I very much think the Pure Blues are like a "flat EQ" and Sunbeams are a "smiley-face EQ". It's subtle, but that is what I hear, and I've done a lot of testing, cause they are 2 of my three favorites. I've played PBs exclusively for two years and I'm about to try Sunbeams again.
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DR Pure Blues Compared to Sun Beams?
- Thread starter Jason Bonilla
- Start date
So I Strung up my Euro 4 with Pure Blues and my NS5 with Sun Beams. It's pretty crazy the sound I get from the Pure Blues in my Euro legitimately makes me think of Wootens sound. Of course not that my playing sounds anywhere near his, but that bright and throaty mid punch is there. just goes to show how much string and pickups contribute to sound. Pure Blues and EMGs seem to get you in the ball park without dishing out 7k for a fodera 
(kidding but not kidding).
The Pure blues definitely have a different sound to the Sun beams which are much more subtle even in a not so subtle bass like an NS5 with EMGs and a Haz pre amp. Might try out Pure blues for the NS5 next time I restring it, but I'm not sure as seeing as im only playing at Church, it might be better to stay with an easily tamable string like the Sun Beams. I think the Euro will rock Pure Blues from now on though.
(kidding but not kidding). The Pure blues definitely have a different sound to the Sun beams which are much more subtle even in a not so subtle bass like an NS5 with EMGs and a Haz pre amp. Might try out Pure blues for the NS5 next time I restring it, but I'm not sure as seeing as im only playing at Church, it might be better to stay with an easily tamable string like the Sun Beams. I think the Euro will rock Pure Blues from now on though.
I would love to hear some clips if you could? I think the Ken Smith Rock Masters I have on my Euro 4 will be toast soon (although I'm nursing a sprained ring finger right now!So I Strung up my Euro 4 with Pure Blues and my NS5 with Sun Beams. It's pretty crazy the sound I get from the Pure Blues in my Euro legitimately makes me think of Wootens sound. Of course not that my playing sounds anywhere near his, but that bright and throaty mid punch is there. just goes to show how much string and pickups contribute to sound. Pure Blues and EMGs seem to get you in the ball park without dishing out 7k for a fodera
The Pure blues definitely have a different sound to the Sun beams which are much more subtle even in a not so subtle bass like an NS5 with EMGs and a Haz pre amp. Might try out Pure blues for the NS5 next time I restring it, but I'm not sure as seeing as im only playing at Church, it might be better to stay with an easily tamable string like the Sun Beams. I think the Euro will rock Pure Blues from now on though.
) They just feel too tight to me ya know? Smooth though I give them that. I may end up putting on a set of Rotos for that grindy Eddie Jackson tone. Too many strings too little money! $$$Stay healthy!
Brent
I would love to hear some clips if you could? I think the Ken Smith Rock Masters I have on my Euro 4 will be toast soon (although I'm nursing a sprained ring finger right now!
Stay healthy!
Brent
sure, im not really sure how to go about posting audio on TB though? Which is sad considering my age.
You just add an attachment! It's one of the icons at top when you post.
Thank you for doing this!
Brent
@BrentSimons
heres a crappy little sound clip. I didn't plan on making anything special cause then it would have taken me 100 takes and not come out any better in the end anyway.
let me know if the clip works for you, its just the Euro 4 into my VTBass DI into Garageband, forgive the shoddy playing.
and let me know if you wanted a clip of the NS5 with the sunbeams as well, though it wouldn't be a true comparison because the NS5 sounds completely different with the soapbars and 18v Haz
heres a crappy little sound clip. I didn't plan on making anything special cause then it would have taken me 100 takes and not come out any better in the end anyway.
let me know if the clip works for you, its just the Euro 4 into my VTBass DI into Garageband, forgive the shoddy playing.
