Has anyone ever gotten a response from DR customer support?

[Just Wrong]

I’ve sent them two emails via their web form over the past months and have never gotten a reply. I sent another today directly to their email address listed on their Facebook. Let’s hope they reply, but…

I know they have a phone number listed, but I’m not in the US.

Essentially, I’m wondering if I can use Sunbeams on a headless bass. I’ve been told by a lot of people round-core strings will slip at the headpiece. But my new tech says it wouldn’t be an issue, and I’ve also heard of people on TalkBass using Sunbeams on their headless.

I’d like a confirmation from DR before I spend $60 on a six-string set that might not work.

 

[bass12]

I've written to DR customer service a few times (including fairly recently) and have heard back each time. For the record, I've used Hi-Beams on a headless without issue.

 

[gidbass]

I’ve sent them two emails via their web form over the past months and have never gotten a reply. I sent another today directly to their email address listed on their Facebook. Let’s hope they reply, but…

I know they have a phone number listed, but I’m not in the US.

Essentially, I’m wondering if I can use Sunbeams on a headless bass. I’ve been told by a lot of people round-core strings will slip at the headpiece. But my new tech says it wouldn’t be an issue, and I’ve also heard of people on TalkBass using Sunbeams on their headless.

I’d like a confirmation from DR before I spend $60 on a six-string set that might not work.

Thread 'DR strings: crimp before cutting?'

Sep 15, 2021

Saw a post about DR strings going bad if you don’t crimp them properly: but I did not follow.

Is the idea to but a bend in the string where you are going to cut it, and cut it a few mm past the bend?

I have some DR Nickel Sunbeams I want to put on, but only to have higher gauge strings, not for more zing. After reading here that DRs had major issues though, I am hesitant.

6 min into this video describes what I mean:

BTW, I do want to keep round-wounds on this bass. It is just that if DRs are as bad as recent posts suggest, I might stick with the D'Addario EXL170 /...

• OldSchoolFlats
• Replies: 62
• Forum: Strings [BG]

• 

Some reading material while you wait...

Good Luck!

 

[Just Wrong]

Thread 'DR strings: crimp before cutting?'

Sep 15, 2021

Saw a post about DR strings going bad if you don’t crimp them properly: but I did not follow.

Is the idea to but a bend in the string where you are going to cut it, and cut it a few mm past the bend?

I have some DR Nickel Sunbeams I want to put on, but only to have higher gauge strings, not for more zing. After reading here that DRs had major issues though, I am hesitant.

6 min into this video describes what I mean:

BTW, I do want to keep round-wounds on this bass. It is just that if DRs are as bad as recent posts suggest, I might stick with the D'Addario EXL170 /...

• OldSchoolFlats
• Replies: 62
• Forum: Strings [BG]

• 

Some reading material while you wait...

Good Luck!

Ah, the thread raises a good point. My bass is also short scale. It means I would absolutely have to crimp the string, and that’s not really doable on a headless…

 

[buldog5151bass]

I emailed a few weeks ago about an issue with a set. Never heard back.

 

[gidbass]

Ah, the thread raises a good point. My bass is also short scale. It means I would absolutely have to crimp the string, and that’s not really doable on a headless…

I think if you can secure the string with the screw, or whatever secures it on the headstock, enough to compress the windings to the core, so the core doesn't slip, you'll be fine.

I have an Ibanez EHB 1005 and I haven't had any issues using this method, though I've never used sunbeams and I don't know if I've ever used any round core strings before so YMMV.

Good Luck!

 

[Gopherbassist]

I have. I broke a string as I was putting it in my guitar. I got in contact, they sent me a new pack of strings. It was pretty fast.

 

[faulknersj]

I recently called and talked to a Rep who was Super helpful!

 

[Chrisk-K]

I emailed them a few times and they always promptly replied.

 

[Jinbu]

What gidbass said, I have an ehb1005sms and sunbeams work fine on it.

 

[Roland GR 88]

DR may not be able to definitively answer that question due to the number of different manufacturers and hardware designs out there.
Asking here was a good decision and it looks like you might have your answer.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Not an issue at all for your string choice. I suppose there could be issues depending on
what you are using for a headpiece. I build my own and they are just simple set screws,
and they grab all strings fine. The only time I've had issues is with Piccolo strings, then
it's just a matter of being extra careful cranking it down.

DR has always been responsive to actual email contact, forget about Facebook.
Always a quick response Including through the worst moments of the pandemic.

My customer service rep has always been:
[email protected]
If she can't help directly, she'll get you to someone that will.

 

[Albert Ross]

I emailed DR CS a few weeks ago and got an answer the same day. I used the contact form on their website.

 

[bigjames]

I did maybe a year ago. Messaged via website about a potentially dead A string and they replied via email with instructions to return the string to have it replaced. Was fairly quick and painless from my perspective.

 

[xyError]

I have DR hi-beam, which also has a round core, installed on my EHB1000 without any problem. I bend the strings and cut them beyond the bend point. I heard this could prevent the wrapping from being unveiled.

 

[trothwell]

I emailed them once about a defective string, which they replaced. But this was like ten years ago. Haven't been in contact since then, I don't think.

 

[Just Wrong]

I have DR hi-beam, which also has a round core, installed on my EHB1000 without any problem. I bend the strings and cut them beyond the bend point. I heard this could prevent the wrapping from being unveiled.
View attachment 7180349

I think the reason why round-core strings work on your and other people's headless basses is because you have 34-inch scale basses. I didn't take the scale into consideration in my original post because I didn't think it mattered. But I read yesterday on DR's website:

Round core wire, by definition, has no edges. Hexagonal core has 6. So, at DR Strings we flatten the round core wire to create an anchor for the wrap wire to grip the core wire. We flatten a small section of the core wire at a spot that should lie past the nut at the top of the fingerboard and between the tuning machines of your instrument. This flat section provides and anchor for the wrap wire to grip the core wire. You should be able to feel this flattened area between your fingers as you touch the end of the string opposite the ball end.

I assume that's why it's working on a 34-inch scale - because you're cutting into that flatten section. I have a 30.75-inch scale bass, so I wouldn't be cutting into the flatten part of string. It might not "slip at the headpiece," like I was worried about, but it probably wouldn't work:

Without the anchor the string is likely to unwind, go "dead", and fail to intonate properly.

 

[Bliff Curton 2]

I just got a pack of replacement strings in the mail yesterday and only emailed them over the past weekend. Immediate response.

Apparently when you order things on Amazon, it can be from a 3rd party retailer.
I had ordered a pack of DR strings on Amazon and they arrived all bent and busted. Tried emailing Amazon who told me to email the 3rd party seller - they both refused to help. So, I emailed DR and they sent me a replacement no problem.

I have a headless Radius CR5 from NS Design. No problem getting the DR strings in there and holding tune no problem 24hrs later.
But, the NS Design bridge/tuner has a mechanism that dogs into the string so there's no need to crimp the strings.

 

[Mister_GothFrak]

I've contacted them a couple times. My poor local shoppe has exchanged many an E-mail because of my low tunings and growing collection of instruments and strings for friends. lol.

One time they sent me a couple wrong gauges. Can't really blame them. Spent almost a half hour chatting with a guy over the phone. They sent me a handful of misc. strings completely grátis.

I'm all in for a variety of reasons. Except for when DR isn't an option like with tapewounds or groundwound. Maybe one day...!