Dunlop Strings?

Craig_S · #1 07-03-2009, 02:04 PM

How's the tension, compared to D'Addario?

Craig_S · #2 07-04-2009, 11:36 AM

Nobody uses the Dunlop strings?

The packaging says they're "designed to provide low tension with minimal break-in time". I like the tension of D'Addario and Ernie Ball strings.

The reason I'm curious about the tension is that I have a set. A local bass builder recommended them, so I bought a set without reading the packaging. I consider the strings I am used to to be higher tension strings. I don't want to put the Dunlops on without hearing about the tension, from someone who uses them.

I'll likely just try them on one of the basses I don't gig often. The Dunlop site has them being used by some pretty heavy hitters. They're surely worth a shot.

snyderz · #3 07-04-2009, 11:42 AM

I thought you were talking about tennis racquets. Sorry, I haven't tried Dunlop bass strings.

Craig_S · #4 07-05-2009, 12:12 PM

I was told the (Jim) Dunlop strings are designed by the same guy who started DR. That alone should make some of you, at least, a little curious. It worked for me.

I haven't put them on a bass yet. Maybe later today. I'll get back to you...

HMZ · #5 07-05-2009, 12:14 PM

I bought a set of Dunlop strings but not yet tried them.

hasbeen · #6 07-05-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

I was told the (Jim) Dunlop strings are designed by the same guy who started DR. That alone should make some of you, at least, a little curious. It worked for me.

I haven't put them on a bass yet. Maybe later today. I'll get back to you...

just an fyi....this isn't true. Yes, he was a winder at DR but, he wasn't THE designer and he didn't start DR.

Craig_S · #7 07-05-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hasbeen

just an fyi....this isn't true. Yes, he was a winder at DR but, he wasn't THE designer and he didn't start DR.

Good to know. Now, I wonder if it was intentionally embellished or just poor recollection on the part of the salesperson.

My Findings:
I put them on my ash/rosewood P-Bass, with a Duncan SPB1 pickup, and played them for about an hour. I have the bass over my shoulder as I'm typing this.

Feel: Smooth, like nickel should be. They feel soft. I have to play with a lighter touch than I'm used to, on these. I tend to dig in a bit more than they allow. I love the soft feel under my left hand, though. Very nice. If you're used to stiff feeling strings, these will take a bit of getting used to.

Sound: They seem to have a nice fundamental presence. Yes, you hear the harmonics, too, but I foresee a nice thump after break in. The mids are nice. The high end is crisp and snappy. They sound pretty even, to me.

I like them. I don't know if they sound much better than others in their price range. But I think they're a good solid choice. They feel great.

Now, to see how long they last...

Darkstrike · #8 07-05-2009, 03:23 PM

Very odd, I find them quite high in tension.

Craig_S · #9 07-05-2009, 03:36 PM

I consider the Cleartones I've been using to be high tension. The Dunlop strings feel soft to me. I'm getting buzzes when I wouldn't normally.

What strings do you normally use?

Darkstrike · #10 07-05-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

What strings do you normally use?

The Dunlops!

Or Roto Swings. A few sets of Chromes, TI's, Roto Flats, DR Lowriders, in the past I've used D'Addario, Ernie Ball, TI Superalloys, and lots of other brands.

The only ones I found higher tension than the Dunlops, in rounds, are Optima Golds & TI Superalloys. Bit the Optimas are severly hgh tension, and were a lighter guage, lol.

I find them to be very similar to DR Lowriders nickle plated, tension wise, maybe just a bit tighter than the DRs.

Craig_S · #11 07-05-2009, 04:04 PM

Really?... I seem to have developed the dreaded "Gorilla Grip".

Oh the shame!

Great... Now you've got me pulling out my other basses to compare the feel.

The Dunlops seem slightly less stiff than the D'Addarios in the same guage, and even less stiff than the Cleartone strings. This is likely why I believe they feel soft. It could be that the Cleartones are extremely stiff feeling. I'm quite used to the Cleartones right now.

Anyway... I like the darned Dunlops, but they'll take some getting used to. Hmph!

I'll bet you're one of those girlie men who plays with a feather touch, aren't you...

