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DR Strings

DR Strings BKB-45 Black Beauties Coated Steel Medium Bass Strings

  • Based on 4,949 reviews
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Availability: In Stock.
Fulfilled by Amazon
Arrives Monday, Mar 30
Order within 3 hours and 41 minutes
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Size: 4-String(45-105)


Style: Strings


Features

  • Extra-Life Black Beauties with Thin Black Coating
  • .045-.105 Bass Strings
  • Medium

Description

Since 1989, dry has been committed to crafting hand made, superb-quality instrument strings. By blending the best of old-fashioned handmade craftsmanship With cutting edge materials or string coatings, dry continues to push the boundaries of the string-making process. That commitment to quality is what has brought countless top-flight bassists and guitarists to string-up with DRs - from u2's Adam Clayton to phish's Trey Anastasia and everywhere outside and in between. For reliable tone - acoustic or electric - you can rely on the handcrafted strings from dry with the dry Extra-Life black beauties bass strings, you'll snag the signature crisp tone, clarity, and volume of dr's traditional handmade strings. Yet, you'll get the added bonus of dr's super-thin coating on the plain strings and on the wrap wire, which extends the life of your favorite strings. And, just as the name suggests, dr's Extra-Life black beauties sport a stealth-style black coating. From the Manufacturer BLACK BEAUTIES™ Black Colored Bass Strings aren’t just about the sleek and sophisticated look. They feature a round core wire and a stainless- steel wrap wire to maintain brightness and feel. All strings in the set are coated with a jet-black version of DR’s K3™ ultra-hard coating, delivering longevity, more projection, fewer unwanted overtones, and outstanding clarity and articulation.

