Why doesn't DR do light gauge 6 string sets?

[Andre678]

I know the answer will probably be sales. I will admit I am ranting a little bit here.

I use DR strings and TI's on everything. I recently (early this year) got into 6 string basses and also tried the Victor Wooten strings on the good one I bought in June and loved them since I have been using extra light or even super light gauge strings lately. I had to buy a regular medium gauge 6 string set and a Victor Wooten pack and just not use the 4 medium gauge strings from the 6 string set. I eventually put them on another bass I have tuned D standard. 45-105 tuned E standard feels way high tension these days and hurt my hands. I have injury issues and kind of need light gauge.

Obviously this is not an affordable option but was worth it to try. I am considering reaching out to Jason at Fret Nation (is that the current name I forget) and see if he can do some singles for the B and C strings. I know this bass and this string set are a match so I don't mind buying 4 sets or more at a time. But I really like trying out new strings almost every string change. What if this bass likes Hi-Beams or Sunbeams better?

I just don't understand why they don't offer ANY other gauges at all for their 6 string set. It shouldn't be this hard to make myself a light or extra light gauge set of DR strings for a 6 string.

Big reason I am ranting as well is my cheap 6 string needs new strings and I don't want to spend huge money but also want my normal DR strings I always use on them. I will probably just put the D'addario 170-6 set on there because they are only 30 bucks right now but I want my proper strings. I don't how how to type out a crying baby whining sound.

I have found only a couple of companies out there doing light gauge 6 string sets. I know DR recently started the strings for Fodera but they are quite pricey and for the price I can make my own set from DR even if I have to buy 2 packs to do it. There is also TI jazz rounds which I really want to try as well but again very pricey. Feels weird spending 150-200 dollars on roundwound strings for a 300 dollar bass. There is probably more.

Thanks for listening to me rant. I am really happy playing 6 string but I am surprised to find issues sourcing my desired strings similar to short scale. It wouldn't be much of an issue if it was easy and affordable to source single DR bass strings. Maybe I will be happy with the D'addario's.

 

[michael_t]

I am considering reaching out to Jason at Fret Nation (is that the current name I forget) and see if he can do some singles for the B and C strings.

There was a time when Fret Nation was Canadian-friendly, but not anymore. Due to the ever-rising USPS international shipping rates, Jason no longer offers the flat-rate $9.95 shipping to Canada. I tried to order a couple of sets from FN last month for $60 USD for the strings, plus $18 USD for shipping! No thanks.

If I were you, I'd get in touch with Matt at Strings By Mail ([email protected]) and see what he can do for you. He's been great to deal with over the years.

EDIT: You can let Matt know "Michael T from Winnipeg" referred you there.

 

[Andre678]

Thank you very much. Last time I spoke to Jason a couple of years ago he said it would take about 4 sets of strings at a time for it to be worth the shipping price. Not sure if that still is true today...

I will look into Strings by mail. I have come across the website and have considered ordering from there before. They do at least sell a single high C in the Hi-beams...

 

[michael_t]

Thank you very much. Last time I spoke to Jason a couple of years ago he said it would take about 4 sets of strings at a time for it to be worth the shipping price. Not sure if that still is true today...

The problem with ordering any more than a couple of sets at a time is it may result in additional taxes and processing fee by Canada Customs. Orders of two sets can slip thru the system with no additional cost to you, at least most of the time.

Jason is at a point he'd rather not deal with international customers, including us Canadians, not only because of the higher cost of shipping but also how long it takes for the orders to get to the final destination.

 

[Killing Floor]

No affiliation but I find the Stringjoy pretty similar in feel. You can get standard sets or select individual gauge.

Good luck

 

[Andre678]

The problem with ordering any more than a couple of sets at a time is it may result in additional taxes and processing fee by Canada Customs. Orders of two sets can slip thru the system with no additional cost to you, at least most of the time.

Jason is at a point he'd rather not deal with international customers, including us Canadians, not only because of the higher cost of shipping but also how long it takes for the orders to get to the final destination.

I ended up speaking with Jason at Fret Nation and he seemed totally fine working with me being up in here in Canada. He was just quite upfront about the fact that I need to buy multiple packs to make it worth the shipping cost. He was even able to make me the exact pack I wanted with a cost under what most retail is. Add the shipping and taxes though and it probably close to regular DR 6 string price.

