I've always liked Blue Steels, they're a good substitute for Roto 66s (Less fret wear, longer lasting). But my playing style as of now (playing forcefully over the neck pickup) works best with high-tension flats.
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Anyone dig/use Dean Markley strings?
- Thread starter madbassplaya
- Start date
The nickel plated Blue Steel are my string of choice. Best balance of quality, longevity, feel and sound. Well for me they are. I've tried an awful lot of strings too.
The custom light set is where it's at. IMO.
Another love for Blue Steels, even tension, bright, plenty of definition between semitones, silk color doesn't clash and they aren't too expensive. I just wished they did a 2 for 20$ deal
I use Blue Steels on my acoustic bass guitar, because I need the cut. I tried them on my electric, and it was terrible for the stuff I play.
Someone gave me two free sets of Blue Steels so I put them into a Squier VM 77 this weekend.
... well, I'm off to GC to get a pack of DR Hi-Beams or Low-Riders now to rip out the Blue Steels. I know string sounds are so subjective but I just couldn't handle the harmonics that came out from new Blue Steels, kinds of harmonics but not really in the right place, closest I could think of it was like having a high-pass filter in parallel and run a modulator on that signal...
... well, I'm off to GC to get a pack of DR Hi-Beams or Low-Riders now to rip out the Blue Steels. I know string sounds are so subjective but I just couldn't handle the harmonics that came out from new Blue Steels, kinds of harmonics but not really in the right place, closest I could think of it was like having a high-pass filter in parallel and run a modulator on that signal...
I like most of there strings, have a set of Skullcrushers on my jazz bass rite now. The Skullcrushers are blue steels with a different color wrap & slightly different gauge. They last a good long time & a soak in denatured alcohol brings em back to life for awhile longer. I've used sr2000's in the past, I like those as well, they used to sell twin packs for under $20 of their nickel steel rounds in a medium lite gauge, I used them when they were available, they sounded great, an all purpose set, much preffered to d'addarios & a great deal. I still use Rotosounds as well, but Dean Markleys are great as well & I usually get them fairly cheap on evilbay.
I got a story for ya'll.
I was still a n00b at bass and was preparing to buy my first set of new strings ever. I looked up what my idols played Shakira used DM's so did KoRn (Fieldy was the man to me back then), and so did The Misfits. I emailed DM asking who sold some DM in my area besides GC as it's a good hour from my house. I stated some of my idols played DM like Jerry Only who inspired me immensely to pick up bass. In the mail a few weeks later I recieved a business card from the Sales Rep from my area suggesting I go to Dave's Zoo Music along with a Jerry Only promo poster for his Skullbuster strings that was everywhere at the time in Bass Player mag.
I am a DM guy ONLY. Sure I tried EB and GHS but, they never held a candle to DM's Solid Bass 50 - 105 for my Yamaha RBX170 aka Sin-i-ster.
So far on my ATK305 aka Odin:The Godkiller I've only placed some BlueSteels on him and that was well over a year and a half ago and the damn strings still are kickin' butt!
I might try these Helix things as soon as the Bluesteels die but, I don't know about it. I saved $80 in strings along with making back the $35 I dropped on them. They pay for themselves!
The Steels are great for people like me that pick hard we don't have to worry about any coating coming off or spending an arm and a leg. That's a big plus if your a punk rock 20 something playing gigs for pizza or studio time.
I was still a n00b at bass and was preparing to buy my first set of new strings ever. I looked up what my idols played Shakira used DM's so did KoRn (Fieldy was the man to me back then), and so did The Misfits. I emailed DM asking who sold some DM in my area besides GC as it's a good hour from my house. I stated some of my idols played DM like Jerry Only who inspired me immensely to pick up bass. In the mail a few weeks later I recieved a business card from the Sales Rep from my area suggesting I go to Dave's Zoo Music along with a Jerry Only promo poster for his Skullbuster strings that was everywhere at the time in Bass Player mag.
