Sunbeams or lo-riders on a fretless?

Andy419 · #1 07-16-2008, 12:17 AM

Well I've decided to be adventurous and buy rounds for the fretless I'm gonna get in the near future. (I'm buying them now so I can break them in on my P bass). I don't really have the cash to try both so I wanna try to make a good decision the first time. Anyone have any experiance or knowledge of the effects on the fretboard and the overall sound. (It's a standard fretless J bass). I play with a light touch most of the time, but I do get into some slap and heavy grooving every now and then. Any suggestions and comments? O, and if anyone knows anything about the harmonics on sunbeams and lo-riders I'd like to know how they are.

Also, I really love the Jaco chorus like sound when you play near the bridge, so a string that brought that out would make my day. Not saying I wanna sound just like Jaco, but it's a nice sound.

fourstringdrums · #2 07-16-2008, 12:23 AM

I used to use Sunbeams on Fretless and I preferred them over lowriders. They had a softer feel and I believe DR recommends them for fretless.

But it was a long time ago so i can't elaborate more on your question.

amos · #3 07-16-2008, 01:05 AM

lo-riders are stainless I think. Personally I would get the sun-beams just cause they are nickel and have a better feel IMO.

MysticMichael · #4 07-16-2008, 09:23 AM

Either one would probably work just fine for your needs. But yes, the Sunbeams are a little more flexible, and are very well-suited to fretless.

DRs are compression-wound, so they have a smoother feel than traditional roundwounds. As a result, you don't get the same degree of friction or string noise. They're a little easier on the fingerboard too.

And by the way? Lo-Riders are available in either stainless steel or nickel. Just so you know...

Just buy a set and see for yourself...

MM

Davo-London · #5 07-18-2008, 01:39 AM

I use Sunbeams on a fretless and love the tones you get.

Here are some samples on a Jaco Jazz:

http://www.heathette.com/music/Harm%20loop3.mp3

http://www.heathette.com/music/Cmin%20ballad.mp3

Davo

nemo · #6 07-18-2008, 01:55 AM

+1 very happy with Sunbeams feel and tone on fretless fiver.

ga_edwards · #7 07-18-2008, 03:20 AM

You might want to think about DR's colored coated strings. I believe they are sunbeams (?). They sound broken in out of the packet, reduce finger noise, may be a bit kinder to your fretboard, and look funky.

ganga · #8 07-18-2008, 03:23 AM

I can recommend Sunbeams on a Fretless.

Such a great tone.

ErnieD · #9 07-18-2008, 09:08 AM

I just put a set of these red coated strings on my 55-02D last nite, its fretted but this is just for reference sake. I always use nickels on all my basses, cept for Chrome flats on my fretted Jazz 4. So I was hesitant to try these cause I think I read here they are just DR Hi-beams, roundwound coated strings. I just took Sunbeams off the -02D to put these on, mainly just to try out new strings and thought the red would look cool against the cherryburst body/maple board, they do

. I'll see how they work out at gig this Sat nite, so far they do feel better than most rounds I used to use. We'll see how they and my fingers hold up after gig manana.

Gintaras · #10 07-18-2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

I used to use Sunbeams on Fretless and I preferred them over lowriders. They had a softer feel and I believe DR recommends them for fretless.

But it was a long time ago so i can't elaborate more on your question.

I have Sunbeams on my franken fretless. They are smoother than the Loriders that I have on my T-40. The Loriders have more tension than the Sunbeams. The DR website actually recommends the sunbeams for fretless.
I am using Nickel LoRiders but they are available in Nickel and Stainless. Can't comment on the stainless till next week when I put a set on my Grendel 5.

Andy419 · #11 07-18-2008, 11:49 AM

Does anyone know about harmonics on either of the two strings?

MysticMichael · #12 07-18-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy419

Does anyone know about harmonics on either of the two strings?

Can't speak from experience on the Sunbeams, but the Lo-Riders may have slightly more pronounced harmonics, due to the hex core and greater stiffness...

MM

Davo-London · #13 07-19-2008, 08:55 PM

Both strings have well defined harmonics. This isn't a deciding factor IMHO.

Davo

()smoke() · #14 07-20-2008, 11:12 AM

depends on whether you prefer a softer or stiffer feel, since both are available in nickel

i like lo-riders a lot for fingerstyle playing because i can dig in without getting as much string flop--this is really what lo-riders are designed to do from what i understand, which is allow low action with a controlled string travel

i use nickel lo-riders on my fretless J, and steel lo-riders on my fretted J...although i'm considering going back to fat beams on my fretted for a little more slinkiness for thumping/popping

joelc1319 · #15 07-21-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ()smoke()

i like lo-riders a lot for fingerstyle playing because i can dig in without getting as much string flop--this is really what lo-riders are designed to do from what i understand, which is allow low action with a controlled string travel

i use nickel lo-riders on my fretless J, and steel lo-riders on my fretted J...although i'm considering going back to fat beams on my fretted for a little more slinkiness for thumping/popping

+1 about digging in. I put Stainless Lo-Riders on my Warwick Corvette (Fretted) after having Hi-Beams on it for a while, and the bass has never played better. I feel that Lo-Riders are very well suited for fretted basses.

I do have Hi-Beams on my fretted Jazz Bass and I'm not sure if I'm completely satisfied with them...they're a little bit buzzy and I'm not sure if its my setup or the strings. In the case of the Warwick, it was the strings that were making strange buzzes. Anyone have any idea if the Lo-Riders would be better on the Jazz Bass as well?

As far as for a fretless, which I'll have soon, I am also trying to decide between Sunbeams or Nickel Lo-Riders...so I will stay tuned to this thread

Lorenzini · #16 07-21-2008, 01:31 PM

Ok, personally I would put Sunbeams on my fretless jazz bass.
I like Lo-Riders but I wouldn't like the stainless steel version on a fretless, I would definitely go nickel.

I think you need to try them out yourself, starting with the Sunbeams. They are recommended for fretless playing!

One thing I do know is you really can't go wrong with DR strings. Across the boards, every string they make is good and suit so many different styles. Have fun experimenting! I sure did

Gintaras · #17 07-21-2008, 02:21 PM

This post has got me thinking about what to use on my fretless!?!?!? I have Nickel Loriders on my T-40 and Sunbeams on my Franken Fretless. Going on vacation but going to switch them when I get back to see what happens. I would like to soften up the T-40 and get a little more bite on the fretless. Not too worried about the difference on the roughness of the string because the fretless board is expoxied.

Lorenzini · #18 07-21-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gintaras

This post has got me thinking about what to use on my fretless!?!?!? I have Nickel Loriders on my T-40 and Sunbeams on my Franken Fretless. Going on vacation but going to switch them when I get back to see what happens. I would like to soften up the T-40 and get a little more bite on the fretless. Not too worried about the difference on the roughness of the string because the fretless board is expoxied.

How interesting. Well, everyone's string preference and what they want to get out of the string is different. Hopefully this thread helped!

Andy419 · #19 07-21-2008, 10:13 PM

Well I ordered the Sunbeams so I'll see how they play and post back. Might take awhile for them though because Guitar Center stuff usually takes awhile to ship to where I live. EDIT: Great, now they are backordered. ****.

machine gewehr · #20 07-22-2008, 05:43 AM

I'm about to buy a set of D'addario nickels for my new fretless buy you guys just gave me GAS for DRs again.They are sold too far man I don't wanna go all the way.