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Dunlop strings - almost made me sell my JB

Margus Alviste

Margus Alviste

May 4, 2005
1,223
167
60
Tallinn, Estonia, Europe
www.myspace.com
#1
I was about to sell my JB because after getting a Fodera NYC 5 it sounded kind of thin and weak. I was still lucky enough - changed the strings from 3 weeks old Dunlop Stainless Steels to 18 months old Sadowsky blue labels (i had taken them down from my US MTD after I played them about 8 months) and boy was my JB sounding good after that! Suddenly my bass became alive and agressive. Wow what a difference! And these old Sad strings had even better highs not to mention lows and mids. So watch out before you sell your bass! Try other strings first! ;)
 
#4
mmbongo said:
I had the exact opposite experience. Dunlop strings are the best I've found yet, along with DR. They are very similar.

Harry...are you sure you aren't thinking of D'Addario? They make Chromes, not Dunlop.
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Nope - these were Dunlops, given to me a dunlop vendor a "bass Player Live" about 2 years ago. He gave me a set of nickles and a set of stainless steel - -

they weren't the worst strings I've ever played (D'addario takes that particular cake) but they weren't great. Of course, this is highly subjective - what works for one does not always work for another, right?
 
#6
Margus Alviste said:
I was about to sell my JB because after getting a Fodera NYC 5 it sounded kind of thin and weak. I was still lucky enough - changed the strings from 3 weeks old Dunlop Stainless Steels to 18 months old Sadowsky blue labels (i had taken them down from my US MTD after I played them about 8 months) and boy was my JB sounding good after that! Suddenly my bass became alive and agressive. Wow what a difference! And these old Sad strings had even better highs not to mention lows and mids. So watch out before you sell your bass! Try other strings first! ;)
Click to expand...

I had the same experience with Dunlops. the sound was dead. Dunlop sent me a free pack and they were dead too. After a few weeks I tossed them and got some Blue Steels
 
#7
I've had an odd Dunlop experience too. I bought one of the last Frudua Tuscany Swing (Fender Jazz Clone) bass's that were being talked about here just before this last Christmas. It came with a set of Dunlop's on it. Try as I might I just couldn't get myself to like them.

I then switched to my Normal DR nickels and had a let down, still didn't like it. Then it was my "cheapo" fender nickel plated staineless strings. I usually love the DR's and the Fenders but I just wasn't into any of them on this bass.

It sat un-played for months and I was pretty much regretting the purchase. Contemplated selling the bass many times. On a lark, I removed it's stock preamp and pickups and put in a set of pickups from a MIM jazz. Added CTS pots and a orange drop cap and strung it up with the Dunlops it came with and HOLY CRAP!. It sounds awsome! I used to sound sterile and dry, now it rings and bumps like it's supposed to. Go figure.

Iit obviously wasn't the strings holding it back before, and I'm not saying they are the bees knees but for this bas they don't seem to take anything away from it and they are comfortable to play.
 
#8
jkramer5 said:
I've had an odd Dunlop experience too. I bought one of the last Frudua Tuscany Swing (Fender Jazz Clone) bass's that were being talked about here just before this last Christmas. It came with a set of Dunlop's on it. Try as I might I just couldn't get myself to like them.

I then switched to my Normal DR nickels and had a let down, still didn't like it. Then it was my "cheapo" fender nickel plated staineless strings. I usually love the DR's and the Fenders but I just wasn't into any of them on this bass.

It sat un-played for months and I was pretty much regretting the purchase. Contemplated selling the bass many times. On a lark, I removed it's stock preamp and pickups and put in a set of pickups from a MIM jazz. Added CTS pots and a orange drop cap and strung it up with the Dunlops it came with and HOLY CRAP!. It sounds awsome! I used to sound sterile and dry, now it rings and bumps like it's supposed to. Go figure.

