Nickle alternative to dr hi beams

[micguy]

The strings I find that are the most “stainless” sounding, without being stainless, are Kalium hybrids. Not sticky to the fingers IMHO.

Kalium’s stainless strings feel and sound very similar as well.

 

[MynameisMe]

I was going to suggest the Pure Blues but I see you’ve already tried those.

I can't see where he did say that he tried those but I would suggest the Pure Blues also. So Supple brand new and last a long time for me

 

[edwinhurwitz]

Both Sunbeams and Pure Blues are round core. The difference is nickel-plated steel (Sunbeams) and nickel-steel alloy ("Quantum Nickel").

Lo-Riders, both stainless steel and nickel-plated steel, are hex core.

I can attest to that. I've been using Sunbeams for a couple of decades and love them. However, I have a Modulus TBX that just doesn't sound good with them. I tried flats of various brands, half-rounds and the like and nothing was connecting. I had a very old set of Lo-Riders that had been sitting in a drawer for probably 15 years and tried those: perfect. In general, I like low tension strings, but this bass just needed the hex core to get the notes to speak properly all the way down to the low end.

 

[Ggaa]

Fatbeams were pretty smooth.

 

[logdrum]

Fatbeams were pretty smooth.

Not really. I like them but they are grippier than Hi-Beams or at least the same. But how fast is the OP wanting to be. I always thought that grippier strings are faster if not faster certainly not slower than smooth strings. People who like to play fast usually lower their action

 

[logdrum]

Same sound as high beams will be in my experience amd current setup are Thomastik Infeld Super Alloy not the expensive Jazz Rounds, I do not know if they are round core but are supple - same feel. My 6 string bass has a mixture of Hi-Beams and these strings and no difference in tone or timbre, feel or even volume. Since I do not have your physical issuers, not sure how they will react to your body chemistry. But they are not stainless steel wrap. Because of user error, the B and A of the original Hi Bean set unraveled, so I just put on these older strings. And then the single GHS super steels high C although nice sound was too stiff (this is a 36 inch scale bass). So I put the C string from the TI set. So yeah 3 Hi-Beams and 3 TI on the same bass

Hi Beams and TI Super Alloy on the Same Bass

 

[Drop1]

Same sound as high beams will be in my experience amd current setup are Thomastik Infeld Super Alloy not the expensive Jazz Rounds, I do not know if they are round core but are supple - same feel. My 6 string bass has a mixture of Hi-Beams and these strings and no difference in tone or timbre, feel or even volume. Since I do not have your physical issuers, not sure how they will react to your body chemistry. But they are not stainless steel wrap. Because of user error, the B and A of the original Hi Bean set unraveled, so I just put on these older strings. And then the single GHS super steels high C although nice sound was too stiff (this is a 36 inch scale bass). So I put the C string from the TI set. So yeah 3 Hi-Beams and 3 TI on the same bass

Hi Beams and TI Super Alloy on the Same Bass

How long for they last? They look expensive, even compared to elixirs. They sound promising though.

 

[logdrum]

How long for they last? They look expensive, even compared to elixirs. They sound promising though.

I restrung my 6 string with this in January 2017, took them out last year in January when I experimented on different strings and the 3 are back there again Nov 2023. Consider how they sound with a set of Hi Beams that had been there for just 5 weeks. So 6 years and hear how bright they still are. Remember not the Jazz Rounds which are very expensive and floppy. I paid only 48 for a Super Long Scale 6 string in 2016. There is a trick with Amazon if you look for accordion accessory plus the model number of the string, they will be cheaper. That's how I got TI flats for 50 or even under.

 

[Djadja]

elixers have been mentioned a number of times so I assume the OP is open to coated strings… why not the DR Black Beauties which are coated hi beams? The coating should help with that stainless steel feel while not changing the tone or tension significantly.

 

[sonojono]

Try SIT Foundations.

+1

 

[Rabidhamster]

Fingerease or a drop of superglue spread on each finger tip might remedy your issue with some trade offs

 

[rockscott]

Drs are the only strings i use , you may want to try the black beauties. I use the bb on my birdsong, the pure blues on my embassy & i go back and forth between the sun beams & the high beams on my les paul!

 

[burgerdj]

DR Sunbeams are basically the nickel-plated steel version of the Hi Beams (stainless steel). The same round core makes them flexible, plus the nickel-plated steel would feel smoother under your fingers.

