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How a Simple Change of Strings Can Make You a Better Player... (DR Marcus Millers)

JoZac21

JoZac21

Nov 30, 2009
1,250
207
Brooklyn, NY
#1
I have been a fan for some time of DR Strings, and have in the past have played using the Lo-Riders and Hi-Beams, switching back and forth between them, not sure which I liked more, and ultimately struggling to find "my sound"...

About a week ago I bought a set of DR Marcus Millers... I had to order them online, as no stores around me sell them... and since then, not only have been more pleased with my tone, but I feel I've been playing better.

The last two gigs I've played, I think, have been the best I've ever played, and it's quite rare that I can say with certainty that I played particularly well, but I did, and I think it's been in large part due to having these strings on my bass. The tension is perfection (I love lower tension strings), they have a percussive funky quality without sacrificing lows, and they just feel great under my fingers.

It's kind of insane to me that a simple change of strings could result in so much of an improvement in my playing, but it has.

Anyone with similar stories?
 
#3
DR Marcus Millers are great sounding strings. I've read reviews where players complain that "they're only good for popping"- which I rarely do. I've had them on all my basses until last week, I decided to try some Elixir Nanoweb coated strings. I had also read that they don't feel overly slimy like some coated strings.

They are okay. I felt they made me play better because my fingers seem to move on 'em real easy with no slip and slide. But I think the DRs sound better. It's all about tone.
 
#5
I think it's probably the feel and tone of the strings together being what you are looking for inspiring you to want to play and making you enjoy it that much more. I know when I have a bass setup and strung the way I like it makes a huge differance in my playing. Overall it's a mind thing that makes us play better when we find the right strings for us but at the same time the strings cause that mind tweak to happen. Not sure if that makes sense and I think I'm starting to confuse myself lol.
 
#8
jongor said:
Jozak21,

Do the MM's feel like less tension than the Hi beams?

How are they compared to TI flats?

And when you say they feel great under your fingers, what do you mean?
Click to expand...

They seem similar in tension to the Hi-Beams, but the have a bit more lows, and a percussive-y, quick attack.

They actually remind me a tiny bit of a roundwound version of TI Flats, with the sharp attack. Love those strings too, played them for a long time.

I can move around the fretboard quickly and easily with them too.

pacojas said:
yeah JoZac,.. strings are that unheralded x-factor!
Click to expand...

I agree... In my personal opinion, strings may be as, if not more, important than what bass or amp you're using in many cases. A simple swap in strings can alter your tone way more dramatically than plugging into a different amp, IME.
 
#10
Im a big fan on fat beams as they really are balanced and sound great in live settings. Fun to practice on with right amount of give and snap. REally the best dr product I feel even though I used to use sunbeams a lot and before that was a TI flat user
I feel with fatbeams you get great bottom end for say walking jazz bass lines and smooth highs for soloing I have had a similar a ha moment recently also in both a live and practice setting quiet by accident.
 
#12
There's truth in this, strings can really change your approach to things. I've tried all kinds of strings on my jazz bass, even giving flats a stint since they're pretty well loved around here, but when I put on a set of prosteels, it really changed my style. An aggressive punch doesn't require a literal punch on the strings, and I play much softer on them overall, which lets me play quicker and with more confidence.

Don't take this as a recommendation though; most people would hate these strings with as passion. They're way too bright and make all kinds of noise. And I hope d'addario never stops making them.
 
#13
Experimentation with higher and lower tensioned strings suggest to me that the Marcus F-Beams are the string for me. Yes, it's not just the sound, it's how well I can play--much faster and surer, and with more precision. I also like that the Fat Beams, for me, come close to feeling like flats.

Thanks for opening this topic. I was beginning to wonder if I was imagining things, but now I'm assured that the strings do in fact improve my playing.

J
 

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