Time to switch to Dunlop Super Brights!!!

[IvanBassist]

Which gauges are you guys using? I recently put a 45-105 set on my Dingwall SJ (32"-34.25" Scale length) and I'm thinking about getting a set for my Lakland P. Maybe a 40-100 set.

 

[FirewalZ]

Which gauges are you guys using? I recently put a 45-105 set on my Dingwall SJ (32"-34.25" Scale length) and I'm thinking about getting a set for my Lakland P. Maybe a 40-100 set.

IMO the 45-105 set feels like lighter gauges already, due to the lower tension and flexibility. The 40-100 set maybe a bit to low tension, unless that's what you're after.

 

[Aidil]

Just switched to SB Nickels 45-105 from XL Nickels the same gauges. Wow...
The tensions and flexibility are so much lighter and easier to bend, and of course brighter sounding.

 

[PawleeP]

BKlynKen,
Although I cannot compare MM DSBs to La Bella SS, if you like Rotosound 66s you will love the MM DSBs. Very similar string with better longevity.

Hey armybass, I just saw a thread with you extolling the virtues of the DR Fat Beams. What gives? I like the DSBs to stay in this thread but am a closet user of the MM DSBs!

nice thread here.. what about fret wear with SS super brights?
Also, wondering what MM=? thanx, p

 

[fermata]

Just to offer a contrasting view to the praise heaped on Super Brights: I spent the last three weeks begging a set of nickel SBs to die, and while they did mellow some, they're too harmonically wide open for my ear and/or bass. I like a really broken in nickel round (warm and chewy), and I tired of waiting for these to get there. The flexible feel was really nice, however; they're wonderfully responsive strings to play, but the sound is too modern for me. I switched to a set of regular Dunlop nickels, and within a couple of hours, I was starting to get the tone I like.

 

[eriky4003]

nice thread here.. what about fret wear with SS super brights?
Also, wondering what MM=? thanx, p

Can't say I've noticed but it would need to be pretty drastic for me to notice.

 

[MoeTown1986]

nice thread here.. what about fret wear with SS super brights?
Also, wondering what MM=? thanx, p

I've been using these strings on my jazz basses for about 3 years now. I play about 100-3 hour gigs a year and practice daily. I see no real fret wear to speak of. Before these, my go to strings were EB Cobalts which were strung on my Stingray's. THOSE ate up my frets quickly.

 

[michael_t]

Also, wondering what MM=? thanx, p

MM as in Marcus Miller signature set of the Super Bright Steels.

 

[armybass]

Hey armybass, I just saw a thread with you extolling the virtues of the DR Fat Beams. What gives? I like the DSBs to stay in this thread but am a closet user of the MM DSBs!

I was led to the Fat Beams via G&L players who suggested the Fat Beams are a good match for MFD pickups. In researching Fat Beams I discovered the Dunlop SB. So I purchased a few buckets of each.

I just got around to putting a set of 40-120 SB Nickel strings on my M2500. I do really like the feel of the SB’s. Definitely what I am looking for in rounds. The tension and snap are perfect for me. Now to try some Fat Beams

 

[JimmyM]

I was led to the Fat Beams via G&L players who suggested the Fat Beams are a good match for MFD pickups. In researching Fat Beams I discovered the Dunlop SB. So I purchased a few buckets of each.

I just got around to putting a set of 40-120 SB Nickel strings on my M2500. I do really like the feel of the SB’s. Definitely what I am looking for in rounds. The tension and snap are perfect for me. Now to try some Fat Beams

Glad to see I'm not the only one who digs the 120 B string. It really doesn't matter what kind of strings I'm using...I just plain think a lighter B strings sounds better. Some may disagree, I guess, but I'll take the lighter string any day of the week.

 

[armybass]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who digs the 120 B string. It really doesn't matter what kind of strings I'm using...I just plain think a lighter B strings sounds better. Some may disagree, I guess, but I'll take the lighter string any day of the week.

I do like the 120 B strings. I feel they are better articulated and better focused.

 

[IvanBassist]

How much more tension do the MM super brights have compared to the regular ones? My left hand really likes the feel of these strings but my right hand is struggling to play 16th note runs because of how flexible these are

 

[FirewalZ]

How much more tension do the MM super brights have compared to the regular ones? My left hand really likes the feel of these strings but my right hand is struggling to play 16th note runs because of how flexible these are

I play the Mediums, they are near perfect tension, not too floppy. I don't know how they compare to the next gauge down, but the Mediums feel pretty good

 

[Toptube]

How much more tension do the MM super brights have compared to the regular ones? My left hand really likes the feel of these strings but my right hand is struggling to play 16th note runs because of how flexible these are

I barely noticed a difference in feel, compared to the regular stainless super brights.

However, the tone was very different. I didn't like it.

 

[IvanBassist]

I play the Mediums, they are near perfect tension, not too floppy. I don't know how they compare to the next gauge down, but the Mediums feel pretty good

I barely noticed a difference in feel, compared to the regular stainless super brights.

However, the tone was very different. I didn't like it.

I took the nickels out of my Dingwall SJ and put them on my Lakland P and definitely feel tighter. I'll share my thoughts on the MM once they arrive.

 

[IvanBassist]

Update: I put the MM strings on my Dingwall and they feel very nice. I don't know if it's my amp or my bass, but these seem to be the SS strings with the least amount of treble I've ever played. They seem to have a lot of mids. Has anyone experienced the same thing?

Also, i believe they feel thinner (smaller gauge) than the regular nickel I had before

 

[BrentSimons]

I barely noticed a difference in feel, compared to the regular stainless super brights.

However, the tone was very different. I didn't like it.

Hi There,
What was it about the tone you didn't like? i have SB Nickels on two of my basses but had a set of SB Steels on my Cirrus a few years ago but I cant remember how they were for the life of me! I too think the feel was quite similar? But I don't remember the tone.
Thank you in advance,
Brent

 

[silky smoove]

What was it about the tone you didn't like?

I'm not @Toptube but I will just comment that after using SB Nickels exclusively for the last couple years I recently put on a set of GHS Balanced Nickels and was shocked by how much less midrange they had than the SB Nickels. I don't know if the GHS are lacking in midrange, or the SBs have too much midrange, but regardless I could see the tone of the SBs being too midrange heavy for some users.

 

[BrentSimons]

I'm not @Toptube but I will just comment that after using SB Nickels exclusively for the last couple years I recently put on a set of GHS Balanced Nickels and was shocked by how much less midrange they had than the SB Nickels. I don't know if the GHS are lacking in midrange, or the SBs have too much midrange, but regardless I could see the tone of the SBs being too midrange heavy for some users.

Hmmm. Good to know. I'm a fan of the "ganky" hi mids. Think Geddy meets Steve Harris meets Duff McKagan meets Chris Squire.

 

[silky smoove]

Hmmm. Good to know. I'm a fan of the "ganky" hi mids. Think Geddy meets Steve Harris meets Duff McKagan meets Chris Squire.

There's an aggressive quality to SB Nickels that would work well for that kind of tone. That said, my first choice for that sort of thing would be Rotosound 66s.