For me, the problem is when I want to buy strings it is because I want to buy some bass gear but don't want to spend a lot of money. So if I have to spend enough to buy 3 packs I might as well buy those TI's I didn't want to buy because they were so expensive. So the new strings wont be happening till the new year probably... It is for a bass I rarely play anyway so it is no big loss. And thinking about it more that might work out. If I have to buy 3 packs I will probably buy a set of Pure Blues, Hi-beams, and Sunbeams all in almost the same gauge. It seems only the Pure Blues come in a .055 gauge.

 

[Andre678]

No affiliation but I find the Stringjoy pretty similar in feel. You can get standard sets or select individual gauge.

Good luck

I will have to try them some day. I checked out the string calculator and my preferred gauges come out as a pretty well balanced set. As much as I love my DR's and TI's I have been happy with most strings I have used over the years. If you say they feel similar would be worth checking out. This is a good bass for it too since it is not my main player, it is a good bass to test them on.

 

[michael_t]

I ended up speaking with Jason at Fret Nation and he seemed totally fine working with me being up in here in Canada. He was just quite upfront about the fact that I need to buy multiple packs to make it worth the shipping cost. He was even able to make me the exact pack I wanted with a cost under what most retail is. Add the shipping and taxes though and it probably close to regular DR 6 string price.

I usually order a couple of sets at a time when ordering from the US in order to (hopefully) avoid additional charges by Canada Customs. I once ordered four sets from FN and ended up having to pay GST, PST and processing fee.

 

[Andre678]

Hmmmm. I have been able to avoid ordering strings from the U.S. so these are the useful little things I didn't know

 

[michael_t]

Hmmmm. I have been able to avoid ordering strings from the U.S. so these are the useful little things I didn't know

Just curious... What did you end up ordering from FN?

 

[Killing Floor]

I will have to try them some day. I checked out the string calculator and my preferred gauges come out as a pretty well balanced set. As much as I love my DR's and TI's I have been happy with most strings I have used over the years. If you say they feel similar would be worth checking out. This is a good bass for it too since it is not my main player, it is a good bass to test them on.

I believe there is not a "best" string set. It's worth experimenting. Good luck.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

I recommend Strings by Mail for sure. A while back, I had a 6 string bass on rent from L&M and I wanted a light set of Hi Beams to put on it. I asked them if they could supply a single .030 high C string along with the 40-120 light Hi Beams 5 string set to make light 6 string set. Within a few days they had the high C single available to order in the site.

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[michael_t]

Jason is at a point he'd rather not deal with international customers, including us Canadians, not only because of the higher cost of shipping but also how long it takes for the orders to get to the final destination.

I'm here to respond to my own post from a couple of weeks ago regarding Jason at Fret Nation in order to set the record straight.

I do realize I was too hasty with my post, which was based on wrong assumptions and misunderstanding. It's simply not true that Jason doesn't want to deal with us Canadians. So, please disregard my remark, and feel free to send any inquiries to him at [email protected]. I'm sure he's more than willing to do whatever he can to keep us all happy.

 

[Andre678]

I'm here to respond to my own post from a couple of weeks ago regarding Jason at Fret Nation in order to set the record straight.

I do realize I was too hasty with my post, which was based on wrong assumptions and misunderstanding. It's simply not true that Jason doesn't want to deal with us Canadians. So, please disregard my remark, and feel free to send any inquiries to him at [email protected]. I'm sure he's more than willing to do whatever he can to keep us all happy.

Yeah, he has always done good by me. After making this thread I spoke with him via email and he was very very helpful. Was able to make for me a set exactly as I wanted at a great price and was very helpful working with me to figure how to keep it affordable in regards to shipping. I do plan on putting an order in February when I have a 3 paycheque month and a few extra pennies lying around that I can spend on my bass hobby. At this point I need light gauge strings for 2 6 string basses (my main bass's strings are starting to die too) and one more pack puts me at my shipping weight limit before it gets pricier. I can only put off new strings for so long.

To answer your earlier question if you are still curious I plan on getting a set of Pure Blues for sure and probably a set each of Hi-Beams and Sunbeams. I know I love Hi-beams and really want to try them on my "new" bass (Ibanez SR756NTF P/J) and know I loved sunbeams when I tried them last but haven't used them in many many years since it was usually easier to go to Long and McQuades and grab a pack of Hi-beams to get me by. Or say screw it all and get some TI's, I really think they would sound great on the 6 string Jazz. I am really really loving that neck pickup tone. It's my first Jazz.