DR Black Beauties

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I have a very beautiful 6 string bass that I want to put some DR Black Beauties on. I ordered a set (Amazon...$44) and they should come today so I can restring it this weekend. I tune BEADGC. I currently am using Dean Markley SR2000's on it.

DR Black Beauties - 30 - 45 - 65 - 85 - 105 - 125
Dean Markley SR 2000's - 27 - 47 - 67 - 87 - 107 - 127

I've read just about everything I can...info, reviews, etc. as well as video recordings of them.

Anyone who is using them want to comment about what they like/dislike about them?

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

Loosely remembering trying both. They're similar. The DM may be more sonorant, and the Beauties dryer, nearly brittle, with less grab. Dunlop MM SS SB may be a meatier, poppier, higher tensioned alternative.

 

[red_rhino]

Used the SR-2000’s a lot years ago on the Tobias in my avatar. When they’re good, they’re great. But I started running into QC issues and moved on from them.

I did try the Black Beauties once on a bass that just looked beautiful when strung with those. But I never got a sound I liked (DR’s were probably the wrong string for that particular bass), and the black started wearing off after a few weeks.

 

[bholder]

I like them enough to make a custom set for my 8 string project. Took the low 4 strings from an electric guitar set as the octaves - did have to splice them for length a bit though:

 

[GTHintz]

Here's my take. I like SR2000 better than black beauties but I can typically find black beauties cheaper. What you'll find with the switch is that they should feel surprisingly similar in perceived stiffness and you'll notice a drop in brightness due to the coating. The feel of the coating is unique so hopefully you will be ok with it. I go back and forth no problem but I know some of us don't like it. They both last a long time and personally I like the little bit of edgyness you get with the SR2000 however the black beauties are nice too. They are just more mellow so I feel like they do better with a more aggressive bass to even it out.

 

[96tbird]

I tried them and very quickly the black coating flaked off in spots and they looked terrible. They also felt more grippy which for me wasn’t desirable because I like smooth and slippery. All around a waste on money IMO. Looked great when new though, nicely completed my black on maple themed Squier VM J with the black blocks, black hipshots and black and brass saddle bridge. It now has GHS rounds.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

Here's my take. I like SR2000 better than black beauties but I can typically find black beauties cheaper. What you'll find with the switch is that they should feel surprisingly similar in perceived stiffness and you'll notice a drop in brightness due to the coating. The feel of the coating is unique so hopefully you will be ok with it. I go back and forth no problem but I know some of us don't like it. They both last a long time and personally I like the little bit of edgyness you get with the SR2000 however the black beauties are nice too. They are just more mellow so I feel like they do better with a more aggressive bass to even it out.

I love the feel of them. I also like the slight drop in brightness, which IMO is very subtle but the overall tone is better...more even throughout all strings.

My 6 string is not an "aggressive" sounding bass and I tend to play it with more finesse. However I love the BB's so much that I ordered another set for my 4 string Precision. Now, this is my GoTo "aggressive" bass, both in sound and my playing style...

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I tried them and very quickly the black coating flaked off in spots and they looked terrible. They also felt more grippy which for me wasn’t desirable because I like smooth and slippery. All around a waste on money IMO. Looked great when new though, nicely completed my black on maple themed Squier VM J with the black blocks, black hipshots and black and brass saddle bridge. It now has GHS rounds.

Interesting. I don't find them grippy at all. I like the feel of them. I'm also not too concerned with the coating wearing off. All coated strings do. Heck some people pay extra for a "road worn" look. LOL.

 

[GTHintz]

Interesting. I don't find them grippy at all. I like the feel of them. I'm also not too concerned with the coating wearing off. All coated strings do. Heck some people pay extra for a "road worn" look. LOL.

The black comes off mostly around the bea strings where I'm hitting them the most on the bridge side. It's really not that bad. I don't know where it goes but I've never seen it get on my fingers. The same can't be said for nickel strings that go black on my fingers and make my skin break out later.

 

[GTHintz]

This is how mine are looking right now. They've been on that bass for almost the whole year and I've definitely played it a bunch. I'd say it's typical long lasting DR. I've always gotten great results. Lo riders and fat beams seem to hold up better than most.