Anyone rate DR Bass strings? Coated / Neon

[Craig Williams]

I live in Thailand and flat wound strings here are just too expensive. I like the flat tone and fell of flat wounds. Just wondering if DR Neons would be the same sort of dynamic or can any one suggest alternatives? Daddario, Ernie Ball etc aka popular brands. Don't have everything available here

 

[Gorn]

Definitely not DR neons. There are rounds that are smoother than others but you’re not gonna get the tone or feel of flats with any of them. They’re more expensive, but they’ll last forever and may be worth the expense if you can manage it.

 

[michael_t]

I live in Thailand and flat wound strings here are just too expensive.

What brands of flats are available where you are? When you say "too expensive", what kind of prices are you talking about (in USD equivalent)?

EDIT: By the way, I wouldn't recommend DR Neons as a flatwound substitute. Not even close.

 

[Craig Williams]

About $80 US , I just see though La Bellas here are quite reasonable. About 30% cheaper than that. I thought La bella was a boutique expensive brand? Are they ok?

 

[michael_t]

About $80 US , I just see though La Bellas here are quite reasonable. About 30% cheaper than that. I thought La bella was a boutique expensive brand? Are they ok?

La Bella flats would give you the classic flatwound tone from the 60's and the 70's. They also last a long time, so whatever you need to spend up front will eventually pay for itself.

What kind of bass do you have?

 

[Craig Williams]

La Bella flats would give you the classic flatwound tone from the 60's and the 70's. They also last a long time, so whatever you need to spend up front will eventually pay for itself.

What kind of bass do you have?

For some reason or other La bellas are the cheapest of the lot here. I got a Fender Japan 62US reissue, Alder body with US Pick ups and hardware. 60s and 70s exactly the tone I am after

 

[michael_t]

I got a Fender Japan 62US reissue, Alder body with US Pick ups and hardware. 60s and 70s exactly the tone I am after

Is that a Precision? If so, you can't go wrong with La Bella flats.

 

[Craig Williams]

Is that a Precision? If so, you can't go wrong with La Bella flats.

Sorry bro, I am a dum a$$. Jazz bass sorry

 

[michael_t]

Sorry bro, I am a dum a$$. Jazz bass sorry

Joe Osborne of the Wrecking Crew played a Fender Jazz with La Bella flats, which were 15+ years old at one point.

 

[Wfrance3]

I have LTFs on my P Bass, and have DR Black Beauties on my 5 String. The DRs have a very steel-wound sound. The micro-coating can be a little off-putting as well if you are used to non-coated round wound strings. The BBs sound pretty hi-fi to my ear. I like my LTFs on the P. They are comfortable and easy to play. The regular Deep Talkin' LaBellas are more vintage, but I can get there if I roll the tone off a bit.

 

[Craig Williams]

Thanks for your help guys, ordering La Bellas tomorrow The wrecking crew will do me

 

[Iristone]

I like DR Bootzillas (coated Lo-Riders), but precisely because they keep the roundwound zing for a long time. With the right setup (e.g. Ric neck pickup slightly muted) it can get thumpy, but not a flatwound sound.

 

[Justinian]

DR Neon are almost the complete opposite of flats, they were almost sticky when I tried them.

 

[40Hz]

I’ve got a set of blues on a PJ purely because they’re what I had on hand when I used them. They’re fine. Not my favorite DR string. But I don’t have any issues with them either.

 

[BtaylorTheRogue]

DR Neon are almost the complete opposite of flats, they were almost sticky when I tried them.

feel-wise, that wears off after a few hours, but they definitely sound brighter than flats.

 

[tindrum]

Thanks for your help guys, ordering La Bellas tomorrow The wrecking crew will do me

It might be worth mentioning there are two different LaBella flats available. The Deep Talkin Flats, which are the old school 60’s thump heard on a thousand hits. They are very stiff however so they may be different than you’re used to and might require you to tighten your truss rod a bit to compensate for the higher tension. They also make a string called Low Tension Flats which give you that classic flat wound tone but they are much looser feeling (not loose really but they feel more like “normal” strings as far as stiffness).

 

[Durham52]

Big plus on the Low Tension Flats, I put a set on my favorite bass a few years ago, love the feel and sound.

 

[NobodyImportant]

It might be worth mentioning there are two different LaBella flats available. The Deep Talkin Flats, which are the old school 60’s thump heard on a thousand hits. They are very stiff however so they may be different than you’re used to and might require you to tighten your truss rod a bit to compensate for the higher tension. They also make a string called Low Tension Flats which give you that classic flat wound tone but they are much looser feeling (not loose really but they feel more like “normal” strings as far as stiffness).

You hit the nail on the head! I prefer the Deep Talkin' Bass flats for their tension as my plucking hand is pretty heavy. Go with the LaBella DTB flats, or the low tensions, to your gauge liking and never look back.

 

[yomichi]

I bought DR Neon in white to replace the strings that my SUB bass came with. That was a waste of my money. The color flaked off within a week and the sound was dead a week after that. I bought a pack of D'Addario pro steels, which are much better. None of these are flats. I have not experience with anything else.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Neons are their own thing. Opposite experience here, with sets that last months with daily play. (Also playing fingerstyle with a light touch)

Flats aren't all that expensive when a set lasts years and years. For me, Rotosound Swing Bass 66 are expensive with their lifespan of hours. One rehearsal and they're gone.

Of the coated DR strings, Black Beauties meet all my needs, and would play them again. Too many strings, too few basses.