DR Strings - Sunbeams vs Rare.

Brucebubs · #1 05-22-2019, 04:14 PM

After finding how good DR Sunbeams are on my Epiphone EJ-200 I decided to try the DR Rare.

Exact same gauge and materials - purely round-core Sunbeams versus hex-core Rare.

Firstly - both are very, very good.

I found the round-cores have a little more clarity and the hex-cores have a little more volume.

After about 10 minutes of playing on the hex-cores I became aware that they required a little more finger pressure than the round-cores - it wasn't immediately noticeable, it kind of crept up on me.

I'll go back to the Sunbeam round-cores next string change but I can see why people like the hex-core Rare's as well and wouldn't be disappointed if that's all I could get.

GeneralDreedle · #2 05-22-2019, 04:38 PM

I have the rare mediums on my Southern Jumbo and they are fantastic

Lillis · #3 05-22-2019, 04:54 PM

Nice timing,I just received a set of Rare’s today. Just recently tried the Sunbeams on my new Breedlove Sunlight concert and found them very lush. Looking forward to trying the Rare’s. I’ve been trying several strings. On the bright side, everything sounds at least very good on this guitar. So far the best to my ears have been the Sunbeams and the EB aluminum bronze.

Brucebubs · #4 05-22-2019, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lillis

Nice timing,I just received a set of Rare’s today. Just recently tried the Sunbeams on my new Breedlove Sunlight concert and found them very lush. Looking forward to trying the Rare’s. I’ve been trying several strings. On the bright side, everything sounds at least very good on this guitar. So far the best to my ears have been the Sunbeams and the EB aluminum bronze.

I'll be interested to see how you find the Rare's too after using the Sunbeams.

I should have added that although I really like my EJ-200 it's a guitar that needs good strings and a firm approach to sound at it's best.
Get those 2 things right and it's a stunning guitar for the money - punches way above it's weight.

rokdog49 · #5 05-22-2019, 05:22 PM

I have tried the Rares. They sound good, but nothing extraordinary, similar to most PB's out there.
I also thought they were a tad stiffer than some of the others...maybe my imagination, who knows.
I'll stick with the Sunbeams for ease of play. I think they sound better too.

RagtopGT · #6 05-22-2019, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokdog49

I have tried the Rares. They sound good, but nothing extraordinary, similar to most PB's out there.
I also thought they were a tad stiffer than some of the others...maybe my imagination, who knows.
I'll stick with the Sunbeams for ease of play. I think they sound better too.

Interesting. I had the opposite reaction. I use noticeably less finger pressure on both my D-18 and D-16RGT with the Rares, plus they sound pretty darn good.

Brucebubs · #7 05-22-2019, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokdog49

I have tried the Rares. They sound good, but nothing extraordinary, similar to most PB's out there.
I also thought they were a tad stiffer than some of the others...maybe my imagination, who knows.
I'll stick with the Sunbeams for ease of play. I think they sound better too.

I just went and played the guitar again - it's morning here and they've been on for 24 hours now.

Holding tune nicely, only G3 needed a tweak.

Plenty of that fresh string zing happening - good volume and sustain .. these are good but I think I preferred the feel and clarity of the Sunbeams too.

Once again you and I are on the same page.

Rosewood99 · #8 05-22-2019, 06:42 PM

Haven't had any issues with finger pressure using DR rares. I put them on one of my guitars that needed a bit less treble. Seems liked it tamed it down a bit.

Brucebubs · #9 05-22-2019, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulzoom

Haven't had any issues with finger pressure using DR rares. I put them on one of my guitars that needed a bit less treble. Seems liked it tamed it down a bit.

It's only very slight and I only really noticed it after playing for about 10 minutes or so - but the Rares are slightly stiffer than the Sunbeams - you really need to play them back-to-back to notice the difference.

rokdog49 · #10 05-22-2019, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I just went and played the guitar again - it's morning here and they've been on for 24 hours now.

Holding tune nicely, only G3 needed a tweak.

Plenty of that fresh string zing happening - good volume and sustain .. these are good but I think I preferred the feel and clarity of the Sunbeams too.

Once again you and I are on the same page.

It's scary sometimes...

vindibona1 · #11 05-22-2019, 10:08 PM

Hey Bruce...

You know I'm a Sunbeam fan. I did try Rares once some time ago, but they didn't do what Sunbeams did for me on my D35. I thought the term another member used to describe Sunbeams as "lush" picked exactly the right word to describe them. They might be excellent on a guitar that might be perceived as being too harsh sounding.

Brucebubs · #12 05-22-2019, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vindibona1

Hey Bruce...

You know I'm a Sunbeam fan. I did try Rares once some time ago, but they didn't do what Sunbeams did for me on my D35. I thought the term another member used to describe Sunbeams as "lush" picked exactly the right word to describe them. They might be excellent on a guitar that might be perceived as being too harsh sounding.

It's quite amazing the difference between these 2 identical gauge strings by the same maker, made on the same machines from the exact same materials ... except for their cores.

I'm a Sunbeam fan now too.

KittenClock · #13 05-22-2019, 11:01 PM

I’m not an acidic string killer but I gave sunbeams a go and they were dead within a week with maybe 6-8 hours on them. Sounded great, but man did they dull out and die fast. Anyone experience the same thing? Bad pack perhaps?

Brucebubs · #14 05-22-2019, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KittenClock

I’m not an acidic string killer but I gave sunbeams a go and they were dead within a week with maybe 6-8 hours on them. Sounded great, but man did they dull out and die fast. Anyone experience the same thing? Bad pack perhaps?

I must admit the Sunbeams I just took off certainly looked old and tarnished but they were still playing and sounding excellent - I just wanted to compare them with Rares.

Round-cores do require a little more care when installing but if you get it wrong I would expect them to sound dead straight away - not last 6-8 hours and then drop off.

That does sound unusual.

rokdog49 · #15 05-23-2019, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I must admit the Sunbeams I just took off certainly looked old and tarnished but they were still playing and sounding excellent - I just wanted to compare them with Rares.

Round-cores do require a little more care when installing but if you get it wrong I would expect them to sound dead straight away - not last 6-8 hours and then drop off.

That does sound unusual.

I really like the Newtone Heritage (round cores) the best. Sunbeams will discolor but they still sound good.
The Newtones last quite a bit longer than the Sunbeams which I still use. Cost around ten bucks a set U.S. I order mine directly from their website plus $3 shipping. Takes about ten days to two weeks to get them.