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black beauties? anyone?

E

Eric Sherlock

Mar 8, 2005
23
0
38
Ontario
#1
I have heard and read some great reviews about DR black beauties. I have dean markley's on my jazz right now but they are old and i need some new strings. I have tried fodera and la bella and they were really expenisve and didn't last very long, although they sounded great. i hear that the DR's last really long and thats what i need right now. SO anyone who has experience with the DR black beauties, opinions please. how do they play/feel/sound....and mostly how long do they last?

thanks
 
#2
I don't know if I can answer your questions very well, though. I use Black Beauties on my fretless, figuring the coating is easier on the bare rosewood than stainless, which is what I usually use. I can't discern a difference in tone between these & other SS strings, but I'm not real picky. I like Ken Smith Rock Masters, Dean Markley Cold Steels & DR High Beams strings on my fretted basses- whatever I can find. I just put a set of Thomastik Power Alloys on my 6- I like the tone, but the tension is tighter than what I was after.
Bottom line:I like Black Beauties, they've done all I've asked of them, & I'm on my second set.
 
#3
I have the blacks on my warwick! they are great. Good looks with the great sound that they have always had. I also have the peacocks on my spector usa. Cant say a band thing about them except the blacks seem to lose some of the color if youre nails hit or you use a pick. I dont use a pick but my nails must barely hit the strings. But its not to the point that anyone would ever see any ways!
 
#4
Did you try doing the denatured alcohol thing to your strings? That'll liven them right up. If you're set on getting a new set of strings though, I've played basses with them and thought they sounded fine. Can't comment on longivity though.

Ray
 
#5
I love 'em, 1 1/2 months and still going on one of my guitars, which gets played 3 or 4 times a week. I ordered a set for my bass, but haven't recieved them yet. The only place the coating has worn off is where the pick hits the strings, and they still have lots of brightness to them. Another hit from DR.
 
#6
I'm on my first set on my BC. I normally use Black Diamonds on my BC's but I can't buy them locally so I thought I would try the DR's.

First let me say, I really like the tone of these strings. The only word I can use to describe the tone is beautiful. After two weeks of every day play with a pick I am starting to notice wear on the coating in the picking area. Not bad at all by my standards.

I'll have to wait and see how long they keep their tone but if its anything like other DR's it will be awhile. :D

I say give them a shot!
 
#7
I've been using DR Black Beauties for almost 6 months now. I use them on my Warwick fretless, Fender Aerodyne, and my Pedulla MVP. Just got done rockin' 'em hard tonight on my fretless!! I really like the feel of them when they are new. They feel like a .40-.90 set of strings, even though they are .45-.105!!! Yeah, the finish wears off after a while. Sometimes faster, sometimes after a few weeks. I had a set ( I HAVE a set!) on my Aerodyne Jazz that wore away the first night I played them!! I was picking mighty hard that night, though! Hard enough to cut my finger wide open on the corner of the bridge J pickup!! The set that is on my Warwick fretless has been on there for about 5 weeks now, and NO wear!! They sounded SICK tonight playing Yellow Ledbetter from Pearl Jam with KILLER DISTORTION!!! After that tune, sans the distortion, they still had plenty of snap, pop, and mwah after 5 weeks! And, of course, they look cool, too! On an all-black bass, like my Aerodyne and Pedulla, they really trip people out! I likes DR BB's!! :D
 
#11
DR Lo Riders have been my favorite strings for years, but I recently tried a set of BB's on my P-bass copy. Verdict: not bad at all, but less tension than I prefer; also, the top end is kind of soft (to be expected, since they´re lacquered). Overall, a bit more mid-growly than LR's, with less of that clean zingy punch, and they don't seem to respond quite as dynamically to 'digging in'. For a coated string, way better than Elixirs, though. Many will like the BB's, they lasted well, but felt a little too genteel for me. I'll stay with LR's.
 
#12
Just got a set on my Aerodyne Jazz. Awesome. :D

Love it.


3380688532_e74d1fba38_o.jpg
 
#13
Replaced the stock Elixers that came on my SR500 with a set of the DR black beauties yesterday. Only have an hour or two with the new strings, but I'm really liking them so far. Very smooth feel, and a really nice bright tone to them. They don't seem as "slick" as the Elixers, but I'm not so sure that's a bad thing. They look great to boot! Here's mine with them installed:

IMG_0696.jpg
 
#14
I used the Black beauties for some time a long time ago...You would like them if you are going for a warm sound. I wouldnt use them now for Metal/Metalcore style i play because they thud out quick in my opinion. They look awesome but after a month the black will come off and look not so good. Hope that helps.
 
#15
I'd like to second Jackal4277's comment. I love DR strings but i prefer their Hi Beams over their coated strings. Thats only because i prefer a brighter sound, though. Their coated strings look awesome but are very warm and tend to die out pretty quickly. I really find that after the same amount of usage, the hi beams are brighter. If you want coated strings that are brighter and last long, i would pay a little more and go with Elixir strings. However, if you are looking for a warmer tone i would go with the DR coated strings. However, after a while, they start to sound like flatwounds. That probably why people with fretless basses like coated tone. Hope this helps.
 
#16
I use them on my 6, and I must say they are wonderful strings. After almost two months they are super-bright and have retained a spectacular tone. The coating does wear off, but it's actually kind of neat because it gives you specific indication of where you are attacking the strings - a cool factoid, if nothing else.

Buy them, you'll love them.
 

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