right on the box not to string 'em through body, though I can't confirm this.

That is true. La Bella warns against it. A Tb'er contacted them and they said only their light gauge strings could be strung through the body. In all honesty, the only strings I know that shouldn't be strung through the body are La bellas, everything else is fine. These DRs are so tightly wound that the strings look solid and even where it breaks over the saddle, you can barely see the separation between the wounds. I would bet DR would even replace a string for free if it broke after being strung through the body.

BTW, I played these flats again last night for a little while and I really like them alot. Gig report will be coming later this weekend.

hbarcat · #14 11-21-2008, 05:57 PM

I just bought a set of the DR Hi-Beam flats for a fretless project that is a couple of weeks away from completion and I've been itching to hear what they sound like. Reading this thread reminded me that I do have an Ibanez RoadstarII with an EMG-P strung up with LaBella Deep Talking flats and I could very well do an A-B comparison.

-

I think this weekend I'll write up my impression of the Ibby with the Labellas and do a recording and then swap them for the DR's and write up my impression of them and do another recording. The LaBellas have been on the bass for a little over a year now so they're good and broken in, but I can leave the DR's on for a few months and see how they age.

I'll get back.

Mastermold · #15 11-21-2008, 11:20 PM

I decided to just order a set of the DR flats assuming I'll eventually try them. In the meantime, keep those reviews coming!

lmfreeman9 · #16 11-22-2008, 06:08 AM

I traded a set of TI's for the DR's and am not dissappointed. Although they are not broke in yet, I agree with everything said here. I use LaBellas and TI's and I think I prefer the DR's to the LaBellas. Great highs and lows. BTW, there are a few sets on ebay at good prices.

Loel · #17 11-22-2008, 08:26 AM

Where online can the DR Flatwounds
be ordered,i tried Just strings and Ebay no luck..

lmfreeman9 · #18 11-22-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HooDoo

Where online can the DR Flatwounds
be ordered,i tried Just strings and Ebay no luck..

Here they are: Good price;

http://cgi.ebay.com/DR-Strings-Hi-Be...3286.m20.l1116

kirkm24 · #19 11-22-2008, 06:06 PM

Well, I played a gig tonight with them and they sounded really good in a full band setting. Deep and low with nice pleasant high end articulation. The bass sat well in the mix. I love these strings. I am a DR man for life now. I ordered a second set for backup purposes but I probably won't need them.

kirkm24 · #20 11-22-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmfreeman9

Here they are: Good price;

http://cgi.ebay.com/DR-Strings-Hi-Be...3286.m20.l1116

There is a new eBay seller called Bass Specialties, he has them and he appears to be the cheapest of all the guys selling them and his shipping charges are cheap. Super fast shipping and great price. MyMusic Stuff is another good seller who carries them as well.