Well, recall I was looking for some dark flats and bright rounds to try on the BaCH to see how it would respond. I picked up some Chromes at GC, which IIRC are a relatively dark sounding flat. Pulled the Black Beauties off the BaCH and installed the Chromes (105-50's).
Initial Observations:
1) Glad I didn't try these on the VP, I'm not so sure the G string would have reached the tuning peg. On the BaCH I just barely got one wrap around the post.
2) These strings are a much higher tension than the Black Beauty Heavy gauge taperwounds. I had to put a half turn of additional back bow in the neck to get the action back down to around 3/32". We'll see if it holds or if I need to make further adjustments tomorrow.
3) Might just be because they are new, but they seem a bit more grippy than Roto flats I have on other basses.
4) They are indeed nice and dark sounding. As brand new strings that might be a problem since they will most likely get darker as they break in.
5) With the volume maxed (regardless of tone setting) the strings have a wonderful deep buzz saw growl about them. Not gritty or harsh, but a very nice overdriven rumble that should play well in many rock settings. Back the volume off a couple notches and turn up the tone knob for a well mannered piano like tone.
6) I like these much more than the Black Beauties on this bass. And much much better than the strings that came with it (not positive but I'd guess they were nickel rounds). I'm less inclined to replace the stock pup at this point, but let's see how things go before ruling that out.
Although with stage presence (presence... hell, dominance) like that ... what white T-bird?
ETA: pida hauskaa
