Hibeam tension with a little more growl and oomph

LightGroove · #1 05-12-2009, 08:02 PM

Hey now,

Playing a 34" jazz style bass. Love the feel of my DR Hi-beams just a little polite and top end for my liking. Love the warmth and growl of my Nickel Lo-riders but the tension is a bit much.

Anyone out there have suggestions of a combination of both?

I'm open to other brands as well.

Jaco who? · #2 05-12-2009, 09:08 PM

DR Sunbeams are round core just like the highbeams, but nickel.

EZ9R · #3 05-13-2009, 03:31 AM

Maybe try DR Fat Beams. To me, they have more of a mid punch and more bottom than the Hi Beams. Slightly more tension, but I think they cut through the mix better that the Hi Beam IMO.

LightGroove · #4 05-13-2009, 08:23 AM

Interesting as I have Sunbeams and they have a bit more tension. I think the Hi-beams are great doing solo/noodle work but once the band hits rock mode

Open to more suggestions

rpatter · #5 05-13-2009, 10:51 AM

+1 on the Sun Beams having a bit more tension, but only a bit. They are nowhere near as stiff as Lo Riders. When I first read your original post I thought "Oh, he wants Sun Beams then", but I see you already have them. I had the exact opposite experience with Sun Beams in a rock setting. To me the Sun Beams had great tone, but the extra edge of the Hi Beams helps me cut through better.

Ralf

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightGroove

Interesting as I have Sunbeams and they have a bit more tension. I think the Hi-beams are great doing solo/noodle work but once the band hits rock mode

Open to more suggestions

jasper383 · #6 05-13-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightGroove

Hey now,

Playing a 34" jazz style bass. Love the feel of my DR Hi-beams just a little polite and top end for my liking. Love the warmth and growl of my Nickel Lo-riders but the tension is a bit much.

Anyone out there have suggestions of a combination of both?

I'm open to other brands as well.

How about Lo-Riders in one gauge lighter?

LightGroove · #7 05-15-2009, 06:22 PM

Def. a thought...

Tony G · #8 05-15-2009, 06:25 PM

Dunlop stainless steel strings. They have the nice smooth feel of DR Hi Beams, but with more punch and fundamental in my opinion.

rbolanos · #9 05-15-2009, 07:02 PM

After trying back and forth with DR Hibeams and Lowriders, I felt , somebody should make a string that fits in between. snappy highs with presence and string tension a bit less than Lowriders.
asnwer: MTD 30 to 130X (Med)
give them a try. I am enjoying them very much and they have lasted for about two months , they still have a lot of snap.
good luck
Ruddy

HEADLE · #10 05-15-2009, 07:43 PM

My preference right now for the best of both worlds is Dean Markley Alchemy Golds. Lots of zing but a bit stiffer than a highbeam.

H

LightGroove · #11 05-16-2009, 05:32 PM

Well the "zing" is great in solo/noodle mode for me and jamming with friends but in a live context is totally lost. I played Lo-rider nickels last week and they sounded great but again the tension is noticeable to me. Not sure why I'm sensitive to it but I am. I can instantly feel a difference in my neck...action gets slightly higher..etc

I also don't slap outside of noodling...almost 100% fingerstyle.

Wasn't sure if a brand like SIT or some of the others mentioned on this site had something comperable. I'm by no means die hard DR..although like some of what I've played.

I remember some coated DR's that I liked but can remember how they compare tension wise.

Worm meat · #12 05-16-2009, 06:08 PM

There's a small company named Oasis that does a flex-core nickle wound string that might meet your needs. I saw in your profile that you have a Peavey Cirrus, and from my experience using them on my Cirrus they add a lot of grow as compared to Hi Beams while keeping about the same tension.

CiRRuS~BaSS · #13 05-16-2009, 07:37 PM

Ive got a Peavey Cirrus too and was planning on picking up some Sunbeams this coming week. I didnt understand what you thought of them...were they enough to cut through the mix or not enough? If they arent I might go for some Fat Beams...

IdealWay · #14 05-17-2009, 02:16 PM

I've heard that the Lo-Riders are great for setting up low action because of their tension. I have a 35" scale bass and am considering buying some. How stiff are they exactly (compared to D'Addario's or Ernie Balls)?

LightGroove · #15 05-17-2009, 02:55 PM

Hey Cirrus... I've tried several different brands I;ve tried the Cirrus strings, Sunbeams, TI Superalloy, and the Nickel Lo riders. The Sunbeams really emphasized a certain mid frequency. Almost sounded honky . They cut just fine but really didnt have a personality if that makes sense. More mid focus and whoomph then growl and zip.

Nickel Lo-riders kill on the Cirrus.

Ideal.. I'd say they would work nice on a 35" scale. Again its not MAJOR tension but I'd say less than the SS version. Still a bit more than hibeams but again your giving up growl/meat for articulation .

CiRRuS~BaSS · #16 05-18-2009, 02:36 PM

Thats an interesting perspective, and exactly what Ive been looking for in a review of strings for the Cirrus. lol

I think Ill try the lo-riders...