bassist_lewis Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 (edited) I've had a set of DR Lo-Riders (I think) on my bass for about 18 months and I was curious about the DR Sunbeams - nickel wound on a round core, supposedly more 'old school' sounding - so I changed them a few days ago. But now I seem to have a dead spot around the 7th fret on the E string, the notes don't seem to have as strong a fundamental as the other frets on that string and a slight dip in volume (could be because of a loss of mids rather than actual volume lost). This doesn't happen on any of the other strings. Does anyone have any insight as to why this would happen? And that's why I hate new strings, I had my sound nailed and now it's gone 😭 I might even get my old strings out the bin and put them back on! Edited February 18, 2017 by bassist_lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdavid Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Maybe you have a bad set ,personally i love new strings and mine get changed monthly but that's just me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 [quote name='markdavid' timestamp='1487441720' post='3239866'] Maybe you have a bad set ,personally i love new strings and mine get changed monthly but that's just me [/quote] I'm with you on this one. These arrived today. I'm a happy bunny ! [URL=http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Richard_Pain/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0588_zpsycs0huos.jpg.html][IMG]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/Richard_Pain/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0588_zpsycs0huos.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoomBass Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 I guess we're all different in that regard. Read once that Marcus Miller would change strings a few days ahead of a recording session to get that new, crisp sound, but just broken in a little bit to take out the initial 'zing' that completely new strings can sometimes give you. He also said in that interview that Anthony Jackson was known to change his strings almost every day. Personally, I have to admit that I often leave the strings on for too long, compensating for the loss of top end on the amp or a pedal. That mosty applies to my J basses, though. On the P basses, I dig a more dull and old-school tone and in some cases the strings remain the same for years. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassist_lewis Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 I maybe highlighted my dislike of new strings a bit too strongly! I think it is something to do with the resonance of my new bedroom, I moved my amp through to the kitchen and the problem went away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 I tend to have to change mine about every 4 gigs for the sound I need. I used to keep strings on for ages (6 months to a year) when doing covers but since joining my current band I need that twangy aggression that you only get with new strings (Rotosound steel rounds to be exact). We`ve a 3 day recording session coming up later this year so I`ll be methodically putting on a set of strings for one rehearsal to wear them in slightly, then taking them off and repacking them. I intend on using one set per day. Probably a bit like Marcus Miller as BoomBass has described above, although I`d think that`s pretty much the only similarity between us, I wouldn`t attempt to say my talent/ability is anything like his (if I even have any of course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 I've had a set of Elixirs on my Sire for a couple of months now and they sound [i]perfect[/i]. Nice rounded fundamental tone, but plenty of snap and zing when slapped, pulled or digging in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 I used to hate any string that was new but I have restrung all 3 basses this week and am enjoying the freshness. Get the old ones out the bin if it is a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Just been reading some PR puff from Stu Hamm in BGM for the LBGS about how he changes his strings during a tune as he can hear the difference when he plays......! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wylie Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 [quote name='markdavid' timestamp='1487441720' post='3239866'] Maybe you have a bad set ,personally i love new strings and mine get changed monthly but that's just me [/quote] I love 'em too, but monthly?? Are you rich? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdavid Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 [quote name='Wylie' timestamp='1487549048' post='3240746'] I love 'em too, but monthly?? Are you rich? [/quote] Not rich but the £16.99 a month for a set of Fender 7250 seems like a relatively small and definitely worthwhile amount to pay monthly for a great tone, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 [quote name='Rich' timestamp='1487536643' post='3240626'] I've had a set of Elixirs on my Sire for a couple of months now and they sound [i]perfect[/i]. Nice rounded fundamental tone, but plenty of snap and zing when slapped, pulled or digging in. [/quote] love elixirs, and i leave them on for months with no decernable loss in tone. (though i dont play that much at the moment) worth every penny as they are rather expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blank20 Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 I don't recommend DR strings. I mean, I don't like the feel of theese strings, but it's only my opinion. Try some from EB [url="https://musicsquare.co.uk/115678_Ernie-Ball-2842-Stainless-Steel-bass-guitar-strings-50105.html"]https://musicsquare.co.uk/115678_Ernie-Ball-2842-Stainless-Steel-bass-guitar-strings-50105.html[/url] [url="http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/erbacoslbagu.html"]http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/erbacoslbagu.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironbar Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 [quote name='bassist_lewis' timestamp='1487434616' post='3239803'] I've had a set of DR Lo-Riders (I think) on my bass for about 18 months and I was curious about the DR Sunbeams - nickel wound on a round core, supposedly more 'old school' sounding - so I changed them a few days ago. But now I seem to have a dead spot around the 7th fret on the E string, the notes don't seem to have as strong a fundamental as the other frets on that string and a slight dip in volume (could be because of a loss of mids rather than actual volume lost). This doesn't happen on any of the other strings. Does anyone have any insight as to why this would happen? And that's why I hate new strings, I had my sound nailed and now it's gone I might even get my old strings out the bin and put them back on! [/quote] That's SO funny because I experienced almost the exact same thing with the exact same situation. Switched to Sunbeams from Lo-Riders- hated them. Went back to Lo-Riders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandad Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 (edited) Yes I hate new strings. My La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats have been on my Mustang for 2 or 3 months now and they're just starting to mature. They should be fine come Autumn. Edited March 4, 2017 by grandad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 One of the best ways to alter your tone without buying a new bass is changing the strings but it's such a minefield! I hated Ernie Ball acoustic guitar strings so stayed away from them for years, now my fretless has had eb flats for ten years and now eb round cobalts, and my jazz got restrung with eb round slinkies and a set up last May and it's still going strong now. Must add the jazz is my "second" bass after my p so that might help extend the life. It's a bummer though when you pay good money for strings and you end up not liking them... Had that experience with DR strings but just think the Warwick I had at the time was the wrong bass for those strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davebassics Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 I keep bass strings on for ages. My Jazz has had Ernie Ball super slinkies on for going on 12 months and my Precision has had regular slinkies on for around 6 months. I probably won't change them within the next 12 months either. Prior to the roundwounds on the Precision, I had flats (Thomastik i think) on for around 4 years. I still have them and I'll be putting them back on a bass when I have a requierment to do so. I'm not an active gigger or active in the studio anymore which is why I can be more relaxed. My strings basically only get changed if I am going to a recording session or I'm filling in for someone at a gig. Not very often! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric! Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 I'm on board with this. New strings are too bright and clangy and blah. You can clean your strings every once in a while. ...my current bass has had the same strings for at least 6 years. But that's because they're black tapewounds on my fretless. They haven't really worn out. I'll run some rubbing alcohol along them a couple times a year but beyond that...why bother?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzbass Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 [quote name='bassist_lewis' timestamp='1487434616' post='3239803'] I had my sound nailed and now it's gone [/quote] If you had "your sound nailed", why the heck did you change strings? Just go back to what you had, hardly a big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 'sunbeam' implies a bright sound, lo riders sound a little fatter. Roll off a little Bright or Presence or whatever and it should be fine. Glad that moving the amp fixed your problem! Love DR's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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