DR Strings Club? - Page 3

EagleMoon · #41 10-06-2009, 05:16 PM

I'll take a number. I've been using DR's for several years now and they're my favorite string. Usually Hi-Beams exclusively. I've tried the Black Beauties, the Low Riders (stainless) and the Fat Beams but didn't care for them at all. Too dull.

diglo · #42 10-06-2009, 05:20 PM

+1 for number. I play MM Fat Beam's and Lo-Riders 5's.

Mojo-Man · #43 10-06-2009, 05:23 PM

I'm a big fan of DR-Sunbeams.
My first pick for rounds. (Jazz bass)
Have not tried the Flats yet? (I dig TI flats)

**christianwelder** · #44 10-07-2009, 05:39 AM

HI folks I have been looking at D&R'S for awhile. My question is what type should I use for my G&L L2500. I play in the worship band at church and the sound is like soft rock. Thanks in advance.

Iv@N · #45 10-07-2009, 06:01 AM

I'm in! I use Fat beams 40-100 on my fretted and black beauties 40-100 on my fretless

joegeezer · #46 10-07-2009, 07:44 AM

DR's for the last ten years. Love 'em.

AN4E · #47 10-07-2009, 07:53 AM

Number me up

I use DR hi beam flats on my soon to be fretless ibanez, Sun beams on my pbass and just sold my jazz bass but used fat beams on it.

GoatGruff · #48 10-07-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NKUSigEp

Sure, I'll take a number as long as its 8. LOL

how about #8.5? lol

GoatGruff · #49 10-07-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

I'll take a number. I've been using DR's for several years now and they're my favorite string. Usually Hi-Beams exclusively. I've tried the Black Beauties, the Low Riders (stainless) and the Fat Beams but didn't care for them at all. Too dull.

#9

Quote:

Originally Posted by diglo

+1 for number. I play MM Fat Beam's and Lo-Riders 5's.

#10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iv@N

I'm in! I use Fat beams 40-100 on my fretted and black beauties 40-100 on my fretless

#11

Quote:

Originally Posted by AN4E

Number me up

I use DR hi beam flats on my soon to be fretless ibanez, Sun beams on my pbass and just sold my jazz bass but used fat beams on it.

#12

GoatGruff · #50 10-07-2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianwelder

HI folks I have been looking at D&R'S for awhile. My question is what type should I use for my G&L L2500. I play in the worship band at church and the sound is like soft rock. Thanks in advance.

I'd try out some Sunbeams, or maybe Nickel Lo-Riders. They both have a bit more warmer/smoother sound (Thanks to being nickel-plated). The Sunbeams have a round-core, and have a more flexible feeling to them. Nickel Lo-Riders have a normal hex-core, and have amore "traditional" feel to them.

Or if you want a brighter string, check out Hi-Beams, or regular Lo-Riders. They are both Stainless steel. And same thing with the core wire/ feeling. Hi-Beams are round-core, Lo-Riders hex-core.

GoatGruff · #51 10-07-2009, 11:42 AM

Just wanted to say I'm going to try to post a review of DR Long Necks pretty soon. I just haven't found the time to sit down and write it out yet.

We've had a couple of really nice reviews here, big thanks to those who took the time to post them!

Skunk11 · #52 10-07-2009, 11:44 AM

Number please - I was hoping for #11 but, oh well.

I've used stainless steel Lo-Riders for years. Tried the Fat Beams but didn't like them as much as the Lo-Riders.

I like it that they are stiffer than other strings. I play fairly heavy-handedly and DR's don't flop around and give me fret noise like other strings do.

With these strings (and my rig, of course) I'm able to get a nice clear tone that I like. Of course, you can always add fuzz, grunge, wah, or whatever you want to it, but I like to start with a nice, crystal clear, piano-like tone. The DR's help me achieve that.

GoatGruff · #53 10-07-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denchiq

Just returned from a studio where I did some checking and A/B-ing. Instead of performing myself I downloaded DR samples made by Ed Friedland:
http://www.bassemporium.com/newslett...ewsletter.html
My friend the sound engineer (who was generous to spend a few hours of his time) and I were playing the samples multiple times. I took only fingerstyle recordings. We didn't have any software that could statically register the results (other than a frequencies analyzer that showed the samples one by one) so it was ears, a pen and a sheet of paper.
I didn't read Ed Friedlands reviews intentionally before posting here, so this below is highly subjective.
First of all, studio monitors gave a different sounding picture of the samples than desktop speakers - that was to be expected.

Black Beauties - they showed massive but solid lows and moderate high mids. VERY dense in the lowest department - 20-30-40 Hz. The highs are mellow to my ear, at first I didn't like that, but gave them a second chance. On the other hand, they produce less finger noise and fret rattle. Frequencies analyzer showed very emphasized attack and fast decay, however the sound is not "lost". BBs made it to the final.

Fat Beams - unlike their name presumes, these showed lesser lows than BBs. In fact, graphically the highest points are virtually the same, somewhere at 50-63, 125-160 Hz. But the slope of BBs below 40 Hz is gentle, the one of FBs is more steep. Analyzer shows that the attack is less emphasized, although still remarkable (like -3 dD for BBs and -6 dB for FBs), but decay isn't so fast - think of a signal that has been processed with compressor/limiter.

