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Dunlop String Lab Dual Dynamic hybrid nickel/steel strings

#121
I've had these Dunlop Dual Design Hybrid Nickel "red box" strings on my main bass (an LTD with passive Duncan soapbars and VVT controls) since April and I have mixed feelings.

What I like:
I LOVE how these strings feel. Their texture is deliciously smooth and their flexibility is great for nimble, light-touch jazz playing. I wish all strings felt like this.

What I don' t like:
When I click into drop-D, it feels like flop-D. I've not had this problem with other 105 and even some 100 strings.
I also find the strings too polite sounding for my tastes. They also have less output than other nickel rounds I've used (e.g. D'Addario XLs).

I'm surprised that a string marketed as a "modern metal" string (at least in the promo videos with Jacob Umansky) doesn't get loud and aggressive enough for a classic rock tune I played a one-off gig with a one-night-only teacher-band at the school's talent show back in May. (My bandleader was always asking me to turn the bass up louder and more obnoxious. My gigging amp got me there, but I like when the strings give me "the" sound unplugged so I don't have to do much with my amp).

And after that show... the strings went from fresh to dull seemingly overnight. It's like they didn't have a break-in period. They were fresh and then immediately went into decline like Wile E. Coyote falling off a cliff. On the other hand, GHS Boomers break in quickly, but hold that broken-in tone for 5-7 months before going ploppy dead on me. I've had this issue with Dunlops before. A set of SuperBright steels I tried went dead on me in less than a month. Dunlops do not seem to play well with my body chemistry. This is too bad, because the Hybrid Nickels are some of the best feeling strings I've used.
 
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#122
Dincrest said:
What I don' t like:
When I click into drop-D, it feels like flop-D. I've not had this problem with other 105 and even some 100 strings.
I also find the strings too polite sounding for my tastes. They also have less output than other nickel rounds I've used (e.g. D'Addario XLs).

I'm surprised that a string marketed as a "modern metal" string (at least in the promo videos with Jacob Umansky) doesn't get loud and aggressive enough for a classic rock tune I played a one-off gig with a one-night-only teacher-band at the school's talent show back in May. (My bandleader was always asking me to turn the bass up louder and more obnoxious. My gigging amp got me there, but I like when the strings give me "the" sound unplugged so I don't have to do much with my amp).
Click to expand...
One thing to keep in mind is the outer cover wire on these Dunlops is pure nickel, not nickel-plated steel like most other so-called "nickel rounds". So, it's not surprising they don't have the same bite and aggressiveness as NPS.
 
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#123
@michael_t

Ah, that makes sense. I have those Dunlops on my passive bass but have a set of GHS Bassics on my active bass (a Schecter Stiletto Stealth with the Schecter-branded P/MM pickups and 2-band preamp), and the Bassics are far more aggressive and don't feel as plush. I like the Bassics a lot better than Boomers.

Hmm... I think the Dunlops might match better with my active bass and the Bassics might match up better with my passive bass.

EDIT: It's kinda funny. Despite their name, I don't think Dunlop SuperBrights are bright at all. I tried SuperBright steels and they went ploppy dead on me after a month. And these Hybrid Nickels are marketed as a modern metal string (particularly with those Jacob Umansky videos) yet I think they're too polite for rock. I am kinda curious about their "black box" steels, so my "gotta try 'em all" string-pokemon GAS strikes again!
 
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#125
So are these just your bog standard strings with steel core and wound with nickel-plated steel wrap wire? Like Daddario, Ernie Ball and just about any nickel plated strings? I'd have a harder time finding strings that are pure nickel rather than nickel plated steel. Weird marketing for sure :D
 
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#126
mouthmw said:
So are these just your bog standard strings with steel core and wound with nickel-plated steel wrap wire? Like Daddario, Ernie Ball and just about any nickel plated strings? I'd have a harder time finding strings that are pure nickel rather than nickel plated steel. Weird marketing for sure :D
Click to expand...
Dunno man, "Hybrid Nickel" sounds like a pretty honest description to me.

Yeah it's nothing new, just Dunlops version of things.

They play really nice tho :)
 
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#127
mouthmw said:
So are these just your bog standard strings with steel core and wound with nickel-plated steel wrap wire? Like Daddario, Ernie Ball and just about any nickel plated strings? I'd have a harder time finding strings that are pure nickel rather than nickel plated steel. Weird marketing for sure :D
Click to expand...
Steel-core bass-guitar strings, starting from gauge 055 or thereabouts, have multiple windings around the core, not just one. The blurb about these strings is that they (except for the G string, in all likelihood) have at least one "inner steel layer", i.e. an intermediate wrap, or underwinding, made of steel.
The outer one is "nickel": I've no idea if nickel-plated or pure nickel, and I'm not sure if anyone's ever contacted the company to clear the doubt.
 
#128
HaphAsSard said:
Steel-core bass-guitar strings, starting from gauge 055 or thereabouts, have multiple windings around the core, not just one. The blurb about these strings is that they (except for the G string, in all likelihood) have at least one "inner steel layer", i.e. an intermediate wrap, or underwinding, made of steel.
The outer one is "nickel": I've no idea if nickel-plated or pure nickel, and I'm not sure if anyone's ever contacted the company to clear the doubt.
Click to expand...

