Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: tbrannon on September 24, 2010, 05:19:03 PM

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: tbrannon on September 24, 2010, 05:19:03 PM

Definitely not my style, but I think I remember a couple guys here on the forum who play the coated, colored DR strings.  These are supposed to have a much more durable finish and they're BRIGHT!!!
 
Pretty cool, even if it's not your cup 'o tea.  
 
http://www.drstrings.com/ (http://www.drstrings.com/)

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: tbrannon on September 24, 2010, 05:24:13 PM

Nickel Plated wound on Round Core. So, essentially they're coated Sunbeams that glow in the dark.....
 
http://www.drstrings.com/neon-strings-gallery (http://www.drstrings.com/neon-strings-gallery)

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: jazzyvee on September 25, 2010, 12:15:38 AM

Yeah very bright indeed. Not my style either however I think they would look quite cool on my black or Purple elans for a festive season gig. Probably good for seeing where your fingers are on a dark stage too. :-)
 
jazzyvee

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: terryc on September 25, 2010, 10:41:12 AM

Jeeze..coupled with the LED's I had fitted I would look like a refugee from Ministry of Sound!!

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: adriaan on September 25, 2010, 01:17:32 PM

The orange ones don't seem to be overly jarring under normal light. Would go pretty well with most woods.

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: adriaan on September 25, 2010, 01:18:13 PM

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/86775.jpg)

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: lbpesq on September 25, 2010, 05:07:55 PM

I just ordered a set of the green ones for my Ferlembic guitar with the cannabis leaf fret marker inlays.  They're not cheap, but they look cool.   Of course the real question is how they play and sound.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: terryc on September 26, 2010, 09:10:27 AM

Adriaan  so you have a set on your P bass or is this a promo pic??
Ibpesq..I think we would all appreciate a review when you fit them and try them out..I am sorely tempted!!!(The stage whore I am LOL)

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: lbpesq on September 26, 2010, 10:25:06 AM

I'll file a report.  By the way, it's Lbpesq, not Ibpesq, but Bill is just fine.
 
Bill, the guitar one

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: terryc on September 26, 2010, 10:35:23 AM

Sorry Bill..didn't have my reading glasses on..age...widsom and poor eyesight!!!

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: adriaan on September 27, 2010, 01:38:09 AM

Terry - oops, moderator error! Thanks for the heads-up.
 
Indeed it is a promotional shot from the neon strings gallery linked to above.

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: tmoney61092 on September 27, 2010, 02:22:16 PM

those...are...awesome!!! i will definitely be buying a set for my Gibson Vic. Artist bass. Bill, let me know how they sound(i know you're getting them for you're amazingly awesome guitar but i was just wondering how they compare to the sound of the strings you usually use)
 
~Taylor

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: mario_farufyno on September 28, 2010, 09:31:33 AM

They claim this coating remains new at least 180 minutes and goes fading away since that. Although they say it doesn't peel like Elixir and similar coated strings I wonder if 180 minutes isn't too little for someone who has to change strings at each 2 or 3 months...
 
180 minutes is just 3 hours and one regular set on my Gigs takes something like 01:45 long. So I could expect full color for just 2 shows... I don't know, for that price I would like it lasts longer. I know it'll still be shining after that, but they don't guarantee it can hang that shine on for all the time I'll be using my strings.
 
Please, if some of you decide to try them, report us how it behaves.

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: jacko on September 28, 2010, 12:04:14 PM

I really like these. I'd be interested to know how they compare in feel and sound to DR's normal coated strings - black beauties etc.
 
Graeme

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: tbrannon on September 28, 2010, 04:57:10 PM

Mario-
 
the article says they put the strings on a 'pick machine' that strikes the string in the exact same spot once per second.  So after 180 minutes of being struck in the exact same spot every second, the coated layer starts to show wear.  
 
I don't think any hand is likely to strike the string (assuming you play with a pick) in the exact same spot every time.  I'm guessing the color would last quite a while with the normal variation you get playing

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: mario_farufyno on September 28, 2010, 09:28:51 PM

Oh, thanks Toby.

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: toma_hawk01 on September 29, 2010, 12:51:28 AM

Pimp my Bass.
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: 88persuader on September 29, 2010, 01:51:54 AM

Personally I think they look way too 1980s and cheapen the look of the instrument they are on making them look like toys. Of course we're all entitled to our opinions.

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: tmoney61092 on October 05, 2010, 09:58:13 PM

just bought a set of the orange mediums for my Gibson Vic. Artist bass, be here sometime this week and i'll let everyone know how they sound
 
~Taylor

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: lbpesq on October 06, 2010, 07:08:04 AM

Mine arrived and I slapped them on my Ferlembic.  They seem to feel fine and play well unplugged.  I'll get the opportunity to plug in tonight.  They do look different!  My wife would agree with Raymond (88persuader).  She thinks they make my axe look like a toy.  I'm still on the fence.  Of course, at nearly three times the price of regular strings, they had better last a long time or this will certainly be a one shot deal for me.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: jacko on October 07, 2010, 01:51:56 AM

Bill and Taylor - I think Photo's are needed.
 
