DR Strings - Jonas Hellborg sigs

[Ponce]

hola y'all,

Firstly, I don't do much input to forums. I like to lurk and read, and learn. I've been playing electric bass for 40 years and I still have so much to learn. BUT, and that's a big BUTT, when I find something really cool, I will voice an opinion.
Secondly, I think J Hellborg is one of the finest bassists ever. Now, from my standpoint, it's not about "chops." Who cares what you can do in a solo mode; what can you do with a song, tune, jam, etc. That's just my take. But I digress.
My normal strings were LaBella Deep Talkin' stainless, .044 - .110. These are tight, bright, melodic strings.
I have been hearing about the DR Hellborgs for a while. I saw a low-dollar set on eBay so I bought em. As long as I can find the DR Hellborg strings, I won't play anything else. Again, I am all about the music; tone, sustain, support of that which those spaced-out lead-guitarists need to play over. Put on a set of these strings and strum a 7th fret E. You will be surprised. The main differencein these strings is the absence of overtones and wierd (and possibly unwanted) harmonics. These strings are all about the fundamental. These bass strings sound like...music. They are pricey, but not any more so than the LaBellas. The average DR price at most outlets is around $22. These will riunn you about
$5 bucks more.
They do feel a but different because the main structural difference is that these are only 1 core wire, with only 1 wind around it. Different than the D'Adarrios and other machine wound strings. However, if you have played Roto-Sounds, or Dean Markley Blue Steels (also killer strings), it won't be hard to work with these. Try a set.
The bad news for me is that they seem to be less popular than the Hi-Beams or Lo-Riders. When I find a place that has some, I usually but them out. I have two Fender Jazz basses, fretted and fretless, and a Precision. I have the Hellborgs on all of them, and I play them really loudly on an Eden stack. BTW, if you don't like or want them and happen to find a place that has them, my email address is [email protected]. Let me know where they are.
Oh yeah, disco STILL sucks.

Ponce

 

[David Jayne]

Glad you like them, but there's a reason they're not more popular.

 

[RCCollins]

they are available on ebay all the time, I've ordered strings from both bass specialties and Mike's and they are reliable.

The strings are not cheap though

 

[Coward Of Reali]

WOuld you say they combine the sound of roundwounds with the fundamentals of flatwounds?

 

[lofreek]

WOuld you say they combine the sound of roundwounds with the fundamentals of flatwounds?

They do not sound like flatwounds, nor do they sound like normal roundwounds. They are pretty much in a category of their own.

I have a set on my Modulus Q6. My only complaint is that there is currently no B string with similar characteristics. DR states that a five and six string Hellborg set are in the works.

The frequency balance is indeed shifted toward the fundamental. They are not super bright, but in no way do they lack highs. They just roar.

 

[fullrangebass]

IME the UFOs have great lows, and nice low-mids and high mids too. They are my favorite strings for my 4str basses (esp my Dingwall Super PJ 4)

 

[eedo]

and what about string noise when sliding?

 

[alangoldstein]

im a DR; endorser but im always honest in posts.... so my opinion ? for what its worth

they are loud and powerful. they dont feel as nice to the touch as sunbeams or lowbeams TO ME / i play ALOT so i prefer a softer feel of the metal of the string ( i play with fingers not pick ) . again, just opinion.
the goods :::
they do last long! and sound cool
like all DR strings. go try some!

ive never broken a DR string btw. they are my favs for years....

 

[chunkstyle]

the all important tension question...


how do they compare, tension wise to the Labellas. you described the Labellas as tight. how would you describe the DRs?

 

[Gintaras]

I have a FrankenP that I put together from spare parts. G&L SB-2 P pup and badass bridge on a standard American P body and Eden neck. I was just a fun thing to do and was not expecting a lot but fell in love with the sound. I then decided to try the DR Jonas strings and these were the final piece to finish off the bass. Has growl and Piano tones

 

[lofreek]

A bit on the tight side, but they feel equal across all four strings.

 

[basss]

How high is you action with JH's? I ask because I put a set on once and could not get the G string to stop buzzing no matter how I tweaked the action. I did not get into raising it rediculously high - I gave up on them before that.

 

[jmac]

I tried the DR Hellborgs. I liked the tone, but not the feel. I went back to my highbeams.

 

[Gab124]

I tried them, loved their tone in house and maybe just low volume band practice. At higher volumes though, I really feel they did not cut through well enough. I also prefer a bit tighter string, I usually use DR lowriders standard gauge 45-105 - these (Hellborgs) feel a bit lighter to me.