Are black beauties worth the money?

BrandonBass · #1 10-11-2006, 12:44 PM

or should I just go for the regular hi beams. Btw I want strings sound reasonably well when dead. i wont be changing my after this for quite awhile...maybe more than a year?

Swimming Bird · #2 10-11-2006, 02:21 PM

I love black beauties and they sound great dead IMO. I finally broke a G string after about five years of BBs on my fiver. They're a little twangy for my taste new, but once you break them in, they're great. Note: the color gets rubbed off the more/harder you play, so pretty quickly your strings won't be all-black. Definately worth the price.

LukeMan970 · #3 10-11-2006, 02:31 PM

yeah i just bought some of the peacock blues and they're the best strings i've ever used and i've gone throuh alot. I'd say go for it, they're only $30 or so.

Foamy · #4 10-11-2006, 04:03 PM

I just bought a set at GC for $20 - same as the slinky's and 7350's. They sound just fine, and look great on my geddy.

spudmaster34 · #5 10-11-2006, 05:09 PM

I love 'em

Tbirdbassist · #6 10-11-2006, 06:35 PM

They're only like $28(tax included) from Guitar Center, to me a better investment than the $40 a pack Elixir's. They also look awesome, I've got them on my black Ibanez fretless (got the peacock blues on my LPB P bass).

I think next change I'll go back to Highbeams. There's something I miss about the sound of them.

Masher88 · #7 10-14-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

or should I just go for the regular hi beams. Btw I want strings sound reasonably well when dead. i wont be changing my after this for quite awhile...maybe more than a year?

Just curious, but why are you not changing your strings for over a year? Is it on a bass that you don't play a whole lot? I change my strings about once a month, sometimes more (I practice 2 times a week and play a show about every other week on average)

HELLonWheels187 · #8 10-14-2006, 05:05 PM

Yes, they are worth it.

patrickj · #9 10-14-2006, 07:30 PM

You're changing your strings more often than you need IMO...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masher88

Just curious, but why are you not changing your strings for over a year? Is it on a bass that you don't play a whole lot? I change my strings about once a month, sometimes more (I practice 2 times a week and play a show about every other week on average)

Masher88 · #10 10-14-2006, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickj

You're changing your strings more often than you need IMO...

No offense, but how do you know what condition my strings are in when I change them? Ho wdo you know that it's not time and that they should last longer? They sound kinda bland and lifeless when I change them, so I would say that it's time to change them...and it just happens to be about once a month, give or take...

patrickj · #11 10-14-2006, 08:06 PM

None taken (and didn't mean to dish any).

No, I don't know what you do with your strings, but based on my experiences (personal, peers, students) it seems excessive. Again, just my opinion (which is why I put IMO (in my opinion)).

I practice daily and gig out 2-5 times a week and my strings (GHS boomers for the most part I think - just installed some DR BB Extra Lifes) last for about 2-3 months (retain a clear, ringing defined sound). Depends entirely on the bass but I'll keep em on much longer.

Different strokes for different folks.

PS: Nice myspace tracks, sent you a friend request.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masher88

No offense, but how do you know what condition my strings are in when I change them? Ho wdo you know that it's not time and that they should last longer? They sound kinda bland and lifeless when I change them, so I would say that it's time to change them...and it just happens to be about once a month, give or take...

Tbirdbassist · #12 10-14-2006, 08:53 PM

I think that's a bit excessive, personally. If your strings sound dead, wipe them down with some rubbing alcohol. That makes them fresh. I still don't see how your strings are dying when you only practice twice a week and gig everyother week. Do you sweat excessively? Play with dirty hands?

I think even a cheap set of nickle strings would last longer.

joeyl · #13 10-15-2006, 12:07 AM

yeah once a month seems a lot for me. I know people with sweaty hands destroy their strings quickly, but I change mine about every 4-5 months, using Fender NPS strings and D'Addarios XL

BrandonBass · #14 10-15-2006, 12:28 AM

the dr his cost $32 and the BB cost $48

the difference is abit steep aint it

Tbirdbassist · #15 10-15-2006, 12:40 AM

In what country?

Highbeams are like $20.99 and Black Beauties/Peackcock Blue, etc are $26.99?

Hemitom · #16 10-15-2006, 10:41 AM

Just put a set on my Greco Ric copy and they are worth the money. Great feel and a nice edge to them new.Take a look.

LaneOnBass · #17 10-15-2006, 11:32 AM

It's hard to find time to visit regularly, so I don't post much, preferring to lurk. However, I wanted to chime in on this one.

I used High-Beams for for something like 15 years before switching to Black Beauties. I switched right about the time I got my endorsement agreement with DR. (So, NO! I don't play them because of the endorsement, ok?)

The reason I switched was the longer life offered by the BB's. My sweat must be very destructive, because I can deaden a set of most roundwounds in about two weeks...and rubbing alcohol goes only so far, at least for me.

The BB's however, have lasted FAR longer....I think I've had the current set on my Spector 6 for about a year. I don't know why they last so much longer for me...they just do. So, yeah...in my book, they're definitely worth it...

Hope this helps...

BrandonBass · #18 10-15-2006, 11:39 AM

thanks for the input guys