Why DR strings are amazing

[CrashClint]

I use DR Black Beauties on my Roscoe basses and love them. The DR customer service is top notch, they have always responded promptly. The get an A+ from me.

 

[Broseph]

Well i have to say i really like these Fat Beams!!They feel very "springy" and have a solid sound to my ears.

Definately love me some Fat Beams. All NEW strings have that "edgy" Marcus Miller sound to them until they stretch out, but these seem like they have more warmth in the mids. But don't listen to me, i'm the guy who thought tone woods made a difference!

EDIT: And I HATED Black Beauties. Just not for me. Felt like I was playing a pretty set of GHS Boomers or Blue Steel. Hi-Beams sound incredible soloed but i think Lo-Riders and Fat Beams are better for a group setting.

 

[Spencer!]

I used to be an avid user of DR High Beams until I started getting dead sets. Right out of the box they were dead, don't ask me why because I'm still wondering. Other than that though they're great strings. However, I have since switched over to Sadowsky SS strings and their customer service is out of this world. Since I've never had to deal with DR's customer service I've stayed with Sadowsky simply because they've been so generous towards me when I needed them to be. Nothing against DR strings mind you. They're still great strings, well, the ones that aren't dead right out of the box.

I wish I had that problem. For me, nothing is better than a set of dead Fat Beams.

 

[ehque]

I've not experienced any problems with DR strings slipping. I follow the guidance printed on the packaging regarding pinching them at an angle before cutting & fitting them.

From a purely cosmetic perspective, I dislike the look of silk wrap on strings passing over headstocks.

DR strings certainly don't lack midrange IMO. Lots of character & clarity, and incredibly well balanced across all strings.

+many

However, while installing my don't-know-how-manyth set of DR strings, i cut one set too short and there was not enough grip for the strings to hold. In fact, cos of the high pressure due to the short bit of string holding on, my string broke as i strung it up. (actually more like, the tuner cut thru the string)

DR was nice enough to send me a new set, though. For that, i'm a customer for life.

Their strings being great also helps.

 

[mike_Ro11]

I got peacock blues on my am deluxe jazz. They are the first DR strings I have played. They are great strings. but i wouldn't buy them again because they are to bright for my liking. I would recommend them to anyone who likes bright strings. I would like to try nickle lo riders or sunbeams sometime.

 

[fender_mod]

its all about DR high beam flats. i started out on just regular old high beams and when i wanted to switch to flats the transition was seamless.

 

[lowtide]

next paycheck i'm ordering some gnome-coated black beauties for my 6er, because i've been very curious about how they sound/feel for a long time.

They sound good IMO but eventually the .003 coating of lacquer begins to wear off and they start looking like crap. I used to recoat the strings but found that it was okay on the first recoating but that would be it. Recoating any further starts to deaden the sound.

 

[steve21]

I love DR strings. Especially Hi-Beams. Always sound excellent and just play better than other brands IMO.

 

[moomoocajoo]

Dr Strings are massively over rated IMO. IME their coated strings last the same time as normal strings and don't sound any better. I didn't like any of the gauges of the sets I tried too.

I mean they're not bad, certainly no worse than any other strings out there really, but theyre not the second coming which is what some people would seem to believe.

Just my 0.02...maybe I just got unlucky?

 

[Lorenzini]

Dr Strings are massively over rated IMO. IME their coated strings last the same time as normal strings and don't sound any better. I didn't like any of the gauges of the sets I tried too.

I mean they're not bad, certainly no worse than any other strings out there really, but theyre not the second coming which is what some people would seem to believe.

Just my 0.02...maybe I just got unlucky?

Did you only try the coated strings? If so you're missing the big picture. Their coated lineup is my least favorite DR string.

You need to try Sunbeams, Hi Beams, Lo-Riders, Fatbeams, etc and then get back to us

 

[moomoocajoo]

At £30+ a time I'm reluctant to try any more based on the last few sets of the coated ones I've had.

I may take a pop on some again in the future but meh...

 

[Jazzint]

(...) I used to recoat the strings (...)

Hey Lowtide. How do you recoat strings? Didn't know you can do a DIY (if that's how you do it) recoating.

 

[Jaco who?]

but theyre not the second coming which is what some people would seem to believe.

They're probably overly hyped a little bit around here, but I really like the round cores they sell. I had quite a bit of finger pain from using D'addario XL's the following morning after 2-3 hour practice sessions the previous day, and I don't get that at all with the Sunbeam/Highbeam DRs.

 

[Nikoubis]

IMO, Sunbeams are the best nickel rounds on the market. This opinion was very expensive to form given that I've tried more than one set of every nickel round that is readily (or not so readily) available here.

 

[Fretlessboy]

Over the last 25 years I have used them all. I got re aquaneted with them a few years a go on the the road when High beams were easily found at any GC you walked in to. Last October I was doing a photo shoot and put "hot pink" on one of my Smiths. I wanted something out of the norm for the pictures... before I cut them off I plugged it in...I was sold on the Xtra life coated forever more. I with the exception of my '65 pbass (which I still use "High Beams" on...the Laklands (black beauties 50-130) and my Smith's (45-125 hot pinK) are the ticket. In the Pbass photo below it is strung with Evergreen

 

[Andy419]

Sunbeams are nothing short of awesome once they get broken in.

 

[skeptikal]

I love my DR LoRiders on my warwick. They are great strings.

 

[alexofc69]

How do the Hi Beams or Lo Riders compare to the Black Beauties? I've got beauties on my P bass and they have a unique feel and distinct sound (not in a particularly bad or good way) when played unamplified. I started playing my bass with heavy Elixirs on them and have grown to like that feel and sound a bit more. I don't want to rule out DR as an option. A lot of people like their strings, so they have to be doing something right.

DR's rip! #1 . As for coated, I do feel Elixirs feel and sound better.

 

[SuperDuck]

I love DR strings. Hi-Beams, Lo-Riders, Fat Beams - they're all great! I haven't had a chance to try the Sunbeams, but I hear that they're good as well.

 

[OXploiter]

I swear by Hi-Beams as well. I used to rely on Rotosounds until I experimented with the Hi-Beams on a MusicMan clone and fell in love with them.

For my most recent gig I stripped my Jazz bass of a relatively fresh set of Rotos and replaced them with the Hi-Beams - I have never had that many people come up to me afterwards to compliment my sound before. Thunderously sharp sound yet buttery-smooth at the same time.