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DR Lo-Riders
- Thread starter ODDBALL
- Start date
I've been a Lo-Riders fan since late 80s, with some forays into other rounds. For my purposes and applications, they have the best balance of feel, tone, and longevity out of the many others I have tried.
Anybody play these on a fretless? Mine are in the mail from fret nation. I really wanted to try something new.
I have no experience with the Nickel Lo-Riders, I have only tried the Stainless Steel Lo-Riders.
In terms of sound, they are the closest that I know of the Rotosound Swing Bass strings, with however a little more hollow sound. The Rotos have meaty and growling mids, the DRs much less.
In terms of perceivable tension, these are the stiffest of any hex-core SS round I've tried, and I've tried quite a few. Not bridge cables, of course, but they are just a little less flexible.
IME, Lo-Riders feel stiffer compared the DR round core strings, such as Fat Beams. They don't feel any stiffer than other hex core rounds of the same gauge that I have tried.
It is my understanding the hex core and increased stiffness allow for lower action (giving us the name, Lo-Riders).
As for the string, the Nickel Lo-Riders are my second-favorite string (only behind DR's Pure Blues). I like the feel of the NLRs better, but the sound of the Pure Blues suit my needs better. Great strings!
As for the string, the Nickel Lo-Riders are my second-favorite string (only behind DR's Pure Blues). I like the feel of the NLRs better, but the sound of the Pure Blues suit my needs better. Great strings!
At the risk of sounding like a DR advertisement, the PureBlues are a little more versatile for me in terms of sound. I find they are a bit brighter and tonally balanced, which helps my particular setup/rig.
PureBlues on my Icon make my rig feel like my favorite pair of jeans - perfect.
I really like them too on my Jazz and Stingray. Nice balance of lows, mids and highs.
I just got on Fret Nation. I'm trying the Nickles now 40-100. They have a nice balanced sound. Which Lo Riders did you get
@michael_t sums the differences up well. The Sunbeams may be just a little shy in the mids, whereas the Nickel LRs are thick in the low mids. SBs are a little brighter up top, NLRs are clear but with less treble presence.
They do, but with thicker low mids too which gives them a broader low end & different focus, IMO.
Awesome reading about your experiences with Lo Riders, glad I found this thread.
I currently have a set of Fat Beams on my 35" Spector Rebop 5 but I find they are too floppy. I love the Fat Beams on my 4 string, 34" jazz basses but not so much on my Spector. I actually swapped the low B in the set with a DDT .130, which is a bit better but still not where I want the tension or the action.
In you's guyses experiences, will a lighter gauge set of Lo Riders retain a stiffer feel on a 35" scale bass than a slightly heavier set of Fat Beams? I know I just have to get a set to try them out but am hoping to hear some more info on this kind of comparison if you've got it.
I currently have a set of Fat Beams on my 35" Spector Rebop 5 but I find they are too floppy. I love the Fat Beams on my 4 string, 34" jazz basses but not so much on my Spector. I actually swapped the low B in the set with a DDT .130, which is a bit better but still not where I want the tension or the action.
In you's guyses experiences, will a lighter gauge set of Lo Riders retain a stiffer feel on a 35" scale bass than a slightly heavier set of Fat Beams? I know I just have to get a set to try them out but am hoping to hear some more info on this kind of comparison if you've got it.
