Anyone gone from Sunbeams to Fat Beams?

[TroyK]

I've had Sunbeams on for a while, but find myself looking over the wall a little bit for a next set. I've listened to the DR Sound Samples and read a few threads where each has been discussed.

Would value the perspective of someone who has specifically gone from one of these sets to the other.

 

[Bassist30]

I have gone back and forth. Both are very good. Especially if you like either Nickols or Steel which these two are.
Sunbeams have a nice smooth broken in sound that still keeps its punch. High beams and Fat beams have that steel bite to them. And keep it for a fairly long good time. Steels and Nickels will be different in a good way but DR is a great place for both. I even go back and forth with Hi Beams and Fat beams.

 

[TroyK]

Thanks, that's helpful.

I have a very old set of Sunbeams and they've been good strings. I might be looking for a little more bite. Probably going to take trying the Fat Beams for myself. I think I would go Fat Beams over Hi Beams for the round core, which in theory will make them more like Sunbeams.

 

[dougjwray]

Fat Beams have more low end heft than Hi Beams, and are certainly brighter than Sunbeams. I find Fat Beams more flexible than Sunbeams, too, even though many people seem to find Sunbeams more flexible than I do!

 

[michael_t]

I think I would go Fat Beams over Hi Beams for the round core, which in theory will make them more like Sunbeams.

Just for clarification, both the Hi Beams and the Fat Beams are stainless steel over a round core. The main difference is the FBs are "slow wound" with more compression applied to the wrap wire, which gives them a "fatter" bottom than the HBs.

 

[TroyK]

Just for clarification, both the Hi Beams and the Fat Beams are stainless steel over a round core. The main difference is the FBs are "slow wound" with more compression applied to the wrap wire, which gives them a "fatter" bottom than the HBs.

You're right. Thanks for correcting me on that. Too many strings, too much info floating in and out of my head!

 

[TroyK]

I just ordered some Fat-Beams, so the next time someone asks this question, I'll be able to say "I have!".

My Sunbeams are so dead though that it won't be a perfect A-B comparison. I guess that's how it is with most string experiments, at least for me.

Thanks to those of you who chimed in with advice.

 

[Bibby]

After using Sunbeams as my preferred rounds for many years I just installed a set of Hi-Beams on a bass this past weekend.

I may have gone Fat-Beams as the DR sound samples do sound a little thicker which I liked, but I prefer the 40-95 set which is only available in Hi-Beams.

Like you I presume, I prefer the sound of well broken in (old) strings, long after the zing is gone. The Sunbeams were at least 3 years old. It actually took me a month to finally change them because I didn't want to mess up something I was perfectly content with!

But, I recently played a used bass with very old stainless strings at the shop. I didn't care for the bass, but I loved the strings! I actually think stainless ages even better than nickel, it takes longer to get there. They hold on to that sizzle.

Anyways, I finally made the change. Definitely do not like the sound of new stainless, too hollow and zingy. But I do like how they feel, so the waiting game begins. They are on a bass that I really like, so I am in it for the long haul. Plus more of a reason to noodle on the bass for longer than I should when I should be practicing something productive, but that is another topic.

I have another bass with 6 month old Sunbeams, and they are just getting to where I really like them. So I have something to compare the aging against. Not perfect, but it will do.

Looking forward to your updates!

 

[TroyK]

Thanks, @Bibby. I've been playing EB since about... uh ... 1977 but have been almost exclusively upright since about 2002. I was never that much of a string nerd with EB strings, because for one thing, I never had any money and for another they never broke, like guitar strings...well once one broke.

But picking up someone else's bass or a bass in the shop I notice dramatic differences between the same model of bass, so I've been thinking more about it. I've had a passive Warwick Corvette for several years now and the Sunbeams have been delightful on it, but I remember Warwicks not being entirely delightful and that's one of the things I liked about them. I'd like for it to be less mellow.

That said, I remember how much I hated a new set of Slinkys or something (love guitar Slinkys) and as much as I am impressed an amazed by slapping/popping virtuosity, it's not how I play. I don't want my Warwick to sound like my upright (it can't anyway), but I do want to be able to tame it or have it snarl a little bit if I get to rock some times. I think I need to try something steel and I've chosen Fat-Beams for now, because from a construction and feel standpoint, I'm very happy with the Sunbeams.

