Dunlop strings INSANELY stiff?

akori · #1 12-13-2011, 10:54 AM

I wonder if anyone else has this experience:
I tried a Modulus JV out, and lowered the string height to a truly obscene clearance (only .032 on the G string at 12th fret, only .050 on the E string 12th fret), and the Dunlop strings (45 to 105) were still really stiff.
It blew my mind, because at such a low action, almost any string should feel very springy.
These Dunlops- which came stock on the new Modulus, were INSANELY stiff. Yet they advertise them as being flexible.
Thoughts?

SLaPiNFuNK · #2 12-13-2011, 03:16 PM

How long have these strings been on the instrument?

ksandvik · #3 12-13-2011, 03:19 PM

Certainly less stiff than DR Lo-Riders (have both on my bass setups just now.)

akori · #4 12-13-2011, 05:34 PM

Yeah, I was surprised...I've used Lo Riders, and these were just unnaturally stiff.

**jmattbassplaya** · #5 12-13-2011, 05:36 PM

Their SS strings are stupid stiff. Their nickles, however, feel very similar to Super Slinkies from ErnieBall.

akori · #6 12-13-2011, 05:36 PM

I can't remember if we stretched 'em. I probably tried. They were pretty fresh.
But I mean they felt like cables. I would HATE that. Maybe an anomaly in that batch.

Hopkins · #7 12-13-2011, 05:47 PM

The Dunlops I have tried weren't stiff enough for my likings.

Limeman · #8 12-13-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Their SS strings are stupid stiff. Their nickles, however, feel very similar to Super Slinkies from ErnieBall.

+1. About Dunlop steels vs. their nickels. I feel Slinkys have a bit more flexibility (I love them!!) but the Dunlop nickels are quite close. Unfortunately, I've found that the Dunlop's do not get along with my body chemistry and typically last a gig at most - if I'm lucky.

steamthief · #9 12-13-2011, 05:56 PM

I've avoided Dunlops due to what I've read about them, namely that they're fairly low tension. Maybe I'll reconsider.

R Baer · #10 12-13-2011, 05:58 PM

Never noticed the Dunlop strings I've used to have any kind of unusual amount of tension.

topo morto · #11 12-13-2011, 06:04 PM

Remember that tension and lateral stiffness are not the same thing. A pencil under a small tension is going to be stiffer than a strand of cotton under a much greater tension. Likewise, depending on the thickness and shape of the core and shape of the windings, different strings will have different stiffnesses at the same tension.

Limeman · #12 12-13-2011, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Baer

Never noticed the Dunlop strings I've used to have any kind of unusual amount of tension.

String feel is really subjective, so all comments so far make sense. A certain string might feel normal to one player, but to another, not so much. Thankfully we have so many wonderful variations on the theme, so to speak, when it comes to strings.

akori · #13 12-13-2011, 09:41 PM

Then these were laterally stiff as hell.
I couldn't believe that their ...lateral stiffness could be so profound at such a low height. I know they came stock on the Modulus VJ4. Perhaps they were pure steel.
Anyway, nice post.

svtb15 · #14 12-13-2011, 09:54 PM

I didnt find them stiff at all.
.But i did get a few bad strings in two different sets.. One bad E String that was loose and had loose windings in a 4 string set, and a low B string snapped when i put it on the bass and was bringing it up to pitch.. ughhh

electracoyote · #15 12-13-2011, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Their nickles, however, feel very similar to Super Slinkies from ErnieBall.

+1

I bought a bunch of 45-100 nickel sets during the recent BOGO sale at stringsandbeyond.com, have installed them on a couple of basses now, they don't feel overly stiff to me.

totallyfrozen · #16 12-13-2011, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akori

...INSANELY stiff

Metal Mitch · #17 12-13-2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akori

Thoughts?

Yeah. First thing I've heard that makes me want to try them!

akori · #18 12-14-2011, 10:25 AM

They must have been S.S.

akori · #19 12-14-2011, 10:34 AM

True,Limean:
I'd at least go as far as to say that a string can feel horrible for one reason or another for me (too tacky, too stiff, too scratchy, etc.), but then I can adapt to it and come to love it.
I loved Roto Swing bass, and wouldn't touch any other from about 1982 to 1990. Then I got some uneven batches, lost faith. I drifted for a LONG time, then found DR High Beams. Then one day I played Elixirs on a fretless (I had always used regular uncoated rounds on Fretless), and although they sounded slightly soft in attack, the vibrato was just so smooth and fluent. Then I put them on three fretlesses and a fretted.
Then I tried DRs again on one fretless. Felt horribly tacky. Within two days though, they felt smooth and really great for vibrato. My DR flats stunk, as far as I could tell, until I got used to them. Now, apart from being hard on my picking hand tendons, being so stiff, I do like them.
So it's all what you get used to. Personally, I like to stick with one type of string so I can do just that. I play with a very light touch, fingerstyle or pick, and need a REALLY low action. I also like springy strings. I'm loading up my FNA Jazzman 5 and my P Bass, and a fretless J with Thomastik flats this week. That will be a hoot.
Thanks.

Lorenzini · #20 12-14-2011, 04:35 PM

Dunlops are much less flexible than DR Lo Riders to me. Very flexible!