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Lightest tension DR strings?

thehangingmist

thehangingmist

Dec 14, 2007
6,367
302
New Delhi, India
#1
Which DR strings would have the lightest tension, most flexible feel to them? For a 5 string bass?

I prefer light/thin gauge as well. Running a set of Dunlop super brights, but in less than two months they are pretty dead now. So looking for something which lasts longer!
Any suggestions?
 
#3
It would be any of the round core DRs: Sunbeams, Hi-Beams, Fat Beams, Dragon Skins, etc. The lightest gauge DRs that I know would be the standard lights: .040 .060 .080 .100 .120.

I don't know whether DRs would last longer than Super Brights, or vice versa. I do know that I've been playing DRs for several years now, and have always found them to keep their tone for a long time.

MM
 
#5
What @mmbongo said. Light gauge Hi Beams, very low tension (much to low for me), and a bright tone (to bright for me) that lasts a long time. I think they would fit the bill nicely.
 
#11
I realize I am late to this party, but I am with MMbongo's suggestion. However, I am using a .110 B on my 5 string. You can try that with the Hi-Beams if you wish, but I don't think there's universal love for a B at that gauge. Too bad DR doesn't make a single .115 Hi-Beam string.
 
#15
I don't wanna start a thread just for this so I'll ask here.

I really like my 85-65-45-30 DR hibeams but they're a bit too floppy. I'm considering the 90-70-50-30 set but I'm curious about balanced tension. Any ideas which singles would make a more balanced set?
 
#16
Gorn said:
I don't wanna start a thread just for this so I'll ask here.

I really like my 85-65-45-30 DR hibeams but they're a bit too floppy. I'm considering the 90-70-50-30 set but I'm curious about balanced tension. Any ideas which singles would make a more balanced set?
Click to expand...

Curious. I'm not a fan of DR tone, but I've always found their strings to have pretty good string to string balance, for the feel at my finger tips.

If you think about it, you should be able to identify the strings from your current set, which don't feel as positive as the others. But generally speaking, with conventional string sets, bumping the top half up a guage size, is an easy way to start. So on a conventional 4 string set, move the E and the A up a guage size. DR are roundcores, so their flexibility makes them a bit more forgiving, if your guage choice isn't actually perfectly balance. Whereas something like hex core Daddarios needs a bit of a smiley face set, to get balance (.105, .80, .60, .45). But depending upon the string materials, you might actually need a .40 G, etc.
 

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