NSD- DR Legend 45-125 Flatwound

[bassist4dalord]

I don’t usually post NSD threads, even though I am a total string junkie. I figured I would start a thread on these strings because there is a lack of information about them here on TB.

I ordered these strings in person from Ernie Williamson Music in Springfield, MO. Two weeks later they were ready for pickup. I installed them a few days later.

I had never tried these strings before and wanted to give flats another try. The installation was uneventful- plenty of length for my Sterling by Music Man Ray5. The silk on the B-string got a little chewed up, but nothing crazy. The strings that came off of the bass were DR Fat Beams 45-130 with about three months of time on the bass. They still have plenty of life and I’ll likely reuse them someday.

My first impression of the Legends is that the A, D and G-strings sound and feel great. Very smooth feel, a nice, controlled top end and smooth low end. The “stiffness” is quite comfortable. I think I like these three strings quite a bit.

The B and E-strings are a different animal, though. They are definitely looser, which is nice, and makes for very easy plucking. However they have a sort of tubby thumpiness to them. They feel distinctly different from the other three strings, and they sound much more subdued. I’ve noticed this before with GHS Precision Flats and La Bella Deep Talkin’ Flats, both on 5-string basses. I’m not inclined to think it’s anything wrong with the strings; rather, I think that’s just the nature of the beast. I don’t love the tone or feel as they are, but I intend to give the strings a chance. I’ll be playing at church a couple times in the next week, so I’ll be able to hear them in a mix and in my IEMs.

I plan to keep these strings for a while. They weren’t cheap ($52 US plus tax) and I want to make sure I let them break in and see how it goes. I’ll definitely report back here. Any questions, let me know.

Thanks!

 

[KaraQ]

View attachment 5029396 I don’t usually post NSD threads, even though I am a total string junkie. I figured I would start a thread on these strings because there is a lack of information about them here on TB.

I ordered these strings in person from Ernie Williamson Music in Springfield, MO. Two weeks later they were ready for pickup. I installed them a few days later.

I had never tried these strings before and wanted to give flats another try. The installation was uneventful- plenty of length for my Sterling by Music Man Ray5. The silk on the B-string got a little chewed up, but nothing crazy. The strings that came off of the bass were DR Fat Beams 45-130 with about three months of time on the bass. They still have plenty of life and I’ll likely reuse them someday.

My first impression of the Legends is that the A, D and G-strings sound and feel great. Very smooth feel, a nice, controlled top end and smooth low end. The “stiffness” is quite comfortable. I think I like these three strings quite a bit.

The B and E-strings are a different animal, though. They are definitely looser, which is nice, and makes for very easy plucking. However they have a sort of tubby thumpiness to them. They feel distinctly different from the other three strings, and they sound much more subdued. I’ve noticed this before with GHS Precision Flats and La Bella Deep Talkin’ Flats, both on 5-string basses. I’m not inclined to think it’s anything wrong with the strings; rather, I think that’s just the nature of the beast. I don’t love the tone or feel as they are, but I intend to give the strings a chance. I’ll be playing at church a couple times in the next week, so I’ll be able to hear them in a mix and in my IEMs.

I plan to keep these strings for a while. They weren’t cheap ($52 US plus tax) and I want to make sure I let them break in and see how it goes. I’ll definitely report back here. Any questions, let me know.

Thanks!

View attachment 5029397

I have a broken-in set of those that came on an older Ibanez 5-string...... I've not spent a lot of time with them, but I do love the way they sound

 

[Yahboy]

The B string silk chewed up just because the string hole on ray5 bridge too small for 130B. Happened on my EB 2810 130B blue silk too.

You are currently has fresh Legend flat tone, both E and B sound more woody and less sustain compare to ADG string. Once settled in, all string has most fastest decay sustain than others classic voicing flatwound bass string I been use. You don't need mute foam at all.

Interesting how the voice from this legend combined with ray5 MM pup. Wish to see your further report here.

Edit
I been use legend on Ibanez SRFF805 previously, I do find all string has quite nice even string to string stiffness from B to G on this 34-35.5 multi scale bass guitar. No floppy B and E string.

 

[srayb]

I noticed the same thing with the 4-string set; the E was noticeably different, thumpy with less sustain. The other 3 strings sound great and punchy. I replaced the E string with a D’Addario Chrome .100 and it seemed to match the other 3 strings better.

 

[Al T.]

They sounded even after a few weeks on my 35" scale Warmoth 5. I think they are really good flats with a comfortable round core feel.

 

[bassist4dalord]

Well that didn’t last long. Last night I took the Legends off and reinstalled the still-good Fat Beams I had on there before the Legends. I just didn’t want to play my bass with the Legends on it.

I’ve put them away as an expensive experiment. Maybe I’ll try again someday.