Another string ID request - rounds, fat sound, brass ball ends, grey

[smeet]

I just got a bass in trade with fat sounding roundwounds on it. They have no silk on either end, brass ball ends, and the color is kind of dull grey as opposed to silver. The color made me wonder if they were EB Cobalt rounds. They look similar but even more dull grey (maybe they are just old?).

Also they stick to my plucking fingers a bit, so I sometimes hear a bit of a squeak as my fingertip drags over the string.

I want to put on new strings. But the mids and lows are so fat and muscular that I hope I can get that in the future…

 

[HaphAsSard]

I just got a bass in trade with fat sounding roundwounds on it. They have no silk on either end, brass ball ends, and the color is kind of dull grey as opposed to silver. The color made me wonder if they were EB Cobalt rounds. They look similar but even more dull grey (maybe they are just old?).

Also they stick to my plucking fingers a bit, so I sometimes hear a bit of a squeak as my fingertip drags over the string.

I want to put on new strings. But the mids and lows are so fat and muscular that I hope I can get that in the future…

Hm. The colour suggests steel rather than nickel. What else to look for?
At what distance from the ball does the largest string taper [at the headstock]? where do the other strings, if different?
(No taper at the bridge, I presume, or you would've mentioned it.)

 

[michael_t]

I just got a bass in trade with fat sounding roundwounds on it. They have no silk on either end, brass ball ends, and the color is kind of dull grey as opposed to silver. The color made me wonder if they were EB Cobalt rounds. They look similar but even more dull grey (maybe they are just old?).

Also they stick to my plucking fingers a bit, so I sometimes hear a bit of a squeak as my fingertip drags over the string.

I want to put on new strings. But the mids and lows are so fat and muscular that I hope I can get that in the future…

String ID requests should always have a couple of pics included - one at the headstock and one at the bridge - as there might be subtle visual clues that can point us to a specific brand.

As @HaphAsSard said, sounds to me like they're stainless steel rounds. "Fat" sound? Maybe DR Fat Beams? If you can measure the length of the E string from the ball end to the first taper at the tuner end, that might help. If they're in fact DR, it should measure 37.75".

 

[GTHintz]

I just got a bass in trade with fat sounding roundwounds on it. They have no silk on either end, brass ball ends, and the color is kind of dull grey as opposed to silver. The color made me wonder if they were EB Cobalt rounds. They look similar but even more dull grey (maybe they are just old?).

Also they stick to my plucking fingers a bit, so I sometimes hear a bit of a squeak as my fingertip drags over the string.

I want to put on new strings. But the mids and lows are so fat and muscular that I hope I can get that in the future…

The 2 that come to mind for me are DR fat beams or maybe Labella rx stainless. They both have a nice mid range. They both have brass if I'm not mistaken.

 

[GTHintz]

 

[GTHintz]

so here's what's going on. The Warwick has fat beams on it. The Ibanez has Labella rx. As you can see they are very similar looking. Hopefully that helps you see if what's on your bass looks like that.

 

[michael_t]

@smeet, one other thing you can do is to use a magnifying glass to take a close look at the core wire around the ball end to see if you can tell whether they're hex core or round core.

 

[michael_t]

View attachment 5265056so here's what's going on. The Warwick has fat beams on it. The Ibanez has Labella rx. As you can see they are very similar looking. Hopefully that helps you see if what's on your bass looks like that.

This is why I asked for the measurement from the ball end to the taper at the tuner end. DR = 37.75", La Bella = 37".

 

[GTHintz]

This is why I asked for the measurement from the ball end to the taper at the tuner end. DR = 37.75", La Bella = 37".

If he measures it then it really narrows it down.

 

[smeet]

I added pics to the OP.
The B string is 37.75” from ball end to the start of the taper. So, DR I guess.

I attached a picture of the core wire of the B string, looks round to me but hard to be sure.

 

[smeet]

Eyeballing against other DR sets I have, the color of Fat Beams and Steel Low Riders is close, although these are definitely darker. The headstock end taper is shorter on the Low Riders and that seems to match these strings. So, maybe? I only have a 4 string set of the steel LRs so maybe I’ll try the hi beams and see.

thanks for the help all!

 

[GTHintz]

I added pics to the OP.
The B string is 37.75” from ball end to the start of the taper. So, DR I guess.

I attached a picture of the core wire of the B string, looks round to me but hard to be sure.

I'm about positive those are fat beams. Notice the taper on the tuner end on all but the g string. Labella only has it on the b string. As far as sound goes I think I like fat beams the best of any round core string I've tried. Those and the fodera strings. I'm trying them on both Warwicks and they are sounding good. The growl of the strings works well with the growl of the basses. They seem to have a mid presence that some strings are missing.

 

[GTHintz]

Also high beams are shinier than fat beams. I've used high beams and they are definitely different. Less mids, brighter sounding, more flexible than fat beams.

 

[mcnach]

I just got a bass in trade with fat sounding roundwounds on it. They have no silk on either end, brass ball ends, and the color is kind of dull grey as opposed to silver. The color made me wonder if they were EB Cobalt rounds. They look similar but even more dull grey (maybe they are just old?).

Also they stick to my plucking fingers a bit, so I sometimes hear a bit of a squeak as my fingertip drags over the string.

I want to put on new strings. But the mids and lows are so fat and muscular that I hope I can get that in the future…

View attachment 5265079 View attachment 5265080 View attachment 5265097

Can't say for sure, but they look a LOT like DR Fat Beams.

I 'discovered' Fat Beams when I bought a used EBMM Sub. I loved the strings it had, the strong low mids, tight low end... guy wasn't sure but DR Fat Beams was one of the possibilities he gave me, and that's what they were.

 

[BOOG]

I just got a bass in trade with fat sounding roundwounds on it. They have no silk on either end, brass ball ends, and the color is kind of dull grey as opposed to silver. The color made me wonder if they were EB Cobalt rounds. They look similar but even more dull grey (maybe they are just old?).

Also they stick to my plucking fingers a bit, so I sometimes hear a bit of a squeak as my fingertip drags over the string.

I want to put on new strings. But the mids and lows are so fat and muscular that I hope I can get that in the future…

View attachment 5265079 View attachment 5265080 View attachment 5265097

From what you describe, to me, they sound like DR Fat Beams.

I had them on one bass for about thirty minutes and clipped them right off. The texture was not for me.

 

[The_Owl]

My favorite stainless string. I use them for everything. Can’t get enough of them and the growly mids.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

@smeet, one other thing you can do is to use a magnifying glass to take a close look at the core wire around the ball end to see if you can tell whether they're hex core or round core.

Strings are almost always hex core. You have to seek out roundcore strings. And, there aren't many options.

 

[michael_t]

Strings are almost always hex core. You have to seek out roundcore strings. And, there aren't many options.

DR is one company who's been known for their round-core strings, ie Hi Beams, Fat Beams, Sunbeams and Pure Blues, all of which a very popular around here. The OP has been able to determine we're talking about DR here based on the winding length (37.75"). See post #10.

 

[SharpCat]

I really appreciate the tone samples DR provides on their website. Really gives a good idea of the differences between their string tones.