Brand: DR Strings


String Gauge: Medium


Color: Black


Instrument: Electric Bass Guitar


String Material Type: Coated


Item Weight: 2.82 ounces


Product Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 0.5 inches


Item model number: BKB-45


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No


Date First Available: April 13, 2004


Color Name: Black


Scale Length: Medium Scale


String Gauge: Medium


String Material: Coated


Number of Strings: 4


Material Type: Stainless Steel


Musical Style: Rock, blues, country, metal, pop, jazz


Proficiency Level: All


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Monday, Mar 30

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Best sounding, playing strings I have found for my Rickenbacker 4003!
Review Image by The Resident Gourmet The Resident Gourmet
Review Image by The Resident Gourmet The Resident Gourmet
Review Image by The Resident Gourmet The Resident Gourmet
Review Image by The Resident Gourmet The Resident Gourmet
I own 10 bass guitars and use a variety of DR string models on all of them. One of my favorite DR sets is their Sunbeams, which I use on all of my short scale basses. I was looking for something with a coating to try on my 4003 and had read good things about these Black Beauty strings which I discovered are basically coated Sunbeams, just like the other DR coated strings like the Red Devils! Prior to swtitching over to these I had been running with DR Lo-Riders on my 4003 which I also use on my Fender Jazz Basses. Contrary to the nice top end bite I get from these on my 62 and 73 Jazz, I just wasn't getting the classic RIC tone I wanted out of the 4003 with LO-Riders installed, so this is why I decided to give these a try. I had been running with DR Red Devils on my Fender Jaguar and my Gretch DuoJet for a long time so I already knew that these coated DRs have a great tone, reduced fret clatter and easy on the fingers to boot, so I already knew there was a good chance these Black Beauties were going to deliver what I was looking for. After installing them on the 4003 and adjusting the truss rods to account for the reduced string tension compared to the Lo-Riders I was thrilled with the results! These strings have proven to be the perfect match for the Rickenbacker! I am getting that classic 4001/4003 tone in spades and with the added bonus of less string noise when sliding, and much reduced fret clank when playing fast runs up and down the neck. Because these are coated, you need to take care when installing them that you don't just yank the strings through the bridge as you install them, otherwise you risk scraping off the micro-thin coating. When installed properly, you should not have to worry about the coating coming off with normal use. I use a pick most of the time and have not seen any evidence of the coating coming off where the pick contacts the strings, or in any of the most commonly played sections of the fingerboard. Have to take these 1-2 Star reviews on here with a grain of salt based on my own personal experience with these... I have read a few bad reviews on here complaining about the coating coming off or the strings being dead out of the box. I can't comment on the dead string issue, but in terms of the coating coming off, it sure sounds to me like these folks failed to read the instructions about using care during installation. If you just pull these quickly through the bridge holes like normal strings without regard for the coating, there is a very high probability that you will fracture the coating which will eventually result in the coating cracking off the string over time. I have DR coated strings on 6 of my 10 guitars and none of them have ever had a problem with the coating flaking off or the strings going dead prematurely. Two of my guitars have had a set of Red Devils on them for over 14 months and they still sound great even after hundreds of hours in the studio. In conclusion, I have nothing but high praise for these strings and recommend them for anyone looking for a high quality coated string with great tone and feel. The black strings also look really cool against the black JetGlo finish of my 4003! If you are looking for the same string in a different color, check out the Red Devils or the Cool Blue versions! Same string, just a different color coating. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2013 by The Resident Gourmet The Resident Gourmet
    • Great product
Bought these several times love them and they look and sound amazing!
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2026 by Jennifer Blea
    • Recommend
Sound good and look great. Easy install and they hold a tune very well.
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2026 by m miller
    • Sharp Looking Strings
Review Image by asromzek asromzek
After swapping out all of the chrome hardware for black, I decided to take it a step further with some black strings. I could not be happier with how they look. And since assessing strings based solely on their looks doesn't make sense, I waited a few weeks before determining if the sound would be acceptable. Out of the box they definitely sounded different than a lot of the strings I've used. Not quite as bright, but they had a good punch. I've been playing with a classic rock band and they really cut through the mix with the P bass. After a few weeks they don't appear to have changed in sound, and I'm really liking the tone. I have actually gotten some compliments from the other guys in the band on the tone. I only have two minor issues with the strings... 1) It took a while to get used to how they feel. The black coating makes them feel a little "sticky". At first I wasn't sure if I would get used to it, but adjusting has been relatively easy. I assume they won't feel acceptable for everyone. 2) The black coating will come off if you scrape the strings against any metal surfaces. It has also been coming off near the pickups where I pluck/pick. It's difficult to notice from a distance, so I can live with what I would consider normal wear and tear. Overall, I'm happy with the strings. As long as the tone holds out, and they don't go dead to quickly, I'll definitely be sticking to the Black Beauties for the next set. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2017 by asromzek asromzek
    • Great strings! Great Value!
This is for DR Black Beauties 4 string set. Definitley my favorite bass strings. They are bright without sounding harsh, and plenty of deep tone. The coating makes them last a long time. The right length for most 34" basses. They feel good, not too much tension, just about the best strings that I have found for the money. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025 by Amazon Customer
    • Black and Beautiful...
I'll start off by saying that I've been a big time DR fan for over 10 yrs and used DR's exclusively during that time. I took a chance about a year ago and decided to try the BB's and fell in love! This is the 4th set of BB's that I've ordered and they won't be my last... I really like them! They sound amazing and the feel is that of a regular non-coated string only they don't stick to your fingers like regular strings sometimes do (which is what causes blisters)... Especially if your hands sweat a lot. I am an agressive finger-style player and I absolutely love these strings! They look great, last longer than regular strings and sound just as good and better and they really make my Warwick's colors "pop" in the light. My only complaints are that a little bit of the black finish did wear off of the strings near the bridge (over the pickups) from extreme playing stresses on 2 of the 4 sets I've used. But, even with some of the finish wearing off of the string, I didn't notice any tone loss. Keep in mind, the black strings are difficult to see in the dark while on stage but it isn't something that one couldn't get used to. Both of my basses "sing" and "growl" with the BB's and they look evil awesome! I play in several bands from the most extreme death metal to the 1,4,5's of country and these are my strings of choice... I've used them in the studio recording, live shows and rehearsals. I am an agressive bass player and not very nice to strings... I thump on um! The set that is on my Warwick Streamer 4 string has been on for about 3 months and have 4 gigs, 10 rehearsals and a lot of playing hrs on them and they still sound 70% of new! The set that's on my Thumb 5 string bass has had the BB's on even longer and they still sound atleast 50% of new! Wish I would've discovered these earlier, could've saved a lot of money from having to buy regular strings every week! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2012 by Insomnatic

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