DR Hellborg strings

[bolophonic]

I recently did some experimenting with my strings and today I put on a set of lightly used DR Jonas Hellborg strings from the TB classifieds. I have been playing Labella Deep Talking Flats for the last year and I needed a bigger punch in my current band. I cannot believe how incredibly cool these strings sound. I can't wait to play my bass again tomorrow.

 

[bolophonic]

My band just recorded two songs for our first demo this morning. I used the Hellborg strings... One song was finger style, one with a pick. The incredible richness and variety of tones that I am getting is blowing my mind. Fingerstyle gave me a warm punch on a dub-influenced piece that I wrote. The pick gave me a very aggressive bite on the harder number. There is part of me that wishes I could have been playing these strings for my whole life.

 

[Marko 1]

Years ago I brought my P to the music store to get set up (I didn’t do that back then) and asked for LowRiders to be put on it, but they were out and had the Jonas Hellborgs, so I just went with them. (I only play rounds)

Before I left the store I picked up a Jazz V off the wall and got hooked on fivers, and didn’t even play the P when I got it back.

A couple years later after a band rehearsal I went into the main house for a smoke and the others were just jamming in the music room.

Well suddenly I hear this absolutely GLORIOUS bass in the mix, and I’m like whaaa!!!

One of the guys dug out the ol’ P (he liked bass but didn’t like fivers).

I’m not sure if it was the P or the strings or a combination, but how it sat in the mix never left my brain to this day.

I’m recently playing a P-5 now that they came out with the Squier version, but I still don’t hear that beautiful sound I remember.

I haven’t thought about it ‘till this thread, and I really should A/B them and see how different they sound out of the same rig.

If they made those strings for fivers, I think I’d have them on all my basses.

 

[bolophonic]

Years ago I brought my P to the music store to get set up (I didn’t do that back then) and asked for LowRiders to be put on it, but they were out and had the Jonas Hellborgs, so I just went with them. (I only play rounds)

Before I left the store I picked up a Jazz V off the wall and got hooked on fivers, and didn’t even play the P when I got it back.

A couple years later after a band rehearsal I went into the main house for a smoke and the others were just jamming in the music room.

Well suddenly I hear this absolutely GLORIOUS bass in the mix, and I’m like whaaa!!!

One of the guys dug out the ol’ P (he liked bass but didn’t like fivers).

I’m not sure if it was the P or the strings or a combination, but how it sat in the mix never left my brain to this day.

I’m recently playing a P-5 now that they came out with the Squier version, but I still don’t hear that beautiful sound I remember.

I haven’t thought about it ‘till this thread, and I really should A/B them and see how different they sound out of the same rig.

If they made those strings for fivers, I think I’d have them on all my basses.

Yes! I gasped when I plugged in and heard the difference. I can't believe there aren't hundreds of threads about these strings. I wonder what a Hellborg B string would feel like.

 

[Marko 1]

They might not “feel” right, or sound attractive soloed.


I dunno…

 

[Gorn]

I put the Hellborgs on my Stingray. Very cool sound. Not at all tame or low output, just very clear. A very straight forward sound. The slap sound is incredible. It makes me want to learn how to slap well.

 

[Oneirogenic]

I'd love to try them but I always forget about them. The most unique strings nobody talks about.

 

[reddesert]

I have nothing useful to contribute here, but just realized that DR Hellborgs are clearly the best strings for metal. I mean, Hellborg.

HELLBORG HELLBORG HELLBORG. If that alone doesn't make you worship the Dark Forces a little, take up the accordion.

 

[RHFusillo]

I'm glad that somebody likes these. I tried a set on a couple of different basses. I thought they were unwieldy to handle (esp. the E string) and I didn't like the tone. Jonas is obviously looking for something different than I am.

And I don't know if Jonas is the best bassist for metal, but he is a hellacious player.

 

[hihat]

Old thread but there's not much written about these strings.

It took me forever to break these in. I hated them at first and put them on a secondary bass. My main bass was at the shop and I picked my backup. Wow, it really sounded good. I mean damn good. The fundamental is so deep and like others said they really cut through the mix.

These may not be for everyone, they have an odd feel and don't necessarily sound great on their own but in the mix they're pretty incredible.

Someone above got a good slap sound. I had to move where I normally thumb the strings down about an inch, to get a good slap tone.