This is encouraging... I've been enjoying the Pressurewound 40-96 set on my main bass since the beginning of this year and wondering if the RCB 40-95 might be a bit too light, considering the round core. Based on what you're saying, I might be okay.
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Anyone else disappointed with GHS Boomers ?
- Thread starter Fender4Me
- Start date
This is encouraging... I've been enjoying the Pressurewound 40-96 set on my main bass since the beginning of this year and wondering if the RCB 40-95 might be a bit too light, considering the round core. Based on what you're saying, I might be okay.
I've always disliked them. I only ever purchased them when I was younger and got strings from a local music shop and their selection was always very limited. They always felt overly rough or abrasive to me, and they also seemed to lose any brightness damn near immediately, which has never really been a big problem for me. I've used a string cleaner/lubricant before and after playing for some time, and I've never had an issue with sweaty hands.
- Jan 26, 2014
- 768
- 1,555
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist;DNA Amplification, GHS strings
It's a very personal choice. I'm a big fan of boomers but that's just me. I hate the feel of flatwound strings, some people swear by them......
I concur with some of the latter. No taper, but that is not a deal breaker for me. They do have a slightly harsher feel than some other round wounds. They break in fairly quickly. I found them to have really good tone...until they don’t. They seem to “die” quicker than my go-to strings (more than one manufacturer) and when they die, they go to thud. They may also not all die at the same time and if you are a moderately aggressive plucker or picker, uyou could have dead’s from a new set before a standard 4-set gig is over (w/no slapping!).
Not my go to, but never had an issue with them. I just so happen to have a set on my PJ the moment that I put on in February for rehearsals for our 2020 show ( that’s had 1 gig this year). I did a slight tweak on the Amp EQ and they sound fine as far as I’m concerned.
I will be recording some tracks, about a half a LPs worth is the next week or two, and will be going back to my DR Lo Riders for those sessions. As for D’addario’s, I have no issues with them either, but I much prefer 105s. The 95 just don’t have enough presence.
Going from string brands to string brands, be prepared to adjust your tone settings and take the time To search out a voice you can use.
I try them every few years just to be sure something hasn't changed, but for me GHS Boomers are basically a tonal suck switch stuck in the "on" position.
Not trolling...it's like the responsiveness/tone of the bass gets reduced 15%.
When people say they need time to break in - never encountered that in another roundwound.
Does that mean they get brighter over time, or even deader? I've taken them off after a few hours/days each time so I have no idea.
I'm by no means a GHS hater - Super Steels & Brite/Precision Flats are great in my book, and I have no idea why they discontinued Progressives for bass, some of my favorite strings ever.
Not trolling...it's like the responsiveness/tone of the bass gets reduced 15%.
When people say they need time to break in - never encountered that in another roundwound.
Does that mean they get brighter over time, or even deader? I've taken them off after a few hours/days each time so I have no idea.
I'm by no means a GHS hater - Super Steels & Brite/Precision Flats are great in my book, and I have no idea why they discontinued Progressives for bass, some of my favorite strings ever.
As far as I know, they haven't been discontinued as such. They were supposed to go through a makeover with undated design features and be re-launched earlier in the spring as Progressives 2.0. Unfortunately, the pandemic happened and everything got sidelined.
I have two sets of Brand New RC Boomers 40-100 gauges if anyone reading here is interested. Just cover shipping for me lol
They sound great on my Precision Bass with Geezer pickups.
They generally lose their zing pretty quickly.
They generally lose their zing pretty quickly.
D
Those two are my favourite GHS strings too. In fact, those are the only GHS strings I like. I've never quite gotten along with the rest but I totally understand why people like them. Except the Brite Flats... How anyone can like those is beyond me... I would rather play Boomers until the end of the world than ever have to try a set of Brite Flats ever again. YMMV of course.
Many years ago I was burned on this having purchased “Nickel” Rotosound 66 strings!
I was just watching the James Taylor Live at the Beacon Theater DVD.
Impeccable Jimmy Johnson on his awesome Alembic... Did you know he's been a regular user of the GHS Boomers over the years?
Obviously, he's not one of the people who are disappointed with the Boomers.
Impeccable Jimmy Johnson on his awesome Alembic... Did you know he's been a regular user of the GHS Boomers over the years?
Obviously, he's not one of the people who are disappointed with the Boomers.
I was just watching the James Taylor Live at the Beacon Theater DVD.
Impeccable Jimmy Johnson on his awesome Alembic... Did you know he's been a regular user of the GHS Boomers over the years?
Obviously, he's not one of the people who are disappointed with the Boomers.
I much enjoy listening to Jimmy Johnson; great sound.
But I do believe, you have to match the strings to the bass, and to your hands/technique, and to your sound system. I have found that a set of strings that sounds good on one of my basses doesn't sound so great on another of my basses; how much more can that be true when we're talking not just a different bass, but a different person playing it, and through a different sound system?
For me, on my basses, with my hands, I think I get closer to Jimmy's sound with Progressives than with Boomers. But then, Progressives might sound icky if he played them on his bass!
I totally agree with you that Jimmy Johnson sounds the way he does not just because the strings he uses. Like it's been said many times, the Boomers are not for everyone or for every bass.
I was just point out the simple fact they CAN sound terrific on the right bass in the hands of the right player.