Will report back.

 

[Bibby]

Great bass history @TroyK. I think you are on the right path with some played-in Fat-Beams on your Warwick Corvette. 'Gritty Sunbeams' would be an apt description for sure. The snarl is there.

Back in '03 a passive Warwick Corvette 4-string was my dream bass. Wenge neck, perfect. "The Sound of Wood" as the ads would have you believe. But I couldn't afford such a thing at the time. Would love to stumble upon one to see how my tastes have changed or if I am still missing out!

 

[TroyK]

"Gritty Sunbeams" is exactly what I think I am looking for today! Thanks for the validation, especially since I bought them already.

 

[TroyK]

They have arrived...

 

[TroyK]

First impressions are good. I bought the same gauge in Fat-Beams as I was using in Sunbeams and they feel similar. I notice the difference in winding, but it's not a big enough difference that I think it will matter from a tactile standpoint. It might introduce some new blisters/callouses since EBG is not primary instrument, but I'm not too worried about that, especially in quarantine.

Wouldn't be fair to compare them sonically at this point, since the Sunbeams were 3 years old, but I'll post back when I feel like they are broken it a little. There is a difference in overall brightness, but some of that would have shown up with new Sunbeams too. The little bit of Warwick snarl that I was missing is now here, though! Hopefully it will stick around after break-in. That's what I was missing.

I don't think the brightness or zingyitude over all is going to be a problem. It's not that different and I'm sure they will mellow, but even now, I can roll my tone back and tame it if I really felt like I need to.

Good strings!

 

[Bibby]

Glad you got the result you were after!

The first thing I noticed after the change was the feel. I agree the tension felt the same, but the stainless were definitely a little more rough/sandpaper-ish compared to nickels. I liked it, but it went away after a few days. Either I adapted or finger oils smoothed things out.

I was also surprised at how quickly the stainless settled in. The zing is gone after a week and I like what I am hearing. I had DR Pure Blues on for about a month as an experiment and they still felt crispy. Was not a fan of the tone but they sure did last. I thought the stainless would follow the same route, but pleasantly surprised.

 

[Jason Hollar]

Hey do any of these DR strings have silks?

I had a set of Pure Blues on my 5 string but swapped them out. Thinking about trying the Sunbeams or possibly Pure Blues again for some upcoming jobs ... trying to find the right length & fit and don’t like silks!

 

[TroyK]

No silks on either end of either string, Jason. May I just add...what a weird thing for a DB player to care about!

I found a video that I made earlier this year of playing with the Sunbeams and I really liked the sound. I think I just let mine die (3 years), but I might like Fat Beams a little better. They are not radically different, but have a little bit more somethin'. I'm, willing to be that with a tone, attack, maybe small eq change I could record with a 2 week old set of each set and have them sound indistinguishable. But, I think I can get some snarl out of the Fat Beams if I want it and probably couldn't with a similarly aged set of Sunbeams.

I can tell the difference between Stainless and Nickel, but it's subtle. It won't change my callouses or anything like that. I do get a little more finger squeak, but I don't even really care about that and I think I could practice that out if it was important.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I’m trying to retro fit the string thru body on my Lakland 5 string jazz bass so some strings with silks end up not “lining up” properly due the scale vs speaking length.

How is the smoothness factor of the strings you chose? The Pure Blues I had felt kinda ruff ... I guess you gotta break em in and gunk em up ... but I fear for my callouses lol

 

[TroyK]

Never tried Pure Blues.

I used flatwounds for years, then pressure wounds and then carefully and reluctantly tried the Sunbeams very concerned about my delicate DB callouses, but never had an issue. Maybe if I played 3-4 hour gigs on it, but casual gigs, studio sessions, never had an issue with Sunbeams.

Fat Beams feel similar. I can tell they are not nickel, but I don't think the roughness will ever be an issue.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I might try the nickel low riders next. I do play 3-4 hour gigs on electric so trying to work up the fingers on those!

 

[TroyK]

I haven't tried the Low Riders, but they are not round core, so they're going to be stiffer. I think Pure Blues and Sunbeams are your nickel choices with round cores, if that matters...which it definitely does with me.

It's been a long time since I've had a 3 hour gig with the pork chop.