Seems really high for strings where the coating comes off so easily. Do they really sound that good to justify throwing down $40+ for a 6 string pair?
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Are Black Beauties worth $40
- Thread starter waytoodeep03
- Start date
I liked them on my 5, but only had them for the life of one set and went back to Low Riders because i just like the sound of the stainless steels better.
If you like the sound they're worth the $45. They last a bit longer than other strings and in my opinion (I had them on a fretless P-bass for awhile) they're very mellow sounding. I personally prefer the Hi-Beams or the Lo-Riders for what I do.
no way to get around it - gotta spend the $$ to find out. strings are such a personal thing . . . I've wasted countless dollars on strings 
(and oddly I've ended up realizing a really cheap string works the best for me - GHS Boomers ... go figure)
(and oddly I've ended up realizing a really cheap string works the best for me - GHS Boomers ... go figure)
They cost a bit more, but they last longer. If you play finger-style the coating stays on a reasonably long time. I like them. They sound like a slightly more mellow version of Hi-Beams, which is essentially what they are (coated Hi-Beams).
Black Beauties are coated stainless steel. Te low Riders have a different feel and sound to them due to their hexagonal core vs. the BB/Hi-Beam round core. Low Riders (both SS and nickle) are very high on my list of favorite strings.
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
At NAMM, I spoke with the production manager at DR, and he said that their coated strings are a combination of Nickel and SS w/ a hex core.
- Dec 12, 2007
- 2,268
- 43
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Zon Guitars, Tsunami Cables, DR Strings, GK
I was told they were round core and also that they are hex core. What I know for sure is that they last a long time on my fretless and are slinky oldschool feeling. They are pretty pliable even on a 35" scale bass. I dig them. I've had some sets last a year. Normally I kill strings in a month or two. For my taste though, I prefer LowRiders or Bootsy's on my fretted basses.
To me they're worth it. I probably get almost 6 months out of 'em. I play at least 2 rehersals a week with gigs now and then. They may sound a little less bright then uncoated strings, but they stay that sound until they're done. You can play them until the coating is all worn off, it looks like crap, but they still sound good.
I love the sound of new roundwounds, and I like the GHS as well. Great strings! But after a week they already lose thier zing. After a month, you're ready for new ones.
I like the DR's better then Elixers. The coating would wear off and peel on those. Your strings would have dandruff.
I love the sound of new roundwounds, and I like the GHS as well. Great strings! But after a week they already lose thier zing. After a month, you're ready for new ones.
I like the DR's better then Elixers. The coating would wear off and peel on those. Your strings would have dandruff.
You can probably get them a few bucks cheaper on the bay. I had them on my Fender P and Sterling by musicman. I really liked the tone but I hate that the coat fades away after a while and leaves black smudges on the pickguard. I pick really hard so the coating pretty much disappeared after the first month. I had them on both basses for about 6 months then took them off.
DR Strings
DR Strings
They weren't worth it for me, but mainly because of the feel. They are much more pliable and soft feeling than what I normally play, so it wasn't a good fit for me. You may like them just fine.
This
Forgot to mention, the strings do have a soft feel to them, which is nice if you're into that.
No, I had two sets last year and the coating came off both within a couple of hours of playing.
I play fingerstyle, and play very, very lightly.
In the UK they're almost £50, that's around $75 !
I play fingerstyle, and play very, very lightly.
In the UK they're almost £50, that's around $75 !
Dang, what are you people playing with to grind the coating off? Rasp files? Grinder wheels? How is the COATING coming off? You sure it's just not the COLOR flaking, as is explained on the inside of the packaging?
Judging by your post you usually don't spend around $40 on strings, most DR 6 string sets start in the mid thirties and go up, so if you're hesitant about the price look at cheaper strings, although you might be hard pressed to find a 6 string coated set for much cheaper. I'm not sure where your justification questions is coming from. DR strings are worth the price. The coating doesn't come off easily, not unless your playing with a bandsaw...
Edit: the flaking is the color, not the coating as far as I know.
I've had the coating last on my for at least a month. I play fingerstyle. The coating starts to wear first (for me) around the neck pickup where I do most of my pluckng.
Here's my Dean with Red Devils (same thing). You can see how they wear. This pic is probably after 2-3 months with these strings.
My experience with Black Beauties was good when I had them on my Roscoe SKB 3005 when I had that bass. And to ME, they sounded like broken in Sunbeams for pretty much the entire time I had them on the bass until the strings started feeling like they were dying.
Either I was lucky, or some of the other TBers have had bad batches or something, but the coating on mine never came off and was still intact even when I felt it was finally time to change them. I think I had the BB's on the Roscoe for something like 8 or 9 months? I haven't purchased another set for any of my other basses however, because they really only matched my Roscoe the best [looks wise].
Either I was lucky, or some of the other TBers have had bad batches or something, but the coating on mine never came off and was still intact even when I felt it was finally time to change them. I think I had the BB's on the Roscoe for something like 8 or 9 months? I haven't purchased another set for any of my other basses however, because they really only matched my Roscoe the best [looks wise].
Love em on my fretless Warwick LX5, and they work pretty well on a fretted P. I like em and am glad I'm not using them on all of my basses due to the cost.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
I tried the Red Devils years ago, and just was not that impressed with them tonally or their longevity. They ended up lasting about three months (and during that time, I only had about two rehearsals a week and a couple of gigs), at which point they just sounded really tubby with no definition.
Price-wise, the strings I use now are more expensive, and easily last twice as long (and I'm gigging about ten times the amount I was with the DRs).
Price-wise, the strings I use now are more expensive, and easily last twice as long (and I'm gigging about ten times the amount I was with the DRs).
