Anyone else disappointed with GHS Boomers ?

[Fender4Me]

So a buddy gave me a new set of GHS Boomer rounds (45-105) to try on my Jazz bass and I have to say, so far, they are the worse strings I have ever tried. Ive been using D'addario XL Lights and absolutely love the tone and feel of them. Is there an extended break in period for the Boomers ? Im sure there are people here that swear by them but uggg...

 

[shoulderpet]

Never used them, here in the UK they are really expensive, what is it you don't like about them?

 

[Fender4Me]

Never used them, here in the UK they are really expensive, what is it you don't like about them?

They feel is rough. The tone is more high mids to high with less bottom end.

 

[shoulderpet]

They feel is rough. The tone is more high mids to high with less bottom end.

Interesting, I usually see people complain they are too dark sounding, perhaps they get that way once they are past their break in period

 

[michael_t]

They feel is rough. The tone is more high mids to high with less bottom end.

This is exactly my experience with the D'A XL Nickels, not the Boomers.

The Boomers do take a bit of break-in before they settle with a nice low-mid punch with some grindy mids.

I will be trying the Round Core Boomers 40-95 on my P next month, followed by a test run with the regular Boomers 40-95. So, will let you know how that goes.

 

[michael_t]

They feel is rough. The tone is more high mids to high with less bottom end.

You might actually like the Round Core Boomers better. They're more generous in the low-mid with smoother mids.

 

[Swipter]

Yes, I put them on one of my basses and they were horrible. I was using ken smith SS strings but wanted something less bright. Yep, they were that, just like mud bright. Now I have Rotosound 66 strings. They sound good to me.

 

[tyohars]

I feel quite opposite of your experience. It's my string choice for my Sire V7. It beast! I used 40 tho

 

[LaklandLaksNADA]

Yeah boomers usually disappoint me...

I kid, I kid.

 

[GIBrat51]

Well, if you don't like them, then... you don't like them. In my case? I'd rather get poked in the eye with a stick every Monday morning, than have to play a set - any set - of D'Addario rounds. Hex core Boomers are one of the very tiny handful - like, 3 kinds tiny - of rounds that I actually like and use. I had Boomers on my '13 Gibson T-Bird from the time the factory Gibson strings died, until about 3 weeks ago. It has Dogal R44 flats on it now, but - there's a set of Boomers waiting in my Big Box O' Strings in case I change my mind... My Kramer Duke Special had hex core Boomers on it when I bought it. I have no idea how old they were when I bought it, but I left them on the bass for at least 10 years. The Duke gets played regularly, and the Boomers still sounded good when I replaced them with a set of DR Legends a few weeks ago. Not quite broken in yet, but... like the T-Bird, there's a replacement set of Boomers waiting in the wings - just in case...

 

[pcake]

boomers used to be my go-to strings, and while i loved their darker tone, they and the old carvin house strings used to wear my frets faster than other strings, so i moved on.

i thought about trying 'em again, but the basses i play the most are short scale or sub short scale. i am thinking of putting a set on my GSR100EX.

View attachment 3920754 View attachment 3920755 Well, if you don't like them, then... you don't like them. In my case? I'd rather get poked in the eye with a stick every Monday morning, than have to play a set - any set - of D'Addario rounds. Hex core Boomers are one of the very tiny handful - like, 3 kinds tiny - of rounds that I actually like and use. I had Boomers on my '13 Gibson T-Bird from the time the factory Gibson strings died, until about 3 weeks ago. It has Dogal R44 flats on it now, but - there's a set of Boomers waiting in my Big Box O' Strings in case I change my mind... My Kramer Duke Special had hex core Boomers on it when I bought it. I have no idea how old they were when I bought it, but I left them on the bass for at least 10 years. The Duke gets played regularly, and the Boomers still sounded good until I replaced them with a set of DR Legends a few weeks ago. Not quite broken in yet, but... like the T-Bird, there's a replacement set of Boomers waiting in the wings - just in case...

everyone's different - d'addarios nickel rounds are my current go-to strings.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

How long have they been on your bass? My experience has been the Boomers sound a lot better once they've been well played in after about 2 weeks or so. They can sound decent for a couple months after that, though body chemistry can be a factor.

I also feel like there's a joke in here somewhere about persons of a certain age using these strings.
A Boomer using Boomers....*crickets*...(thank you! I'll be here all week )

 

[stuntbass77]

Ya, I’m not a big fan of them. I used them when I first started playing but stopped after using DR’s for many years. I like Dunlop’s and they care cheap. I also like broke in rounds.

 

[tminus10]

This is exactly my experience with the D'A XL Nickels, not the Boomers.

The Boomers do take a bit of break-in before they settle with a nice low-mid punch with some grindy mids.

I will be trying the Round Core Boomers 40-95 on my P next month, followed by a test run with the regular Boomers 40-95. So, will let you know how that goes.

Exactly! I love the low mid of the boomers. Sure the OP doesn't have the Boomers and the D'A XL mixed up? Anyways, now I run GHS Balanced Nickels Light on my Roscoe Beck IV and love 'em

 

[lowphatbass]

Yes.

haven’t tried them in years but as I remember....no taper, mediocre tone and feel(imo) and mediocre lifespan...and when they’re dead they’re really dead....like you wonder if something is wrong with your amp dead.

Again, it’s been years but that’s my recollection.

 

[Funky Phantom]

A Jazz bass with Boomers? Naw, man. Rotosound nickel rounds, 45-105.

 

[BurnOut]

I used to use their guitar strings, they always sounded awesome fresh out of the box, but after a few days of playing, and not really an excessive amount either, they went dead and lost their fresh ripping sound, haven't used them in decades

 

[Basvarken]

Been using GHS Heavy Boomers for like 18 years or so. Never a problem.
Rotosound on the other hand have proven to be very inconsistent.

 

[Nev375]

I've tried virtually every kind of GHS string over the years. For a while back in the 80's they were pretty much my only option where I lived. I never really liked any of them. Then I discovered DR and D'Addario and I liked both of those. Used those through the late 90's early 2000's. DR was my preference when I could afford them. Eventually I discovered Elixirs and they've been my favorite ever since. I like strings that stay bright and IME GHS aren't great at that.

 

[whero]

OK Boomers.

They get a lot of love in the boards, but I guess they're not for everybody. Give them some good playing time to break them in, but if they're not what you're looking for, that's OK. We all have different taste, and we're all looking for our own sound.

Personally, I haven't tried them. I was looking for something more on the mellow side and landed on the GHS Balanced Nickels, which I've been enjoying for quite a while now. Next string change I'm going to try the Pressurewounds - one step brighter in GHS's range - but I'm not looking for a lot of zing so I probably won't go much higher.