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DR Strings

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

  • Based on 4,949 reviews
Condition: New
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Availability: In Stock.
Fulfilled by Amazon
Arrives Monday, Apr 20
Order within 20 hours and 41 minutes
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Set name: Medium, 45-105 (4-String)


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


Brand Name: DR Strings


Instrument: Electric Bass Guitar


Global Trade Identification Number: 37


UPC: 600781001137


Manufacturer Part Number: BKB-45


Set Name: Medium, 45-105 (4-String)


Warranty Description: No warranty.


Item Type Name: Acoustic Guitar Strings


Model Name: BLACK BEAUTIES


Model Number: BKB-45


Item Weight: 0.08 Kilograms


Manufacturer: Other


String Material Type: Coated


Coating Description: coated


Material Type: Stainless Steel


String Gauge: Medium


Color: Black


Finish Type: Uncoated


Recommended Uses For Product: Bass guitar


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Monday, Apr 20

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!
Set name: Medium, 45-105 (4-String)
Review Image by The Resident Gourmet
Review Image by The Resident Gourmet
Review Image by The Resident Gourmet
Review Image by 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
    • Great strings! (and style)
Set name: Medium/Heavy, 45-130 (5-String)
Review Image by Micha
Review Image by Micha
Insanely good strings, great feel on the fingers, and the sound is exactly what i needed, be aware that these are coated so you won't be grounding your bass when touching the strings! (If you have hum on the bass) Normal roundwounds without coating made my fingers bleed while playing songs with a lot of slides, this one never made that happends, pretty happy with these strings, would recommend! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2026 by Micha
    • Recommend
Set name: Medium, 45-105 (4-String)
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
    • Smooth sounding
Set name: Medium, 30-125 (6-String)
These strings are Fantastic!!!! Great sound, great feel!!!! Make sure you completely open the box before installing to read the very important information!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2026 by Kindle Customer
    • Nice looking and the tone is just what was looking for.
Set name: Light, 40-100 (4-String)
If I knew anything about Guitar strings at all this review would probably be much more helpful and written better but here is the situation. I am a piggy bank for my 2 twin boys and one of them wanted these strings so bad he bugged me for days. He took out the trash, mowed the lawn, and even did laundry (which I had to redo) but, you get the idea. So after I soaked him for all I could get I went ahead and ordered these and then held them over his head for another day to get a few more extra chores out of him. At the end of it he put the strings on his guitar and he loves them. He was crazy about the black on black esthetics of the strings and the gravelly sound..... at least that's what he said anyways. So if you can decipher that teenager/ musician code I would say they were worth the torture he put us through. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2025 by Crystal
    • A good supplier -
Set name: Medium/Heavy, 45-130 (5-String)
Get on time, they're good strings!
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2026 by Tom Fleckenstein
    • Unusual Brightness That I Did Not Expect
Set name: Light, 40-100 (4-String)
I put these on my fretless bass and am so impressed with the soft, bright beauty of these strings.
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2026 by D. Iannuzzo
    • I Don't Buy Anything Else Now
Set name: Light, 40-100 (4-String)
Been using these exclusively for the last ten years on my Kubicki. They have bright but not brassy tone, feel great, hold tune, last for months, and look badass against a black fretboard.
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2026 by Bruce Niedermeyer

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