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A question for DR String users

Of the sets listed, which is your go-to?

  • Total voters
    243
#81
I've been loving the Black Beauties on my 6 string so much that I ordered a 4 string set (40-100) for my Precision (P/J). My 6 string is more for writing, classical and tribal/experimental music.

The full, rich balanced tone of the Black Beauties will be great for my Precision when playing more traditional genres (Blues, Rock, etc.). The BB's still have enough punch and brightness for when I play more aggressively with my Precision...may look nice on this too...

PJSun.jpg
 
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#83
bucephylus said:
Hi Beams. I use them for every style of music; Blues, R&B, R&R, Classic Rock, Country, etc; on most of my basses.

I have also used Sunbeams for certain instruments, which tend to be a little to bright.

I did a stint with the Lo-Riders, after Roger Sadowsky promoted the hex core benefits. Those can sound really great; but, I found them to be sensitive / finicky with install; due to intolerance for ANY twisting whatsoever. Ran out of patience.
Click to expand...
Great feedback. It's interesting you found SB's brighter than HB's. To me, it's the other way around.
 
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#84
BassinCT said:
Pure Blues 45-125. I have to be a chameleon and cover many styles, and the PB's are a good middle ground. naturally broken-in sounding on my J-inspired SGW
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Thank you. I have to admit I haven't tried PB's yet. How do you feel they differ from Sunbeams? I'll have to try PB's
 
#89
I just swapped out the stock SS rounds (not sure what brand the bass came with) for the DR Black Beauties because they sounded so good on my 6 string.

I love their tone and feel on my P/J 4 string!. Gauge is 40-100 (I wanted slightly lighter strings on it). So full, deep and just the right amount of brightness. I can get that classic Precision thump or that aggressive punchy tone as well.

PJ-Old-strings.jpg


PJ-BBs.jpg
 
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#90
hasbeen said:
Thank you. I have to admit I haven't tried PB's yet. How do you feel they differ from Sunbeams? I'll have to try PB's
Click to expand...
There are some similarities, but they feel different and have a different midrange quality when you change the attack. While the tension may be nearly the same, the core/wrap ratios are different- the Sunbeams feel a little more flexible and with a slightly smoother outer wrap. I also notice more going on in the mids when I vary my plucking technique. Some members have reported the opposite experience, but I don't find them to be lean in the mids or "scooped". Pure Blues is my current go-to set, but Sunbeams are among my favorites
 
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#91
Well...
Sorry, but no "Carrots" category = no vote. But, to answer your questions?
1. The only DR strings I use are the Legend SFL45 Flats. They're on my 31" scale, headless, aluminum-necked, '82 Kramer "The Duke". bass. Very nice flats, but the main reason I use them is that they sound an awful lot like the strings the bass came to me with. They were short scale 50-108 GHS Bass Boomers - old ones. They were hard on my fingers - rounds really hurt my frostbitten/nerve damaged digits, - but I really liked their tone. So, when the Boomers finally died? I wanted flats that sounded like them, and the Legends filled the bill...
2. What kind of music do I play? Really old stuff, mainly; Rockabilly; Rock from the '50s thru about 1974; Vintage C&W; early R&B/Motown; early electric Blues; and I make an attempt at Jazz...
3. My "primary" bass? I don't have one, really. I have 30 basses - that all get played - and they're all set up for the various things I like to play. Some are set up to work well for different things; some are pretty much "one trick ponies". I use my '95 Alembic Epic only for Jazz, although I could easily play other stuff with it. OTOH, my Violin Bass? I'll let you figure out what that one gets used for... I suppose that the closest I come to a "primary" bass is my '73 Rick 4001. It's always sitting out next to the amp in my living room. I do most of my practicing with it, so it's not really "dedicated" to anything in particular. It fits me like a glove, and I just... like to play the old thing... :whistle:
 
#92
BassinCT said:
There are some similarities, but they feel different and have a different midrange quality when you change the attack. While the tension may be nearly the same, the core/wrap ratios are different- the Sunbeams feel a little more flexible and with a slightly smoother outer wrap. I also notice more going on in the mids when I vary my plucking technique. Some members have reported the opposite experience, but I don't find them to be lean in the mids or "scooped". Pure Blues is my current go-to set, but Sunbeams are among my favorites
Click to expand...
Thank you for taking the time and contributing to my thread.
 
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#93
I started using the DDT strings earlier this year and have really been liking them so far. I’m using them on my 4 string LTD Surveyor 414 tuned to Eb for my Metallica tribute, and they sound great. Better than the Daddarios I had always used.

I’m also using them on an Ibanez ATK 4 string (tuned to Drop B) and a SR300 5 string (tuned to Drop A) for my Slipknot tribute and they sound killer there too. They last longer than the Daddarios for sure. I’m super happy with them and will using them for the foreseeable future. Out of the box I think they sound a bit more rowdy than the Daddarios as well which I like.
 
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#95
Had a successful two year run with Hi Beams 45-125 playing a variety of pop music. Loved the tone but felt they were a little too rough on the fingers.

New 5 string bass is wearing a set of Pure Blues 45-125 with great results. May change out to a new set once I get the bass properly set up and see how many seasons I can get out of them.

This reminds me … I need to try a set of the Legend flats 45-105 on the fender P. Currently using EB colbalt flats. Very nice but looking for smoother.
 
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#100
Prodigus Filius said:
Could you say why you aren’t thrilled with the Legend flats? Sound or feel?
Click to expand...

They are unique. They aren't entirely smooth like Chromes or Labella. I keep vollying between removing them and keeping them.
They do sound good, but they have a bit of a lumpy "tooth" to them. So the B, E, and A strings feel a bit strange. They are probably one of the easiest flatwounds to play, though. They are actually pretty lively for a flat-wound.
 
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