Black beauties on a p bass

bass5 · #1 06-06-2011, 12:48 PM

I've played black beauties on a Warwick before and loved the sound now I have a fender p bass and I'm wondering anyone have a sound clip or video or like their p bass with black beauties?

locriansharpsec · #2 06-06-2011, 12:59 PM

Tried both the Black Beauties and the Red Devils and was not impressed at all. Sounded Dead. Went back to the Carvin strings which are less than half the price and my bass came back to life. IMO those colored strings only look cool.

bass5 · #3 06-06-2011, 01:15 PM

Ya I was thinkin they might sound dead on a passive bass but maybe take a chance anyway but thanks for the input

jgriffin · #4 06-06-2011, 01:23 PM

Sorry, no sound clips, but I did try black beauties on my passive p/j. I really wanted to like them, and I kept them on for ~2 weeks or so to give them a fair shake. 'Sounded Dead' is right on, in my experience.

To be fair, I do like the 'clank' and these are very far from that side of the spectrum.

refbassist · #5 06-06-2011, 01:25 PM

i used them with my sb-2 , tone was ok not great but after few weeks they sounded awfuly dead!

bass5 · #6 06-06-2011, 02:23 PM

Ya maybe I'll try some hi beams or tge Marcus miller sig strings thanks for the input

TheNightLife · #7 06-06-2011, 03:00 PM

Yea I tried them on my p and hated them. The high beams are a much better option. The sit power steel strings in stainless are even better then the high beams imo. And cheaper

parsons · #8 06-06-2011, 06:47 PM

As a long time Black Beauty user, Ive found that they suck on passive basses. Ive also noticed that as of the past year or two, Ive found a lot more sets sounding dead out of the box.

bass5 · #9 06-06-2011, 07:51 PM

Ya I had black beauties on my corvette and those were amazing i think those strings have to be played on active basses I think the electronics push out more sound to make them sound not so dead

Webtroll · #10 06-06-2011, 08:25 PM

I had them on a P Special and liked the feel a lot, but never played it in a band setting or recorded

Nedmundo · #11 06-06-2011, 08:53 PM

No sound clips, but I do like them on my Precision. They aren't zingy, that's for sure, but I wouldn't call them "dead." They still have some roundwound crunch, and they definitely thump with the P. I prefer Lo-Riders and Fat Beams from DR, but I like the Extra Life too.

Ed Friedland did a great review of DR strings you can find here: The Bass Whisperer Reports: DR Strings | Bass Emporium Blog

djero44 · #12 06-06-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nedmundo

No sound clips, but I do like them on my Precision. They aren't zingy, that's for sure, but I wouldn't call them "dead." They still have some roundwound crunch, and they definitely thump with the P. I prefer Lo-Riders and Fat Beams from DR, but I like the Extra Life too.

Ed Friedland did a great review of DR strings you can find here: The Bass Whisperer Reports: DR Strings | Bass Emporium Blog

Hey, thanks for the link, that is an excellent article/review.

I like the deader sound of worn in strings, and like the concept of the black beauties. They would look sexy on my black onyx Roscoe, too. I'm going to have to give them a shot.

tabdog · #13 06-06-2011, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djero44

Hey, thanks for the link, that is an excellent article/review.

I like the deader sound of worn in strings, and like the concept of the black beauties. They would look sexy on my black onyx Roscoe, too. I'm going to have to give them a shot.

I like worn strings also.

I tried the DR Black Beauties on a Peavey Fury.
They were dead sounding. I don't mean worn,
I mean dead sounding. (as in not good) So I
put them on my modified Squier P bass. They
were better but they were still dead.

I told my story here and a couple of trolls jumped
my thread. They said how bogus I was.

Now everyone is saying they are dead.

I guess the trolls are out numbered now this time,

Tabdog

MNAirHead · #14 06-07-2011, 01:42 AM

I rarely change strings..

That said, I have them on my european botique -- the sounded very dead first out of the box.

I put on old and worn strings and the bass came back to life.

They do look cool

OPINION.. if you just want black.. consider tapewounds for your passive

Mykkus · #15 06-08-2011, 01:34 AM

I just jammed with a bassist last night who played Black Beauties on a P and it was, as my lead guitarist would say, "tits." I didn't see what amp he was playing through other than that it was a combo that was tilted back; he had a James-Jamerson-meets-Billy-Cox vibe going and he sat perfectly in the mix. YMMV, of course.

Gard · #16 06-08-2011, 07:42 AM

I've been using them since before they were available to the public (beta tested them when I worked at Bass Central).

Love 'em, since I put the first set on my Zon Sonus Special at that time, I've never used another set on any bass, including:

Zon Sonus Special 5 fretless
Lakland 55-94 Standard fretted
Reverend 5XL fretted
Roscoe Century Signature VI fretless
Roscoe Century Signature VI fretted (well, that one now has a set of Extra Lifes in random colors)

I love 'em, but hey, if they don't work for you, use what does. I love the tone, which I have NEVER found "dead" in any way (even well after a year of heavy use), the "weird" feeling goes away in a day or two of playing - unlike the Elixirs which just feel AWFUL and then do that goofy peeling snakeskin thing, and they last forever for me.

Fishheadjoe · #17 06-08-2011, 09:35 AM

I just picked up a set of Black Beauties yesterday, but have not had an opportuntiy to string them up on my Roscoe. I've been using D'addario nickels for some time now, but have found that the last number of sets purchased, haven't been able to hold their zing for a long as some of the other sets I have purchased.
So, after watching my fellow Roscoe Heads extol the virtues of these strings, I decided to give'em a go.
Hoping that I don't get let down!
Fishheadjoe

()smoke() · #18 06-09-2011, 11:24 AM

i've used them on a roscoe and a passive P, loved them on both...i'll concur that they've never sounded 'dead' to me either, actually very even and full...but not always what someone is looking for

i just recently moved to Fodera nickels because i wanted a lighter gauge than i can find in the BBs

Fishheadjoe · #19 06-09-2011, 11:34 AM

I got the BB's on the Roscoe last night and I gotta say WOW, really nice strings.
In no way are they dead, quite zingy right out of the box. I like the feel/tension and I find them easier to play then the d'addario's that were on it before.
Couple the fact that they just look so darn cool on my tobacco sunburst Roscoe, I honestly wish I have tried them a long time ago!
Thanks Gard for the suggestion! I should have taken it a long time ago!
Fishheadjoe

rayzak · #20 06-09-2011, 12:26 PM

BB's rule! I've been using them for some time now on both of my passive Lakland basses, a P and a J. They are certainly not dead.... that makes me laugh.
I've since stopped experimenting with strings, because the BB's do exactly what i've always wanted while looking pretty killer too. I think Geezer digs 'em too!

Oh, and FishheadJoe... I first started using them on my Roscoe LG3000, while I was fortunate enough to still own it, and do agree that they are absolutely fantastic!!!