Like Sunbeams but last longer?

[J.Wolf]

I really love medium gauge sunbeams on my fretless 5 but find that they go dead quicker than most of the other strings I use and am wondering if there's anything out there that has a similar feel and tone but stays bright/fresh longer?

 

[KaraQ]

Maybe try DR Red Devils, or a set of their neon strings? (or Silver Stars of you can find them)
They're supposed the be a coated version of Sunbeams, which should make them last longer?

 

[WG Plum]

Sunbeams were my go-to for years, then I discovered EB cobalt flats. Haven't looked back.

 

[J.Wolf]

Sunbeams were my go-to for years, then I discovered EB cobalt flats. Haven't looked back.

interesting. I had the sense that they were much different. Do they chew up fingerboards and frets like I hear they do?

 

[J.Wolf]

Maybe try DR Red Devils, or a set of their neon strings? (or Silver Stars of you can find them)
They're supposed the be a coated version of Sunbeams, which should make them last longer?

i didn’t realize the DR coated strings were Sunbeams. That’s great to know

 

[KaraQ]

i didn’t realize the DR coated strings were Sunbeams. That’s great to know

Some of them are - afaik, bootzillas & black beauties are not, maybe dragon skins too?
They're stainless, instead of nickel, under the coating.

 

[J.Wolf]

Some of them are - afaik, bootzillas & black beauties are not, maybe dragon skins too?
They're stainless, instead of nickel, under the coating.

Oh interesting, I didnt know this. I'll haver to ask Anthony and see what he says. Will report back if I find out anything

 

[WG Plum]

interesting. I had the sense that they were much different. Do they chew up fingerboards and frets like I hear they do?

Not in my experience.

 

[BrentSimons]

i didn’t realize the DR coated strings were Sunbeams. That’s great to know

Just the Neons.
Just so you are aware you will lose the grounding between the strings and the bridge due to the coating. If you are in a noisy environment you may encounter some hum?
Hope this helps,
Brent

 

[BrentSimons]

Bootzillas are coated SS Lo Riders I believe?
Dragon Skins and Black Beauties I thought were coated Hi Beams?

 

[micguy]

If you want a "long lasting string", you want one that's a bit too bright to start with - strings lose a bit of their initial brightness quickly, and then the change slows down a lot - they are pretty stable for a much longer period. So, if you like a string right away ("that's just right"), unless you have a tech to change your strings daily, and an endorsement deal where you get strings for free, you have the wrong strings - you need brighter ones, because you want them to sound good when they're stable, not out of the pack.

I've used the same strings on different instruments, and had vastly different impressions of their life spans. Why? On a bass that has brighter pickups, the combination is too bright to start with, but after a bit of break in, they sound great for a long time - their stable sound works well with that bass.

On a bass that's less bright, the strings sound great out of the pack, but a couple weeks later, they're "dead". It isn't the string's fault (my chemistry isn't making one set of strings die quicker, they're the same strings), I just need to start with strings that are a bit too bright on whatever bass I'm stringing up.

 

[KaraQ]

Just the Neons.
Just so you are aware you will lose the grounding between the strings and the bridge due to the coating. If you are in a noisy environment you may encounter some hum?
Hope this helps,
Brent

I've never had grounding issues with any of the DR coated strings (or even Fender tape-wounds) on any of the basses I've used them on?

 

[MonetBass]

If Sunbeams go dead quickly for you, I'd suggest getting stainless steel wound strings instead. Personally Sunbeams last a long time for me, where SS strings die within hours under my hands. It has to do with your body chemistry.

 

[J.Wolf]

from DR:

"NEON colored set are on silver plated steel to make the colors pop…sonically similar to nickel. Similar, but not quite Sunbeams…Black and Dragonskins are a steel wrapped coated product"

 

[FRoss6788]

Strange...

Sunbeams are the longest lasting strings I've ever used. In fact, I've never really had them go dead, like Boomer/Slinky dead.
To me, they're some of the best strings on the market.

 

[michael_t]

from DR:

"NEON colored set are on silver plated steel to make the colors pop…sonically similar to nickel. Similar, but not quite Sunbeams…Black and Dragonskins are a steel wrapped coated product"

The DR website actually says the Neons are "silver-plated nickel-plated steel"... Sounds like double-plated.

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

Sunbeams were my go-to for years, then I discovered EB cobalt flats. Haven't looked back.

I just did the opposite. I went from the EB Cobalt flats to the DR Sunbeams. I wanted to give roundwounds a try on my Lakland 44-64 P/J fretless. So far, I like the Sunbeams. I find the rounds wounds actually easier to slide on. Maybe less surface area? I found my fingers would stick to the Cobalts more.