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Mediocre DR Strings Experience

GeneralElectric

GeneralElectric

Dec 26, 2007
10,314
1,375
36
NY, NY
#1
Just thought I'd pass this on.

I recently bought a new set of DR HiBeams from Sam Ash. I've been using those strings a lot this past year and I tend to buy at least one set a month when I have the money and I boil my strings to make them sound new and also so I don't sink a ton of money into strings. I haven't been employed for awhile and money is tight so my last set of DRs was supposed to last me awhile so I was pretty upset that less than 2 weeks after putting my Hi Beams on, the A string snaps about an inch above the bridge. The whole thing just unraveled.

To put things into perspective, I'm an active gigging bass player and I play on average 10-15 shows a month and I play a P-bass and an active Jazz bass with HiBeams so I space out my string usage as well. Since my hands sweat a lot I tend to kill the new string zing pretty quickly. I don't play excessively hard and I tend to wipe down my strings with rubbing alcohol after I play to clean them as well. All in all, I keep care of my strings. The ones that snapped had yet to be boiled or removed from my bass since installation.

I do understand that these things happen, so I went to DR's website for the contact info and emailed them through their website telling them what happened and asking how much it would be to just get a replacement A string since its undoubtedly cheaper than a whole new set and the others were pretty much new and hadn't been played much. I also inquired about a bulk order for strings so I could order a dozen sets or so next time I sell some bass gear instead of shelling out $30 at a local store for them everytime.

That was weeks ago and I haven't heard back from them and have been checking my email folders. Not a peep. I emailed them again on Friday through their site and still no response.

This is disheartening because not only did I just dump $30 bucks in the toilet, I had a good prior CS experience with DR before. I had a problem with a set of Black Beauties and they sent me a replacement set, free of charge. I'm not looking for a free set of strings, but if I'm going to shell out my money, I'd at least like a product to deliver.
 
#3
A set of HiBeams will last me about 2 months. Towards the end of the first month I boil them, and then do that another 2 times or so in the last month. I used to play flats for years and I'm still wrapping my head around the whole "I have to buy new strings all the time" mentality.

I'd give the wick's a try if someplace around here stocked them.
 
#4
GeneralElectric said:
A set of HiBeams will last me about 2 months. Towards the end of the first month I boil them, and then do that another 2 times or so in the last month. I used to play flats for years and I'm still wrapping my head around the whole "I have to buy new strings all the time" mentality.

I'd give the wick's a try if someplace around here stocked them.
Click to expand...

DR is a great company. It is ALWAY better to call versus email for this sort of thing.

The Hi Beams (I'm probably on my 50th set over many years) last longer than any other stainless steel roundwound I've experienced (and I like it bright), and they settle into that very nice 'second stage' tone after a gig or two, and stay sounding pretty good for months.

However, the rather unique round core design can get you into trouble if you don't install them correctly. If you don't 'bend before cutting' at the tuning peg, and/or if you twist them once they are attached to the bridge (i.e., putting the string through the bridge, and them 'twisting them around the peg' so that the string is put under sideways tension (if that makes sense) you can get into the issue you are describing.
 
#5
First, $30 seems high. From your profile I gather you play 4-strings only, I get Hi-Beams from www.stringsandbeyond.com for $23.95 a set. There's a campaign at the moment, just enter the code "stimulateus" as you check out and you get 10% off (no affilation).

That said, I have yet to brake a DR string. I use 030-090 Hi Beams for one bass, and slap it hard, no issues whatsoever. I agree that you shouldn't have to wait for days or weeks for a reply, but I have a feeling DR will sort it all out once you get in touch with them. Have you tried contacting Sam Ash?
 
#7
KJung said:
DR is a great company. It is ALWAY better to call versus email for this sort of thing.

The Hi Beams (I'm probably on my 50th set over many years) last longer than any other stainless steel roundwound I've experienced (and I like it bright), and they settle into that very nice 'second stage' tone after a gig or two, and stay sounding pretty good for months.

However, the rather unique round core design can get you into trouble if you don't install them correctly. If you don't 'bend before cutting' at the tuning peg, and/or if you twist them once they are attached to the bridge (i.e., putting the string through the bridge, and them 'twisting them around the peg' so that the string is put under sideways tension (if that makes sense) you can get into the issue you are describing.
Click to expand...

I've been playing DRs now for almost a year and never had this problem. I do bend before I cut them (as per the package says) and I'm careful when I take them off and when I put them back on.
My usual cycle is
-Buy strings
-Play them for about a month
-Take them off and boil them towards the end of the month
-Repeat once or twice more
-Buy new strings
-Put the old ones in the case as spares

However, once I installed this set of strings, I never took them off. I played them at one rehearsal and 3 or 4 shows. They had hardly any play time on them at all and thankfully they broke at practice instead of the gig.



My hands sweat a lot when I play and all the crud on my hands comes off on them too. I usually kill a set of rounds in about a week or less, which is why I make it a point to clean my strings with rubbing alcohol after I play. Its a shame because I really like the HiBeams. I've been playing Curt Mangan strings lately though as I bought a few sets off of TB last year.
 
#8
4-string said:
First, $30 seems high. From your profile I gather you play 4-strings only, I get Hi-Beams from www.stringsandbeyond.com for $23.95 a set. There's a campaign at the moment, just enter the code "stimulateus" as you check out and you get 10% off (no affilation).

That said, I have yet to brake a DR string. I use 030-090 Hi Beams for one bass, and slap it hard, no issues whatsoever. I agree that you shouldn't have to wait for days or weeks for a reply, but I have a feeling DR will sort it all out once you get in touch with them. Have you tried contacting Sam Ash?
Click to expand...