DR Pure Blues may be an option as well. They're made of nickel-steel alloy on a round core. I would put them somewhere between the Hi Beams and the Sunbeams in term of both tone and feel.

+1 on all of this.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

I think stainless steel strings could be polished, though I've never tried it. Yes, you'd have to control the dust for more than one reason.
At least one member here said he does.

 

[bassyogi]

Mapes Octacore. If you want to try something off the beaten path. I have them on a Warwick Corvette and really like them. Pretty smooth to the touch. Bright, punchy and flexible with low-medium tension. I'm not really a string aficionado but this is the best I can describe them. I'm running the nickel 45-126's btw.

 

[Drop1]

elixers have been mentioned a number of times so I assume the OP is open to coated strings… why not the DR Black Beauties which are coated hi beams? The coating should help with that stainless steel feel while not changing the tone or tension significantly.

I have some black beauties sitting in a box. They feel good, but do not have the brightness of elixirs , much less hi beams. Elixir did some magic with their coatings. If they had lower tension, they would absolutely incredible strings.

 

[Maestro29]

DR Pure Blues


All I use

 

[PhinDog]

My vote is for DR Sumbeams. They have a real bright tone.
In contrast to the Pure Blues that sound great right out of the package, almost like they’re settled in already. But not as much zing IME.
I like the DR string tension and feel and have tried a bunch of them. Sans the coated strings.
What I’ve found tone and tension wise.
Fat Beams - SS, bright that settle to a nice treble and low mid response.
High Beams - Bright with extended Bass and Treble.
Sunbeams- Nickel, extended bass and treble.
Pure Blues - nickel alloy, even response, sound broken in right away.
Low Rider, SS- hex core, a lot stiffer but great Mid presence.
Low Rider- nickel, bright middy. Stiffer.

YMMV

if you like coated strings, the DR offerings I have heard are great as well. As mentioned above, Black Beauties might be your jam. Coated High Beams.

 

[Cleezmo]

Agree with the recommendations for Sun Beams and Pure Blues.

But I must admit I'm scratching my head a little bit with the notion that High Beams (or as some posters have stated, Fat Beams) are too 'grippy'. I played High Beams for several years before discovering Fat Beams, which are my favorite (have them on several of my basses), and I have SunBeams on another. I've never found them to be 'grippy' unless you compare them to a flat wound or tape wound. Part of what I love about those DR lines is how smooth they are, especially for a SS string. But I suppose everyone's hands are different and react differently to strings.

 

[Das Jugghead]

I am trying so hard to get along with Dr hi beams.

They sound amazing. Truly. They are the best sounding strings I've ever found for this bass and I've tried about 40 different sets now.

The problem I'm having is the texture.

It's going on 2 months since I switched to hi beams and they don't seem to get along with my fingers.

They aren't painful to play, they just stick to my darn fingers. This makes playing fast (as fast as I could otherwise play) seem impossible without a substantial loss in volume.

I dont want to go back to elixirs due to tension. Thr hi beams have helped ease my tendinitis a good bit.

The elixirs would build some gnarly , HARD calluses. That coupled with the elixirs coating is a recipe for blazing fast speed. The hi beams seem to sand off a lot if ehere my calluses would usually be. This leaves fingers in a softer state which in turn let's the raw steel stick to my fingers even more.

Im.going to give the hi beams another month but I want to start thinking about alternatives now just in case. I'd say I'm up yo about 3/4ths of my usual speed now on the hi beams but that last bit of speed seems almost impossible to get without playing very light.

I have no problem playing most lines with the hi beams. It's the quick fills giving me all the problems.
Maybe i will have to accept the trade off of speed for sound if I want to keep this sound. Idk.
Are there any nickle strings out their that have a similar bendy feel (round core) that can get into hi beam brightness territory?

Not sure if you are open to trying other brands of strings but this is what I use for precisely the same reasons you listed:

D'Addario XTB45130 XT Nickel Plated Steel Bass Guitar Strings - .045-.130 Regular Light Long Scale 5-string

The DR's felt like they grabbed my fingertips the way a microfiber towel grabs your skin if your skin is roughed up. The D'Addarios sound great for what I do and last longer than any other string I have tried. Over the years I think I have tried about every round-wound string offered at Sweetwater. For what it is or is not worth I play rock and roll and ocassionally some country.