DR Coated vs DR Neons

[jackajesusfreak]

I'm thinking about trying one or the other. Welcoming all opinions and advice. Thanks.
Jack

[Sidewinder IV]

I haven't used the Neons but I've used the DR Black Beauties on a couple of my basses and I love 'em. Not sure if I would ever use another roundwound string if it's not DR and I like their coated string for longevity and how it keeps it's tone.

[shadowtippy]

I just put a set of Neons on a bass. I like the feel and sound of them . I have no idea how long they will last.

[diechris]

i could be wrong... but from what i heard.. the neons are the same thing... just not a "clear" coat.

makes sense right?....

[Gougedeye]

I generally use DR Black Beauties, but just recently I tried a set of Neons. Initially I thought they felt whooly, fuzzier, spongy. My first show with them, I was pretty unimpressed. They felt just too different for me. But, as they have broken in, I think they are fine. I like the way they sound and feel, at this point and I think they are going to last for a good while.

[ronster91]

I've always heard that they are the same coating, just a different color.

[Gougedeye]

I've heard they have the same coating, as well. Maybe it was my imagination, but the Neons felt "thicker". But they do sound good, and like I said, probably last quite a while.

[Soul Power]

I had two consecutive sets of medium gauge black beauties that set me back quite a bit for strings on my euro bolt-on spector. Both sets broke incredibly quick (within 2 weeks of putting them on, even sooner for the second pair) and sounded incredibly trebly and anemic. The coating came off very soon around my plucking fingers.
For comeparison, I tried a pair of light gauge Victor-wooten signature strings at bass and nature camp because those were the only strings I could buy at the camp store, and those lasted MUCH, MUCH longer.

The third set was the new "enhanced" coating that I put on my spector euro neck-thru, and again, they sounded incredibly trebley and anemic. They also broke within 3 weeks of playing, during a performance nonethless, and the coating came off where i pluck just as soon as the previous two pairs.

I have tried hi-beams before, and I liked those----so I don't have anything against DR itself, just their marketing strategy towards the quality of the coated strings.

I now play D'addario chromewound flatwounds and D'addario prosteels. Their low price, long life, and just general great feel and sound has made me stick with them.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by Soul Power

I had two consecutive sets of medium gauge black beauties that set me back quite a bit for strings on my euro bolt-on spector. Both sets broke incredibly quick (within 2 weeks of putting them on, even sooner for the second pair) and sounded incredibly trebly and anemic. The coating came off very soon around my plucking fingers.
For comeparison, I tried a pair of light gauge Victor-wooten signature strings at bass and nature camp because those were the only strings I could buy at the camp store, and those lasted MUCH, MUCH longer.

Very odd. 'Trebly and anemic' is the last thing that comes to mind with Black Beauties. Different basses work differently I guess. The last pair I had for about a year before I replaced them, mainly just because they were a year old! You might want to check your bridge for spurs, which will cause string breakage.

[Soul Power]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Very odd. 'Trebly and anemic' is the last thing that comes to mind with Black Beauties. Different basses work differently I guess. The last pair I had for about a year before I replaced them, mainly just because they were a year old! You might want to check your bridge for spurs, which will cause string breakage.

Yeah, admittedly----the third pair that I put on my euro neck-thru probably snapped because it DID have burrs in one of the saddles (with the bridge being brass and all), but not the first two pairs on my euro bolt on.

[tanks617]

The g on the coated strings are extremely weak, I've broken two of them in the past 9 months. I absolutely LOVE the sound and feel of them, but that is something that I can not look past. I'm moving to different strings(any recommendations?). And i checked, no burrs on the bridge.

[theundecidedone]

I switched to rotosounds a month ago, and I'm absolutely loving them. not horribly priced, either.

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by tanks617

The g on the coated strings are extremely weak, I've broken two of them in the past 9 months. I absolutely LOVE the sound and feel of them, but that is something that I can not look past. I'm moving to different strings(any recommendations?). And i checked, no burrs on the bridge.

Where they both on the same bass? if so I'd check for burrs, etc.

Do you crimp your strings before cutting them? Not doing so can cause breakage, too.

I don't see why they'd be more fragile than uncoated strings myself. Coincidence maybe?

[tanks617]

@theundecidedone which rotosounds are you using? I think I might go to rotosounds, people have been telling me that they are AWESOME. Thanks in advance

@One Drop I have checked and my teacher has as well, there are no burrs yet they both snapped at the exact same place (at the bridge.) I just think they aren't worth the $35 they cost.

[GOX42]

I just used a set of Neons on a gig for the first time last night....at first i thought the coating was too thick due to the feel (where as on black beauties i could hardley feel it at all) but after a gig with them i'm sold they played well and had one of the most consistiant sounds throughout the night i've heard (i play hard and use a quarter for a pick about half the night) they had a great broke in sound but i did notice there is a drop off in the top end on them not much but it's there i however though loved it.

[aprod]

I tried a set of the Neons and initially loved them, the sound , the feel. Gigged with them for a week and they were dead as dead can be. They sounded like flats. Back to my D'Adarrio's.