DR "Legend" Flats in comparison to other, more expensive flatwounds.

[MacaroniShrek]

Hello all,

I recently strung my bass with DR flats, as they were the cheapest I could find. I have no prior experience with flatwounds, but I can say that I really enjoy them. I love the texture of the flats and they certainly warmed up the tone. Also I may be noticing less rattle/clack, which I really dislike.

However, they are just a tad too bright for me. I was really hoping for a Chuck Rainey/James Jameson tone and, while I can get close, it's still missing something. I know it's in the hands and in this case the foam, but regardless, it's still a tad bright. Is this a common experience with DR flats? What brand of flats would you recommend for what I'm looking for? Can you give me an idea of where the DR flats stand in the flatwound market?

Thanks.

 

[trothwell]

Here's a really nice comparison of various flatwound strings, including the DR set:

Flatwound Roundtable - Guitar Pickups, Bass Pickups, Pedals

I had tried DR flats years ago, then took them off, and had them stored away. Just a few days ago I decided to try them again, and installed them on a bass. I actually thought they sounded very dark and mellow, such that I'd probably want something a bit brighter for the Jamerson kind of sound.

It's possible that if you keep playing them a while longer they will settle in to a darker, warmer tone that you like.

Otherwise, the probably most sure way to get the Jamerson sort of sound is to use Labella flatwound strings.

 

[michael_t]

Hello all,

I recently strung my bass with DR flats, as they were the cheapest I could find. I have no prior experience with flatwounds, but I can say that I really enjoy them. I love the texture of the flats and they certainly warmed up the tone. Also I may be noticing less rattle/clack, which I really dislike.

However, they are just a tad too bright for me. I was really hoping for a Chuck Rainey/James Jameson tone and, while I can get close, it's still missing something. I know it's in the hands and in this case the foam, but regardless, it's still a tad bright. Is this a common experience with DR flats? What brand of flats would you recommend for what I'm looking for? Can you give me an idea of where the DR flats stand in the flatwound market?

Thanks.

As a first-time flatwound user, one thing for you to keep in mind is flats in general take a while (as in 3-6 mths) to break in and settle into their tonal bliss. I have no personal experience with DR Legends, but based on what I've read, they're supposed to be relatively "old-school".

 

[Yahboy]

Give it some time to break in.
Once did, Legend sound pretty old school and she has shorter sustain compare to DTF, LTF and Dogal. No mute foam need.

 

[MacaroniShrek]

Here's a really nice comparison of various flatwound strings, including the DR set:

Flatwound Roundtable - Guitar Pickups, Bass Pickups, Pedals

I had tried DR flats years ago, then took them off, and had them stored away. Just a few days ago I decided to try them again, and installed them on a bass. I actually thought they sounded very dark and mellow, such that I'd probably want something a bit brighter for the Jamerson kind of sound.

It's possible that if you keep playing them a while longer they will settle in to a darker, warmer tone that you like.

Otherwise, the probably most sure way to get the Jamerson sort of sound is to use Labella flatwound strings.

That's a fantastic link. Thank you!

 

[smperry]

I just installed the 5 string set of Legends on a bass. I am really happy with the tone on the EADG strings, but the B string is so dark that it sounds like it's from a completely different set. I'm not sure what to do about that, except buy a low B from a different manufacturer and hope for a better match. Bummer.

 

[gnome01]

I just installed the 5 string set of Legends on a bass. I am really happy with the tone on the EADG strings, but the B string is so dark that it sounds like it's from a completely different set. I'm not sure what to do about that, except buy a low B from a different manufacturer and hope for a better match. Bummer.

I've had this happen with Labella flats, where the E string was much darker than the rest. I contacted them and was sent a new string and it matched the rest. Might be worth contacting DR about this.

 

[winston]

DR Legends are unique flats, I tried them after seeing Ed Friedland use them on some bass demo vids. On the 5 string set I got the A & D have a very noticeable rough texture compared to the other 3 strings to the point that they are significantly noisier when shifting LH positions, and with aggressive right hand plucking - almost a whistle/rustle. Besides that I love the tone and these have the best slap sound of any flats I've used (TI, Chromes, LaBella DTF/LTF, Dean Markley, Ernie Ball).

@smperry - Hope you are well, we have met up a couple times over the years. Contact DR - The low B is one of the best I've ever heard (round or flat) in the 25 or so years I've played 5 strings - no weird overtones, and playable all the way up the fingerboard. I did Jimmy M's Eucerin treatment to deaden them all equally (high strings were noticeably brighter) but the B string was by no means dead.

 

[iiipopes]

Good strings. Two words: dark, and as time goes on, darker.

 

[Swerve]

I've had these installed for just a few days on a J and they are buttery smooth and dark sounding. Like in the GHS P flat range of darkness. The G string is quite bright but I'm guessing it'll even out more over time. These things are very easy to play and the tension isn't floppy like I was worried about with roundcore.

I got them for $33 on Amazon and they are better than other flats I've tried that are double or more in price. Great value.

 

[GIBrat51]

Hello all,

I recently strung my bass with DR flats, as they were the cheapest I could find. I have no prior experience with flatwounds, but I can say that I really enjoy them. I love the texture of the flats and they certainly warmed up the tone. Also I may be noticing less rattle/clack, which I really dislike.

However, they are just a tad too bright for me. I was really hoping for a Chuck Rainey/James Jameson tone and, while I can get close, it's still missing something. I know it's in the hands and in this case the foam, but regardless, it's still a tad bright. Is this a common experience with DR flats? What brand of flats would you recommend for what I'm looking for? Can you give me an idea of where the DR flats stand in the flatwound market?

Thanks.

I'm afraid that I can't really say, one way or the other; except that - if you want the James Jamerson tone? He used what is now the La Bella "1954" Deep Talkin' Flats. Very heavy gauge, and stiff as a bridge cable. If you can't deal with that? La Bella's 760FS's are lighter, 43-104 gauge; stiff - but not too stiff; and actually, sound about the same. I have them on... 3? basses. I like them. The heavier gauge GHS Precision Flats will also work pretty well.
However... as for the DR Legends? I have the short scale set on one bass - my 31' scale, headless, aluminum-necked '82 Kramer Duke. I quite like them. As flats go, they're smooth - but not the smoothest (Galli Jazz Flats wear that crown); they are pretty much average tension for their gauge; and they're plenty stiff enough to play great with a pick. Which I do on all but one of my 33 basses, about 95% of the time. As for their tone? I can't really comment on long scale DR Legend's tone, since I don't use them. The short scale's tone? Well... when I got the Kramer Duke, it was wearing short scale 50-108 GHS Bass Boomers. I really liked those strings, but it was starting to get painful to play rounds (nerve damage and frostbite). When those Boomers died, I looked for flats that sounded as close to them as I could get. And, after a couple of tries? The DR Legends fit the bill. I have to say, though; I've had Bass Boomers on several basses, and - especially for rounds? "Bright" they most certainly are not. And, neither are these short scale Legends. In fact, they can give the heavier gauge short scale La Bella DTF's a run for their money in the low-end race - and, yes, I use those, too... I'd say that DR Legends are on the "low end" side of the flat wound tone spectrum. Definitely not the low end winner (that crown is definitely the La Bella DTF's), but nowhere near the bright end...