Dunlop String Lab Dual Dynamic hybrid nickel/steel strings

[PeaveyPlayer]

That's honestly a great description for what I was hearing last night!

P w/ Rounds was what I started on when I began playing bass when I was 15/16 years old, and for 15 years I chased the brightest zingiest tone I could get for playing in metal bands. I only "discovered" that I could actually get on with flats within the last 5 years or so. I'll leave the flats on my JMJ Mustang for the time being, so at least I have something with flats should the need arise. I also ordered a set of Dunlop flats which I might try on the Highway One after the Dual Dynamics die out.

I loved the TIs and stashed them away in a baggie in my strings drawer in case I want to put them back on, but after 3.5 years they were getting a little too dead for what I like... there was almost no variation on the tone knob from full on to full off anymore lol.

What cap you got?
On my tony Franklin with flats I’m using 0.1 vs the 0.05 it came with
It Made a bit of a difference but I might change it back

I’m also using a solderless richter electronics pcb and I swapped it out as it came with a 0.047
But in general that’s why I hated flats it was always so one dimensional
But I play with a guy who also plays bass and he calls for flats so that’s what I play


My Sandblasted PJ currently has “limited edition” polished stainless rounds by La Bella and it’s got some attitude and can get flat like but still good for me

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

Also grab an alcohol wipe and wipe the flats down you might find that helps every now and again

 

[NKBassman]

What cap you got?

I'm using an Obsidian Wire solderless harness, so I assume it's probably a "standard" P bass 0.047uf capacitor.
I've experimented with 0.1uf caps before and they go way deeper as you turn down, but I didn't see much benefit at the end of the day since I never want/need to go that low in practical context.

 

[NKBassman]

I just realized that the lack of zing could have been from whatever IR I had loaded in my Darkglass Element headphone rig too. More testing is required.... it's a labour of love.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

I'm using an Obsidian Wire solderless harness, so I assume it's probably a "standard" P bass 0.047uf capacitor.
I've experimented with 0.1uf caps before and they go way deeper as you turn down, but I didn't see much benefit at the end of the day since I never want/need to go that low in practical context.

See for some of the reggae I play you don’t wanna know how many times th

I just realized that the lack of zing could have been from whatever IR I had loaded in my Darkglass Element headphone rig too. More testing is required.... it's a labour of love.

LOL

 

[bdplaid]

Does anyone know if Dunlop is going to make the Hybrids in a 40-100 set?

 

[JimmyM]

Does anyone know if Dunlop is going to make the Hybrids in a 40-100 set?

From what I can tell, they usually make a 45-105 set first since it’s the most common size for the most bass players, and if that goes well, then they branch out.

 

[bdplaid]

From what I can tell, they usually make a 45-105 set first since it’s the most common size for the most bass players, and if that goes well, then they branch out.

Well, to Dunlop: I like the Hybrids in 45-105. I'd buy a set in 40-100 if you make them.

There.

 

[bdplaid]

More about my experience with the Hybrids:

I have a problematic bass concerning tone: A Sandberg California TT4 SL that just won't get a low-growl. I've been on a string quest of late for that bass, buying a lot of uncommon players to find a better tonal fit. The Hybrids stand out, for having a good midrange, along with everything else. They definitely have a different tone, in general. Impressions are just initial, but I think I'm going to like them on this bass, long term.

 

[Auer]

Put some on a Nash PB63 yesterday, and initial impressions are good. 45-105.
Warm and expressive, easy to play. Will see how they "break in".

 

[Kyle_S]

Haven't tried these yet, but I am impressed at how inexpensive they are for something new and fancy-sounding. Also doesn't hurt that one of my favorite bass players (Jacob Umansky) is endorsing them. I'll definitely give them a try at some point. Hopefully before they raise the price.

 

[NKBassman]

I put them on my Fender Highway One Precision bass which has been wearing the same set of TI Flats since ~June 2020, and has never been strung with rounds with the current pickup and control set (SD Antiquity II, Obsidian Wire harness). So, I really have nothing recent to compare against in terms of using rounds on this bass. I've used rounds on this bass before, Dunlop Super Brights, GHS Boomers and Pressurewounds, but not with the current setup or at all (on this bass) in the last 3-4 years.

I just realized that the lack of zing could have been from whatever IR I had loaded in my Darkglass Element headphone rig too. More testing is required.... it's a labour of love.

Break-in has been nice so far on my Fender P4. After a few weeks of steady play they still sound good, and I used that bass at a gig on this past Saturday. The house backline amp wasn't stellar, but overall I thought the strings felt and sounded great with fingers and pick playing. The top end is there but it's maybe swamped by an abundantly warm lower end of the frequency spectrum. I won't know for sure how much of that is coming from the strings and how much is the pickup until I change the strings again to something else.

 

[JimmyM]

So how is the tension? One reason I love SBNs is because the tension is low.

 

[NKBassman]

So how is the tension? One reason I love SBNs is because the tension is low.

I'd say "medium", definitely not low, but not high either.
This is coming off TI flats on this bass though, so anything is going to feel stiffer than that.

 

[J Posega]

Haven't tried these yet, but I am impressed at how inexpensive they are for something new and fancy-sounding. Also doesn't hurt that one of my favorite bass players (Jacob Umansky) is endorsing them. I'll definitely give them a try at some point. Hopefully before they raise the price.

It's a pretty dubious endorsement considering I haven't seen Jacob Umansky play any bass besides his Dingwalls in a very, very long time.

 

[Auer]

Put some on a Nash PB63 yesterday, and initial impressions are good. 45-105.
Warm and expressive, easy to play. Will see how they "break in".

One month update.
Really like these now. They haven't changed much, and I play a few hours a day (2-3).
So nice, and really fit me and the PB63 well.
Keepers.

 

[IPA]

just picked these up, kind of falling out of love with the ghs balanced nickels so these are up next

 

[NKBassman]

I found they died out pretty quickly from the fresh-out-the-pack brightness, but they've settled into a nice place now a few months later. Kinda dull for rounds, but more bite than new flats. The kind of sweet spot I usually got from using GHS Pressure Wounds. They'll stay on that bass for now.

 

[IPA]

just picked these up, kind of falling out of love with the ghs balanced nickels so these are up next

Alright, a month later I finally got around to putting these on my P-bass

Pretty good so far, the texture is pleasant enough, the sound is big but maybe not as crunchy as the super brights

We'll see how they do on longevity

 

[smogg]

Update: 9 months in and still digging these strings as my first choice for rock. My hands have adjusted nicely to the feel and tension of these. My plucking hand feels fine and no longer regards these as "rough." My fretting hand really enjoys how easy these are to bend and easy for hammer ons & pulls offs. For me these are definitely keepers.

FYI: Dunlop strings are currently on sale @ Fret Nation.

Happy Independence Day all.