Rotos to DRs ?

[AdamR]

Just wondering how many have switched from Roto 66s to Dr Hi-beams ? I love my 40-95 Rotos but I see so many recommendations for DRs Im curious. How would you describe the tone difference ?

[Dallyd31]

I use nickle low riders on my Ric. I dig them.

[mmbongo]

DR's will be smoother feeling and longer lasting for sure. They are not as 'obnoxious' sounding as Roto's though.

[NOT]

I used Rotosound for my first 3 years of playing. Now, for my main stage basses, I use DR HI Beams. They last so much longer. For the basses I essentially use at home, I use Ernie Ball Slinkys.

[Geroi Asfalta]

Test out a set....I like them, quite a bit. And they save me money even though they're $10 more. I use to have to change my Roto's every week andh hardly played because the strings would die so fast. I change my DRs every month and I abuse them.

[Coolhandjjl]

After my Roto 66's died, I first went to Hi-Beams, then onto Lo-Rider steels, and now onto DR Fat Beams. Geez. I could have got a couple more sets of Roto's for the price of my quest. But really, Rotos die so fast, they're just not practical for me, even though the Rotos really were spectacular on my Ric 4003.

I think the Fat Beams are the winners for me. See this thread I started:
DR Fat Beams...Oh Yeah!

[Zoa]

You are not gonna get a Roto sound out of DRs, but, quite simply, DRs are a higher quality string.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Both are tip top string manufacturers.

However they are constructed very differently. The size of the windings make that Rotosound sound, while the DR's have multiple layers of finer wrap wire to make up their strings.

The Rotosound may have 3 wraps around the core to make up their .105 while the DR have 6 wraps around the core to make their .105. This will create a different tone as well as a different feel... The smaller diameter wire on the outer winding of the DR give them a smoother / finer feel than the Rotosound.

You can't really compare the two or expect one sound out of one than you can the other.

When it comes down to it, its how the string manufacturer wraps the wire around the core.. tension / speed / size of wire / angles / that determine the sound the string is going to produce...

[Lesfunk]

DR>Rotosound. But you need to play them yourself and decide.
For me, DR HiBeams have a real musical, rich, warm yet clear tone when broken in. (After a couple of gigs when the "zing" begins to mellow a little). Once there, they last for a long time

[ksandvik]

I switched from Rotosound to DR Lo-Riders, steel. Very close the same sound but Lo-Riders last much longer.

[Coolhandjjl]

Originally Posted by Zoa

You are not gonna get a Roto sound out of DRs.....

Nothing sounds exactly like Roto 66's. But most folks agree that the closest alternatives are Hi-Beams, Lo-Rider steels, and Fat Beams.

[Freez]

Originally Posted by Coolhandjjl

Nothing sounds exactly like Roto 66's. But most folks agree that the closest alternatives are Hi-Beams, Lo-Rider steels, and Fat Beams.

Every time I read one of your posts, my brain "hears" it in Arnolds voice. It's pretty fun!

"Nahtting zounds eggzakly like dee Roto 66's. Baht mozt fokes ahgree dat dee clozest altearnatives are dee Hi-Beamss, dee Lo-Rider zhteels, and dee Fat Beamss."

[strappa]

i agree coolhand, rotos sounded great on the Ric I had
and sometimes when i get a new bass i think rotos will sound good on it
and they do but i always end up going back to DR Hibeams

imho, rotos are very mid focused
dr hi beams have more lows and highs

[jweber76]

I started on rotosound strings but switched to stainless highbeams on all my basses... I prefer the feel and sound on my fenders. The extended life means more time playing and less time changing strings.