Coloured Strings. Yay or Nay?

[CGremlin]

I have used black red and green no difference and the coating dose.t come of quick.

Well, it IS the holiday season.

 

[squirefan]

If you want to.

 

[lbbc]

I don't use them but my son has a black fender squire 5 string jazz w/white DR strings.....looks pretty cool!

 

[macrocheesium]

I use the DRs on my all-black bass, but I can't imagine they would look good over any natural wood finish. I actually painted this one myself to go with the strings, since I missed my old green/black combo and wasn't a fan of the maple in the first place.

 

[groooooove]

they look cool, but i diddn't like how they felt or sounded.

i know drew of the drew uses them, and so does/did bootsy collins. definitely cool looking on the right bass.

 

[wmhill]

I only tried them once- Dean Markley, Randy Jackson model. Gold with purple winding (I believe). Looked ok, on my flat black Schecter. BUT..... two gigs and they were shot, which is unacceptable for me. I never had great luck with the Markleys, but the local music shop gave me a set to field test. Maybe the new ones sound/last better -as far as looks go, that's all up to the individuals tatstes.

 

[Pet Sounds]

Silver is a color.

 

[JES]

I miss D'Addario XL reds.

 

[davy4575]

no, they look like yarn and seem to sound like it too. Until they make anodized stainless steel strings...and even then Im still not sure

 

[esa372]

Well, it IS the holiday season.

...exactly my thinking.

I played a St. Patrick's Day gig once with alternating green and orange strings. It was a great gimmick for the celebration of the day, and the crowd loved it, but I wouldn't use them all the time... just some special occasions.

 

[Shovel]

not for me.

 

[gidbass]

Nay for me, but play what works for you.

Good Luck!

 

[bobbybass85]

I bought the orange one's and hated then. Fun for the first gig but they were gimmicky. The finish wore off quick and the coating was abrasive to my touch. Nay.

 

[BioWeapon]

I wanted to check out the DR strings, but the colors are only available on nickel plated strings. Being allergic to nickel and only liking stainless steel.....I guess I can't have any fun with color!

But... you can!
The colored strings are coated, that's where the color comes from. So all the nickel is underneath a plastic-y coating, which generally only wears off if you play with a pick.

 

[malthumb]

I use DR Black Beauties on three of my basses (used to be four, but I traded the Roscoe fretless) and will probably use them on others when I run out of the other brands that I have. I don't use them only because they're black, but also because they sound great and last longer than any other strings I have ever used,

I started using them because I was told the coating would prevent the roundwounds from ravaging my fretless fingerboard.

Bottom two have Black Beauties

In Good Company

• malthumb
• Aug 16, 2014

Alembis with Roscoe LG3005 fretless I owned from 2006 - 2013

Two on the right have Black Beauties

Music Man Triplets

• malthumb
• Aug 16, 2014

'78 Stingray, '79 Sabre, '80 Sabre

 

[wraub]

Nay, thanks.

Colored strings mean coated strings, and coated strings get a nay from me.

 

[lfmn16]

No for me. None of my business what anyone else does.

 

[Killer Of Giants]

Doesn't DR make a set like that for the Rocksmith game?

I think Black beauties (or tapes) look sweet over a maple fretboard. Green neons can be quite eye-catching over a black bass with a dark fretboard.

I use the Black Beauties on my black ESP they seem to have a longer lasting tone too

 

[2cooltoolz]

Go for it! It's your bass (I hope! ) I'm not a flashy guy, and it's not my style, but I kinda wish it was...

Have a little fun!!

 

[Max Vartanian]

In the right setting, red can be kind of nice....

View attachment 531191

Now THAT is the perfect duo.