Graeme

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: elwoodblue on October 07, 2010, 08:52:22 AM

...with a Blacklight !

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: tmoney61092 on October 07, 2010, 09:22:53 AM

Pictures will be taken when I get them on, but I've never uploaded pictures before so I'll probably need help, elwoodblue, I do have blacklight so there will definitely be pictures with it  
 
~Taylor

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: lbpesq on October 07, 2010, 10:22:07 AM

I'll try and get some up in the next few days.  Right now my camera and computer are not talking to each other.  Unfortunately, my mom threw my blacklight away when I went off to college (along with my baseball cards and collection of Beatles 45s - what my mom threw away - hmmmm, sounds like the basis for a new thread! hehehehe)
 
Bill, tgo

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: elwoodblue on October 07, 2010, 10:29:04 AM

Thanks guys !
 
 (http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/87335.gif)

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: benson_murrensun on October 08, 2010, 12:24:44 PM

I took the plunge and ordered some orange strings to go on my orange Gretsch G5120. M.F. has free shipping with no minimum price these days.

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: tmoney61092 on October 08, 2010, 12:45:26 PM

Well, didn't get them today(fingers crossed UPS will come a little later) pictured will certainly follow
 
~Taylor

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: David Houck on October 16, 2010, 10:15:45 PM

Taylor just sent me a couple of pics of the strings on his bass for resizing.  Here they are.  
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/87726.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/87727.jpg)

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: tmoney61092 on October 16, 2010, 10:36:09 PM

The first picture is with all the lights on in the room, the second is just the blacklight(no flash obviously). I really like the sound of these strings, they bring out a lot of the charecteristics of the tone, big lows, nice punchy midrange(got to have that punch!) and highs that aren't too extreme
 
thanks Dave!
 
~Taylor

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: benson_murrensun on October 18, 2010, 08:50:51 AM

I got my neon strings for my Gretsch and strung 'em up. They look good! No complaints about the sound, either. However, after one session of playing, only about 1-1/2 hours, the coating on the G string where I tend to strike it with the pick is already going away. I have a feeling that the coating will not last very long if a pick is used. I haven't noted any deterioration of the coating over the fingerboard yet.

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: lbpesq on October 18, 2010, 11:01:22 AM

While I haven't had the time to take and post photos, I have now played the DR Neons plugged in at a regular rehearsal.  My initial impression is about the same I have experienced with the couple of other times I've tried coated strings.  They sound like they're coated.  Just a little less lively than regular strings, almost muffled.  At three times the price of regular strings I don't think I'd get them again, even if they last three times as long.  I'd rather have that wonderful new string tone three times, than the steady less lively tone and cool looks one long time.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: tmoney61092 on October 18, 2010, 03:09:11 PM

i also had a band practice session in which i have to use a pick to get the right sound for some of our covers(Breaking The Law, Livewire, Seven Nation Army) and our originals, well after about 2 hours of pick playing some of the color is coming off my E and A strings in the place i play the most. since this is happening i'm just going to make this bass my finger style only because i really do love the way these strings sound and would buy them again  
 
~Taylor

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: mario_farufyno on October 18, 2010, 06:03:47 PM

I know that feeling, Bill. When I tried Elixir strings, they felt great with all that slicky feel, but sounded not much appealing to me. May be I'm just not that coated kind of guy...

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: benson_murrensun on October 19, 2010, 10:23:38 AM

I now have to agree with the muffled sound issue when it comes to regular 6-string guitar. I think it matters less to me when it comes to bass.
I was playing my Gretsch last night and realized the amp needed an increase in treble since I changed to the coated strings. The sound is a little less sparkly.

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: jazzyvee on October 19, 2010, 11:49:09 AM

I agree with the Elixir strings sounding slightly less bright for regular six string guitar, but they still have a tone that I do like. I tend to only use coated strings when touring as they seem keep their tone longer and the coating keeps the sweat from my fingers corroding the strings too quickly. I use a 3mm dunlop pick and never had problems with the coating coming off.
Never tried coated strings on bass. I think the orange ones could look quite cool on my black bass but that would be a bit flashy for me.  
 
Jazzyvee

Title: DR Neon strings
Post by: benson_murrensun on October 22, 2010, 08:33:39 AM

Update: after only 2 hours, maybe 2-1/2 tops, of use the coating on my new DR Neon strings has completely come off down near the pickups where the pick hits them, and has partially come off at the frets nearest the nut, particularly on the plain strings. What a joke.