Marcus Miller Fatbeam Sig Set

Dr. Cheese · #1 07-08-2007, 02:35 PM

I just put these on my Millennium four. They are still very new, but I think I will really like them. Anybody else use the MM Sig Fatbeam set of DRs?

Tony G · #2 07-08-2007, 02:40 PM

I have used them off and on with DR Hi-Beams on my Jazz Bass, and have just picked up a 6 string set to use on my MTD 635 for its next string change. I generally like them. They might be just a touch more fuller sounding than the hi-beams, though definitely similar. I would also say they have slightly darker tone than Hi-Beams. Not much, but just enough to notice if you have the ears for it.

SuperDuck · #3 07-08-2007, 02:40 PM

I used to use them (believe it or not) on my Marcus Miller signature bass. I think they were good strings, though I can't tell a _huge_ difference between them and hi beams. They're still great strings!

Tony G · #4 07-08-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDuck

I used to use them (believe it or not) on my Marcus Miller signature bass. I think they were good strings, though I can't tell a _huge_ difference between them and hi beams. They're still great strings!

Yeah, even after I gave my little description one post up, I find myself thinking, am I just imagining a difference in tone based on the package contents? I'd be curious to know the construction or material differences between them and hi-beams, but there is no direct info from DR about that. Sometimes I wonder if there is any difference at all?

SuperDuck · #5 07-08-2007, 02:51 PM

It's a tough call to be sure... if there are any differences they are subtle. As long as the player is happy, though, I suppose that's all that matters!

saxnbass · #6 07-08-2007, 02:55 PM

I've been using Fat Beams on and off. I like to try new strings, but I always come back to Fat Beams and Rotosounds.

mellobud · #7 07-08-2007, 03:03 PM

Ive used them...Like them alot (my favorite rounds so far). I got flats now for awhile.

Dr. Cheese · #8 07-08-2007, 03:16 PM

I see Fatbeams have quite a following! I have loved Hibeams since the mid 1990's. I just put a fresh set on my ATK305 too.
I have to let these Fatbeams set a day or two so I can use my D-tuner on my Millennium, and I look out. I think my tone will be great for the St. Louis area GTG.

rsautrey · #9 07-08-2007, 08:23 PM

Tony at DR told me that the Hi-Beams and the Fat-Beams use the same stainless steel on a round core but the Fat-Beams are wound even slower than the Hi-Beams. To my ears and hands, the Fat-Beams are much stiffer and have a more pronounced midrange and not as much sparkle in the highs.

htharp · #10 07-08-2007, 08:37 PM

I find the Fat Beams to be far less "brittle" in the highs out of the package than High Beams. I could never leave a set of High Beams on that guitar long enough to let them calm down. That being said, I have 4 four string basses and I've found that each of them reacts very differently to different strings. I have a different favorite string for each one. How confusing.

KidFunky · #11 07-09-2007, 05:36 AM

I love these strings, they are my current favourites.
I use the light gauge btw which still produces a very meety sound.

Sean Baumann · #12 07-09-2007, 09:26 AM

I use 'em on my MTD 535, sound great.

I tried to fit some on my Sadowsky yesterday, but it looks like the B string outer wrap will wind around the tuner. I don't think that is a good idea

PrecisionBass · #13 07-09-2007, 11:30 PM

Marcus Miller uses the Fat Beams and Hi-Beams. Listen to the album M2 (M squared, not sure how to do superscripts), and you can clearly hear the difference between the two strings. He uses Hi-Beams for the first half and Fat Beams for teh second half (or the otehr way around, I can't remember off-hand).

But I'm glad you like them. Being an employee of DR, it's always great to hear positive feedback

joelb79 · #14 07-10-2007, 12:05 AM

I've found fat beams are keeping me with a happy tone much longer than the hi-beams. I was running through a set a week when I used them.

I love the tones of both but i'll choose life over initial spank any dang day if they sound similar. I have found though that the fats are getting me a "fat" tone so they are keepers.

jnprather · #15 07-10-2007, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsautrey

Tony at DR told me that the Hi-Beams and the Fat-Beams use the same stainless steel on a round core but the Fat-Beams are wound even slower than the Hi-Beams. To my ears and hands, the Fat-Beams are much stiffer and have a more pronounced midrange and not as much sparkle in the highs.

Bingo. My experiences exactly. I really love Fat Beams on my Cirrus for fingerstyle playing.

bassist 4 life · #16 07-10-2007, 04:51 AM

best strings ever.

RavCat · #17 07-10-2007, 05:09 AM

I've got them on my Custom Shop Streamer at the moment, and I love them - they're an excellent mate to the Nordstrand MM pickup on there.

Is it my imagination, or do they seem just a little less tense than the same gauge Hi Beams? They just seem a little more easy going action-wise when I'm slapping, but still offer a perfect amount of resistance when digging in fingerstyle.

joelyb · #18 07-10-2007, 07:37 AM

these strings rock my world. i hve yet to find anything that i like anywhere near as much as these guys. i tried the bootzillas for a while, they were cool but i love those fat beams

Dr. Cheese · #19 07-11-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist 4 life

best strings ever.

+1 They take the edge off the preamp on my Millennium which is mega-powerful. The slightly darker tone is perfect for active basses. My Millennium sounded perfect at rehearsal. I played my ATK305 with the Hi-Beams, and it really sounded a but tinny compared to the Millennium with the Fatbeams. Fortunately the treble on my ATK is smooth and when I turned it down, the tone very closely resembled the Fatbeams.

PrecisionBass · #20 07-13-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsautrey

Tony at DR told me that the Hi-Beams and the Fat-Beams use the same stainless steel on a round core but the Fat-Beams are wound even slower than the Hi-Beams. To my ears and hands, the Fat-Beams are much stiffer and have a more pronounced midrange and not as much sparkle in the highs.

Hey, I know Tony! He's a really good guy, knows a lot too.

Once again, Marcus used Hi-Beams on half of M squared and Fat Beams on the other half.