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DR - The strings that never die?!

jmattbassplaya

jmattbassplaya

Supporting Member
Jan 13, 2008
11,837
9,833
#1
Hey guys,

I just had a very positive experience with DR strings and just felt like sharing that experience with you all.

To start, I'm not in any way affiliated with DR, so all of this I'm merely saying as a satisfied customer.

For the longest time I have used ErnieBall Slinkies on my StingRays. They've always sounded very good for the first week or so, but any longer than that and they'd start sounding like rubber bands. You know the sound I'm talking about - the lack of low end, the absence of any highs, the punch of a wet rag...

Anyways, I was considering which new set of strings I wanted to throw on my Ray and I happened to remember that I had an old set of DR Sunbeams laying around that came on the Fender P that I bought a while back.

I decided I'd throw them on just to see if they'd settle my needs for the time being and save me from having to throw on a brand new set right now - All I can say is WOW!! :eek::hyper:

These Sunbeams have been laying around in an open house environment for 5 months now after having been on the Precision for over a month and they still great. The highs are crisp, the lows are thick, and the punch is just great.

Now I will say that these strings don't have the same zing or gnarly punch that a new set would, but for an almost 7 month old set they sound fantastic and much, much better than the 3 week old ErnieBalls (which, btw, had only been used for a total of 3 hours in the recording studio before the bass was retired to its case until just now).

I have a set of Hi Beams and Lo Riders laying around that I can't wait to try out now. To say the least, DR has just gained a lifelong customer... well, for roundwounds at least :cool:
 
#2
I previously owned 2 sets of DRs. Don't remember what the first ones were, but I hated them. And then I put black beauties on a Squier 5 string that I loved (the squir, not the strings), right up until I put those strings on it. Hated them. Lost my love for that bass. Thought all you DR guys were nuts. Felt like I wasted a lot of money. BUT... saw some sunbeams on Amazon for $11, and couldn't resist.

Pun intended, I believe I've seen the light!

I love these strings. Sorry now that I didn't buy more.

I guess ya gotta either really know what you want when choosing their strings, or go through a bunch until you find the ones that fit. The sunbeams feel great, and just really bring out every bit of sonic life I have in my big Al. It sounds freaking awesome with the sunbeams on it.

That's all. Just thought I'd chime in.
 
#4
haven't tried the sunbeams yet but i've been playing hibeams for a few years now. have had the same sets on both my p-basses and they still sound good. have had a set on my schecter stiletto elite-5 since january and still have plenty of life'em too. good strings, dont want to use anything else but hibeams.
 
#7
I have Sunbeams on 3 of my basses. My favorite string, sweetest tone and best feel of any string I've used.

I use Lo-Riders on my p bass that earns me money though. They have stronger mids to my ears and a little less low end which works better for the rock and blues tunes we play.

Sunbeams for the 5 string that I use in a P&W band. Deep rich tone.
 
#8
jmattbassplaya said:
Anyways, I was considering which new set of strings I wanted to throw on my Ray and I happened to remember that I had an old set of DR Sunbeams laying around that came on the Fender P that I bought a while back.

I decided I'd throw them on just to see if they'd settle my needs for the time being and save me from having to throw on a brand new set right now - All I can say is WOW!! :eek::hyper:
Click to expand...

I haven't had as much experience with the DR nickel strings. Haven't tried the Sunbeams; tried (and didn't like) the nickel Lo-Riders...

But I have tried - and currently use - the three most common DR stainless steel strings: steel Lo-Riders, Fat Beams and Hi-Beams, depending on the individual instrument. They've really changed my outlook on stainless steel strings. I just love 'em. :cool:

Although they're not the first make I would suggest for a traditional high-gain, growly, grindy, noisy rawk tone (think Billy Sheehan or Geddy Lee), they're excellent for so much else, i.e. pop, jazz, fusion, adult contemporary, gospel, R&B, electronica, etc. etc. I'm sure it's the pressure-wound winding technique that smooths down the outer wrap, that makes the difference... :hmm:

My ideal tone is hi-fi, modern, wide-spectrum, full-range and refined. IME, no make of strings is better for that than DR.

MM
 
#10
MysticMichael said:
I haven't had as much experience with the DR nickel strings. Haven't tried the Sunbeams; tried (and didn't like) the nickel Lo-Riders...

But I have tried - and currently use - the three most common DR stainless steel strings: steel Lo-Riders, Fat Beams and Hi-Beams, depending on the individual instrument. They've really changed my outlook on stainless steel strings. I just love 'em. :cool:

Although they're not the first make I would suggest for a traditional high-gain, growly, grindy, noisy rawk tone (think Billy Sheehan or Geddy Lee), they're excellent for so much else, i.e. pop, jazz, fusion, adult contemporary, gospel, R&B, electronica, etc. etc. I'm sure it's the pressure-wound winding technique that smooths down the outer wrap, that makes the difference... :hmm:

My ideal tone is hi-fi, modern, wide-spectrum, full-range and refined. IME, no make of strings is better for that than DR.

MM
Click to expand...

Any chance you could briefly describe the tones of those strings? I have some Hi Beams and Lo Riders sitting around and I'm not sure which I should throw on my P and which on my Ray.
 
#14
jmattbassplaya said:
Any chance you could briefly describe the tones of those strings? I have some Hi Beams and Lo Riders sitting around and I'm not sure which I should throw on my P and which on my Ray.
Click to expand...

Well, the Hi-Beams are definitely the brightest & snappiest of them all. If you're a slapper/tapper and/or if funk is the name of your game, then Hi-Beams are it. Brilliant highs and very present upper midrange. Very punchy.

Fat Beams are kind of a slightly more subdued version of Hi-Beams. They have a similar (flexible roundcore) feel to Hi-Beams, but have more presence in the lower mids, a bit less in the highs and high mids. So they sound a little smoother, slightly darker, but still with good fundamental.

Stainless steel Lo-Riders are not quite as refined sounding as either the Hi-Beams or Fat Beams, and the stiffer hexagonal core means that you can set them up to slightly lower action. They've got good lows and mids, and a bit more of that typical roundwound hollow grind, so they're probably the closest that DR comes to a traditional rock string - but you'll never confuse them with Rotosounds. The stiffer tension makes them very good for generating harmonics - and for playing with a pick. :hmm:

If I were you, I'd use the Hi-Beams on your Sting Ray, and the Lo-Riders on your Precision Bass... :bassist:

MM
 
#16
I mainly play flats, but for the modern rock stuff I have to play to make enough $$ (what a cruel world it is!) I use DR Sunbeams. I actually enjoy them quite a bit. I use them on Musicman Basses and they sound sound great. They would pass on my Fenders too if I didn't have a love for flatwounds and play in an act that calls for for them as my main gig. They last me about 6 months before they fail to intonate (heavy playing), which to me is golden. Cheers, RFMac.
 
#20
Rocking Nickel Lowriders on my Stringray atm. Ive had em on there 6-7 months and they still sound great. And i just put Steel Lowriders on my Ray34. Those two make a great pair,so much so that i bought another pair to throw on my Stingray. Steels are voiced a little bit different,more open and brighter which help me cut though in a metal band with D/drop c tuning. Definately love both the steel and nickel low riders.
 

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