So I bought some Sunbeams today

Aragorn35016 · #1 10-17-2008, 03:14 PM

And theyre a pretty darn good string! I switched from Daddario XL-170's to these. The store only had the 40-100 set in stock so its a slight gauge change, but Im really digging how low tension they are. I was scared I was going to have to tweak my truss rod due to the low tension/gauge change but the neck seems pretty stable for now. They have a nice warm sound and to me are smoother feeling that the XL's were. I think Im hooked!

John

810wmb · #2 10-17-2008, 05:32 PM

i have some in the mail - i'm trying them out after playing low rider nickles (which i really like)

we will see - glad yr digging yrs!

dvh · #3 10-17-2008, 05:36 PM

Sunbeams are my favourite roundwound strings.

ausf · #4 10-17-2008, 09:25 PM

Good to hear, I have the same set in the mail as well.

I've been working through a few sets trying to find my way on a P. Went from the Fenders to Labella Slappers (nice, but too much fret buzz) to GHS Boomers (too tight) to Roto Funkmasters (great tension, lousy tone).

I'm hopin' the Sunbeams do the trick.

RCCollins · #5 10-17-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausf

Labella Slappers (nice, but too much fret buzz)

Uh, you can't blame fret buzz on strings. You have to re-do your setup to address that.

selfblessed · #6 10-18-2008, 02:21 AM

I think my favorite stings so far were the Sunbeams. Now i mus point out that DR has always impressed me. I wan to try some more Sunbeams, along with some DR flats on my fretless.

DR ROCKS!!!!

fearceol · #7 10-18-2008, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausf

Good to hear, I have the same set in the mail as well.

Same here

I decided to try them after reading a lot of good reviews.

Aragorn35016 · #8 10-18-2008, 08:29 AM

Had to do a slight adjustment this morning as I was getting a little clack in second position. Added a little over a 1/8 of a turn of relief on the Rod and its all good. These are great strings I love the texture!

Largedon · #9 10-18-2008, 08:47 AM

I need to order and tryout a set of these. I tried to find a set locally but no luck. Sounds like everyone really likes these strings.

ausf · #10 10-18-2008, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

Uh, you can't blame fret buzz on strings. You have to re-do your setup to address that.

I did. Bridge, truss rod, you name it over a period of about two weeks, but never got away from buzz until the action was too high to be worth it. I guess the exposed core didn't agree with the Badass II. Didn't make sense to me either, but the Boomers and Funkmasters had no problem when I brought the action back down.

I really liked the Labellas too. The factory is about 25 minutes from my house and I was psyched until the buzz developed. The D and G were lighter gauge than the Fenders that were originally on it, but the E and A were the same. And the D and G were the only ones that buzzed, anything above the octave.

The Funkmasters are all lighter than the Fender set but in the same ratio and no buzz.

Again, it really makes no sense, but that's what happened.

Aragorn35016 · #11 10-18-2008, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausf

I did. Bridge, truss rod, you name it over a period of about two weeks, but never got away from buzz until the action was too high to be worth it. I guess the exposed core didn't agree with the Badass II. Didn't make sense to me either, but the Boomers and Funkmasters had no problem when I brought the action back down.

I really liked the Labellas too. The factory is about 25 minutes from my house and I was psyched until the buzz developed. The D and G were lighter gauge than the Fenders that were originally on it, but the E and A were the same. And the D and G were the only ones that buzzed, anything above the octave.

The Funkmasters are all lighter than the Fender set but in the same ratio and no buzz.

Again, it really makes no sense, but that's what happened.

If you still have the strings take some calipers and measure the gauge in different places along the string. I just tried some Daddario halfrounds not long ago that around the 11 to 12th fret on the G string would totally squelch out and no matter what I did I couldnt get the bass set up to get rid if it. Turned out that the string had about a .05 variance and various places along the string. I had never seen anything like that.

Mastermold · #12 10-18-2008, 10:33 AM

I was going to try Sumbeams on my my Ric 4003, which still has the stock Ric nickle rounds on them, but instead ordered another set of stock Ric strings since they have a unique guage (.045, .055, .075, .105) and I like the tone and feel so I figured I'd stay with it for a while.

mr sprocket · #13 10-18-2008, 08:37 PM

The sunbeams are my favorite rounds right now. With a good setup it is like playing butter compared to some of the rounds. The sounds works well with my bass also.

ausf · #14 10-18-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn35016

If you still have the strings take some calipers and measure the gauge in different places along the string. I just tried some Daddario halfrounds not long ago that around the 11 to 12th fret on the G string would totally squelch out and no matter what I did I couldnt get the bass set up to get rid if it. Turned out that the string had about a .05 variance and various places along the string. I had never seen anything like that.

Will do. I'd love to figure this one out and never considered a bum string(s).

voodoobassist · #15 10-18-2008, 09:28 PM

I still love my dean markley sr2000's,...but,.. can't find them locally anymore,...so have been using the DR fatbeams,....nice strings,...but I miss my SR's

Turkeylips · #16 10-20-2008, 06:40 AM

Im currently on a StingRay with EB Regular Slinky strings and find them slightly too metallic sounding. Do you reckon that a set of Sunbeams could let some warmth into my sound?

RCCollins · #17 10-20-2008, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausf

I did. Bridge, truss rod, you name it over a period of about two weeks, but never got away from buzz until the action was too high to be worth it. I guess the exposed core didn't agree with the Badass II. Didn't make sense to me either, but the Boomers and Funkmasters had no problem when I brought the action back down.

I really liked the Labellas too. The factory is about 25 minutes from my house and I was psyched until the buzz developed. The D and G were lighter gauge than the Fenders that were originally on it, but the E and A were the same. And the D and G were the only ones that buzzed, anything above the octave.

The Funkmasters are all lighter than the Fender set but in the same ratio and no buzz.

Again, it really makes no sense, but that's what happened.

If you really liked the slapers, try some nickel lo-riders, the slappers remind me of those

dvh · #18 10-20-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turkeylips

Im currently on a StingRay with EB Regular Slinky strings and find them slightly too metallic sounding. Do you reckon that a set of Sunbeams could let some warmth into my sound?

Could make a difference. They are a nice, warm string. I find active basses in general sound clanky and metallic. However as always, YMMV!!!

Turkeylips · #19 10-20-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvh

Could make a difference. They are a nice, warm string. I find active basses in general sound clanky and metallic. However as always, YMMV!!!

Just read another thread on strings for the StingRay, where the Sunbeam/SR combination gets a lot of recommendations. I will try it and see if it makes a difference. Thanks for feedback.