• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

DR Strings for a V

mellowinman

mellowinman

Free Man
Oct 19, 2011
11,818
18,518
63
Minneapolis
#1
I have purchased a Squier Affinity Jazz V. It's a great bass, but the B string is a bit on the loose side.

My four string Jazz has DR Black Beauties on it. I just love them. They have the sound and feel I like, and they look great on the bass.

I have heard that the DR Low Riders are a bit stiffer, and am considering a set of them.

But would the DR Black Beauties work? I have a set of coated flats that came with the bass, and they feel a bit noodly to me. They have blue silk, and different colored ends. I have no idea what they are.

What DR strings would be good on this bass. I'm pretty set on DR's, just because the quality seems to be there, but I'm not that experienced. I haven't bought many sets of strings.
 
#2
Theres no reason the black beauties wouldnt be great choice. Ones fave strings should sound the best they can on whatever bass. Imo the worst part of most new basses other then setup of pups to taste for best sound, is the stock strings. Those come off the bass within a couple days of getting one for me.

Anyway, get a set of five string BB's and put them on the fiver. Or try whatever color of the DR neons you like. Theyre a little bit lower cost. I"m convinced dr neons and sunbeams can make any 5 string basses low B sound the best articulate etc it can. They sure do that for the E & A strings bass content. Sunbeams in my two trys with them lack a little bit of upper treble new, right out of the box, compared to the neons. Otherwise excellent sound.
 
#3
If you already like the feel and sound of the Black Beauties then I say stick with them... You know them, you dig them, you can't loose.

You can also pick a tapered B string to go with the black beauties which are hex core and a bit tighter feeling...

If you want "Black" strings, rotosound nexus coated strings are black polymer coated with multi colored silk ends... they look pretty cool. They are a hex core string so they will feel different as well.
 
#4
Black Beauties would be great, just get the .130 if you're worried about it being tight enough. BB's are lower tension to begin with, so get the B as big as possible. I use 40-100's with a .130 B. I'm actually hoping DR will venture into the world of .135's someday.

Jason at Bass Strings Online sells Black Beauty singles, so you can put together whatever gauges you want!
 
#6
I went a whole other direction.

Ernie Ball Super Slinkys. .135, roundwound, very bright sounding today, but I look forward to them "dying" a bit.

Those flatwound/coateds that came with the bass were definitely robbing it of its soul. Finger noise is a bit much today, but the tone is THERE.
 
#8
I would probably try Nickel Lo-Riders for what you are saying. I have Sunbeams on my current bass and really love them, but the tension might be just a hair too loose. I'm afraid the Lo-Riders will be too much of a change from the Sunbeams on tension, so I'm dealing with a little tiny bit of fret noise when I really dig in which sometimes sounds kinda cool in it's own way.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back