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DR Sunbeams vs Dunlop Super Bright Nickel

J

JazzyJacuzzi

Inactive
Sep 17, 2021
400
610
#1
Is there any meaningful difference between the two? I love the DRs, but the Dunlops are potentially cheaper* and a lot of bassists I admire have switched to Dunlops in the past number of years (granted Dunlop endorses all of them).

* They are the same price in Canada, but cheaper in the US, although I've been told by a supplier they're not allowed to ship Dunlops to Canada.

Thanks!
 
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#3
My favorite string, if I could afford to change strings every gig, would be sunbeams. I like the "sweet" high end. Not harsh at all, but there. The Dunlops are good but I like the sunbeams a little better. I've noticed the Dunlops I've had aren't made quite as nicely as some other strings, but I don't know that it matters, practically. They didn't break or anything.
 
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#4
KJMO said:
My favorite string, if I could afford to change strings every gig, would be sunbeams. I like the "sweet" high end. Not harsh at all, but there. The Dunlops are good but I like the sunbeams a little better. I've noticed the Dunlops I've had aren't made quite as nicely as some other strings, but I don't know that it matters, practically. They didn't break or anything.
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I agree with pretty much everything you wrote, but I think Sunbeams maintain a nice crispness for months.

And that reminds me of something else--I absolutely hate Super Brights right out of the package. But after a couple of weeks they break into a sweet spot that lasts for a long time.
 
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#6
I was a long time Super Brights user and very recently switched to Sunbeams. Why? Because every other set of SB's the past year had an E string that died hard in hours (strings last me MONTHS typically). It became a total crapshoot and I'm not up for speculative endeavors when it comes to gear. The Sunbeams certainly feel much smoother and are richer and better balanced. Just a hair more tense than SB's but very flexible still. Comparing the two back to back it's immediately evident the Sunbeams are a much higher quality strings. A lot of my basses have been using DR Hi Beams and Lo Riders for years anyways so I'm totally team DR now.
 
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#8
tindrum said:
I was a long time Super Brights user and very recently switched to Sunbeams. Why? Because every other set of SB's the past year had an E string that died hard in hours (strings last me MONTHS typically). It became a total crapshoot and I'm not up for speculative endeavors when it comes to gear. The Sunbeams certainly feel much smoother and are richer and better balanced. Just a hair more tense than SB's but very flexible still. Comparing the two back to back it's immediately evident the Sunbeams are a much higher quality strings. A lot of my basses have been using DR Hi Beams and Lo Riders for years anyways so I'm totally team DR now.
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I had Dunlop QC issues years ago and just recently installed the last set from my replacement inventory (2 cartons). My next two sets will be the Sunbeams (gauge?) and the Lo-Rider nickels (light gauge).

@tindrum Whereabouts in Suffolk?

Riis
 
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#9
Zooberwerx said:
I had Dunlop QC issues years ago and just recently installed the last set from my replacement inventory (2 cartons). My next two sets will be the Sunbeams (gauge?) and the Lo-Rider nickels (light gauge).

@tindrum Whereabouts in Suffolk?

Riis
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I live fairly close to downtown in the Lakeside neighborhood. Moved here 3 years ago from Va. Beach and love it!
 
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#14
Sunbeams are my standard go to string…but have used SB nickel quite a few times as well. SB' have a thin hex core, less tension and more flexible that Sunbeams, they also have more upper mids and a bit more aggressive sounding imo. They are good to wake a Scooped jazz bass up.
Sunbeams are roundcore a bit more tension than SB's but less than other brands. They start off brite, but warm up as they break in, mids are even and a great general purpose round. I use them to tone down my Stingrays , they are also great on a P.
 
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#17
Lee Moses said:
I agree with pretty much everything you wrote, but I think Sunbeams maintain a nice crispness for months.

And that reminds me of something else--I absolutely hate Super Brights right out of the package. But after a couple of weeks they break into a sweet spot that lasts for a long time.
Click to expand...

I was the opposite! I loved the Dunlops right out of the box, and fell out of love as time went on. I feel like their brand new point is where they literally shine.
 
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#18
As several have mentioned, if you're after a bright clank that lasts a bit, the SB's might be for you. QC permitting.
On the other side, the Sunbeams just have this nice, even mid character, and DR won't let you down. It's a character I wanted *more* of, so I went for Hi-Beams. I've only recently started using Elixir after about a decade.
 
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