Help Identifying/Recommending Roundwound Strings

[cornwallis89]

Hi there,

Please redirect me if there's a better place/way to pose this question.

I've got a Fender Vintera '50s P Bass I bought a few years back from a buddy of mine and it's coming time to shop for new strings. I'd really like to know what strings are on them, both in case I'd like to replace them with the same strings or if I'd like to use them as a reference point to compare with a different set. Brass ball ends, no silk - photos below.

They may be stock Fender 7250M strings, and they do look similar, though he says he may have replaced the strings, and if he did, they would likely be Dunlop. But they could be something else (maybe DR).

I really like how these strings sound when dead. Warm, mellow, and buttery but with enough high-end bite to sparkle and cut through cleanly. Not too much tension and relatively flexible.

I'd also like to hear folks' recommendations for strings that would fill the same role. From what I've read here, I'm looking at Fender 7250M, Dunlop Standard Nickel Wound, Dunlop Super Brights, DR Sunbeams, DR Pure Blues, but also open to something else. I play mostly roots/folk/blues/alt-country and don't want something too bright or midrangey.

While I like flats, (I love La Bella Low Tension Flats on my fretless ABG) I want to keep rounds on this bass for now, both for the feel and the bite.

Thanks!

 

[michael_t]

I really like how these strings sound when dead. Warm, mellow, and buttery but with enough high-end bite to sparkle and cut through cleanly. Not too much tension and relatively flexible.

Can you do something for me? Measure the length of the E string from the ball end to the first taper (end of the full winding at the tuner end).

Based on the description, it sounds very much like the DR Sunbeams. They would measure 37.75" in winding length (ball end to taper). If they're shorter at around 37.25", then they could be Dunlop Super Bright Nickels. The only thing about Dunlop, though, is they started color-coding the ball ends a few years ago.

 

[cornwallis89]

Thank you!

It was a bit difficult to measure perfectly due to it not wanting to stay straight, but it looks like the first taper is around 37.3" from the end. The ball end was included in the measurement.

These strings are from 2019 or before. If Dunlop only recently changed their color-coding, it would explain why I struggled to identify them. If they are Dunlop, is there any way of identifying Super-Brights from Standard NW, etc?

 

[JumboJett35]

Personally I find strings to sound more similar to another when dead as opposed to brand new strings. I mainly play Flats ( LaBella, TI Jazz, Fender) but for Rounds I prefer DR Black Beauties and Elixirs. Based on the tone you're going for and the lower tension, I'd say check out the Black Beauites. I'm sure others will have better recommendations on a "warmer" set like you seem to be searching for.

 

[michael_t]

These strings are from 2019 or before. If Dunlop only recently changed their color-coding, it would explain why I struggled to identify them. If they are Dunlop, is there any way of identifying Super-Brights from Standard NW, etc?


View attachment 7359563

If they're from 2019, it's quite possible they're Dunlop Super Brights before they started color-coding the ball ends. The Super Brights are noticeably more flexible and softer in feel compared to the standard nickels.

 

[cornwallis89]

Based on the tone you're going for and the lower tension, I'd say check out the Black Beauites. I'm sure others will have better recommendations on a "warmer" set like you seem to be searching for.

Thanks! Do you know how the coating on the Black Beauties plays/feels compared to DR Neons? I've tried them and don't care for the feel.

 

[cornwallis89]

If they're from 2019, it's quite possible they're Dunlop Super Brights before they started color-coding the ball ends. The Super Brights are noticeably more flexible and softer in feel compared to the standard nickels.

Thank you - though if you're just going by my description, they may not be all that flexible and soft relative to other roundwounds. Are the standard nickels and super brights visually indistinguishable?

 

[michael_t]

I really like how these strings sound when dead. Warm, mellow, and buttery but with enough high-end bite to sparkle and cut through cleanly. Not too much tension and relatively flexible.

Coming back to your description, this is exactly how I would describe the DR Sunbeams. "Warm and mellow with a sparkly top end" with a smooth surface texture. I would prefer them over the Dunlop Super Brights any day.

As for the Black Beauties, they're not as smooth in texture as the Sunbeams. One of the basses I own came with a set of Black Beauties, and I couldn't take them off fast enough because of their sandpaper-like texture. The K3 coating on it is basically the same as the Neons.

 

[cornwallis89]

Coming back to your description, this is exactly how I would describe the DR Sunbeams. "Warm and mellow with a sparkly top end" with a smooth surface texture. I would prefer them over the Dunlop Super Brights any day.

