Yes and no.
Full-bodied warmth like flats? Yes.
Thump and punch like flats? Not so much.
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Yes and no.
Full-bodied warmth like flats? Yes.
Thump and punch like flats? Not so much.
I put these back on my Jazz today and I really like them. Where they sit in the mix is quite unique, warm and fat but also present with just enough brightness. They are how I always wanted roundwounds to sound but they never did so I've been in FlatLand for a while, but I've never been totally sold on flats.
+1
I don't like my bass to be too "up front" in the mix. The BNs allow it to take a step back in the mix without getting lost. Strong presence, yet without being rude and aggressive.
I’ve been made into a believer in these strings. DR Sunbeams and Nickel Lo-Riders have been my strings of choice for years, but these GHS NB’s have won me over. The sound is good, but it’s feel and playability that have really surprised me. I recently took off the NB’s, put on a set of Sunbeams, and switched right back to the NB’s after feeling the difference.
I wish they had the silk on the ball ends too. Just put a set of the lighter gauge on this weekend, sounded great at practice last night.
NO!
One of the things I like about GHS is they have moved away from putting silk at the ball end. I don't see the point in having silk where it's not needed.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
Why? At the present time, silk at the "twist" area doesn't provide any benefits. It doesn't help lock in the cover wire, or protect the hardware. If anything, the silk increases the final diameter which could make larger diameter strings harder to fit in the bridge.
The only benefit of silked ball end I can think of is purely cosmetic. The twisted ends on flats with the ribbon wire can get downright ugly, so the silk can make it a little more appealing visually.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
In the case of tapewounds, the silked ball end helps to "lock" that vinyl tape onto the string. So in that case, it does have a purpose. Nowhere else though.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
I have no idea. Once I give updated specs to production and they get put into motion, I don't have an idea of when the entire old stock has been replaced. In situations like this, i like to wait longer than normal to ensure that no old stock is around (like when we announced the short scale strings had a different winding length).
Same reason for me, that's why I mentioned it. I'm really liking these strings so far.
I actually don't mind most GHS strings without silk at the ball end because their ends are neat and tidy. Compare them to, let's say, La Bella flats... Their ball ends look (and even feel) like barbwire.
IvanBassist
Commercial User
- Jun 8, 2008
- 3,743
- 11,118
- Disclosures
- Content Manager at Darkglass Electronics, Dingwall Guitars Artist
Comparing the light sets and just watching the Ghs tension guide the BN are quite a bit higher in tension. But due to the round core they don't feel high tension to me. They feel pretty flexible and are imo one of the best feeling strings available.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
At this point, they're a little too different to compare.
Super Steels - Stainless steel wound over a hex core
Balanced Nickels - Pure nickel wound w/two wraps on each string, over a round core
You can definitely look at the tension guide we have, but that doesn't give the complete picture. At all. The BN feel more even over the Super Steels across all four strings. Other than that, I don't notice that much of a difference (and I play both sets pretty regularly).
IvanBassist
Commercial User
- Jun 8, 2008
- 3,743
- 11,118
- Disclosures
- Content Manager at Darkglass Electronics, Dingwall Guitars Artist
I'm thinking about ordering a set for my Dingwall Super J (32"-34.25") and I'm trying to decide which gauge to order
I'm thinking about ordering a set for my Dingwall Super J (32"-34.25") and I'm trying to decide which gauge to order
Tone wise I think they will be a great match for a J bass. You will probably lose some of the balanced tension since they were developed on single scale. But I think you will keep the most important aspect of these strings which is balanced tonality all across the fretboard.
If you like standard tension go for the light set. If you like higher tension pick the medium set.
