whoa! Dr flats

Rooster009 · #1 01-03-2009, 10:20 PM

Just put a set of Dr HIBEAM Flats on my Warwick FNA Jazzman 5iver. Absolutely pure bliss. Great tension, tone and feel. I think I finally found my strings. They're better strings than the La Bella flats so far. Man I'm so stoked.

bassist4dalord · #2 01-03-2009, 10:27 PM

Congrats! Let me know how they sound as they break in. I just put a set of Chromes on my P-Bass. This is my third set I've owned, but I want to try some new flats in a few months. Chromes are quite bright to begin with. Not really my cup o' tea. Write a review in a few weeks time if you would. Thanks!! Rock on!

Loel · #3 01-03-2009, 10:27 PM

+1 just put DR HB-Flats on my glaub last week..love em!

Mastermold · #4 01-03-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooster009

Just put a set of Dr HIBEAM Flats on my Warwick FNA Jazzman 5iver. Absolutely pure bliss. Great tension, tone and feel. I think I finally found my strings. They're better strings than the La Bella flats so far. Man I'm so stoked.

How do they compare to La Bellla? Can you describe the tone, tension, feel, etc.?

Rooster009 · #5 01-04-2009, 05:04 AM

They have less tension than the La Bellas, So to me they are alot easier to play using bends, hammer on's and pull off's. To me they are almost as easy to play as the (clankier)Rotosound rounds I had on it. Of course being flats they have a little more tension than Rounds, But I'd say that the tension is somewhere slightly more than the Rotosound roundwounds but alot less than the La Bella Jamersons.
So far the La Bella Jamersons have less top end, but I can not give a far comparison really because the La Bella strings are on my P-bass and the DR's are on my Warwick. Lets face it the Warwick has alot more on the top end and is alot more articulate, plus the Jamerson's have been broken in so they naturally have lost some of there top end. After the DR's have broken in I'm sure they will lose some top end as well.
So far though I love the tone I'm getting with this combonation.

ProfGumby · #6 01-04-2009, 10:28 AM

I have had the DR's on one of my Jazz basses for months now. Thunder is an appropriate term...I like they feel on my fingers and their tension is a heck of a lot less than the Roto flats! And they are not tearing up my frets like the roto flats were starting to. I got them from The Perfect Bass, I think.

Also, the Web Strings Detroit Flats remind me very much of the DR's, and they are a lot more affordable, and seem to have even less tension than the DR's. And they are stinking cheap cost wise! They thunder as well, I now have them on my P Bass and let me tell you, that is exactly how a p bass should sound! (Unless you play metal)

Mastermold · #7 01-04-2009, 10:32 AM

I've got a new set of DR flats in the box -- never tried them and don't know when I will since I've got La Bella and TI flats on my P-basses now and who knows how long (years?) they'll stay on.

StyleOverShow · #8 01-04-2009, 10:24 PM

Have had Chromes on my MM Sterling for quite a while. Love the sustain but frankly the low tension (and buzzing) is problematic. Will consider the flats based on your experience.

-richard

Slax · #9 01-04-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StyleOverShow

Have had Chromes on my MM Sterling for quite a while. Love the sustain but frankly the low tension (and buzzing) is problematic. Will consider the flats based on your experience.

-richard

I didn't find the Chromes low tension at all. I thought they were pretty tight. I guess I'm just a sucker for super low tension strings. I have a set of TI Jazz flats on my P Bass now and they seem to be the right gauge (.43's) and right tension for me.

markdavid · #10 01-05-2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slax

I didn't find the Chromes low tension at all. I thought they were pretty tight. I guess I'm just a sucker for super low tension strings. I have a set of TI Jazz flats on my P Bass now and they seem to be the right gauge (.43's) and right tension for me.

+1 , I had a 105-50 set on one of my basses and had to switch to the 100-45 set as the 105-50 set felt like bridge cables , im not a fan of high tension strings though so that may have been why

Rooster009 · #11 01-20-2009, 10:12 PM

The DR HighBeam Flats are awesome. They are breaking in nicely and sounding even better every day. Awesome playability bends, slides, hammer ons, pull offs are, all executed with ease. Very little if any string to fret noise or what some refer to as clank. Now we will see how long they can last. IMO so far they are the best strings ever.

TC2112 · #12 01-21-2009, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfGumby

Also, the Web Strings Detroit Flats remind me very much of the DR's, and they are a lot more affordable, and seem to have even less tension than the DR's. And they are stinking cheap cost wise! They thunder as well, I now have them on my P Bass and let me tell you, that is exactly how a p bass should sound! (Unless you play metal)

Wow - The prices from Web Strings really are pretty great. How long have you used them?

ProfGumby · #13 01-23-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC2112

Wow - The prices from Web Strings really are pretty great. How long have you used them?

I tried this set on advice here on Talkbass. I fugured if I didn't like them they cost a heck of a lot less than the Rotosound 77's I didn't like!

I have had them on the P bass for a very short time, but I took them off my Squier VM when I put the D'Addario Chromes on that one. So I have had them strung on a bass for several months now. They get better and better everyday and I give them the nod as they feel like less tension than the DR's and are very comfortable for me to play.

And their customer service is fantastic. I had an issue with one string, and they sent a whole set in just a few days. I think I will probably replace the DR's on my Jazz with the Webstrings if they ever go bad.

Ya like flats ever go bad.........

zippydog · #14 01-31-2009, 06:16 AM

I've never used flats.
I put DR flats on my Bongo 5 string, expecting my "experiment" would be over quickly. They're still on that bass and I'm not playing my other Bongo 5 that has DR Marcus Miller strings on it at the moment because I'm really digging the sound and feel of flats. Go figure.

#15 01-31-2009, 06:27 AM

flats dont have enough grip IMO. i wanna feel my fingers shredding against the string, but thats when i play blues, when im with my metal band i use DR extralifes and they are sweeeet.

Low Main · #16 01-31-2009, 06:45 AM

Great to see all the good words about DR flats. OK, gotta try 'em.

Now, where are people getting them from? Many places don't have them or never heard of them.

Also, do they also come in 40-100, or is it just 45-105?

zippydog · #17 01-31-2009, 07:01 AM

I got mine for a great price from a dealer on ebay.
Do a search there and you'll have lots of options.

What a mess · #18 01-31-2009, 07:02 AM

Got a 5 string Lakland on the way, do I do the strings thru
or not? Going towards a more traditional sound I already have a Zon for the hi fi thing. I have even thought about Flats I play contempory christian music. I don't want it to be hard to play and was told not to string thru to keep tension low.

kevinmoore73 · #19 01-31-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What a mess

Got a 5 string Lakland on the way, do I do the strings thru or not?

I've had a set of Chromes ECB81-5SL strung through on mine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by What a mess

I don't want it to be hard to play and was told not to string thru to keep tension low.

Stringing through has nothing to do with the tension. Who told you that?