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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive 2006 » Archive through July 14, 2006 » DR STRINGS : sunbeams and lo-riders nickel ??? « Previous Next »

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dubalbal
Intermediate Member
Username: dubalbal

Post Number: 187
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 3:13 am:   Edit Post

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
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 847
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 7:15 am:   Edit Post

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
Advanced Member
Username: lowlife

Post Number: 226
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 7:34 am:   Edit Post

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
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 940
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 8:02 am:   Edit Post

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
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 848
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 8:05 am:   Edit Post

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

Post Number: 453
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 8:14 am:   Edit Post

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
Member
Username: southpaw

Post Number: 60
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 10:02 am:   Edit Post

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
Member
Username: southpaw

Post Number: 61
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 10:07 am:   Edit Post

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
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 844
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 6:20 pm:   Edit Post

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
Junior
Username: h82w8

Post Number: 11
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - 7:40 pm:   Edit Post

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
Member
Username: southpaw

Post Number: 63
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 1:24 pm:   Edit Post

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
Intermediate Member
Username: dfung60

Post Number: 183
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 8:10 pm:   Edit Post

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
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 858
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 7:45 am:   Edit Post

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
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 859
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 7:48 am:   Edit Post



(Message edited by keavin on June 23, 2006)
southpaw
Member
Username: southpaw

Post Number: 64
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 8:00 am:   Edit Post

Keavin, no spare strings in your gig bag or a backup bass for ol' number 12?
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 860
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 11:03 am:   Edit Post

I did have spare strings in my case but there was sooooo much 'ASS' on the dancs-floor, that all i could see was "G" strings all night,.................this chick Was possed By the SOUNDS OF MY ALEMBIC!!!....LOL!!!! http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j226/keavin1234/0cf1e1a3.jpg
steve4765630
New
Username: steve4765630

Post Number: 10
Registered: 3-2006
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 11:15 am:   Edit Post

That bass is slammin' dude! What year is it?
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 471
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post

It's one of the first Alembics wasn't Keavin.
I think it was made from wood left over from Noah's boat! LOL
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 472
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 11:26 am:   Edit Post

Hey Keavin, what brand of in ear monitor is that you're using? I have a Sure and it works pretty good but my bass sounds like crap through it. I think I need better phones for it.
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 861
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 11:45 am:   Edit Post

Steve,that bass is from 1972 (NIXON ERA) (remember watergate?) & those ear monitors are Electrovoice (EV) & they're incredible sounding!....... & yes that bass is part of NOAHS ARK..LOL!!!
steve4765630
Junior
Username: steve4765630

Post Number: 11
Registered: 3-2006
Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 8:22 pm:   Edit Post

I was born in 1978, so no i don't remember Watergate, but All The Presidents Men is one of my favorite movies. Anyway, very cool bass.

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