DR Sunbeams on a fretless?

[JazznFunk]

Thanks. I generally like having more top end available to me considering I can always tame it with the EQ. I'll see if I can find some PB demos on fretless.

How do you decide which of your basses get which strings?

Trial and error, and how they feel on a given bass. I like the Pure Blues on my Sadowsky 4 string fretless because the Sunbeams felt a little too soft for how I play. My 5-string Lakland fretless gets Sunbeams because the 35 inch scale and neck width/radius feel better to me with Sunbeams, and it's a very bright bass even with the preamp set flat all around.

 

[lordradish]

I use D'Addario exl170 45-100 rounds on most of my basses. Pretty stiff and mid forward. I've tried La Bella Low Tension Flats and found them way too slinky.

Considering DR Sunbeams since they sit in the middle tension-wise between La Bella LTF and D'Addario EXL. Any reviews of Sunbeams here for fretless spefically? I read 40-100 would be the middle ground where as their 45-105 would feel about as stiff as D'Addarios.

My hypothesis is I'll have better control and ease over my vibrato with Sunbeams due to their flexibility. I just don't want super flimsy strings like LTFs.

They're the only strings I use for fretless.

 

[akukulich]

I used Sunbeams on my fretless Prairie Heart bass, and they were good, but I eventually switched to Fat Beams for more growl.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

I found them a bit too supple AT FIRST, then they settled in and have been great.

I play Fretless with low/medium action with mwah optional

 

[hasbeen]

I've been predominantly a fretless player since the 80's. All my fretless basses get Sunbeams.

 

[Stagelab]

I've been predominantly a fretless player since the 80's. All my fretless basses get Sunbeams.

What gauges?

I'm finally placing an order and am going with 45-105 so I get a fatter E fundamental. The 45-100 set's E might be a little too thin sounding for my taste based on what I've read.

 

[hasbeen]

What gauges?

I'm finally placing an order and am going with 45-105 so I get a fatter E fundamental. The 45-100 set's E might be a little too thin sounding for my taste based on what I've read.

I do the .45 to .105. Low B gets a .125

 

[GIBrat51]

I use D'Addario exl170 45-100 rounds on most of my basses. Pretty stiff and mid forward. I've tried La Bella Low Tension Flats and found them way too slinky.

Considering DR Sunbeams since they sit in the middle tension-wise between La Bella LTF and D'Addario EXL. Any reviews of Sunbeams here for fretless spefically? I read 40-100 would be the middle ground where as their 45-105 would feel about as stiff as D'Addarios.

My hypothesis is I'll have better control and ease over my vibrato with Sunbeams due to their flexibility. I just don't want super flimsy strings like LTFs.

Well...
Don't know what to tell you, really. I've used DR Sunbeams, but it was a long time ago. And, they were short scale strings, too. I remember them as being... pretty coarse feeling. They were the strings that finally convinced me that my nerve-damaged, frost bitten fingers would be much happier playing flats... They did sound nice though; the tension/stiffness? Average, for short scale strings, IMO... I have to say that they would be among my last choices for using on any of my fretless basses. And, NO, not for the "they'll ruin your fingerboard" thing. All of mine wear flats - or tapes, because they don't feel like I'm trying to play a wood rasp...
As for the La Bella LTF-4A low tension flats? I have those on my Custom Shop ('cause, left handed) G&L Kiloton lined fretless bass. And, I gotta tell ya; "super flimsy" is about the last thing they are. I've been playing basses with flats - almost exclusively - for 50+ years. I LIKE stiff feeling, high tension flats - the stiffer, the better. I'm not sure how La Bella got the LTF's to have less actual, pull-to-pitch tension than TIJF's (I use those, too) but still feel like "normal" flats, but... I'm very happy with them on my Kiloton. Just flexible enough to do what you'd like strings on a fretless bass to do. No, they are not as stiff as a lot of the flats I use on other basses; but... those basses are not fretless, either. My 3 other fretless basses wear Roto TruBass 88 Tapes; EB Type IV Flats; and D'Addario ECB82 Chromes. The medium scale Roto 88's are tied with the Chromes for stiffness, but... still plenty flexible for a fretless bass. The EB Type IV's (factory installed on my Schecter Stiletto 4FL) are... slightly stiffer that the LTF-4As, but... nowhere near "super flimsy"... However;
It's your bass, and they're your fingers. Use whatever kind of strings you want - and be happy...

 

[Stagelab]

Well...
Don't know what to tell you, really. I've used DR Sunbeams, but it was a long time ago. And, they were short scale strings, too. I remember them as being... pretty coarse feeling. They were the strings that finally convinced me that my nerve-damaged, frost bitten fingers would be much happier playing flats... They did sound nice though; the tension/stiffness? Average, for short scale strings, IMO... I have to say that they would be among my last choices for using on any of my fretless basses. And, NO, not for the "they'll ruin your fingerboard" thing. All of mine wear flats - or tapes, because they don't feel like I'm trying to play a wood rasp...
As for the La Bella LTF-4A low tension flats? I have those on my Custom Shop ('cause, left handed) G&L Kiloton lined fretless bass. And, I gotta tell ya; "super flimsy" is about the last thing they are. I've been playing basses with flats - almost exclusively - for 50+ years. I LIKE stiff feeling, high tension flats - the stiffer, the better. I'm not sure how La Bella got the LTF's to have less actual, pull-to-pitch tension than TIJF's (I use those, too) but still feel like "normal" flats, but... I'm very happy with them on my Kiloton. Just flexible enough to do what you'd like strings on a fretless bass to do. No, they are not as stiff as a lot of the flats I use on other basses; but... those basses are not fretless, either. My 3 other fretless basses wear Roto TruBass 88 Tapes; EB Type IV Flats; and D'Addario ECB82 Chromes. The medium scale Roto 88's are tied with the Chromes for stiffness, but... still plenty flexible for a fretless bass. The EB Type IV's (factory installed on my Schecter Stiletto 4FL) are... slightly stiffer that the LTF-4As, but... nowhere near "super flimsy"... However;
It's your bass, and they're your fingers. Use whatever kind of strings you want - and be happy...

I've played LTFs on three basses and for me they feel flimsy. To each his own.

 

[Lee Moses]

I remember them as being... pretty coarse feeling.... like I'm trying to play a wood rasp...

That's a pretty unique take. Sunbeams are among the smoothest feeling roundwounds out there.

 

[GIBrat51]

That's a pretty unique take. Sunbeams are among the smoothest feeling roundwounds out there.

Well... All I can say is, that's how badly damaged my hands and fingers are. The TI Jazz Rounds I had on my Gretsch Broadkaster were definitely the smoothest rounds I ever played, but... I finally had to 86 them late last year. Just... not smooth enough, any more. They were the last rounds I had on a bass. Now, they all wear tapes or flats. And, yes; I do miss some of the rounds I've used over the last 5 decades. I just... simply can't play them any more...

 

[Lee Moses]

Well... All I can say is, that's how badly damaged my hands and fingers are. The TI Jazz Rounds I had on my Gretsch Broadkaster were definitely the smoothest rounds I ever played, but... I finally had to 86 them late last year. Just... not smooth enough, any more. They were the last rounds I had on a bass. Now, they all wear tapes or flats. And, yes; I do miss some of the rounds I've used over the last 5 decades. I just... simply can't play them any more...

Sorry to hear. I'm glad you're able to play at all, all things considered.