Author Topic: DR STRINGS : sunbeams and lo-riders nickel ??? (Read 330 times)

dubalbal · « **on:** June 20, 2006, 03:13:44 AM »

Hi folks ,

I would need your best advices on those 2 different strings ?

What kind of sound is it ? Good for rock or slap ...or both ? ...and the difference with the hi-beam ( that i know ) would also be the welcome !

Tks for your comments folks !

ALAIN

keavin · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2006, 07:15:59 AM »

I have some DR fat beams on old #12 & busted my G & D strings within two nights of playing on them, But they give more Punch than the stainless steels ive noticed....but for 40 bucks a set i would think these suckers would give me more time to thump & pluck the sh!t outta them before they would break on me!

lowlife · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2006, 07:34:36 AM »

I've been using DR Hi Beams & Fat Beams for a number of years and although I like to believe that I slap & snap somewhat agressively, I've never broken a sting; just plain lucky I guess. I originally started with lo-riders but soon discovered that hi-beams/fat-beams had a brighter sound and the string itself seemd to have more tension, which I prefered.

Although I'm quite sure that there's a unique difference between Hi-Beams and Fat-Beams, I can't tell.

Yes, they're expensive, about $45.00 Canadian per set (5-string), but they keep their unique sonic signature for about 3 months; and obviously your milage may vary.

Ellery (Lowlife)

adriaan · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2006, 08:02:03 AM »

It's been a few years ...

HiBeams kind of had a fuzzy sound, in a nice way. LoRiders were easier on the finger tips, in that it took less force to fret the string.

They both lasted pretty long.

keavin · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2006, 08:05:06 AM »

Yeah your right 'Dr Lowlife',, cause I Beat the sh!t outta my strings & i guess that's why they dont last.

olieoliver · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2006, 08:14:35 AM »

I was always a very hard player, especialy when slapping. But have had to soften my touch a quite a bit on my Alembic basses. Not sure why but if I attack my Alembics with my thumb the way I do my other axes I get a lot of the impact noise. In other words, I have had to clean my playing up,...a lot!

southpaw · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2006, 10:02:13 AM »

I use the Lo Rider Nickels 45 - 100, they have a warm tone with lighter tension, really nice for jazz, motown, blues... I have a light touch too, so keep that in mind, string last me forever.
The Sunbeam are very good too. a bit warmer and lighter than the Hi Beams, but not as old school as the Lo Rider Nickels.

southpaw · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2006, 10:07:11 AM »

also one more note....
Not trying to endorse any company or website, Music123 had the best prices on DR strings.
I mention this only because I see by this thread that some places are charging much higher prices, got to help out my Alembic brothers (and sisters).

bigredbass · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2006, 06:20:58 PM »

I was intrigued with the DRs as I prefer nickel, roundwound cores, etc. Ultimately they didn't work for me as they were just too 'loose' feeling: Not a bad thing, but just a tad more than I liked.

Right now I'm trying the Rocco Prestia Dean Markley set (NPS RoundCore 5's): A little less expensive than DRs, generally more available, round core, nickel wrap. Tension wise they feel tighter than the DRs yet a bit more loose than my usual GHS Boomers. So far I like them quite a bit.

J o e y

h82w8 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2006, 07:40:08 PM »

Seems I've heard over the years that there are only a few manufacturers of wound wire products. I believe that each of these producers contract to make specific strings for a given name(DR, Markley etc) so it stands to reason that the difference between strings is very slight, except for gauge and type of alloy used. I used Rotos for many years on the endosement of Entwhistle but then discovered any number of makes that were, to my senses, identical.

southpaw · « **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2006, 01:24:29 PM »

I think you are correct h82w8. A local luthier once told me there are only a handful of string makers in the U.S. He mentioned DR, D'Addario, Ernie Ball, GHS. There may be another or two also.
It's like TV's, there are only a couple of manufacturers for all the different companies worldwide.
Other string manufacturers guys?

dfung60 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2006, 08:10:29 PM »

LaBella is also a primary manufacturer in the US, I believe. GHS makes a lot of strings for other companies. Overseas, Rotosound and Thomastik are makers, I'm sure there are many others as well.

Almost everybody in the US uses core and wrap wire manufactured by Mapes Wire. I had the occasion to talk to a fellow there once and he mentioned that most of their business was instrument string manufacturers and the also had a big chunk of military contracting making things like the high-performance wire that attached to TOW wire-guided missiles.

Often when a luthier has strings made with their label, they are specifying certain characteristics that might affect feel like certain gauges of core or wrap wire. I think a lot of these luthier strings are actually special runs of strings that they liked in the past but were phased out of regular production by the manufacturer. You certainly see a lot of things like taper-core sets in the luthier offerings.

David Fung

keavin · « **Reply #12 on:** June 23, 2006, 07:45:02 AM »

I Played the whole night on three strings...I hate when they break when the going gets good http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j226/keavin1234/68d0d84e.jpg

keavin · « **Reply #13 on:** June 23, 2006, 07:48:37 AM »

(Message edited by keavin on June 23, 2006)

southpaw · « **Reply #14 on:** June 23, 2006, 08:00:50 AM »

Keavin, no spare strings in your gig bag or a backup bass for ol' number 12?