- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
Thru-body no, because the 5501 is a 35” scale length and these only have a 37.25” winding length. Top-load they’ll be fine.
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Thru-body no, because the 5501 is a 35” scale length and these only have a 37.25” winding length. Top-load they’ll be fine.
How would anyone compare the Balanced Nickels to your favourite flatwounds and how do they sit in the mixes you play in?
Balanced Nickels have a roundwound character. If you love flats, I'd start with Pressurewounds before Balanced Nickels.
Go more old school.
Edgar
Archibald
Dewey
Gomer
I may have asked this before. Bit cam anyone compare tension/stiffness between these and standard D'Addario XL Nickels? I would love to try these, but I can hit like a hammer on occassion. So higher tension/stiffer strings work better for me.
I'm even willing to give the Mediums a go.
Whataya think?
In terms of stiffness and overall playing feel, the BN light set (40-101) would be slightly more supple than the D'A EXL170BT (45-60-80-107) but not by a lot, while the medium set (44-106) would feel more like the EXL165 (45-105). If you like stiffer strings, try the medium set.
What's surprising is the BN light set actually has more tension (as in pulling weight) than the D'A EXL170BT despite smaller gauges.
As I wrote earlier I ordered the light 4-string set but was about to get the light 5-string set. That way I would've been able to try them on my 4- and 5-string Yamaha BB. But I checked the tension guide and saw that the low B was miles away in tension from the rest of the set which disappointed me quite a bit. I'm a huge proponent of balanced tension and that's what mainly drew my attention of the balanced nickels.
@Jon Moody: Why is the low B so out of balance tension wise?
@Jon Moody: Why is the low B so out of balance tension wise?
I had the same concern re. the 5-string set. Jon will tell you that despite the numbers on paper, it doesn't feel or sound miles away.
I love the way the BNs on my P sit just right in the mix in a non-aggressive way without ever getting lost - unlike the La Bella 760FL, which struggled to be heard at times.
I have a new pickup on order for my P, and I'll be switching to BNs at the same time. Looking forward to getting back into roundwound territory again after a couple years of toying with flats and pressurewounds. I still love PWs and may switch back, but excited to try the BNs next.
Interesting to read your comments...
To my ears, the PWs are more round-ish in tone than the BNs.
What I love about the BNs is their flatwound-like full-bodied warmth, thanks to pure nickel, but with the focus and the definition of a roundwound.
To me the BNs are fully roundwounds, or at least in all the ways that I prefer rounds over flats. But yes, very full bodied and warm rounds, with the mid and treble clarity and character of rounds.
I also find the PWs are more round-ish than flat-ish, but closer to flats than BNs, especially as they age. I haven't played the BNs on my jazz bass enough for them to start fading yet, as I've been primarily playing my P the last few months.
I don't know... just comes down to what you're listening for at the end of the day.
Well I couldn't stand it any longer so I finally bought some BNs. I hope they sound as good as the press! I like the Fender Pure Nickles on a Jazz. Smooth, deep round sound w/out the clank and screech of typical rounds. I like that Michael said they are flat-ish (my word), since I love flats.
Should know in a few days. Now I obsess on which bass to try them on first.
Should know in a few days. Now I obsess on which bass to try them on first.
I recently sourced a set of BN's over here in the UK and I've found them to be quite lively and aggressive sounding in comparison to my usual Boomers and PW's. I put them on my rosewood board Sandberg Umbo (which normally subdues bright strings) and gigged with it recently. I thought they were quite "piano" sounding and the bass response was too much for this particular bass. I had difficulty controlling the blooming low end. I've tried them on another couple of basses and, although still lively, they feel as if they may settle into something very nice eventually.
Got my BNs today and slapped them on my '71 Jazz and took it to rehearsal tonight. I liked what I heard and I typically don't on my Jazzes. They are not broken in yet but sound nice on it. I don't think as nice as the Precision Flats, but that may be due to me really liking the deeper thump of flats. They are a tad brighter (and more finger noise at this point) than the Fender's--the output is a little less than the Fender PNs as well (which are lower output than typical RWs). Love the feel and tone and are a joy to play. May may try them on another Jazz or a Precision in a few days. All in all I'm very pleased. That Jazz can sound harsh and honky if not careful, but the BNs tamed the bad frequencies nicely.
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So I have the Balanced Nickels on my bass, and apart from the fact the silks are unthreading quite easy, they have a pleasent roundness to the sound and they are smooth sounding. How would you guys say they compare to broken-in NPS rounds? I have hard time remembering what they sound like.
Tried the BN's on a Pbass today. Sounded very nice. Distinct thump--almost flat-like. Nice thick tone that sounded good even the little I played with a pick. Thus far I think they sounded better on the P than that Jazz. I could certainly leave them on that Pbass and be very happy. I don't know if I liked the sound of the BNs better than the Precision flats that were on it, but I'm thinking they we pretty close in the bass goodness territory. Great strings for someone wanting rounds with a thick sound with no clank. I also noticed that they are more smooth feeling than the Fender PNs.
One of the all-time great Precision Bass strings!
When I used my EBS 212 I loved regular boomers on that bass. Changed cabs to my Ampeg 410 Heritage and they didn’t sound good at all. Too much upper mids. The BNs—like flats are just right.
I was the guy who had a problem with the G string slipping, and i resolved it so I wanted to post an update.
In short, it appears the prob was the tuner. It couldn't get a bite on the string and therefore it just pulled out. I thought it was the string because in my 40 years of playing this has never happened. But then, while installing a set of Rotos on the same bass, bingo, there it was. I swapped the G tuner with the A tuner and it seems to hold. But about the Balanced Nickels...
GHS was kind enough to send me a replacement G string as the slippage had trashed the string. I have not as yet installed that new string, but I'm sure all will be well.
As for the strings, I do like them. They might be a little fuller, meaning more "balanced" in tone as compared to other nickels.
And for those interested here is a pic of the offending tuner that slipped. Needs a little file action cleanup, look like.
Thanks!
In short, it appears the prob was the tuner. It couldn't get a bite on the string and therefore it just pulled out. I thought it was the string because in my 40 years of playing this has never happened. But then, while installing a set of Rotos on the same bass, bingo, there it was. I swapped the G tuner with the A tuner and it seems to hold. But about the Balanced Nickels...
GHS was kind enough to send me a replacement G string as the slippage had trashed the string. I have not as yet installed that new string, but I'm sure all will be well.
As for the strings, I do like them. They might be a little fuller, meaning more "balanced" in tone as compared to other nickels.
And for those interested here is a pic of the offending tuner that slipped. Needs a little file action cleanup, look like.
Thanks!
