MR-45 Hi-Beam Stainless Steel Medium Bass Strings

The DR Strings HI-BEAMS are bright and vibrant, perfect for down-tuning. They’re easy to intonate and have a solid, flexible feel without being floppy. As a round-core, round-wound string, they deliver great sound and reliable performance. Overall, a solid choice for any player.

Over the last 10 years or so, I've been pretty obsessive about trying out new gear - amps, instruments, effects, etc - always wondering if there's something better for me out there. As I've evolved as a player, my tastes have also changed a bit. I've been with DR Hi-Beams for a while now, though, and usually only buy another brand if I'm in a pinch (got a show tonight and I forgot to buy new strings, that kind of thing). Here are some reasons I prefer these strings over your run-of-the-mill roundwounds: First of all, I personally cannot tell a difference in sound or feel between most strings of similar gauge and materials. D'Addario, GHS, Ernie Ball, etc all have their standard nickel roundwound strings, and they all sound and feel the same. DRs are different, though, and I suspect this is due to their round-core construction. The majority of strings out there are constructed with a hexagonal core. A round core makes the string a bit more flexible and appears to affect the tone. So, compared to other stainless strings, I find that the Hi-Beams have a bit rounder of a tone, not quite as bright or as "clangy" as most stainless strings. The softer feel makes them play just a bit easier than other stainless strings of the same gauge, in my opinion, which keeps my left hand a bit more relaxed - always a good thing. They also appear to last quite a while while still maintaining a useful tone. Don't get me wrong, they have a "zing" when they are fresh that fades quickly like any other string, but they maintain a solid tone for quite a long time. I find I don't have to change them nearly as often, and in some cases I actually like the sound they have when they are well-worn. They don't seem to become quite as "dead" sounding as other strings. Also, in terms of feel, they don't feel quite as rough as other stainless strings I've tried. They aren't as smooth as nickel strings, but they are closer to that feel than most stainless strings I've used. When playing an instrument with "standard" stainless strings, the strings feel more like sandpaper compared to the Hi-Beams. So, in summary, if you are like me and want a versatile string with a unique feel, these strings are perfect. I prefer to have a hi-fi string and then roll off the treble when I want a darker sound - you can always cut frequencies, but you can't put them back in if they aren't there to begin with. This is why I almost never use flatwound strings - they sound great, but when I need that treble back for another song, I have to switch instruments. These sound good on every bass I've tried them on, and will likely be my go-to string for quite some time. Until I feel the need to try something new again, that is.

I needed a stainless steel set of strings featuring a low B at .130 gauge for 5-string bass. This set is perfect because the G, D, A & E strings are .045- .105... which is the same gauge I use on 4-string basses. I use DR Hi-Beams on an Ibanez multi-scale, fanned fret bass, Soundgear SRMS805 and Ernie Ball MusicMan Stingray 5 HH. These strings are almost identical in life span and tone as Dunlop Super Bright Stainless Steel string which are the best round wound strings on the market, in my opinion. But....Dunlop 5 sets feature a .125 gauge Low B.... and I prefer the .130 of the DR set. The low B sounds good, punchy with good highs and mids.... not floppy or dull..... and fretted notes on the Low B sound just as good as the same notes on the E string, which is an issue with lesser brands of Low B strings. DR strings have longer than average life. The round wound tone sounds excellent with crisp highs, cutting mids and thumping lows. Nice piano-like full tone. Highly recommended for 5-string bassists who like highs and mids to go with their lows.

Great sound on the low end from a lighter gauge string.

My husband has been buying them for years. He is a bass player and very satisfied with the quality of these strings.

So far, comparable to Rotosound ground round wound for slap. Clean and sharp tone, nice duration, and i can feel the low end bass cut through. As I was unable to find the specific set I was after, this seems to be a close second to what i was looking for... also similar to Rotosound 66's. Hoping these hold the sound as advertised.

Much clearer sound than ones on Cort Bass. Easy to install. Super fast shipping

Great strings