Aaah! I see! I thought that might have been the case (right after I posted here). So it's probably a combination of both nickel and steel wrap wire around (most likely) a steel hex core. Got it!
 
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#129
Trying these out for the first time. First impression, growls like SS but feels closer to nickel though not quite as smooth. I actually love the texture. Like SS you can comfortably slide up and down on. No harsh highs or overtones fresh out the pack. Probably become a warm sounding SS akin to SS Rotos over time.

Very nice to slap on. Great sound overall. It's a SS wolf in Nickel clothing. Or as Ludacris put it "Lady in the streets, but a freak in the bed".

Only con for me right away is they are a bit loose feeling. If y'all are saying these are stiffer than super brights there's no way I could handle those. lol. I like a taut 45-105. I'll see if I can adjust in the next week or two. If not its back to my trusty Fender 7250m's.
 
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#130
Tried a few of these because I needed strings before a gig and they were the cheapest .45-.130 I could find locally.

I agree with @Dincrest 's earlier post - they don't handle drop-tuning particularly well, even by a single step, and went dead within a few days. Like, COMPLETELY dead, as dead as the strings they replaced. I agree that it's maybe a body chemistry thing because I've had this experience with most Dunlop strings.
 
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#131
Been using Sadowsky Blue Label Stainless on my Bongo for awhile but decided I wanted to change it up. The Sadowsky sound excellent but the tension was always slightly higher than I like. Especially when playing high on the neck I felt like the strings didn't speak quite as well due to the tension.

Was curious about the newish Hybrid strings from Dunlop. I love Superbrights, and had them on the Bongo for awhile. But on the Bongo the steel were a bit too bright and the nickel too dull for me. These hybrids are right in the middle and sound amazing on the Bongo. Plus the tension is perfect, feels slightly higher than regular superbrights. B string is excellent as well.

Curious about how long they will last. The Sadowsky lasted me anywhere from 6-10 weeks, which is really long for me. Superbrights only last me 3-4 weeks. Hoping these hybrid ones last a bit longer
 
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#132
PrimitiveMan said:
Been using Sadowsky Blue Label Stainless on my Bongo for awhile but decided I wanted to change it up. The Sadowsky sound excellent but the tension was always slightly higher than I like. Especially when playing high on the neck I felt like the strings didn't speak quite as well due to the tension.

Was curious about the newish Hybrid strings from Dunlop. I love Superbrights, and had them on the Bongo for awhile. But on the Bongo the steel were a bit too bright and the nickel too dull for me. These hybrids are right in the middle and sound amazing on the Bongo. Plus the tension is perfect, feels slightly higher than regular superbrights. B string is excellent as well.

Curious about how long they will last. The Sadowsky lasted me anywhere from 6-10 weeks, which is really long for me. Superbrights only last me 3-4 weeks. Hoping these hybrid ones last a bit longer
Click to expand...
I have gone back to the Sadowsky stainless strings on my Bongo. I really liked the Dunlop Dual Dynamic strings but they just didn't last long enough. I have had these issue with Dunlop's, I love the Super Brights too but they also go dead fast in a weird way. Just suddenly lose their snappiness. The Dual Dynamic were the same, just lost some character suddenly. Took about 3 weeks. Maybe not bad for some but that's too quick for me.

I was using the Blue Label Sadowsky for awhile but went with the light gauge Black Label this time. Great strings and the tension is a bit better for me. They just cost a lot more than the Dunlops... Still I get 8 weeks consistently out of the Sadowsky, so still cheaper
 
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#133
PrimitiveMan said:
I have gone back to the Sadowsky stainless strings on my Bongo. I really liked the Dunlop Dual Dynamic strings but they just didn't last long enough. I have had these issue with Dunlop's, I love the Super Brights too but they also go dead fast in a weird way. Just suddenly lose their snappiness. The Dual Dynamic were the same, just lost some character suddenly. Took about 3 weeks. Maybe not bad for some but that's too quick for me.

I was using the Blue Label Sadowsky for awhile but went with the light gauge Black Label this time. Great strings and the tension is a bit better for me. They just cost a lot more than the Dunlops... Still I get 8 weeks consistently out of the Sadowsky, so still cheaper
Click to expand...
I use the Marcus Miller Superbrights on probably a dozen basses. Mostly Thunderbirds. I haven’t experienced the deadness issue, but I rotate between several basses so that double why. I love the way they sound.
 
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#135
I'm still using the Dual Dynamic strings on my #1 bass for my rock/hard rock projects. Also, still using the Ken Smith compressors on #2 for the southern rock/hard country. After many years pf experimenting with different strings I can honestly say I'm satisfied with my string choices.
 
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#139
Personally I prefer the dual dynamic but that's just me. It's such a personal thing. My recommendation would be A-B them on your bass and just go with what works for you. There is no wrong answer here imo. Have fun with it!
 
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