DR Black Beauties life?

steamthief · #1 06-23-2006, 11:04 PM

I've had a set on my bass for about 8 months, and the black coating is starting to wear off from repeated fretting. Time for a new set? To anyone who's used these, what's been your experience as to how long they last?

Tbirdbassist · #2 06-23-2006, 11:16 PM

8 months??? Thats a helluva long time...

If they don't sound dead and you don't care about appearence then keep rockin 'em (I know I would

), but since it seems like looks are important, buy a new pair. Alteast save the old ones if they aren't dead as hell.

NewGuy · #3 06-23-2006, 11:55 PM

Woooah, 8 months? I have to replace my strings every 6-7 weeks! Maybe I'll try some Black Beauties.

Razor · #4 06-24-2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steamthief

I've had a set on my bass for about 8 months, and the black coating is starting to wear off from repeated fretting. Time for a new set? To anyone who's used these, what's been your experience as to how long they last?

That's a helluva long time! Even for DR BB's!!!

Like it's already been stated, if they still feel and sound ok to you...keep em' on.

The wear, I believe, is when a lot of people start thinking about changing them. But you've definately gotten your money's worth out of that set!

**TheEmptyCell** · #5 06-24-2006, 12:14 PM

I had a set of BB's on an acoustic guitar and for some reason they crapped the bed after 2 weeks. I'm interested in trying them on bass, but remain extremely weary. I had the same set of Elixirs on my bass for a year.

cb56 · #6 06-24-2006, 12:35 PM

I killed a set in less than 4 weeks. Too bad 'cause I really liked them when I first put them on. The Elixir's lasted alot longer but I didn't like the way the felt or sounded. So back to nickel wounds for me.

steamthief · #7 06-24-2006, 08:06 PM

Guess I'll keep playing them, to my ears they still sound pretty good. I like warm better than bright, and my maple board probably makes them sound better. Looks wise, I don't care that the coating's going away, although I think I'll go back to a normal colored string, maybe Sunbeams, for the next set.

RevGroove · #8 06-25-2006, 06:13 PM

If looks don't matter, keep em...if they do, save them for a spare set as suggested earlier and get a new set...

...used to use D'Addario Slo Wounds, but they're discontinued, IMO the XLS are NOT the same, so I started hunting around for an alternative, and settled on these...both my fretted basses have these, I think they're awesome...a little squeaky at first, but I don't mind playing them to get rid of that!

BuffaloBass · #9 06-26-2006, 10:25 AM

I lost that coating, above the fretline, almost immediately. Keep on playin' them if they sound OK.

McHack · #10 06-26-2006, 10:50 AM

I've got some DR BB's on my MTD Beast... They've been on for about 2 months now, & they still sound nummy.

steamthief · #11 06-27-2006, 01:11 PM

I restrung my Jazz today w/some D'Addario XLs, and used my P w/the BBs as a rough reference for tuning. On second thought, the BBs sound kind of dead, no snap left in them. I guess it's off to GC for a new set.

xshawnxearthx · #12 06-27-2006, 04:56 PM

dead in one gig.

Jeramy · #13 06-30-2006, 09:20 PM

Wow!!!!! last set i put on was 8 months ago. And that was for going into the studio. Befour that it was about 2 years.

LA · #14 07-01-2006, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewGuy

Woooah, 8 months? I have to replace my strings every 6-7 weeks! Maybe I'll try some Black Beauties.

They're coated like Elixirs, hence the longer life. I plan on a set of Evergreens soon.

Razor · #15 07-01-2006, 12:47 PM

Yeah, and they're coated...so they aren't gonna sound like bright rounds.