If Pure Blues are "flat", and Lo-Riders have a "midrange bump", the Sunbeams are a "smiley-face EQ".
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DR Pure Blues vs Nickel LoRiders
- Thread starter bassnyc1
- Start date
Great Description.
I have tried the Pure Blues on my Sandberg VM5 and they settled into a nice even toned string. I put some sunbeams on my jazz and liked the scooped sound on that bass. Tried them on the VM5 and didn’t like them. Just ordered some Nickel Low Riders for the VM5. We’ll see. I do like a little mid bump so they might workout. Not sure I’m into the higher tension but only one way to find out!
Which set of NLR did you order? I just put NLR 40-95 on my Yamaha and like the overall feel. Very comfortable but not too loose or floppy, thanks to the hex core.
I once tried the Sunbeams 45-105 and the Nickel Lo-Riders 40-100 back-to-back on my Fender Jazz, and ended up liking the NLRs for their comfortable but firmer feel despite smaller gauges. SBs were just too flexible and loose-feeling for my taste. If you don't like anything too stiff, you might like the NLR 40-120.
I’m excited to try them. The pure blues didn’t wow me straight out of the box but have settled into a nice string. I’m hoping for a little more mids from the low riders. The posts mention some punchy tone. I like that if I dig in. The sunbeams sounded clear but seemed a bit scooped for my liking.
This is exactly my experiences with those two. Sunbeams are warmer and fuller at the bottom end with a sparkly top end, while the NLRs are all about the low-mid punch with a crisp top end without being overly bright and zingy.
Pure Blues do have more bite in the hi-mid but less of the low-mid punch.
I've tried them both....the pure blues, I put them on a bass, and took them off before I finished the set-up. The slinky feel and bright tonality just was not for me. Not that they're bad strings by any means. If I were to play blues or jazz style exclusively, I think they would fit nicely in that setting.
The nickel low riders, I put on everything I play. For me, they give much more growl and have a more aggressive tone and feel.
These 2 strings are totally different...the blues being a round core while the nickel lows are a compression wound hex core.
The nickel low riders, I put on everything I play. For me, they give much more growl and have a more aggressive tone and feel.
These 2 strings are totally different...the blues being a round core while the nickel lows are a compression wound hex core.
Just to update, I've switched to NLR's on most of my basses: my Valenti, which is a passive/active 5 string jazz bass with Aguilar 70s pickups and a Sadowsky preamp, my Franken P and even my Rickenbacker. I'm sticking with Hi Beams on my Fender Jazz and LaBella flats on another P bass because those strings work for those basses. Basically, if I had to pick just one brand, DR would be it and that's after 37 years of trying lots and lots of strings out there.
That’s great! After a year of starting this thread you still like the NLRs. Mine come in today. I’ll report back after I play them a bit.
Ok quick update. These feel and sound great. They are great for staccato playing. They seem very quick.
They are definitely deeper than both the PB and SB, but still very accurate. They really make my bass punchy and have enough character I can run my D800+ amp flat. Great growl. I’m wonder how they will settle. Not much zing. It seems that each set of DR strings I’ve tried hasn’t had too much new string zing. I haven’t tried any SS models yet. Right out of the box they all have sounded different, but great. Imma keep these on. Might be my new string. Great slap tone and feel, great finger tone as well. They seem louder with a softer touch needed due to the higher tension.
I will say I had to do a set up with truss adjustment after putting these on, they changed my relief and raised my action a good amount.
They are definitely deeper than both the PB and SB, but still very accurate. They really make my bass punchy and have enough character I can run my D800+ amp flat. Great growl. I’m wonder how they will settle. Not much zing. It seems that each set of DR strings I’ve tried hasn’t had too much new string zing. I haven’t tried any SS models yet. Right out of the box they all have sounded different, but great. Imma keep these on. Might be my new string. Great slap tone and feel, great finger tone as well. They seem louder with a softer touch needed due to the higher tension.
I will say I had to do a set up with truss adjustment after putting these on, they changed my relief and raised my action a good amount.
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Love the NLRs. They work great on growly and bright basses!
My experience with these strings matches this 100%. Great insights.
I'll add that I prefer the NLR on basses having straight neck setup w/larger radius and PB when there's more relief and a smaller radius.
Pickup-wise, my double humbucker loves the NLR, and a 60s Jazz rocks some worn in Wooten PB (95s)
Aren't they both stainless steel? If so, that would explain why I've never tried them. SS strings make my skin crawl. Gotta have nickel in, or they don't feel right to me.
They are SS, but also round core. To me they feel soft because of the flexibility, and I think the round core makes them sound sweeter than most SS strings.
Happy to report back that the NLR strings (45-125) have been working out great for me. They have settled into a nice growl, string with a nice high end and solid bottom. I almost think they are more clear now that they have been played a bit. At first the low mids were almost too fat, but now that are just right for my VM5.
Can’t wait to try them on my G&L JB4.
Can’t wait to try them on my G&L JB4.