Darkstrike · #12 07-05-2009, 04:12 PM

Sorry dude!

Very odd, I have zero experience with the Cleartone strings, but one of the things that made me stop with D'Addario was the low tension, hmm, I may have to pick another pack up....

The Dunlops are nice strings, I hope you do get used to them.

Craig_S · #13 07-05-2009, 04:16 PM

I'm liking them, so far. How do they last for you?

Darkstrike · #14 07-05-2009, 04:20 PM

They last really long, I can get 4 to 7 months, depending on how much I play the paticular bass, usually, but if I go to my guitarists for a night(heavy smoker), they're done dead the next day usually. But thats the same with *any* strings I've had, thinking of trying some coated ones.

hasbeen · #15 07-05-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

Really?... I seem to have developed the dreaded "Gorilla Grip".

Oh the shame!

Great... Now you've got me pulling out my other basses to compare the feel.

The Dunlops seem slightly less stiff than the D'Addarios in the same guage, and even less stiff than the Cleartone strings. This is likely why I believe they feel soft. It could be that the Cleartones are extremely stiff feeling. I'm quite used to the Cleartones right now.

Anyway... I like the darned Dunlops, but they'll take some getting used to. Hmph!

I'll bet you're one of those girlie men who plays with a feather touch, aren't you...

I was speaking to Dunlop early on in their development of these strings. They were purposely trying to get softer feel than what you experience with D'Addario so, your summation is correct.

If you're getting buzzing, it may help if you move your right hand back torwards the bridge more....if you haven't already.

kirkm24 · #16 07-05-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

They last really long, I can get 4 to 7 months, depending on how much I play the paticular bass, usually, but if I go to my guitarists for a night(heavy smoker), they're done dead the next day usually. But thats the same with *any* strings I've had, thinking of trying some coated ones.

So strings can go dead by second hand smoke? I've never heard of that. Since none of the places I play at allow smoking (including bars) my strings are never exposed.

Darkstrike · #17 07-05-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hasbeen

I was speaking to Dunlop early on in their development of these strings. They were purposely trying to get softer feel than what you experience with D'Addario so, your summation is correct.

I'm still very suprised by this, I was always curious as to why they say low tension on the packs, and are so high. In fact, one of the reasons I like them so much, is how low I can get my action without buzz.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkm24

So strings can go dead by second hand smoke? I've never heard of that. Since none of the places I play at allow smoking (including bars) my strings are never exposed.

Yeah, I leave a bass in his for the night, say 10 hours, and about 5 jamming before leaving it there, stone cold dead.

hasbeen · #18 07-05-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

I'm still very suprised by this, I was always curious as to why they say low tension on the packs, and are so high. In fact, one of the reasons I like them so much, is how low I can get my action without buzz.

Hmmm....I'm afraid I can't have any insight as to how the feel for you. They are more flexible though than D'Addario, Roto's and Boomers. They also feel much smoother.

Darkstrike · #19 07-05-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hasbeen

Hmmm....I'm afraid I can't have any insight as to how the feel for you. They are more flexible though than D'Addario, Roto's and Boomers. They also feel much smoother.

Very, very strange, they are a lot smoother, thats another thing I love about them.

I've been using them with two, maybe three years, I've done Boomers & D'Addario, as is right now, within hands reach, I have a bass with Dunlops, Rotos, and one with Lowriders(on a 35" scale bass), and the Dunlops are the tightest, for sure.

phillm47 · #20 07-07-2009, 08:59 AM

I can only speak from my own experience, but I do not find Dunlops to be "high tension". I don't play D'Addario, so I can't compare. Out of my four basses, two are strung with Dunlop 45-105 nickels, one with DR SS Lo-Riders, the other with Fender 7150's. The Dunlops are the lowest tension of than bunch.

Same bass comparisons: On my MIA Fender jazz, I find the Dunlops to be similar, tension wise, as the Fender 8250's & DR Fat Beams that this bass has worn previously. On my MIA P bass, I thought the Dunlops had a slightly lighter tension compared to the Fender 7250's it worn previously. String gauges were all the same - except the Fender 8250's which have a taper core .110 E string. Are there better string out there, sure...but at $15.00 a set for the Dunlops, they are a steal, IMO.