and let me know if you wanted a clip of the NS5 with the sunbeams as well, though it wouldn't be a true comparison because the NS5 sounds completely different with the soapbars and 18v Haz
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I hear what you’re saying about the Wooten comparison. It’s interesting to hear a fresh set of the DRPB again. The set I replaced with TIJF on my P w/EMG GEEZERS was at least a couple years old and maybe, as much as 3+. Your sample confirms that I prefer aged stringsSo I Strung up my Euro 4 with Pure Blues and my NS5 with Sun Beams. It's pretty crazy the sound I get from the Pure Blues in my Euro legitimately makes me think of Wootens sound. Of course not that my playing sounds anywhere near his, but that bright and throaty mid punch is there. just goes to show how much string and pickups contribute to sound. Pure Blues and EMGs seem to get you in the ball park without dishing out 7k for a fodera
The Pure blues definitely have a different sound to the Sun beams which are much more subtle even in a not so subtle bass like an NS5 with EMGs and a Haz pre amp. Might try out Pure blues for the NS5 next time I restring it, but I'm not sure as seeing as im only playing at Church, it might be better to stay with an easily tamable string like the Sun Beams. I think the Euro will rock Pure Blues from now on though.
The growl of that setup was perfect for me.Hopefully, if you get a chance, we can hear the DRSB set before they age much. I like the tone when other people play fresh strings but when I play them, I cringe.
I just tried to do a recording of a 3yo set of NYXL-5’s to compare them to the now, fairly fresh replacement set. I can’t figure out how to even simply record from my device and playback the audio, though. Very frustrating.
I hear what you’re saying about the Wooten comparison. It’s interesting to hear a fresh set of the DRPB again. The set I replaced with TIJF on my P w/EMG GEEZERS was at least a couple years old and maybe, as much as 3+. Your sample confirms that I prefer aged strings
Hopefully, if you get a chance, we can hear the DRSB set before they age much. I like the tone when other people play fresh strings but when I play them, I cringe.
I just tried to do a recording of a 3yo set of NYXL-5’s to compare them to the now, fairly fresh replacement set. I can’t figure out how to even simply record from my device and playback the audio, though. Very frustrating.
What type of device are you using? I recorded that clip on a laptop, that seems to be the simplest way to record a decent direct in sound clip of an instrument; a USB audio interface -> actual computer/laptop -> DAW (garageband, reaper, logic etc.) to my knowledge there's no simple or even worth while way to record to a phone. Iphones and Ipads for sure maybe have some type of dongle that'll let you plug into the mobile version of Garage band, but that's it.
Anyway, yea I used a brighter tone than I normally would for the sake of the sound clip, because what's the point of a sound clip of new strings if you're gonna neuter all the newness out of it am I right
. I usually trim ALL the treble off of my pre-amp when using my Euro, because Tone Pump equipped Euro's have a treble response so crazy that there is no "normal" non-sizzly tone out of them if you don't trim pretty much all the treble from your amp or Pre-amp. So for the sound demo I only trimmed the treble by about half to maintain some of the integrity of the new string sound. I'll try to record something for the Sun Beams later on tonight if I can.Sunbeams are on the P, and I think they're my favorite. I always kill the garbage frequency known as 500Hz, and Sunbeams give me that extra little range of natural scoop. Slightly higher tension than PBs, and getting used to that.
Also put on the J5 last night, but haven't played; waiting for a SB B-string to come in special order.
Also put on the J5 last night, but haven't played; waiting for a SB B-string to come in special order.
Just for simplicity and not currently concerned with audio quality, I wanted to just use the iPhone or iPad built-in mic. It seems whether I do that or use the Plex as an interface, that finding, saving and playing back the recording should be the same.What type of device are you using? I recorded that clip on a laptop, that seems to be the simplest way to record a decent direct in sound clip of an instrument; a USB audio interface -> actual computer/laptop -> DAW (garageband, reaper, logic etc.) to my knowledge there's no simple or even worth while way to record to a phone. Iphones and Ipads for sure maybe have some type of dongle that'll let you plug into the mobile version of Garage band, but that's it.
Anyway, yea I used a brighter tone than I normally would for the sake of the sound clip, because what's the point of a sound clip of new strings if you're gonna neuter all the newness out of it am I right
Dunno. I’m miffed. When I get time I guess I’ll try it again but through the interface. Maybe, that’s what is preventing the playback but, it doesn’t make sense to me.
