DR Hi Beam Users....Too Polite??

[scottfeldstein]

Originally Posted by SoVeryTired

I found Hi Beams too polite compared to ProSteels

I agree. I was using ProSteels, but I recently put on my first set of Hi-Beams. My impression right away was that they feel smoother in my hands and that, yes, they aren't quite as zingy when new as the ProSteels.

I kind of like it.

I'm actually thinking of trying Lo-Riders in conjunction with having a tech lower the action on my SR505. I understand that they're a little more rigid and can tolerate lower action better.

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by cfsporn

I have found DR SS strings to have a slightly scooped sound. In a mix, this can easily turn into a "polite" sound.

+1

Everything everybody is saying about them sounding polite in the mix of a band due to the inherent nature of the scooped mids on those strings is correct, IME.

Solo they sound very much like lighter gauge steel roundwounds, which is an agressive sound. But compared to Rotos or Daddarios they seem mid shy in context. Great sounding strings though with a long lasting life like no other string.

[bgavin]

Looking only at the tone charts, the Hi-Beams are very scooped.
The opposite is the Lo-Rider which is strongly biased at the mids.

Using numbers:
Hi-Beams bass(9) mids(4) treble(10)
Lo-Riders bass(9) mids(10) treble(9)

I've had an excellent PM conversation with Modern Growl, who has done a lot of digging into string$..
Right now, the Lo-Rider is his fav, followed closely by the Dean Markley SR2000.

My factory SR5HH strings appear to be the same tone pattern as the Hi-Beams, with a scooped mid.
I want something that snarls and growls, so MG suggested either Lo-Riders or the SR2000.
Long life is desirable, so Rotosounds are out.
Both Lo-Riders and SR2000 are community recommended for long life and good response to alcohol soak cleanings.

[scottfeldstein]

Wait, there are actual measurements on the tone of these strings?? And do those numbers correspond to them??

I'm getting me some Lo-Riders.

[bgavin]

Here ya go...

Link to Tone & Technology string comparision

[scottfeldstein]

Too cool. Thanks!

[Turlu]

Originally Posted by SoVeryTired

I found Hi Beams too polite compared to ProSteels, but then I was trying them on a bass that was too polite. I was hoping that SS strings would give it some more character but I possibly chose the wrong strings.

I had the prosteels on my Ric for 5 minutes! Took them out right away so much they were bright and with no life at all. Put a brand new set trusted of Hi beams instead and got the Tone I craved for years back in seconds. No comparaison in my opinion between the two sets, hence the price difference.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bgavin

Looking only at the tone charts, the Hi-Beams are very scooped.
The opposite is the Lo-Rider which is strongly biased at the mids.

Using numbers:
Hi-Beams bass(9) mids(4) treble(10)
Lo-Riders bass(9) mids(10) treble(9)

I've had an excellent PM conversation with Modern Growl, who has done a lot of digging into string$..
Right now, the Lo-Rider is his fav, followed closely by the Dean Markley SR2000.

My factory SR5HH strings appear to be the same tone pattern as the Hi-Beams, with a scooped mid.
I want something that snarls and growls, so MG suggested either Lo-Riders or the SR2000.
Long life is desirable, so Rotosounds are out.
Both Lo-Riders and SR2000 are community recommended for long life and good response to alcohol soak cleanings.

That is a reasonable description of the differences between the Lo Rider steels and the Hi Beams. I would again just add that the difference in 'mids' is primarily in the upper mids. The low end of the Hi Beams and the Lo Riders seems quite similar. The Lo Riders again have a tighter feel/tension due to the more traditional hex core, versus the very smooth, slinky feeling round core Hi Beams (high beams are the closest 'feeling' stainless steel strings to nickel wounds IME).

Just like with a speaker cab that has a bit of dip in the upper mids between the top of the driver frequency roll-off and the tweeter kicking in, the Hi Beams have a much sweeter, airy top end presence that is not 'masked' by the strong dose of upper midrange that is in SS strings like the Sadowsky Steels, and to a lesser extent, the Lo Riders.

So, the point is that IMO it all depends on the nature of the top end you want... more 'classic' grindy/ganky would favor the Lo Riders, a bit more modern, pure, airy with a defined 'snap and sizzle' to the top end, the Hi Beams are wonderful.

Just depends on what you want. I love the way I can vary the tonality of my 70's Style J Bass from the more modern, open 'Marcus Miller' type tone (Hi Beams) to a more passive, ganky, rough 70's Style tone (Lo Riders). Both sound great to me, and at least for me, both last a stupid long time (i.e., maintain nice brightness and articulation) than any other strings I've used before.

IMO and IME!

[pickles]

+1 ken nailed it. Bgavin's stingray sounds scooped with both slinkys and high beams. That's because it's a scooped sounding bass. Lo riders are not a super midrangey string in terms of low or middle mids, they just have a lot of high mid brightness. They both sound like stainless rounds.

[bgavin]

I know the SR5 is scooped, but adding a scooped string such as Hi-Beam will probably exacerbate the condition.
I plan to give the Lo-Rider SS a spin and see how it fares on my 'Ray.
Grindy and snarling appeals to me for this bass.
I don't slap, and play straight finger styles, no pick.

[GK Growl]

OP here.....

So it seems the general consensus is that Hi Beams are scooped and not as aggressive and I will have to respectfully disagree

Maybe it's my gauge choice (110-50) that helps to get more grind to my ears. I've used a lot of stainless rounds and I still keep coming back to these. To me, stainless Lo Riders seem polite in comparison (very warm for a stainless string IMO).

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by GK Growl

OP here.....

So it seems the general consensus is that Hi Beams are scooped and not as aggressive and I will have to respectfully disagree

Maybe it's my gauge choice (110-50) that helps to get more grind to my ears. I've used a lot of stainless rounds and I still keep coming back to these. To me, stainless Lo Riders seem polite in comparison (very warm for a stainless string IMO).

"polite" is the last thing I would call Lo Riders...but to each his own.

[pickles]

Did you adjust the setup when you changed? If not you'll get more fret grind with the hi beams and the low riders will seem stiffer and warmer. Or really you get that either way, the high beams have less tension so they get grindy with less force applied.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by GK Growl

I've read several comments by fellow stainless steel round users that they find DR Hi Beams "polite" compared to other SS rounds like Rotosound Swing Bass 66, D'Addario Prosteels, Etc.

Polite compared to Swing Bass 66s & ProSteels? Yeah, you betcha. Then again, compared to Swing Bass 66s & ProSteels, what isn't?

It's worth noting that DRs are not roundwound in the conventional sense. They're compression-wound strings - meaning that the outer wrap is compressed by a high-pressure roller before they're packaged for sale. Hence the smoother texture, hence the smoother tone.

The relative "politeness" you hear in DRs in general, compared with conventional roundwound stainless steel strings, is due mostly to that smoother surface texture. IME, they don't "snarl" or "growl" like Swing Bass 66s or ProSteels or Blue Steels. They're a little smoother. They're a little more refined.

I use a set of Hi-Beams on my Carvin SB5000, and find they're a perfect match for that instrument - for playing anything like funk or modern R&B (boy do they slap nicely!). But I would never use Hi-Beams for rawk. Steel Lo-Riders for general-duty modern rock & pop. ProSteels for raucous rawk!

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Depends what your comparing to. Compared to rotosound swing66, the dr's are indeed polite sounding. Lol.

Got that right!

MM