Anyone tried DR Sunbeams / Diaddario Nickel?

[bassmansam]

Looking at nickel strings for my 5 string Jazz. I used to love Dr lo riders but after putting them on my new 35 scale they feel too rough and tight. Much preferred the nickels that came with it originally..... 

 

Looking at DR Sunbeams and Nickel D'addario. Has anyone tried both sets? What did you think? 

 

I play function tunes so a mixture of 60s - present day 😁

Edited November 27, 2021 by bassmansam

[Bunion]

I use sunbeams on my fretless and have used D'Addario‘ in the past on fretted. 
I like the tension of the sunbeams a lot more and find they are smoother in sound. 
The D'Addario‘s are more zingy and bright. 
 

here’s a comparison video of DA and Sunbeams on a Jazz (not me) headphones recommended

 

 

Edited November 27, 2021 by Bunion

[BassBod]

DR Sunbeams have been my default string for many years..feel great, sound lovely and last better than anything I’ve tried.  I recently bought  the Newtone round core nickel strings, and they are very close in all ways.  Superb strings. Can’t comment on lifespan, as they are only about 6 weeks old.  They are also a bit cheaper than DR’s (via Thomann) 

[naxos10]

You can purchase Newtone strings direct from their website which also gives you the option to choose round or hexagonal cores. The Platinum versions are wound to be smooth for recording purposes.

[Supernaut]

On 27/11/2021 at 06:59, bassmansam said:

Looking at nickel strings for my 5 string Jazz. I used to love Dr lo riders but after putting them on my new 35 scale they feel too rough and tight. Much preferred the nickels that came with it originally..... 

 

Looking at DR Sunbeams and Nickel D'addario. Has anyone tried both sets? What did you think? 

 

I play function tunes so a mixture of 60s - present day 😁

Try SIT Foundations. I was a long time Sunbeams user but these have convinced me to change permanently. 

[bassmansam]

1 hour ago, Supernaut said:

Try SIT Foundations. I was a long time Sunbeams user but these have convinced me to change permanently. 

Interesting I'll check them out. What makes you prefer them to Sunbeams? 

[Supernaut]

3 minutes ago, bassmansam said:

Interesting I'll check them out. What makes you prefer them to Sunbeams? 

The mids seem more pronounced and the string just has a better authority about it. The hexcore is also small so they are just as flexible as Sunbeams. 

[Bunion]

I found the SITs like the d’addario and Dunlop super brights too zingy for the fretless. 
I haven’t tried them on a fretted I use DR fat beams 

[Guest]

On 27/11/2021 at 06:59, bassmansam said:

I used to love Dr lo riders but after putting them on my new 35 scale they feel too rough and tight.

 

I had the Nickel plated version of the DR Lo-Riders recommended to be recently. Were you using them, or the all steel version? 

[bassmansam]

10 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said:

 

I had the Nickel plated version of the DR Lo-Riders recommended to be recently. Were you using them, or the all steel version? 

Was using steel version. Used to like them on my Warwick but they don't feel right on my 35 scale jazz. 

[SteveXFR]

I'm using D Addario nickles on my 5 string. They sound really bright and really good for about two weeks and then very rapidly lost their brightness. Maybe I got a bad set but that's my experience 

[fretmeister]

I prefer DR Pure Blues to Sunbeams. The PB are smoother.

I’ve gone back to D’addario nickels though as I like their lower tension better. They are brighter out of the packet but they mellow quickly enough.

[NickD]

I've tried the Hi Beams but never the Sunbeams. They were almost as good as D'Addario Nickels, but disappointing for almost twice the price. On everything except my Jake 5 (which wears the Maruszczyk Nickels) I always end up going back to the D'Addarios.

[lonestar]

2 hours ago, Ricky Rioli said:

 

I had the Nickel plated version of the DR Lo-Riders recommended to be recently. Were you using them, or the all steel version? 

I currently have nickel lo- riders on my Jazz. Stiffer than most, but lovely tone and feel. Fat beams are great too.

Edited November 28, 2021 by lonestar

[Guest]

25 minutes ago, lonestar said:

I currently have nickel lo- riders on my Jazz. Stiffer than most, but lovely tone and feel. Fat beams are great too.

 

I've got and like GHS Boomers, which, to my tastes are lovely and stiff. The Nickel Lo-Riders were suggested as the only mainstream option for an even warmer tone whilst still being hexcore NPS.

 

Relevant to this thread: I've had the Daddario Nickels and ... and never again. From jangly to dead in a month, and pricey in this country. The Fender 7250s are cheaper and have a more middle of the road tone and last longer.

[lonestar]

23 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said:

 

I've got and like GHS Boomers, which, to my tastes are lovely and stiff. The Nickel Lo-Riders were suggested as the only mainstream option for an even warmer tone whilst still being hexcore NPS.

 

Relevant to this thread: I've had the Daddario Nickels and ... and never again. From jangly to dead in a month, and pricey in this country. The Fender 7250s are cheaper and have a more middle of the road tone and last longer.

Yes I have used the Fender ones. They’re  really good value. I understand that they’re made byD’addario

[Supernaut]

I'll never understand why XLs get the love they do. I always think they sound scooped and clanky.