DR Black Beauties on fretless?

Kwesi · #1 10-29-2010, 11:14 PM

I know that there are 80 million threads on these strings but I haven't seen any pertaining specifically to their use on a fretless bass (yes, I searched) and that's all I'm looking for. How do these sound on fretless? Are they any harsher/gentler than other roundwounds on a naked fretboard?

Bass-Adrenaline · #2 10-30-2010, 04:47 PM

They may start out gentler but id imagine the coating will wear off on them after a little use.

squiresuzuki · #3 11-16-2011, 06:57 PM

Anything more on this? I'd like to know as well.

AmadeusXeno · #4 11-16-2011, 07:21 PM

I've used these on my fretless before. They aren't much different as far as tone goes from other rounds. They are slightly mellower but hardly noticable. The main thing I didn't like about them though is that for the first few weeks I had them on doing slides felt like getting rope burn.

darkstorm · #5 11-18-2011, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass-Adrenaline

They may start out gentler but id imagine the coating will wear off on them after a little use.

Ive been using dr neons since last january, same k3 coating as the black beauties now use. I allways use a pick to. No noticeable coating wear off even after 5 and half months. Which is the longest ive had a set of neons on a bass. Then of course I put on new set. No reason to think theyd show coating wear off on your bass. Older versions of black beauties used a diff coating then they do now. All coated dr strings now use K3. Which was first introduced for the neon line.

**Pacman** · #6 11-18-2011, 07:59 PM

I've had a set on my Roscoe fretless since May. They sound as good now as they did the day I put them on. I don't notice the "roughness" that some others say they feel in them - but I play 5-6 hours a day, and I have callouses.....

Go for it, Kwesi

Gard · #7 11-19-2011, 07:32 AM

I've had 'em on three different fretli, love the tone, and really appreciate the longevity - I just replaced a set on my 6er yesterday, they were pushing 2 years old and were just starting to sound a bit dull.

TDSLaBassiste · #8 11-27-2012, 09:32 AM

I just put a set on my Wishbass and so far, I love the sound. Definitely a lot of punch, the mwah sound on the higher strings is brilliant. But (and this is a big but), how do they do with fretboard wear? I would say that the K3 would soften the blow of the strings against the wood, but by how much? I just had this fretboard totally refinished and I'd hate to chew up the wood and brand new gloss finish with these strings.

Big Mother · #9 11-27-2012, 01:48 PM

I too had a set on my Roscoe fretless and really enjoyed them.
I have been on a "try every kind of string I can" kick and have a set of R Cocco's nickels on it right now (and I like them), but kinda think I am going to put some BB's back on it soon. FWIW, I rather like the feel of the BB's.

BM

**cfsporn** · #10 11-28-2012, 11:41 AM

I have a set of nickel Lo-Riders on my fretless Rick, and I have noticed no abnormal wear. Granted, that could be due to the thick poly coat on the fingerboard, but you should be fine.