Sunbeams vs. Nickel Lo-Riders: thoughts from DR strings

[Ryan Mohr]

I emailed DR strings yesterday morning simply asking what were the tonal differences between their Sunbeams and Nickel Lo-Riders. Here is the response I received:

Originally Posted by DR Strings

-----Original Message-----
From: DR Staff <drstaff@drstrings.com>
To: ryanjmohr@aol.com
Cc: Rachna Jain <Rachna@DRstrings.com>
Sent: Mon, Sep 14, 2009 9:28 am
Subject: Re: Sunbeams vs. Nickel Lo-Riders



Hi Ryan,

Tonally the Sunbeams are twice as bright as the nickel Lo-Riders. The Nickel Lo-Riders are better for bottom end, deeper tones.

Hope that helps,

The DR Staff

I figured this would be useful information to add to the strings section.

[Ryan Mohr]

Supposed to be in strings, my mistake...

[Metal Mitch]

Thanks. I wish you had posted that before I bought a set of Sunbeams...

I put them on and was shocked at the brightness. They sounded like steel to me. I thought there may have been a mistake and they put Hi Beams in a Sunbeams box. They seemed to mellow out pretty quickly, but I definitely bought the wrong string for what I wanted to do.

[madbassplaya]

Really?!?!

I wish I would've known before I bought a set of Sunbeams over Nickel Lowriders because I thought they were supposed to be warmer. I hate the sound of these strings. As soon as I get a new set, i'm getting rid of them.

[DavePlaysBass]

I played one set of each and would concur. I have never found any real magic in DR strings (Sunbeam, Nickel Lo Riders, Steel Lo Riders). But that's just me I guess. A lot of people seem to really like them.

[chrisp2u]

The Sunbeams are nice for fretless. Used to use the Lo Riders when I first got DR's... the past few years it's Hi Beams on all my basses (except fretless). I didn't like the stiffness of the Lo Riders.

Went through 5 or 6 sets of different brand strings in a few weeks searching for the right combo of feel and sound before I landed on DR's... something about them clicks for me.

Been curious to try some of the other well-regarded, more higher-end/quality strings, but haven't felt the need.
---
c

[Surly]

Both are harsh IMO, but not bad strings. I'm back to Fenders for P-bass/classic P-tones, mostly with a pick.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by Surly

Both are harsh IMO, but not bad strings. I'm back to Fenders for P-bass/classic P-tones, mostly with a pick.

+1, I think the Fender nickel rounds, 7250s or 7150s, are IT for warm/fat/thick/mellow old-school roundwound tones.

[jmain]

I agree. Generally, the Sunbeams have more zing and the nickel Lo-Riders more low-mid punch and less top end, and also a tighter low end.

Also, the Sunbeams are round core and the Lo-Riders are hex core, making the LRs feel a little stiffer. I'm using steel Lo-Riders on my JO5 right now and have used the other two on it also. Next set will be nickel Lo-Riders although the steels aren't bad. Just more of a nickel guy.

[Surly]

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

+1, I think the Fender nickel rounds, 7250s or 7150s, are IT for warm/fat/thick/mellow old-school roundwound tones.

Any comparison of 7250's to the 8250's?

I'm currently using the 7150's and like the tone, but they're a bit stiff. 8250's are sweet.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by Surly

Any comparison of 7250's to the 8250's?

I'm currently using the 7150's and like the tone, but they're a bit stiff. 8250's are sweet.

I haven't tried the 7250s, so I'm just going off what I have heard. But, I have used 7150s, and they are the most warm, buttery, organic, old-school sounding rounds I have ever played. I have a feeling the 7250s have a fatter, deeper bottom and more bite up to, while being slightly less warm than the 7150s.

[jmattis]

Sunbeams are some of my favorite strings out there. They have their own thing going on, which I really like. They also last longer than average, which always is a nice plus for me.