I'm about due for a string change on my Sterling Stingray 24CA. It's currently sporting Ernie Ball Super Slinky's (45-65-80-100). The Slinky's have been very good - no complaints. And yes, I've got more on hand. But I thought I'd try something different, just for a change of pace and out of curiosity. I've got a pack of DR Sunbeams and SIT Powerwound Nickels (both are 45-65-80-100). Between the DRs and the SITs, is one brighter than the other, or about the same?
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Which are brighter? DR Sunbeams or SIT Powerwound Nickels
- Thread starter aero58
- Start date
To my ears, the SITs are brighter. Not by a huge margin, but noticable.
As always, YMMV.
As always, YMMV.
Brightness is a matter of perception. To my ears, the Sunbeams have a little more sparkle up top with a full bottom. The Power Wound Nickels are stronger in the mids with tighter lows. Very different feel, round core (SB) vs. hex core (PWN).
By the way, SIT Foundations Nickel are closer to the SB in stiffness/flexibility due to the thinner hex core, making them a little more flexible than the PWN.
By the way, SIT Foundations Nickel are closer to the SB in stiffness/flexibility due to the thinner hex core, making them a little more flexible than the PWN.
Big fan of SIT strings. The powerwound will be ever so slightly brighter and more mid-forward than the sunbeams. Slightly stiffer too
Thanks for all the replies. I'll put the SITs on this weekend and see how they sound on the Ray. ("see how they sound" - that strikes me as funny) 
OK, I just strung up the Sterling Ray with the SIT Powerwounds. I can already tell that these aren't the strings for this particular bass. They're actually too warm and too polite - more so than the Slinkys that were on it (the Sinkys that just came off were "well broken in" - some might say "dead" - but I don't think they were just yet, but past their best). I suppose I won't even try the Sunbeams on this bass (but might anyway, just for giggles).
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My StngRay 5 just loves EB Slinkys. It currently has a set of DR Sunbeams and they're mellow, but Im not taking them off until they're dead. Slinkys are much brighter on this bass.
Funny how finicky Stingrays seem to be with string choice. Slinkys work great - no doubt. Maybe I'll go ahead and try the Sunbeams after all just to satisfy my curiosity.
I just compared 3 string sets on my Stingray (3 bander). I used Super Slinkies for like a decade on all of my previous and my current Stingrays. They lose the high end fairly quickly for me (takes one gig or sometimes one band practice of fairly hard playing), but they settle into a nice "gunky" mid character.
I tried DR Sunbeams (45-105) and they're more polite in the mids, to me they sound nicely broken in when taken straight out of the box. More flexible than Super Slinky (especially D and G strings), but tension wise, my action height remained the same (but that's 105 and 85 VS 100 and 80). Great strings, but I'd maybe use them for a more classic tone.
What really won me over were DR Pure Blues (45-105) - same flexibility and tension like Sunbeams, but more bite and agression in the high mids which made them sound "fresher" to my ears, even if Sunbeams do have a bit more extended high end when new. After 1 band practice, they still sound fresh to me, while my Super Slinkies would usually lose the "freshness". I'm keeping those on for now.
I tried DR Sunbeams (45-105) and they're more polite in the mids, to me they sound nicely broken in when taken straight out of the box. More flexible than Super Slinky (especially D and G strings), but tension wise, my action height remained the same (but that's 105 and 85 VS 100 and 80). Great strings, but I'd maybe use them for a more classic tone.
What really won me over were DR Pure Blues (45-105) - same flexibility and tension like Sunbeams, but more bite and agression in the high mids which made them sound "fresher" to my ears, even if Sunbeams do have a bit more extended high end when new. After 1 band practice, they still sound fresh to me, while my Super Slinkies would usually lose the "freshness". I'm keeping those on for now.
Sunbeams sound a bit scooped but highs are there. SITs have more mids, a bit less highs.
Just a quick follow up (if anyone is interested): I gave the Powerwound nickels a shot and they sound and feel pretty nice, but they're not quite right for this particular bass. Instead of trying the Sunbeams, I went completely off the reservation and put on some DR Hi Beams (45-65-80-100). Ah ha - a pleasant surprise. These might just be the ticket for this bass. I really like the feel of these strings - more flex than the SITs (round core vs. hex core I suppose). I'll be interested to see how these do - going to give them a long runway to find out.
It is funny.
My SR4's (both a vintage one and a Classic) sounded meh with Slinkys: hate the E, and the D is overbearing. I use Higbeams on them and its a perfect sound across all strings.