Its $27 or 28 a set plus tax out here. Thanks for the link by the way, next time I buy strings, I'll get them from there.

I called up Sam Ash and strings are not covered in returns.
 
#10
I can't stress this enough. Coming from the view point of a small manufacturer, it is always better to call by phone.

I've been to the DR factory and I'm a huge fan of the company and their product. Please understand that such companies don't have the generous sized staffs as more mass-consumer companies.

It is a challenge these days when we service a younger (under 35) demographic, that grew up with email and us older folks are phone oriented.
 
#11
I must say that I'm really surprised to hear a bad experience about DR strings. I've been playing thier flats for about 3 years now.

One pack I bought had a dead E right out of the pack. I emailed them, and they asked for my address information. About a week and a half later - brand new set of strings shows in the mail.

I can assure the OP that his experience isn't typical of DR's customer support based on what I've read, and my own experience with them.
 
#14
I don't play DR anymore....But I had a great experience with them once after buying a brand new set of strings and having one or two "dead" ones right out of the box. I honestly didn't expect anything but was really just inquiring about their QC as I think I had an issue with the previous set I had bought as well. A day or two later I get an email back from DR asking for my address and a couple of days after that a new pack of strings showed up.

My experience says they're a great company with a good product. Chances are your email was gobbled up by a spam filter or Homeland Security.

For what it's worth...If I can't get my preferred strings in time, I'll get a set of DR's and roll on.
 
#16
I have only used DR strings since the 90's and have always found them to be top notch. the one time i had a problem them i called them and they took care of me immediately. They are a great company, call them i am sure they will take good care of you too. here is their number 201.599.0100. DR strings are really awesome strings. if you are finding that you sweat a lot you should try the black beauties coated strings. they are hi-beams with a coating that protects them from sweat and still sound like hi-beams.

Peace
Dave
 
#18
hasbeen, thanks to you and the others who've spoken kindly for our customer service.
I have no excuse that will be good enough or even matter to someone who writes to us without receiving a reply. Call or email, contact is contact.
I'd be happy to PERSONALLY attend to your need...PM me your address and I will more than make it up to you. Negative comments on a talk board do a lot more damage than any verbal discussion, and we pride ourselves on our products and service. I apologize from all of us here at DR.
Anthony
GeneralElectric said:
Just thought I'd pass this on.

I recently bought a new set of DR HiBeams from Sam Ash. I've been using those strings a lot this past year and I tend to buy at least one set a month when I have the money and I boil my strings to make them sound new and also so I don't sink a ton of money into strings. I haven't been employed for awhile and money is tight so my last set of DRs was supposed to last me awhile so I was pretty upset that less than 2 weeks after putting my Hi Beams on, the A string snaps about an inch above the bridge. The whole thing just unraveled.

To put things into perspective, I'm an active gigging bass player and I play on average 10-15 shows a month and I play a P-bass and an active Jazz bass with HiBeams so I space out my string usage as well. Since my hands sweat a lot I tend to kill the new string zing pretty quickly. I don't play excessively hard and I tend to wipe down my strings with rubbing alcohol after I play to clean them as well. All in all, I keep care of my strings. The ones that snapped had yet to be boiled or removed from my bass since installation.

I do understand that these things happen, so I went to DR's website for the contact info and emailed them through their website telling them what happened and asking how much it would be to just get a replacement A string since its undoubtedly cheaper than a whole new set and the others were pretty much new and hadn't been played much. I also inquired about a bulk order for strings so I could order a dozen sets or so next time I sell some bass gear instead of shelling out $30 at a local store for them everytime.

That was weeks ago and I haven't heard back from them and have been checking my email folders. Not a peep. I emailed them again on Friday through their site and still no response.

This is disheartening because not only did I just dump $30 bucks in the toilet, I had a good prior CS experience with DR before. I had a problem with a set of Black Beauties and they sent me a replacement set, free of charge. I'm not looking for a free set of strings, but if I'm going to shell out my money, I'd at least like a product to deliver.
Click to expand...
 
#20
Update on this although this happened a month ago.

Prior to seeing DR's post, I managed to call them. The guy I spoke with on the phone was very pleasant and helpful and we talked about strings and string choices. I told him that I was a loyal Hi-Beam user but my sweaty hands tended to kill the strings in about a month. He suggested I use the new coated K3 strings and upgraded me to a set of Black Beauties (which I've tried in the past and didn't like them.)

The newer K3 Black Beauties sound much closer to Hi-Beams than the ones of yesteryear. However, 2 days after the replacement strings arrived in the mail, I used them on a gig and encountered a few problems.

I brought the bass from outside, where it was cold, to inside where I was playing. The bass remained in the case for 30-45 minutes before I took it out to tune for soundcheck and then on the gig. Bass would not stay in tune at all and kept slipping, sometimes drastically. After 4 or 5 songs of the bass not staying in tune I borrowed the next band's bass. The newer K3 coating is pretty fragile as well and didn't hold up well with the temperature change. The coating came off where it hit the frets, especially on the bigger strings, and flaked off on random spots. I'm assuming this is because they each expand and contract differently in the weather. That didn't matter though as they sounded pretty much the same after the fact. The tuning problems did bother me though.


I then PM'd DR about the situation, but he hasn't logged in in as long as I have so I don't blame him for not getting a response. I emailed DR strings tonight at drstrings.com, and we'll see how this goes.

FWIW, I recently just bought 5 sets of Hi-Beams at a Black Friday sale so I'll be good on strings for awhile.
 

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