Iit obviously wasn't the strings holding it back before, and I'm not saying they are the bees knees but for this bas they don't seem to take anything away from it and they are comfortable to play.
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I been toying with the idea of switching to Dunlops and from the mixed reviews I'm reading most of them seem to be on the positive side. So it makes me wonder if active verses passive electronics are playing a large part in the tonal quality. I've run Roto's exclusively on my Alembics and passive Jazz Basses and never encountered an issue with tone.
Sounds like the electronics played a part in your's as well.
 
#9
I love threads like this that show how subjective strings really are. I've never been happier with a set of strings than my Dunlop Nickels, but I cannot fathom how anyone would ever play any DR string.

To each their own. :)
 
#10
Doodaddy said:
I've never been happier with a set of strings than my Dunlop Nickels
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I'm with you, there. I love the Dunlop strings. I guess if you're looking for an ultra modern sound, they might not work for you.

I haven't liked any DR string I've tried, beside the Fat Beams that came on a Stingray I once owned. Low beams were a lifeless waste of time and the High Beams I used years ago didn't do anything for me either.
 
#13
After playing some today, I have to add an addenum to my previous post. Since my set was bought used, I don`t know 100% that it is a matched set. But the E is waaay out of balance with the others as far as output. The ADG were pretty even, but the E was overpowering. Weird that I didn`t notice this after putting them on and playing for a few minutes. Not happy.
 
#14
Doodaddy said:
I love threads like this that show how subjective strings really are. I've never been happier with a set of strings than my Dunlop Nickels, but I cannot fathom how anyone would ever play any DR string.

To each their own. :)
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+1000!

I absolutely love Dunlop Nickels. My local guy gave me a set to review and try and i've been playing them since.

DR...I don't know how they are still in business. I don't think i've ever hated a string more.
 
#16
I really like the round core DRs Sunbeams and Fat Beams. They feel great and sound just as good on my basses and for my taste in tone. The worst I've tried are Daddario and Ernie Ball. Daddario nickels were far too zingy with weird overtones. Ernie balls were just too dry and lifeless and feel rough to me. As strings break in I like how you hear less string and more organics from the bass itself, especially from a JB.

Never tried Dunlops yet. What interests me about them is their claimed flexibility. Is it anything close to a round core string in feel?
 
#17
pnut166 said:
After playing some today, I have to add an addenum to my previous post. Since my set was bought used, I don`t know 100% that it is a matched set. But the E is waaay out of balance with the others as far as output. The ADG were pretty even, but the E was overpowering. Weird that I didn`t notice this after putting them on and playing for a few minutes. Not happy.
Click to expand...

And to be fair, you really don't know 100% that they are even Dunlops. Buy a new net and try them again.
 
#18
invalidprotocol said:
I really like the round core DRs Sunbeams and Fat Beams. They feel great and sound just as good on my basses and for my taste in tone. The worst I've tried are Daddario and Ernie Ball. Daddario nickels were far too zingy with weird overtones. Ernie balls were just too dry and lifeless and feel rough to me. As strings break in I like how you hear less string and more organics from the bass itself, especially from a JB.

Never tried Dunlops yet. What interests me about them is their claimed flexibility. Is it anything close to a round core string in feel?
Click to expand...

To me I couldn't really tell a difference between Dunlops and DR Sunbeams. They are very similar. Then again, I really like D'Addarios. Dunlops and Sunbeams have a little less tension, but to me all three sound about the same. Ernie Ball? I might agree with you. I did not like the last set I had but I may try again.

But me personally, I've used nothing but Dunlop, Sunbeams, and D'Addarrio's on all my basses for the past few years. To be honest I think I may have settled on D'Addario because like I said I can't hear a difference, and they are $25 for TWO sets. If it wasn't for the price difference, I wouldn't care which of these I used. I also saw that SIT Power Wound are $25 for two sets too. I'll get some of those to try. I used them in the past and loved them, but that was before I used DR, Dunlop, or D'Addario.
 

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