As for the Black Beauties, they're not as smooth in texture as the Sunbeams. One of the basses I own came with a set of Black Beauties, and I couldn't take them off fast enough because of their sandpaper-like texture. The K3 coating on it is basically the same as the Neons.

Good to know, thank you! And I assume you wouldn't recommend the Dunlop Standard Nickel or the Fenders?

 

[michael_t]

Good to know, thank you! And I assume you wouldn't recommend the Dunlop Standard Nickel or the Fenders?

They're not bad strings, but stiffer in feel, compared to either the Sunbeams or the Super Brights, and kind of generic in their tonal quality.

 

[Dincrest]

My initial thought is DR Sunbeams. The OP's thoughts on the current strings' tone/feel as well as tone/feel goals in the string search fit Sunbeams to a T, in my opinion.

Plus, if the strings still sound good (considering they're far from new), I'd say Sunbeams over Pure Blues. In my experience, Pure Blues sound amazing for about 8 months or so, then immediately go dead like Wile E. Coyote dropping off a cliff. There's no decay period. Sunbeams have a long life and a smoother new-broken in-decay-dead transition cycle. They're not "my" string, but they are great strings. I think DR is one of the best string brands out there.

(I have no experience with Dunlop nickel SuperBrights but I have used steel SuperBrights and their "red box" Hybrid Nickels. The SuperBright steels went dead on me in less than a month. The Hybrid Nickels, while some of the best feeling strings under the fingers, went dead on me after one short gig. My body chemistry does not like Dunlops).

 

[GTHintz]

Personally I'd say to try GHS boomers first. They mellowed out probably the fastest of any roundwounds I've tried. Those broken in should give you a lot of dead rounds type vibe.

 

[michael_t]

Personally I'd say to try GHS boomers first. They mellowed out probably the fastest of any roundwounds I've tried. Those broken in should give you a lot of dead rounds type vibe.

If the OP likes the "softer and flexible feel" and "high end sparkle" of the strings in question, the Boomers would be the last thing I would recommend as they're one of the stiffest of rounds.

 

[GTHintz]

Well stiffness I'd probably agree. Due to how well worn those old strings have to be I'd say there's probably nothing sparkly about those strings. If he's after softer then he might like DR Sunbeams or something like that.

 

[Hnz]

I also use La Bella Low Tension Flats as my preferred flat wound strings and choose either DR Hibeams or Pure Blues if I want to use round wounds.

 

[cornwallis89]

Thanks everyone!

After following guidance here and watching some videos showcasing the sounds of some of these strings, I'm fairly confident my current strings are Dunlop Standard Series Nickel Wounds, produced before they were color coded. This is consistent with what my friend vaguely remembers as well.

But I think I'm going to try out a new set of DR Sunbeams based on their smoother feel, thick sound, and wide praise. The extra care needed to install round-core strings also seems straightforward enough.

DR Pure Blues also look nice and I think I'll try them out at some point too.

 

[Stan_da_man]

Sunbeams and Dunlop black label nickels are pretty similar in my experience.

 

[cornwallis89]

Sunbeams and Dunlop black label nickels are pretty similar in my experience.

That's great to know, thanks - looking forward to trying them out.

 

[Dincrest]

If the OP likes the "softer and flexible feel" and "high end sparkle" of the strings in question, the Boomers would be the last thing I would recommend as they're one of the stiffest of rounds.

And while GHS' round core offerings like the Round Core Boomers or Balanced Nickels are terrific options, they are stiffer than other round core strings (e.g. DR Sunbeams or Pure Blues) because GHS uses a thicker core. My #1 bass basically found its forever string in GHS Round Core Boomers 45-100 (for me they're not too spongy, not too stiff, but just right). I tried Balanced Nickels on a bass I used to have and think they're excellent strings too. Though I think DR Sunbeams best meet the OP's wants, the Balanced Nickels might be worth him trying.

 

[cornwallis89]

And while GHS' round core offerings like the Round Core Boomers or Balanced Nickels are terrific options, they are stiffer than other round core strings (e.g. DR Sunbeams or Pure Blues) because GHS uses a thicker core. My #1 bass basically found its forever string in GHS Round Core Boomers 45-100 (for me they're not too spongy, not too stiff, but just right). I tried Balanced Nickels on a bass I used to have and think they're excellent strings too. Though I think DR Sunbeams best meet the OP's wants, the Balanced Nickels might be worth him trying.

I've been looking at the Balanced Nickels too, thanks! The balance across strings is certainly appealing. How does their tone compare? From the videos I've watched, they seem a quite a bit more mid-forward while more muted on the top- and bottom-end compared to the Sunbeams.