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DR Longnecks on a RB5?

Best strings for an RB5

  • DR Longnecks

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • DR Sunbeams

    Votes: 5 35.7%

  • DR Fatbeams

    Votes: 4 28.6%

  • DR DDT

    Votes: 2 14.3%

  • Sell the sucker and buy a Zon/Modulus

    Votes: 5 35.7%
  • Total voters
    14
P

punchdrunk

Inactive
Jun 22, 2013
2,067
3,274
#1
Has anyone used these on a Roscoe Beck V? What were your thoughts? I had an RB5 back in the day, and think I was stringing it with DR Longnecks (cant rightfully recall). What I can remember is how great and clear the B sounded. You could hear the coil of the string, which is really intoxicating for me. So I recently got another RBV. It arrived strung with some soso sounding D'Addarios, but I want the same sound I had with the previous bass. Anyone have any input or recommendations? :confused:
 
#2
I do. It's the third bass I've put them on, the others being a Schecter Elite 5 and a Yamaha. They play fine, sound fine, but for some reason they seem noticeably noisier (finger/fret noise) than on either of the other basses, and I wish they had a bit less tension for this bass. I'm debating whether it's time to swap them for the Jazz Flats...

-jb
 
#3
John Bigboote said:
I do. It's the third bass I've put them on, the others being a Schecter Elite 5 and a Yamaha. They play fine, sound fine, but for some reason they seem noticeably noisier (finger/fret noise) than on either of the other basses, and I wish they had a bit less tension for this bass. I'm debating whether it's time to swap them for the Jazz Flats...

-jb
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. I just I ordered a set of the DRs, hoping they open this bass up a wee bit more on the high end of the spectrum. Need that bite to help cut through the mix. Also hoping the mids are present. I'll report my findings/opinions.
 
#4
I've had my RB5 for about 15 years now. In that time I've strung that bass with only a couple if different sets of strings. Those being DR High Beams or Dean Markley Blue Steels. Both of those sets sound great on that particular bass. The B string sounds solid and they have a very clear high end. Give either set a try and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
 
#5
As a newer owner of a '97 RBV this thread has got my interest. Are you guys stringing thru-bridge or thru-body? I had mine set up with extra long scale D'addarios thru-body. I've played D'addarios for the last 15 years on all my basses, are the DR's long enough to string thru-body?
 
#9
punchdrunk said:
Has anyone used these on a Roscoe Beck V? What were your thoughts? I had an RB5 back in the day, and think I was stringing it with DR Longnecks (cant rightfully recall). What I can remember is how great and clear the B sounded. You could hear the coil of the string, which is really intoxicating for me. So I recently got another RBV. It arrived strung with some soso sounding D'Addarios, but I want the same sound I had with the previous bass. Anyone have any input or recommendations? :confused:
Click to expand...

to break it down
DR long necks - tapered SS on hex core
DR sunbeams - non-tapered NPS on round core
DR fat beams - non-tapered SS on round core
DR DDT - heavy gauge for drop tunings.

if you don't like tapered strings, they have their low-riders, which are either SS or NPS on a hex core. you could get a 5-string set of the lowriders and a single B in your preferred gauge and see which one you prefer. also, the taper on the longnecks is 3" long, so stringing thru the body is recommended. i hope some of this helps.
 
#11
dedpool1052 said:
to break it down
DR long necks - tapered SS on hex core
DR sunbeams - non-tapered SS on round core
DR fat beams - same as above. slightly different tonal characteristic
DR DDT - heavy gauge for drop tunings.

if you don't like tapered strings, they have their low-riders, which are either SS or NPS on a hex core. you could get a 5-string set of the lowriders and a single B in your preferred gauge and see which one you prefer. also, the taper on the longnecks is 3" long, so stringing thru the body is recommended. i hope some of this helps.
Click to expand...

Definitely. I appreciate the input. I've been a DR user for many years with my four strings. Hoping the tapered B on the LNs does a better job of the string to string consistency thing that I'm looking for than the Daddarrios that it's currently sporting.
Should get a set in the mail on tues. I'll report my thoughts after I've broken them in a bit.
 
#16
I played RB5s for a decade or so... one in teal, another in gold. Such fantastic basses, but I prefer actives and have limited space for gear so I had to let 'em go. :(

Anyway, I liked most strings I tried on 'em! Props to TI flats, Rotosound RS-66, Ken Smith Tapercore, DR Lo Riders.

Special note: I also love LaBella Hard Rockin' Steels. I learned about those because someone pointed me to an article that said they are Roscoe Beck's favorite string (or were, back when I had the RB5s). They sounded great on the RB5, and I also love 'em on my actives. They have the harmonically rich response of steels, but aren't quite as bright on top as Roto RS-66es or Hi Beams.
 
#18
Root 5 said:
Didja buy it on Ebay? Teal green, described as a "Limited Edition of 50?"
Click to expand...

Ha... while it it IS teal green, no it was not the "limited edition" ebay RBV that you started a thread about. I thought that ebay listing was comedy! I bought mine locally on CL. Near mint condition, there was still plastic around the knobs and the original strings were still on it after almost 16 years. It had been stored away untouched for the past 8 years, maybe played a handful of times before it was put away.

I got it for a steal too. The guy didnt know what it was except for the model name. :bassist:
 
#19
gustobassman said:
Ha... while it it IS teal green, no it was not the "limited edition" ebay RBV that you started a thread about. I thought that ebay listing was comedy! I bought mine locally on CL. Near mint condition, there was still plastic around the knobs and the original strings were still on it after almost 16 years. It had been stored away untouched for the past 8 years, maybe played a handful of times before it was put away.

I got it for a steal too. The guy didnt know what it was except for the model name. :bassist:
Click to expand...

Nice score!
 
#20
So after playing the Longnecks for a while on my Roscoe Beck, I gotta say that I don't think I'm a fan. I love a full spectrum sound, and these things sound very mid shy and relatively thin compared to the stock D'addarios that came with the bass. I'm gonna try something different. In other news I also ordered some Sunbeams for my 77 p/j after having had it strung with medium D'addario XL's, and I gotta say that my findings are consistent. Very mid shy and anemic compared to the XL's.
I think I'm done with DR's, the decade old love affair has ended. I need a full spectrum pronounced and even string. Any recommendations?
 

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