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GHS Balanced Nickel strings

#341
Look what just showed up in my mailbox this afternoon...

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And to answer the question from my earlier post re "green vs. green", the silk on the BNs is slightly darker and richer-looking than the one on Fender 9050.

bGmrYvjn2dHi3ODHKXCiXmcdtP2ZhWa9G3NAQQ-YGKzCoF_x72mYGZEYo2YGQJTXZmZa5h91xc6dHnRdBFA=w800-h450-no.jpg
 
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#342
Are we sure thes Strings won’t fit a Mustang bass? I know that GHS short scale strings were developed in response to cooperation with Chowny, in order to fit more basses like their SWB-1, which is short scale and string-through body. The Mustang (Reissue) is the same format, right? So why shouldn’t it fit it?
 
#343
TheIndieKid said:
Are we sure thes Strings won’t fit a Mustang bass?
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Our short scale strings have a 32.75" winding length, outside of ball end to the silk. Anyone with a Mustang bass can take a measurement of a string currently on the bass to see if they'll work. I don't have a Mustang in the office, or I'd do it.


TheIndieKid said:
I know that GHS short scale strings were developed in response to cooperation with Chowny, in order to fit more basses like their SWB-1, which is short scale and string-through body. The Mustang (Reissue) is the same format, right? So why shouldn’t it fit it?
Click to expand...

As a point of clarification, I worked with Scott Whitley, who was the originator of the SWB-1 (before Chowny took production) and head of Link Removed. We got to talking, and I asked if there was anything we could do to edit our short scale strings, and that's where the talk about the winding length started from.

The original SWB-1 did not have a thru-body bridge, so there's a good chance that the short scale Balanced Nickels will only work with the top-load option on the current Chowny SWB-1.
 
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#344
I've got some of these inbound, never tried a 'balanced tension' set before. After years of five-string and that loopy B-string, this should be interesting on my 4-string Jazz. I've used the traditional 'Red Label' Boomers since the 70's on my 4's and 5's.

As an aside, Jon, are there any GHS bass strings with silk about the color of Lake Placid Blue?
 
#348
michael_t said:
I've just finished installing them. So, I'm going to let them sit quietly and settle a bit as I always do with freshly-installed strings. I'll try noodling on them later tonight.

My hand surgery is first thing tomorrow morning, so I won't have a chance to play them live with the band for a couple of weeks. :(
Click to expand...

Good luck with the surgery!
I'd be happy to break them in for you while you heal up. ;)
 
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#351
michael_t said:
Any specific reason for that? Just curious...
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Yes. Two things actually. First is the severe break over angle on the heavier strings when strung through body. Going through the bridge eliminates this and the resulting damage to the outer wrap. Second is purely subjective. I feel the tone is better on the heavier strings through the bridge. I've found no difference on the higher lighter strings, and it is simply easier to string through body or I would put them all through the bridge.
 
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#352
The more I play these strings the more I like them. They are beginning to settle in very nicely at 5 or 6 playing hours. Gorgeous thick tone with excellent sweet sustain. If you play a lot of double stops and other chords, you'll love these strings as there is a lot of clean definition available to be had. Well balanced string-to-string tone and volume as would be expected.
 
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#353
Linnin said:
The more I play these strings the more I like them. They are beginning to settle in very nicely at 5 or 6 playing hours. Gorgeous thick tone with excellent sweet sustain. If you play a lot of double stops and other chords, you'll love these strings as there is a lot of clean definition available to be had. Well balanced string-to-string tone and volume as would be expected.
Click to expand...

I assume they are a fully roundwound character? No "flat-ness" to them at all?
 
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#355
NKBassman said:
Say I was finding my Jazz bass a bit on the thin side with Dunlop Super Brights... assuming these would be a lot thicker sounding while still retaining a roundwound tone?
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I've not used Dunlop Super Brights, but from what I know of them, I suspect the answer here is yes.

The Balanced Nickels don't really sound flat, but they have more low end fullness than most roundwound strings.
 
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#357
Here are a few of my first impressions based on some very casual noodling so far...
  • Pure nickel on a round core, they do offer tonal qualities that are unique and different from anything I've tried in the past. Full-bodied and warm with no zing, they don't have the raw grind of the hex-core Boomers they replaced. Mellow yet clean and focused in an non-abrasive way, they sound very pleasing to my ears.
  • I agree with the earlier comment by @Linnin about them being very smooth-feeling for rounds in terms of surface texture.
  • The light set I got (40-101) are extremely comfortable under my left hand (for fretting), yet still firm enough not to go all wimpy and floppy under my plucking fingers. Talk about a perfect balance!
So far, so good. :thumbsup::)
 
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#360
TomB said:
From your descriptions, these sound a bit like DR Pure Blues, with which I've had a little bit of experience. Are any of you who have played the BN's familiar with those?
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I only played the Pure Blues (45-65-80-100) once on a borrowed Fender MIM Jazz. I also tried the DR Sunbeams (45-105) on my J once.

The round core strings by DR are noticeably looser-feeling than the GHS round cores, including the RC Boomers and these BNs.
Tone-wise, I do remember the Pure Blues to be mellower than the Sunbeams right out of the package, so there may be some similarities to the BNs there, though the PBs are a special nickel alloy ("Quantum Nickel") while the BNs are pure nickel.
I also remember both DR's to be nice and smooth texture-wise just like the BNs.
 

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