DR Strings "Long Necks" Taper Core Medium-Gauge Bass Strings (for Six-String Bass)

One of the problems with being a six-string bass player is the cost of the strings. With cost ranging from $50.00 to over $100.00, finding a decent, affordable six-string set is imperative for the bass player on a budget. After much hunting and price-comparison, I stumbled upon my first set of DR "Long Necks" at my local Guitar Center for only $44.99. Well, since the price was right, I decided to buy them to install on my Dean Edge 6.

DR "Long Necks", as the name implies, are designed for basses with a standard 34" scale, and come in the following gauges (from lowest tone to highest; dimensions given in thousandths of an inch): B - .125, E -.105, A - .085, D - .065, G - .045, C -.030. As I removed the strings from their envelopes, I couldn't help but notice their mass and flexibility. Since these strings are tapered at the ball-ends, I had to re-adjust the action after installation, since I was replacing the set of non-tapered strings that came with my bass.

DR "Long Necks" consist of stainless steel wound upon a hexagonal steel core. According to musicians at Harmony Central, the hexagonal core helps the stainless steel outer windings to stay tight and stable, as well as to facilitate the manufacturing process. But mainly, they agree that it is the hexagonal core that gives strings like DR "Long Necks" their biting, edgy, metallic tone, which makes them great-sounding strings for poppers and slappers.

Unlike the shiny surface of the common nickel-wound strings, the stainless-steel windings of the DR "Long Necks" have a satiny platinum finish, which feels pretty good under my fingers. Even my right hand-fingers (which can get to feelin' pretty raw after playing all night) don't seem to get chewed up half as bad as they did when I played the last set of nickel-wounds I had on my Dean.

The DR "Long Necks" feel like a much better fit for my bass in more ways than one, especially when playing bass lines with varying dynamics. When I want to play loud, aggressive music, they give plenty of bark AND bite, but also emit a nice, pleasant, round tone when plucked softly. The big promise, however, is in the longevity of tone quality (which remains to be seen), as the stainless steel construction of the DR "Long Necks" boasts a durability and brightness that outlasts strings made from other types of metal.

Well, so far I like 'em! The DR "Long Necks" feel as good as they sound, and with a price that even a working man can afford, I would recommend them to any bassist, but especially so to the six-string bombers among us, for they are the ones who feel the crunch of buying new strings the most!