DR Pure Blues, 2 thumbs down! (For me anyway)

[Root 5]

I don't like that DR is coy about the alloy used in Pure Blues strings. What's the big secret?

 

[mmbongo]

I don't like that DR is coy about the alloy used in Pure Blues strings. What's the big secret?

 

[Bassometer]

I really like them!

Silky smooth, nice balanced sound, articulate, warm - yet voiced nicely on the top end (without being harsh), growl when you want it, and excellent feel/playability.

I have long been a fan of DR's Nickel Lo-Riders, but I like these a bit better.

I use LoRider Nickels on my Stingray, it's a good match. I am was looking at these Pure Blues, what kind of bass are you using them on? Also how is the string tension I like both lower tension (Sunbeams) and higher tension (LoRiders) but I find that higher tension is better suited to the Stingray it makes it much more versatile.

 

[Bassman Spiff]

I use LoRider Nickels on my Stingray, it's a good match. I am was looking at these Pure Blues, what kind of bass are you using them on? Also how is the string tension I like both lower tension (Sunbeams) and higher tension (LoRiders) but I find that higher tension is better suited to the Stingray it makes it much more versatile.

I currently have the DR PBs on my Ibanez SR505 (34"). I find them to have just a bit less tension than the NLRs - most likely due to the difference in the cores (round vs. hex).
It has been a while since I ran Sunbeams (also round core), so that comparison is questionable coming from me. That said, I feel these PBs seem to sit between the two as far as tension goes.
YMMV.

 

[thebassbuilder]

The only way I have found to make these strings work for now is jack the action up. To me they are not designed for low action. I think it must be from the brightness they have turns harsh if it is banging off the fingerboard at all. After I moved them up, it has helped but does not make me think these are now great strings just usable till I can use them up enough to replace. So for anyone else try this and see if it helps, i know this make us have to change our setup which is crap for making a string work but will save you some money for the moment, if need be.

 

[Selim]

Any discussion of any string has to include what style music you are playing with them. Why else would one person say they are the worst and another loves them?

They’re not perfect (haven’t found those yet) but PBs (heavy gauge) work really well for certain music styles. And even the heavy gauge is pretty comfy..

 

[Drop1]

Pure blues can sound VERY pretty on the right bass.
I didn't feel like they were very scooped. I have to cut a ton of low mids to keep them from being muddy.


Every bass likes something different though.

They do seem best suited to a j type or dual soap bar instrument. Not sure I'd want them on a p. I like that scooped sound. I believe on a bright , ringy j they would be just perfect.

This video is about testing cabs, but they used pure blues to do it.

I can get that sound in the studio, but not out of my amp. My bass and amps voicing just won't let me achieve this sound.
I wish I could. This is my almost ideal tone but on my bass, they are WAY darker and more mid heavy. For that reason I use steel strings now instead.

 

[Moving Pictures]

Pure blues can sound VERY pretty on the right bass.
I didn't feel like they were very scooped. I have to cut a ton of low mids to keep them from being muddy.


Every bass likes something different though.

They do seem best suited to a j type or dual soap bar instrument. Not sure I'd want them on a p. I like that scooped sound. I believe on a bright , ringy j they would be just perfect.

This video is about testing cabs, but they used pure blues to do it.

I can get that sound in the studio, but not out of my amp. My bass and amps voicing just won't let me achieve this sound.
I wish I could. This is my almost ideal tone but on my bass, they are WAY darker and more mid heavy. For that reason I use steel strings now instead.

I had to think about this and I believe you are correct, at least compared to my experience. I haven't liked the PBs on any of my Precisions, but they really shine on my Jazz basses. I tend to like Hi Beams on most basses but I am going to move all me Jazz basses to Pure Blues.

 

[Mark Ambler]

My favourite strings on my Sadowsky jazz. They retain their ‘zing’ for a long time which is just as well as they’re not cheap. I also use Sadowsky SS strings which are worth checking out.

 

[jmccain]

Pure Blues work very well on a dual soap-bar pickup bass I have (as mentioned above).

 

[dougjwray]

Unlike some of you, I like Pure Blues on P-Basses, and Nickel Lo-Riders on Jazz Basses.
For the last few years, I've been playing mostly singer-songwriter music -- folk-rock, Americana, etc. -- and I go for a warm yet growly sound. Those strings on those basses achieve that for me.
(I also use different flatwounds on various P-Basses and Jazzes, but that's for another thread...)

 

[Swipter]

I had to give DR Pure Blues a try, put them on a P that I just got finished, and yeah, lifeless.
Went back to K S Compressors and it was alive!
Giving it a shot with E B Cobalt Flats now, and it's a great combo.
The DR Pure Blues are still back in the package, but I'll have to give them a try on something else.

Try EXL170.