I am a DM guy ONLY. Sure I tried EB and GHS but, they never held a candle to DM's Solid Bass 50 - 105 for my Yamaha RBX170 aka Sin-i-ster.
So far on my ATK305 aka Odin:The Godkiller I've only placed some BlueSteels on him and that was well over a year and a half ago and the damn strings still are kickin' butt!
I might try these Helix things as soon as the Bluesteels die but, I don't know about it. I saved $80 in strings along with making back the $35 I dropped on them. They pay for themselves!
The Steels are great for people like me that pick hard we don't have to worry about any coating coming off or spending an arm and a leg. That's a big plus if your a punk rock 20 something playing gigs for pizza or studio time.
Bueller? Bueller?
I see a ton of threads containing content about D'Addario, DR, Dunlop, Ernie Ball, Sadowsky strings etc...
I rarely if ever here anyone who likes to use Dean Markley strings though. I'd like to hear your experiences.
I'm interested in their new Helix strings specifically, but would love to hear about their others as well.
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Blue Steels are my 2nd favorite strings on the planet. Right after Rotos.
I really like the will lee set of sr2000's (although I don't think his name is on the package anymore). They're exposed core 107-47's. Perfect balance of tension and heft for me. Love em.
Isn't this the same approach as Ken Smith Compressors? I know the Smith strings are Nickel/Iron alloy as opposed to NPS but the concept and construction seems to be the same.
Just put a set of Blue Steels on my Epi Tbird a few weeks ago, they sound pretty good, they feel a little "sticky", not like syrup or anything like that, just a little sticky, idk how else to describe it. But they're no where near as awesome sounding as Roto Swing 66s.
I really love the Dean Markley Blue Steels. Haven't tried the Helix strings. I use the Light gauge. (.045-100)
There really seems to be some validity to the Blue Steel concept of cryogenically treating the string material.
The first set of Blue Steels I tried seemed to last SO much longer than D'Addarios and DRs I had been using.
They are very bright when new and settle in to a very long lasting nice bright tone. Takes a really long time for a set to sound dead.
I have tried several sets over the years and now have them on all my basses.
I have sold basses with well used sets of Blue Steels on them and have received compliments on the tone and feel of the strings.
Yeah they have some harmonics going on. I've only become aware of this after joining TB and learning so much about strings, pickups and amps.
Seems to me that the wrap wire is thinner gauge than the other brands I mentioned.
Must be that the core wire is thicker and/or hex section to add up to the desired string gauge.
The Blue Steels seem to be easier on the frets and are definitely nicer to play fingerstyle.
There really seems to be some validity to the Blue Steel concept of cryogenically treating the string material.
The first set of Blue Steels I tried seemed to last SO much longer than D'Addarios and DRs I had been using.
They are very bright when new and settle in to a very long lasting nice bright tone. Takes a really long time for a set to sound dead.
I have tried several sets over the years and now have them on all my basses.
I have sold basses with well used sets of Blue Steels on them and have received compliments on the tone and feel of the strings.
Yeah they have some harmonics going on. I've only become aware of this after joining TB and learning so much about strings, pickups and amps.
Seems to me that the wrap wire is thinner gauge than the other brands I mentioned.
Must be that the core wire is thicker and/or hex section to add up to the desired string gauge.
The Blue Steels seem to be easier on the frets and are definitely nicer to play fingerstyle.
Dick Dale's bass player Sam Bolle plays only Dean Markley Blue steels, and he changes them daily. Dick likes an incredibly bright sound.
It works for Dick, but it's not the sound I like for my playing. I'm a flats guy, and the deader the better.
It works for Dick, but it's not the sound I like for my playing. I'm a flats guy, and the deader the better.
This. I freakin LOVE blue steels. Especially when i first put 'em on. I change strings probably every 6 weeks. I also clean them after every practice/rehearsal/gig with FastFret, that **** adds time to my strings, without that i'd be changing 'em every 3-4 weeks.
- Jan 21, 2012
- 665
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- Disclosures
- endorsing artist hard luck king guitars and knuckle head strings
