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DR Sunbeams First Timer
- Thread starter jamersonburton
- Start date
DRs are one of those strings where it's a good idea to put the bend/crimp in the string before you cut them. This keeps them from (possibly) unraveling on you. It hasn't happened to you? You've been lucky... I, unfortunately, had to learn the hard way... I have a (second try) set of short scale Sunbeams on a new Warmoth Mini-P. I'd never tried them before, either, but so far, I'm liking them a lot... Just have to remember not to be in a hurry when putting strings on my stuff...
I play exclusively DR strings and have for about 15 years now. In the first 2-3 years of playing I changed strings about once a quarter and tried just about everything (nickel, cobalt, steel, flat, round, half, coated, taped). For my primary bass, DR lowriders (45-130) are just the best experience for bass strings, perfect tight tension, extreme articulation, holds a solid tone without being harsh, but still deep with character.
I feel nickel is too "loose" for my playing style, but I have to admit, in studio I have to keep a few basses stocked with nickel and flats, and in that case I always reach for Sunbeams. I find these to be a fairly even response across the low and mids without the need to EQ out "clacky" or "tinny" treble. Paired with a PJ bass there's a really nice growl I haven't heard with another string/bass combo. Highly recommend!
I feel nickel is too "loose" for my playing style, but I have to admit, in studio I have to keep a few basses stocked with nickel and flats, and in that case I always reach for Sunbeams. I find these to be a fairly even response across the low and mids without the need to EQ out "clacky" or "tinny" treble. Paired with a PJ bass there's a really nice growl I haven't heard with another string/bass combo. Highly recommend!
Same here. I always said I like rounds after they break in and lose some zing; but sunbeams are perfect right out of the pack for me. Deep and rich, not too much clank, and still got the growl. Probably my favorite round!
Once I tried the Sunbeams, they became my favorites. I do like the Hi-beams too, but for the bass I use for my metal band. The round core makes them so easy to play IMO.
gotta come back to this but are these decently smooth? looking for a string that won't distroy my fretless fingerboard
Very much so, for a true roundwound. That's what I typically string up my fretless with.
I have a fender Original 60's jazz that I have been playing with sunbeams. Rosewood and the sunbeams sound amazing to me. Been thinking of trying the hi beams which I always use on my sadowsky, but the sunbeams feel and sound great on the jazz. When they get broken in they seem to last at that particular brightness and punch. I have played many brands but always come back to DR.
After a couple years of serious Flatwound taste-testing, I've been turning my attention back to nickel & nickel-plated steel roundwounds. I'm setting a P Bass & my Jazz up w/ nickel rounds, so sampling has begun.
I'm pretty sold on GHS Balanced Nickels for my P Bass. I've also loved the DR Lo Rider nickels for their accentuated Low midrange and I like how they lose a bit of their high end once they break in. Also, the real surprise for me has been Fender Pure Nickel 45-100 - great Strings, and inexpensive.
But I pulled out an ancient set of 45-100 Sunbeams (with at least a year of play time on them) that I forgot I had - slapped them on my newish Jazz build, and reminisced. I ran Sunbeams exclusively on my late 70s Jazz Bass for years, so a dead set of Sunbeams is sort of "it" for the way I hear Jazz Basses. The Sunbeams are staying.
I'm pretty sold on GHS Balanced Nickels for my P Bass. I've also loved the DR Lo Rider nickels for their accentuated Low midrange and I like how they lose a bit of their high end once they break in. Also, the real surprise for me has been Fender Pure Nickel 45-100 - great Strings, and inexpensive.
But I pulled out an ancient set of 45-100 Sunbeams (with at least a year of play time on them) that I forgot I had - slapped them on my newish Jazz build, and reminisced. I ran Sunbeams exclusively on my late 70s Jazz Bass for years, so a dead set of Sunbeams is sort of "it" for the way I hear Jazz Basses. The Sunbeams are staying.
What fingerboard material do you have on your fretless? I've used stainless steel rounds on my ebony boards with little to no wear besides slight visual marks. Good technique will help a ton in reducing the need for fingerboard leveling.
It's a Mexican fender so rosewood. I went with ernieball flats. My sunbeams are up for grabs if anyone wants them
Nice I have a fretless with rosewood, I put a polyurethane finish on it and use Sunbeams, DR Pure Blues, or D'Addario NYXL's on it. Love the tone of rosewood with the finish.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I just put a set of Sunbeams on my Warwick Rockbass Corvette $$ 5-string this evening. It had an aging set of DR Lo-Riders on it that sounded pretty dull. Long story short, this old gal had been neglected and had a string height of maybe 10/64s when I got it. Now it' just above 4/64s on the B side to just below 4/64s on the G side.
I love the new flexibility of the Sunbeams versus the Lo-Riders. Also, they aren't embarassingly bright as I imagine the Hi-Beams and lots of other roundwound stainless strings would be for about 2 weeks. Instead they are crisp and snappy right out of the gate, but not zingy and obnoxious.
I love the new flexibility of the Sunbeams versus the Lo-Riders. Also, they aren't embarassingly bright as I imagine the Hi-Beams and lots of other roundwound stainless strings would be for about 2 weeks. Instead they are crisp and snappy right out of the gate, but not zingy and obnoxious.
