My flash in the pan experience with Boomers

wshines1892 · #1 01-23-2010, 01:53 PM

Tried out a pair of Boomers recently, and at first they were pretty terrific. I loved the tone I got, sounded sort of like a harpsichord which I really liked. But now here I am, about a month later, with a set of strings that leave me less than enthused. The tone that I liked so much got sucked out of them so fast that I barely had time to really enjoy it.

Well, my journey into strings continues today as I go to the store to buy some Daddario nickle XLs, which I'm hoping won't let me down since I've been so enthused with their Chromes. Wish me luck!

Meatrus · #2 01-23-2010, 02:21 PM

Thats sounds like Boomers when I used them too, I could kill them in two hours

.

A harpsichord type sound would be best attained by stainless steel rather than Nickel strings IMO. You could try the Rotosound r66, or the Piano Design, or the D'addario prosteels.

StyleOverShow · #3 01-23-2010, 02:41 PM

+1 on the stainless over nickel for the bright sounds. Problem is that they just don't last that long. Know a tech here in LA that does all Stanley Clarke's work and he claims that he wants the strings changed out after each session. One time and they're gone...

I am trying out the Dunlop heavy guage as soon as I can get to GC this weekend.

-richard

eyecandy · #4 01-24-2010, 06:24 AM

well thats stanley there.. as he's got a lot of bucks to swap strings

sal4bass · #5 01-24-2010, 07:59 AM

DR Hi-Beams are bright ad have much better longevity.

bassplayer8953 · #6 01-24-2010, 08:07 AM

Long time GHS Boomers user here. IMO the boing-boing sound they first exhibit is not the "true" sound the strings are designed to provide. Once I restring one of my basses with new Boomers, I tune it, then put it back in its case for about a week, & play something else. Then-once retuned again-the bass is ready to be played and enjoyed with its new strings. The sound they have, once the above is done, is good for about a year.

Cristo · #7 01-25-2010, 09:44 AM

Also my experience. Better to go with Rotosounds or DR Hi-beams if you want that bright metallic sound to last longer.

eyecandy · #8 01-26-2010, 06:45 AM

well when you put them on the first time all strings.. would sound fresh and bright...

they'd take time lets say about 2-3 weeks then they'd settle in and reveal their true tone..

wshines1892 · #9 01-26-2010, 04:32 PM

yeah, I dig the true tone, no longer bright thing. Maybe I got a bad set or something, but I just hated the E string, no definition to it when I plucked it so anything played on it sounded gross. I've been a long time flatwound user I suppose so I'm still soul searching in a way to find my favorite rounds.

PilbaraBass · #10 01-26-2010, 05:28 PM

As a long-time D'Addario XL nickel round lover...I've recently discovered that I like the Fodera Diamond Series SS very much!

BigOldHarry · #11 01-26-2010, 05:35 PM

yeah, boomers sound great for about 4 gigs. Pity, because they DO sound great.

That's why I switched to Rotos...
Then to DRs.

waynobass · #12 01-29-2010, 05:22 PM

The fact that Boomers lose their zing quickly is one reason I like them.