DR Hi Beams

StrangerDanger · #1 02-16-2012, 08:53 PM

Just tried the SS Hi Beams for the first time on my Jazz. WOW, great sounding strings. Almost impossible not to pop the notes on the G string. Super funky, great sounding. But . . .
Not to be a sissy, but they are ripping my fingers to shreds. Can anybody recommend a string with a similar sound thats a little less abrasive? I seem to remember liking the feel of the Sadowsky Black Label SS but I dont remember them being this

sound wise.

mdogs · #2 02-16-2012, 10:44 PM

Not to sound like a sissy hater, but get to work and get some callouses on those fingers. IMO Hi Beams are fairly smooth for what they are.

Shmandy · #3 02-17-2012, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdogs

Not to sound like a sissy hater, but get to work and get some callouses on those fingers. IMO Hi Beams are fairly smooth for what they are.

+1

Personally, I use Fat Beams, but it's the same story. Just play on them a bunch and you'll get some nice callouses. It's worth the sound, IME.

ksandvik · #4 02-17-2012, 12:10 AM

Hi Beams rough? Try Rotosounds. DR makes the smoothest roundwounds on the market, me thinks.

darkstorm · #5 02-17-2012, 01:40 AM

Dont fret so hard. Played Rotosound swing 66 most of my life. And DR's are very smooth in comparrison. I dont have calluses from playing rotosounds. Maybe fingerprints are a bit faint, but no calusses. Lol.

Buxtehude · #6 02-17-2012, 01:52 AM

Warwick black label make hi-beams feel like flats. If you want that delicious hi-beam sound, eat some cement and harden up.

RFMac · #7 02-17-2012, 02:05 AM

As far as straight Stainless steel rounds go, they are pretty damn smooth. If you wish to move into fairy land with me get some sunbeams, much smoother, but more mids and less zip. So..its you fingers or the zip! You decide.

imanbrewer · #8 02-17-2012, 03:00 AM

hi beams are smooth as butter man,,,,trust me...i used to be an elixir guy once upon a time...lol

StrangerDanger · #9 02-17-2012, 04:54 AM

I guess Ive been playing D'Addarios too long, eh? OK Ill keep on keeping on. Thanks!

mmbongo · #10 02-17-2012, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

I guess Ive been playing D'Addarios too long, eh? OK Ill keep on keeping on. Thanks!

D'Addario ProSteels are way rougher than HiBeams

StrangerDanger · #11 02-17-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

D'Addario ProSteels are way rougher than HiBeams

I never used

Pro Steels

I usually like XL's but

I was looking for a change

.

lance_randy · #12 02-21-2012, 06:14 PM

DR highbeams are the smoothest feeling steel strings I have ever played. The roughest I have tried are Warwick black labels, and Rotosound swing bass 66. I have been happily using the rotos for the past ten years or so, and now I can't use anything else! But...I remember that when I switched from DR highbeams to the rotos, I was shocked at how rough, and grabby they were. Don't worry about how they feel, just use what you think sounds best, and much like The Borg, you will adapt.

StrangerDanger · #13 02-22-2012, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lance_randy

DR highbeams are the smoothest feeling steel strings I have ever played. The roughest I have tried are Warwick black labels, and Rotosound swing bass 66. I have been happily using the rotos for the past ten years or so, and now I can't use anything else! But...I remember that when I switched from DR highbeams to the rotos, I was shocked at how rough, and grabby they were. Don't worry about how they feel, just use what you think sounds best, and much like The Borg, you will adapt.

Thanks, I'm getting used to them already.

MoeGJBeener · #14 02-22-2012, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shmandy

+1

Personally, I use Fat Beams, but it's the same story. Just play on them a bunch and you'll get some nice callouses. It's worth the sound, IME.

+1 on the Fat Beams! I LOVE these strings. And as far as a stainless roundwound, DR has the smoothest around if you ask me.

StrangerDanger · #15 02-22-2012, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NGJBeaner

+1 on the Fat Beams! I LOVE these strings. And as far as a stainless roundwound, DR has the smoothest around if you ask me.

Actually the Sadowskys are smoother but YMMV

TigerInATrance · #16 04-04-2012, 12:45 PM

I played with Chromes for a few months to see what all the hype was about... YMMV, but they werent right for me in any way. They actually messed up my fingers MORE than the Hi Beams. Went back to Hi Beamsand it was quite a relief... Nice easy feeling strings under my fingers again... Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

Bunyo · #17 04-04-2012, 01:03 PM

Rotosounds are like butter for me. But my fingertips have no feel since ten years or so. I DONT CARE.

Tieiririyi · #18 04-04-2012, 02:15 PM

I've been using Hi beams on my jazz. For curiosity I switched to D'Addario XL to try out the nickel wounds. I like the feel but doesn't like the sound. Put Hi beams back on and i can say Hi beams are just a LITTLE BIT rougher than the XL's, but they sound soooooooo sweet.

And i have Fat beams on my lakland 55-01. The slap tone is just amazing with the extended low.

Mike M. · #19 04-04-2012, 05:18 PM

How do the Hi Beams feel compared to the Fat Beams? I got the latter on my Jazz 5'er and while I like them I didn't like how "grabby and sticky" they felt for about the first week or so.

pickles · #20 04-04-2012, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike M.

How do the Hi Beams feel compared to the Fat Beams? I got the latter on my Jazz 5'er and while I like them I didn't like how "grabby and sticky" they felt for about the first week or so.

Better.