DR Strings Short Scale Black Beauties Sets

[Michael Vee]

I have been in contact with DR Strings to inquire about Black Beauties or other coated short scale strings. They replied that they don't make BBs in short scale, but had looked at starting a trial run of them just before the pandemic. They concluded that the market would not be big enough to justify the startup costs.

How many of you would be interested in short scale sets of Black Beauties? If enough are, they may been willing to revisit the idea.

 

[Michael Vee]

I have several Ibanez Artcore shorties and would love to hear Black Beauties on them. I have Chromes on a couple of them, which are fine, but not quite "it" yet. I have heard a number of players sing the praises of BB's and would love to see DR Strings try this out.

 

[michael_t]

I would suggest you get in touch with Jason at Fret Nation ([email protected]). He has close affiliation with DR and has been able to arrange special runs of true "short scale" Black Beauties with 32" winding length (ball end to taper) in the past. Maybe he has ideas as to how you might be able to get them.

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No guarantee, though...

 

[Michael Vee]

I haven't been in touch with Jason, but I have talked with Jim Clark at Just Strings. His quote was: "We’ve never carried a short scale Black Beauty set. I don’t believe DR offers them but you could call them in New Jersey and ask ... if by chance they say you can special order them from us that’s not true….we don’t special order from any manufacturer."

Just Strings has been running a special promo sale this month on Black Beauties, and probably a lot of you are on their email list and saw those emails. I looked on their site for the short scale strings, and they didn't have them. That's why I contacted them first, and then DR Strings.

BTW, if DR doesn't do short scale BB's yet, and Just Strings can't get them on a special order, it's not likely that Fret Nation would be any different. I think we'd have a better chance here if enough people chime in than trying to bug the online retailers.

 

[Michael Vee]

Anthony Corona of DR Strings may be joining us here to lend some thoughts from DR's perspective. I emailed him with links to the two threads. He said that DR does have a Talkbass account/membership.

@DR Strings - Thanks for stopping by this afternoon!

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I used these BB's at one time on both my Musicmasters. But since I have string through body bridges on both I had to buy longs and cut them down. I'd be willing to try them on my shorties again but would probably need a medium scale with at least 33" winding length.

 

[DanDBassist]

Please pardon my ignorance but do Black Beauties have a tonal difference from the same kind of string but not black?

 

[Leonid Nidis]

That's ambitious.
I'll be happy if they keep making short scale sunbeams cos they are just perfect for my Gibson sg.

 

[michael_t]

Please pardon my ignorance but do Black Beauties have a tonal difference from the same kind of string but not black?

The main difference between Black Beauties and Neons is BBs are stainless steel roundwound under the coating while Neons are nickel-plated steel under the coating. So, I would expect a slight difference in their tonal characters.

 

[michael_t]

I used these BB's at one time on both my Musicmasters. But since I have string through body bridges on both I had to buy longs and cut them down. I'd be willing to try them on my shorties again but would probably need a medium scale with at least 33" winding length.

DR's "short scale" is 33.75" in winding length (ball end to taper), except for the E at 33". Unfortunately, DR doesn't offer BBs or Neons in that length. Too bad.

 

[Dust2Dust]

*crickets chirping

 

[DanDBassist]

The main difference between Black Beauties and Neons is BBs are stainless steel roundwound under the coating while Neons are nickel-plated steel under the coating. So, I would expect a slight difference in their tonal characters.

I didn't word the question correctly. Does the coating lend any tonal characteristic as compared to non coated strings with the same build. Thanks

 

[michael_t]

I didn't word the question correctly. Does the coating lend any tonal characteristic as compared to non coated strings with the same build. Thanks

Yes, the coating does affect the tone somewhat, but it would be more subtle than obvious.

 

[Michael Vee]

Tailpiece short scale basses may be one of the factors DR considered when they were looking at making BBs in 2019. To cover the SS market, they would need to make both a SS set and a medium scale set.

Not having bought BBs before, I ask: Since these are coated strings, vs. wrapped, could a medium scale set be cut to length for a SS bass without any problems in the wrapping area? @DR Strings?

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Tailpiece short scale basses may be one of the factors DR considered when they were looking at making BBs in 2019. To cover the SS market, they would need to make both a SS set and a medium scale set.

Not having bought BBs before, I ask: Since these are coated strings, vs. wrapped, could a medium scale set be cut to length for a SS bass without any problems in the wrapping area? @DR Strings?

Just from my own experience. When I had just the 2 Musicmasters, I bought the BB's and cut the long scales down to fit and didn't have an issue. The tuners on them were big enough to accommodate the strings without the tapers. I just put a crimp in the string about a 1/8" away from where I cut them.

Now my 2 parts basses that are my main players have Bronco necks and neither set of tuners would handle the strings without the tapered ends.

 

[Michael Vee]

Anthony of DR Strings may be joining us here to lend some thoughts from DR's perspective. I emailed him with links to the two threads. He said that DR does have a Talkbass account/membership. @DR Strings - Thanks for stopping by this afternoon!

Hey, I have just heard at last from Anthony. DR Strings now has coated short scale strings available. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Fret Nation currently has black, white, and several neon colors available. They are exclusively available from FN- this is a special order that Jason placed.

 

[michael_t]

Hey, I have just heard at last from Anthony. DR Strings now has coated short scale strings available. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Fret Nation currently has black, white, and several neon colors available.

They actually have two "short scale" sets of BBs listed - one with 32" winding length (true short scale) and one with 33.5" winding length ("medium scale").

 

[Michael Vee]

They actually have two "short scale" sets of BBs listed - one with 32" winding length (true short scale) and one with 33.5" winding length ("medium scale").

I figured that that was the "tailpiece" length strings. This is great! I'm going for a couple sets this afternoon for an Ibanez and for a violin bass.