Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Been using DR Nickle Lo Riders lately. Nice and growly, I really like them. Anyone try the DR Black Beauties? Was thinking of trying them for no other reason than black would look cool.

If you like nice a growly with the Lo Riders (and those are the strings I use too) the Black Beauties don't sound or feel anything like them.

I had them on a Black Rick once and they LOOK cool but don't feel or play like regular DR strings. I had to take mine off.

I'm curious as to how long the low riders last. I put a set of hi beams on my Rick about a month ago. They sounded great, but this week they are already sounded dead. I think my next set is going to Fender flats. I put a set on my churches new Precision bass and they sounded great and felt great too. I've always had good luck with longevity of flats in the past, but I give a slight edge to rounds for the sound. Never tried flats on a rick though. Any thoughts?

1STNAMEBASSIST wrote:I'm curious as to how long the low riders last. I put a set of hi beams on my Rick about a month ago. They sounded great, but this week they are already sounded dead. I think my next set is going to Fender flats. I put a set on my churches new Precision bass and they sounded great and felt great too. I've always had good luck with longevity of flats in the past, but I give a slight edge to rounds for the sound. Never tried flats on a rick though. Any thoughts?

That's odd, I have DR Highbeams on almost all my basses and they usually last a GOOD LONG TIME, about 6 months. They do dull out after about a few weeks but then they stay put. Try some Naphtha and a cotton rag, it should bring them right back.

I DO have a set of Black Beauties on my cheapie Washburn. MUCH DIFFERENT SOUND...almost flat wound sounding. Not a lot of sustain but great for that OLD SCHOOL MOTOWN sound. LOL, had them for like 3 years now, the black is starting to rub away! LOL

I don't seem to have good luck with longevity on rounds. Don't know why, I keep them clean. Some people eat up strings because of sweat I guess. I did have good luck with Elixers on another bass I have, but they are a dark sounding string, so in my mind they probably wouldn't sound real great on the Rick. I've seen others give rave reviews for good quality flats on their Ricks, so I think they will be next to try. Thanks for the input.

I also use DR low riders on everything. They last and last even after months of gigs. Nothing compares!

DR strings for me have been the best in longevity, the lo-riders and hi-beams are phenomenal strings in my opinion.

I would not go with the black beauties at all, the coating simply gets in the way of the Tone !

ajish4 wrote:Try some Naphtha and a cotton rag, it should bring them right back.

This works best if you don't wait until the new string sound goes away. Best to keep dirt and sweat from getting settled into the winding of the strings.

rickenbrother wrote:

ajish4 wrote:Try some Naphtha and a cotton rag, it should bring them right back.

This works best if you don't wait until the new string sound goes away. Best to keep dirt and sweat from getting settled into the winding of the strings.

And if that should happen, boil a kettle of water and cook the grime away.

#1 on dr strings,i prefer the sunbeams which are roundcore nickle roundwounds,i get a lot of longevity out of most string sets,i guess i have a mild body chemistry. never tried the black beauties,but have used lo riders and hi beams over the years,great strings!

Ric N. Backer wrote:

rickenbrother wrote:This works best if you don't wait until the new string sound goes away. Best to keep dirt and sweat from getting settled into the winding of the strings.

And if that should happen, boil a kettle of water and cook the grime away.

Nah, that's definitely time for new strings.

I have not had very good luck with boiling strings. Mostly Rotosounds, because of the limited life. I've even added rubbing alcohol to the water.

Low Riders are great strings, I prefer them on my Jazz , but Hi-Beams really bring out the Squire tone on my V63.

johnallg wrote:I have not had very good luck with boiling strings. Mostly Rotosounds, because of the limited life. I've even added rubbing alcohol to the water.

Yeah! when you put them back on they sound good for about 3 minutes and then go completely dead!

I've cleaned strings in an ultrasonic cleaner, Now that does work fairly well......

emac.

johnallg wrote:I have not had very good luck with boiling strings. Mostly Rotosounds, because of the limited life. I've even added rubbing alcohol to the water.

My understanding is that boiling strings can do as much harm as good, as the water (and trace metals in the water that are redox active) can oxidize the strings even more than before they were boiled. Using denatured alcohol should be a good alternative, with no need to boil. It works for me.