Dr Neons versus Sunbeams. A review

darkstorm · #1 08-05-2011, 01:24 PM

ok, after various uncertainties and etc from various sources it was finally pinned down that neons are supposed to be sunbeams with coating. How do they compare sound wise etc to each other actually? Had a new set of neons on bass for a week now and went ahead and put new set of sunbeams on to find out.

First the sunbeams are a tad darker toned then the neons. But they do touch harmonics easier and stronger then neons. They retain neons most excellent low bass articulation. The sunbeams also do growl slightly better then neons. Imo

Feel wise the sunbeams are smoother, easier glide over then the neons. Theres just a touch of drag with neons Id noticed when I first started useing them. Comprable in its own way to rotosound swing6's rougher feel then most but in diff way. Lol. The sunbeams are very smooth feeling with no drag.

There is a little bit of diff between the sunbeams and neons sound and feel wise. Sunbeams being closer to Rotosound swing 66 tonal balance wise but smoother, softer feel to them.

Listening test was done with bass to processor for ready for recording tone, to mixer and drum machine providing multi percussionist voodoo style mix with some synth pads from synth tossed in for in mix sound. Monitored via Beyer Dynamic DT770 pro headphones plugged into mixer.

I think I'll stick to sunbeams as main strings and use neons for little change of pace & colored strings thing.

Anyone else tried sunbeams and neons on same bass?

darkstorm · #2 08-05-2011, 02:56 PM

So Ive played them in some more. useing dark ambient & deep house mp3 backings for in the mix sound. They seem to have gotten a tad brighter, not quite as bright as the neons where. But maybe little bit more treble now. I suppose its possible some string types might get slightly brighter after being at pitch for a little while.

Anyway. I still find the sunbeams do my pref voicings a little bit easier then the neons for that low bass wallop, growl and grind/edgeyness. Makes my bass sound a little more expensive to. Lol.

So perhaps either neons arent sunbeams afterall. Or the coating does alter the sound enough to make the diff?

My final verdict is: Neons are excellent, Sunbeams are extroidinary. lol.

Who else likes sunbeams?

mmbongo · #3 08-05-2011, 03:57 PM

Love my Sunbeams

ffutterman · #4 08-05-2011, 03:58 PM

Dr. Neon and the Sunbeams would be a great band name

HolmeBass · #5 08-05-2011, 04:11 PM

I love Sunbeams, use them exclusively. Maybe I should try some Neons though?

ric stave · #6 08-05-2011, 04:15 PM

I use the Sunbeams on my G&L L2500 - tried the Neons, but went back. I prefer both the feel and the sound.

mowburger · #7 08-05-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffutterman

Dr. Neon and the Sunbeams would be a great band name

\THREAD

/\this is awesome

been using SUNBEAMS for a month now, I like em better than the Daddario's I was using a while back.

darkstorm · #8 08-05-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffutterman

Dr. Neon and the Sunbeams would be a great band name

Lol, Yes it would.

mmbongo · #9 08-05-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffutterman

Dr. Neon and the Sunbeams would be a great band name

win!

Sure beats D'Addario and The Chromes.

or

Ken Smith and The Burners

or

LaBella and the Slappers

or

Steinberger with The Double Balls

or

TI and The Flats?

Okay I'll stop. The original is best

96tbird · #10 08-06-2011, 11:23 AM

After reading the glowing reports of sunbeams, I decided to try them yesterday. Nearest store is 30 miles away. Strung them on my Epi bird IV. Didn't trim the E short enough; it was touching the ferrule at the bottom, so once I tuned and intonated, I loosened the E off and slid it up the tuner peg about 2mm. Tensioned back up and SNAP right at the post.

PO'd! And I really dug them before I adjusted it. I had this happen if I loosen of five or six times, but never on the first go.

EDIT: and before you ask, I bent the string 90 degrees, cut behind the bend; and strung it properly, avoiding twists, string in the tuner hole, gentle bend out around the peg, wound downward, etc.

chadhargis · #11 08-06-2011, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

win!

Sure beats D'Addario and The Chromes.

or

Ken Smith and The Burners

or

LaBella and the Slappers

or

Steinberger with The Double Balls

or

TI and The Flats?

Okay I'll stop. The original is best

You forgot:

Ernie Ball and the Slinkys

darkstorm · #12 08-06-2011, 09:42 PM

96tbird "I had this happen if I loosen of five or six times, but never on the first go." That happened to my D string for a set of neons after lossening it a few times for truss rod adjustment etc. Seems DR strings are more break prone then most strings if they get loosened then retuned much. Mine broke at the nut. Havent had it happen since luckilly. Hopefully sunbeams are not more prone to breaks. Lol.

Kenova · #13 08-07-2011, 05:25 AM

GHS and The Boomers

Versatek6 · #14 08-08-2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96tbird

After reading the glowing reports of sunbeams, I decided to try them yesterday. Nearest store is 30 miles away. Strung them on my Epi bird IV. Didn't trim the E short enough; it was touching the ferrule at the bottom, so once I tuned and intonated, I loosened the E off and slid it up the tuner peg about 2mm. Tensioned back up and SNAP right at the post.

PO'd! And I really dug them before I adjusted it. I had this happen if I loosen of five or six times, but never on the first go.

EDIT: and before you ask, I bent the string 90 degrees, cut behind the bend; and strung it properly, avoiding twists, string in the tuner hole, gentle bend out around the peg, wound downward, etc.

Contact the company and explain what happened. They take customer service seriously, and will make things right. I had an E string that was dead and it was replaced. They may ask you to send the bad string back so it can go to QC to determine the failure.

bassbenj · #15 08-12-2011, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenova

GHS and The Boomers

La Bella (chick singer) and the Deep Talkers

Mojo-Man · #16 08-12-2011, 12:27 AM

I love Sunbeams on my Jazz Bass.

arsie · #17 08-13-2011, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbenj

La Bella (chick singer) and the Deep Talkers

Acappella?

darkstorm · #18 08-15-2011, 12:23 AM

Lol. the rest of band name spinoffs.

Having played the sunbeams some more and further compared to neons. I gotta say that for just plain solid great sound I like the neons a little better afterall, a little bit more treble and slightly more hard hitting tone or something. Yeah the sunbeams give the bass a little more expensive refined sound, but the neons more just get at it tweak, is attracting me a bit more in the end. Not something the average listener would comment on, but that sound in headphones monitor does have a more umm, magnetic pull on me. Lol.

And I was missing the neon green color to. lol.