It is my understanding that the nickel plating on the Pure Blues is thinner than typical NPS rounds, making them slightly brighter.
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DR Sunbeams vs. Pure Blues
- Thread starter Lowbrow
- Start date
It is my understanding that the nickel plating on the Pure Blues is thinner than typical NPS rounds, making them slightly brighter.
NPS. I tried Fender pure nickels years ago and was not impressed. Very warm and dull. I would probably really dig them now!
Pure Blues are slightly scooped to my ears. Lows and highs with less forward mids. I think they work really well with humbuckers and sidewinders. For single coils I prefer the more balanced sound of Sunbeams
I love PBs. Lively is a good way to describe them. They are a very comfy string to play with good balance in both feel and tone. I wouldn’t describe them as scooped - just even, warm, and with some nice pop and snap to them.
I agree, there is no scoop to my ears, full range, and soft but musical all across.
I've been using Pure Blues for the last 2-3 years exclusively on all my basses. The best Round I've played after trying about every one made. Even tried the TI Jazz Rounds and Power Rounds. Nothing sounded, Felt and lasted as long as they do to me.
Have you tried the Curt Mangan NickelWound strings? They have a hex core, but sound- and feel-wise, I would rate them as good as the DR Blues.
Never have, but would like to someday! I've heard great things about Mangan strings
Just picked up DR Sunbeams and the E string is apparently from a short scale or medium scale set. I would contact DR Strings, but their website is just an announcement that their fonder passed away this week. Didn't notice until I started tuning up to tension. Checked the A string and it's also short or medium scale. It doesn't say short or medium on the package, but I guess it doesn't say long scale either. Never had this happen before. Guess that's a waste of $26.
I noticed the last time I purchased Sunbeams the standard scale ones said NMR-45 and the short scale said SNMR-45, with no other indication of scale. The store I purchased them had the standard and short all mixed together so apparently they were confused too. The Hi Beams on the other hand said short scale on the front of the pack.
Im sure they’ll make it right - just might take a little longer than usual.
On the UPC Symbol it had "MR", so I guess I should have known from that? I just ordered another set from Amazon and that set was cut up into 6" chunks and put into recycling. It's more of a Guitar Center supply management issue and DR should probably put a sticker on medium and small scale strings. Just something to keep an eye out for.
There was only one pack of Sunbeams there at the time. Kinda rare to find them at GC, thought it was my lucky day. Not exactly......
That is where I got mine, so I’ll make sure to keep an eye out for that.
+1 for the RS66LDN’s. Love them on my P bass
I have Sunbeams one one bass and PBs on another. At first I preferred the PBs for their denser mids and slightly more aggressive sound, but as they age, I'm starting to think they the Sunbeams are a gift that keeps on giving.
I have the SBs on a dark-sounding 32" scale bass with humbuckers, which I thought might be a bad fit, but it ended up working great because they have this pleasing high end that you can dial in. I find that they're aging nicely as well, although they don't have a ton of hours on them.
I have the PBs on a J-Bass with EMGs. At first I really liked them for their aggressive sound and smooth feel, but as they age, I'm feeling a sort of undistinguished vibe as they lose lows and highs. They're still good strings, and I probably need to change them, but over time, I've grown to prefer the SBs.
I've got a set of Fat Beams sitting in my string box. Dunno what bass they're gonna go on.
I have the SBs on a dark-sounding 32" scale bass with humbuckers, which I thought might be a bad fit, but it ended up working great because they have this pleasing high end that you can dial in. I find that they're aging nicely as well, although they don't have a ton of hours on them.
I have the PBs on a J-Bass with EMGs. At first I really liked them for their aggressive sound and smooth feel, but as they age, I'm feeling a sort of undistinguished vibe as they lose lows and highs. They're still good strings, and I probably need to change them, but over time, I've grown to prefer the SBs.
I've got a set of Fat Beams sitting in my string box. Dunno what bass they're gonna go on.
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I was in a local Guitar Center and the “short scale” package of sunbeams caught my eye. You don’t usually find short scale strings too readily available. They were clearly marked at this location and to my surprise when the cashier scanned them they were only five bucks. I guess it was a Guitar Center error but nonetheless, I grabbed three packs. That was all they had.
Pure Blues = flat EQ
Sunbeams = similar tension but smiley face EQ
Sunbeams = similar tension but smiley face EQ
I have a bass that I recently tried Roundcore Boomers on. The bass seems to love RC Boomers. The tone and feel of those strings is terrific. I want to try DR Pure Blues during its next setup, because they seem to be a solid alternative and often cost a few bucks less. So hearing that Pure Blues are comparable to RC Boomers piques my interest.
The RC Boomers will have slightly higher tension if that matters to you. And slightly tighter bass.
