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DR Strings Black Beauties BKB-45 Coated Black Bass Guitar Strings – Medium Gauge, Medium Scale (BKB-45)

  • Based on 4,949 reviews
Condition: New
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Availability: In Stock.
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Arrives Sunday, Dec 28
Order within 20 hours and 56 minutes
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Size: 4-String(45-105)


Style: Strings


Features

  • Iconic Black Coating DR BLACK BEAUTIES feature a bold black finish that enhances stage presence while maintaining tonal clarity and feel, offering both visual appeal and professional-grade performance for any 4 string bass guitar setup.
  • Punchy, Balanced Tone Built with nickel-plated steel over a hex core, these medium gauge bass guitar strings deliver strong low-end, tight mids, and clear highsideal for rock, funk, gospel, and other full-spectrum bass styles.
  • Medium 45105 Gauge This 4-string bass set offers a solid and balanced tension that supports dynamic fingerstyle, slapping, and aggressive pick playing while maintaining comfort and precision during extended playing sessions.
  • Coated for Durability The black coating enhances corrosion resistance and extends string life while preserving brightness and articulation, making it a great option for frequent gigging, studio work, or long practice hours.
  • Handmade in the USA DR Strings handcrafts each BLACK BEAUTIES set in the USA, delivering consistency, long-term reliability, and standout tone for bass players who expect lasting quality from their bass guitar accessories.

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


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


Size: 4-String(45-105)


Proficiency Level: All


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Sunday, Dec 28

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!
Size: 4-String(45-105) Style: Strings
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

  • Show stopping, attention getting, great sounding, at a fair price… Try and beat that!
Size: 4-String(40-100) Style: Bass Strings
Best looking strings amazing sound quality, material fair price… There was no way I could not buy these strings and besides they make my guitar and Bass look stage ready and heck it looks like it’s ready for a Photoshoot for a cover of a magazine
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2025 by $c0rPi0nDrAg0n $c0rPi0nDrAg0n

  • Quick and Cheap
Size: 4-String(45-105) Style: Strings
Hard to beat the price. Not a real fan of the sound or feel, but I spent less to sell a bass and they look really great.
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2025 by N. McArthur

  • The DR black beauties are great strings
Size: 4-String(40-100) Style: Bass Strings
Been using the DR black beauty strings for a while they sound great and very, very happy with them would definitely recommend
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2025 by Monster

  • Great Strings, but read my review
Size: 5-String(45-125) Style: Strings
Great strings... however, they do have a slight oil feel to them, which causes me to have to think more about sliding up or down. I do use hand cream on all of my basses though, so I can slide more easily. So far, that "sticky" feeling hasn't gone away after using them for a couple of weeks.... but, they have a great sound, a bit more on the modern sound; it's been a challenge to alter my EQ settings to get more in the mellow and warm Blues range. I bought them because all the hardware on my bass is black, and they add to the effect. A good set of strings for the money.... ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2025 by I. Chames

  • Bold tone, long-lasting, and visually stunning
Size: 4-String(50-110) Style: Strings
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ These DR Black Beauties are easily one of my favorite string sets. They’re versatile enough for pretty much any genre, and the coating helps reduce string noise while still keeping a punchy, bright tone. They’ve lasted a long time for me and were great to learn with. They also look incredible on the bass — sleek, bold, and clean. Definitely a five-star set. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2025 by Amazon Customer Amazon Customer

  • The best bass strings ever
Size: 4-String(40-100) Style: Bass Strings
I wish I had these strings when I toured with Jodeci and played for Mary j, Heavy D and Chris Williams on MTV Uptown Unplugged back in the day. I will never ever be without these strings. It's like playing on soft pillows or slippery butter… absolutely love them…👍🏾
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2025 by Dwayne 12345 Dwayne 12345

  • Sounds great!
Size: 4-String(45-105) Style: Strings
I love these strings. They have a ton of growl and play incredibly well on a Fender Jazz Bass.
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2025 by Rick N Backer

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