The third set - I didn't know which ones he pushed "play" as I was watching at the EQ but I said at once, "these have a certain double bass hue", and voila! here go Flats.
Unexpectedly, the most emphasized range moved from 50-200 to 165-315 Hz (could this be the famous spanking double bass string sound?). Little than moderate attack and decay. Overall impression- not my cup of tea, although I expected more.

High Beams... frankly, I forgot. No kidding. I was doing plenty of A/B-ing of them and Sun Beams but after all, alas, they didn't make it.

Sun Beams - these were I liked the best when playing them online. Offline, and through studio monitors, they showed too harsh highs, much rattly and scratchy noise, and they were shallow in the low department. After doing some comparative work, they yielded and the semi-finalists were:

the Low Riders - Nickel and Stainless. Unexpectedly again, nickels were less bright than the lettar. Nickels are mellower; stainless were bright but not brittle. I don't remember the graph patterns now but, I felt like more character and definition in stainless. If I wanted rhythm work only, I could be getting myself Nickels or Black Beauties, the first sounding a bit more "reserved" and "vintage" maybe and the lettar more "defined" and "assured" and maybe a bit overwhelming in the lowest part - that needs control. To step forward and maybe throw in a lead I'd choose Stainless Steels. I also am a soft string picker; I need some nasal jazzy highs too.

So, the last two standing were - TA-DAAAA! - Black Beauties and Low Riders Stainless, each in their own field. I like the assured low end of the ones but the pleasant high end of the others, I can't get both but I'm fine with the loss - what do I do?
Then I asked my friend the sound engineer what would be the best choice for HIM to work with. After a short explanation he gave me an idea that a massive and resilient end is easier and more productive to work with. So much soloing! :-) Well, my bass is made of swamp ash and maple and has the Lakland LH-3 pups and Bartolini pre installed so I think it can compensate some loss of highs without them being unpleasant and unnatural.
I think I am getting Black Beauties shortly ;-)

I don't know how, but I must have scrolled past your post! I just now found it!

Awesome review!

Really cool you got a chance to A/B so many sets! Thanks for sharing your experience!

Obviously if you want a number, it's yours!

GoatGruff · #54 10-07-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skunk11

Number please - I was hoping for #11 but, oh well.

I've used stainless steel Lo-Riders for years. Tried the Fat Beams but didn't like them as much as the Lo-Riders.

I like it that they are stiffer than other strings. I play fairly heavy-handedly and DR's don't flop around and give me fret noise like other strings do.

With these strings (and my rig, of course) I'm able to get a nice clear tone that I like. Of course, you can always add fuzz, grunge, wah, or whatever you want to it, but I like to start with a nice, crystal clear, piano-like tone. The DR's help me achieve that.

I can give you #11.5 lol. Or you get lucky #13!

thudfromafar · #55 10-07-2009, 02:23 PM

DR stainless Lo-Riders are my favorite strings yet.

A new pack will tear up my fingers for a week or two, but then my fingers adapt and the strings wear down a bit!

KaizerWilhelm · #56 10-07-2009, 02:25 PM

I swear by my Steel Low Riders 45-105. Can I have a numbah??

Revmizery · #57 10-07-2009, 02:36 PM

DR long Neck 6'ers on my two Ibanez BTB406's
DR high beams on my SX fretless Jazz and old BC Rich Warlock(not really used)
Soon to be DR's on my acoustic Ibanez(got free strings when I bought it)

Does any one know if they will be making anything for an 8-string octave bass? since it's the only one that doesn't use DR.

Skunk11 · #58 10-07-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoatGruff

I can give you #11.5 lol. Or you get lucky #13!

I guess I'm ok with #13.

Thanks Goat!

**christianwelder** · #59 10-07-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoatGruff

I'd try out some Sunbeams, or maybe Nickel Lo-Riders. They both have a bit more warmer/smoother sound (Thanks to being nickel-plated). The Sunbeams have a round-core, and have a more flexible feeling to them. Nickel Lo-Riders have a normal hex-core, and have amore "traditional" feel to them.

Or if you want a brighter string, check out Hi-Beams, or regular Lo-Riders. They are both Stainless steel. And same thing with the core wire/ feeling. Hi-Beams are round-core, Lo-Riders hex-core.

Thanks alot that was great help,now to find somebody that sells them here in Sarnia ontario canada

GoatGruff · #60 10-07-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thudfromafar

DR stainless Lo-Riders are my favorite strings yet.

A new pack will tear up my fingers for a week or two, but then my fingers adapt and the strings wear down a bit!

Really? I've always found DRs stainless strings to be relatively smooth. It's one of the reasons I started using them. Are you used to nickel strings perhaps?

btw do you want a number?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaizerWilhelm

I swear by my Steel Low Riders 45-105. Can I have a numbah??

you are #14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revmizery

DR long Neck 6'ers on my two Ibanez BTB406's
DR high beams on my SX fretless Jazz and old BC Rich Warlock(not really used)
Soon to be DR's on my acoustic Ibanez(got free strings when I bought it)

Does any one know if they will be making anything for an 8-string octave bass? since it's the only one that doesn't use DR.

I really don't know? You could always shoot them an email. It's possible. Wish I could help.

If you want I can give you a number though..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skunk11

I guess I'm ok with #13.

Thanks Goat!

No problem, welcome to the club!

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianwelder

Thanks alot that was great help,now to find somebody that sells them here in Sarnia ontario canada

Glad I could help! If you can't find a dealer near you (which I think would be very unlikely). There are plenty of places you can order them online, for pretty good prices.