Sunbeam love!!

Ostrobothnian · #1 09-16-2011, 04:21 PM

For my entire (short) career with bass I had only used SS strings: Rotosound Swing66 almost exclusively.
Now that I dared to to try some nickel DR Sunbeams, Im sold. No more stainless steel for me. The warm, yet gritty sound of nickel just blew me away instantly!

What have your experiences with the Sunbeams been like? Might I like Lo-Riders or Hi-Beams?

madbassplaya · #2 09-16-2011, 04:23 PM

I have Sunbeams on my SR5 HH and it's a beautiful thing...

fenderhutz · #3 09-16-2011, 04:24 PM

I am slowly using up all my strings to use Sunbeams solely. I got a set of DR Bootsy strings on my jazz with a set of Sunbeams waiting in the wings.

My favorite string right now.

Ostrobothnian · #4 09-16-2011, 04:32 PM

I never stepped outside the Rotosound territory because Geddy, Squire, Jaco etc. use(d) them... I guess this is how your tone starts to take shape.

**Staccato** · #5 09-16-2011, 05:01 PM

Try Sunbeams on a P bass and see!

fenderhutz · #6 09-16-2011, 05:09 PM

I got TI flats on my P

Mike M. · #7 09-16-2011, 06:34 PM

I wanted to try a set of strings with a round as opposed to a hex core so I thought I'd try the Sunbeams on my Jazz bass. I like them. Not stiff by any means but not too loose either. The thing I really like about them is that they are helping me with my attempts at the slap style. With a hex core string being stiffer my attempts at slap sounded, well, stiff. The looser feel of the Sunbeams has really helped me to flow a bit more. Granted, I'm still pretty much a beginner at the slap style and have got miles to go, but the slightly looser feel of the Sunbeams have really helped me.

Folmeister · #8 09-16-2011, 06:46 PM

Sunbeams are my favorite string of all time. I have tried just about everything and always come back to the sunbeams.

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #9 09-16-2011, 06:51 PM

I'm more of a "steel" player and that's why I prefer the Hi-Beams (best string ever so far for me), but anyway, every time someone mentions DR Sunbeams, I like to quote bass luthier Bud LeCompte:

Quote:

Q. Why do you use DR Sunbeam strings and can I get something else installed on my bass?

A. I think the Sunbeams are probably the most sonically pure string I've heard to date. The nickel plating keeps things smoothed out.

( LeCompte Electric Bass - Custom Bass Guitars )

darkstorm · #10 09-17-2011, 08:58 PM

Sunbeams are good. a bit darker sounding then neons. but they also do touch and bell harmonics easier then the neons. I mainly just use neons now, but rotosound swing 66 and dr sunbeams are my other fave picks.

Slappin'Da Bass · #11 09-17-2011, 09:13 PM

You will die of happiness after using Hi-Beams. No joke.

madbassplaya · #12 09-17-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slappin'Da Bass

You will die of happiness after using Hi-Beams. No joke.

I prefer Sunbeams.

invalidprotocol · #13 09-18-2011, 12:29 AM

Got Sunbeams on my Schecter Diamond P

Nomad5 · #14 09-18-2011, 12:58 AM

+1
Absolutely love Sunbeams. For some reason, though Hi-Beams work better on my active 5er. On the Jazz (the workhorse) Sunbeams have kept me happy for the past year, and I can't think of another string I've liked better overall.

Zoa · #15 09-18-2011, 01:22 AM

Sunbeams are simply beautiful.

Ostrobothnian · #16 09-19-2011, 11:44 AM

Thanks for the replies, guys! I shall try the Hi-beams on my Yamaha Trb1005!

96tbird · #17 09-19-2011, 12:34 PM

New convert to Sunbeams, crazy sound from these nickels and great feel.

P-oddz · #18 09-19-2011, 12:46 PM

Love me some Sunbeams! Great response, and a warm, round, punchy tone with smooth highs and upper mids. In my experience, they perform really well for a good couple of months and then one day you'll just notice your tone go to hell, and then you'll know when to replace them.

Was using DR stainless Lo-Riders for a while and Hi Beams for a touch as well, but for me Sunbeams on my jazz is the way to go.