Standard + Drop D rounds

[LennyPenny]

I searched for something useful but didn't find specifically what I'm after.
I'd like to use my ATK for reggea and other stuff in standard tuning, but also for drop D. Is a 45-110 what I'm after? DR Sunbeams, Lo-riders or black beauties are looking very good but they only come in 45-105.
Which of these will be most suited:
-Lo-riders 45-105
-Black beauties 50-110
-Sunbeams 45-105
These all supposedly have a warm tone with some bite to them, which is what I'm after, nothing too harsh.

Thanks!

[rockstarbassist]

If you want more warmth look at Nickel sets from some of those sets.
Also .105s probably will be fine for drop D and Std as well.

[LennyPenny]

I understand that Sunbeams are always nickel, and yes, I was going for the nickel lo-riders. So 50-110 is going to be to much tension for standard? I don't have a real preference, but I'd like to avoid very high tension.

If it matters: the ATK is a string through body only.

[Phendyr_Loon]

I'm using .110-.50 Black Beauties on my Jazz deluxe and do some drop D stuff.
The bass is very hot and BB's help to tame it a bit.

[LennyPenny]

Originally Posted by Phendyr_Loon

I'm using .110-.50 Black Beauties on my Jazz deluxe and do some drop D stuff.
The bass is very hot and BB's help to tame it a bit.

Excellent! I'll probably get me a set a those then. Are they high tension strings overall?

[mmbongo]

Black Beauties are very low tension, they have round cores.

[tylerwylie]

You can do custom sets at bassstringsonline.com with 45-65-85-110. Works rather well for me.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by LennyPenny

I understand that Sunbeams are always nickel, and yes, I was going for the nickel lo-riders. So 50-110 is going to be to much tension for standard? I don't have a real preference, but I'd like to avoid very high tension.

If it matters: the ATK is a string through body only.

No .110 isn't too much at all. I just didn't know if the sets you were interested in had those gauges available. .110 is just fine for D also but .105 IME is good as well.

[LennyPenny]

Since the black beauties are round core, would 50-110 be about the same as Roto swing66 45-105? I like the Rotos tension wise and think the BBs would look cool on the ATK (blue with maple neck).
Which of the three (BB, Sun or Lo) would be the mellowest? Even with the bass maxed on my ATK, the D'Addarios are still too bright.

[knuckle_head]

Start with what you know and like - what do you prefer for standard E?

[LennyPenny]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

Start with what you know and like - what do you prefer for standard E?

On my P-bass, so far I've tried:
-stock strings, which I assume are Fenders (red silk)
-GHS precision 45-105: nice tone, but a bit too mellow
-Roto swing66 45-105: like them a lot now that they're broken in some more, were a bit too bright at first. I imagine they're going to be too bright on the ATK.

On the (used) ATK, I've only tried the D'Addarios it came with, which are too bright.

The drop D option isn't that important, I'd just like to be able to tune down if necessary, ATM everything I play is in standard E.

[knuckle_head]

Any .105 set is on the tighter side, and a reasonably tight D string would be around a .115. If you come by a .110 to put under the rest of the gauges you already use you will be best served. If you do this, set up your bass tuned to Eb so that intonation is not too far out of whack at E or D.

The .110 will be slightly tight at E and slightly loose at D. Always better to split the difference on tension - it's easier on technique and your instrument.

[AmadeusXeno]

I'm not sure about the nickle versions of the dr strings but I found that highbeams (the ss counterpart to sunbeams) are more mellow sounding over all then lo riders. I think the round core has a lot to do with that. The coating on bb's helps mellow them out but they are still a ss string so if you want the mellowest option you will probably enjoy the sunbeams most. I use 45-105 for standard tuning and have used the same gauge here and there for drop d without problems. If you spend more time in the drop d tuning you might want the 110 or 115 gauge.

[LennyPenny]

Sounds like the Sunbeams would suit me best. Like I said, the drop D thing is only of marginal importance. The black beauties continue to intrigue me, though, even if it's 75% esthetially