• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

GHS Balanced Nickel strings

#661
Jon Moody said:
Not different; same material. But, bigger than the others because the .105 is being made with TWO covers now instead of the traditional THREE. And, because it's bigger that's why it "looks" different.

As for pitch issues, I haven't had any on my Supro Huntington or Hofner Beatle Bass with them. What kind of issues are you having?
Click to expand...

Thanks, for the explanation... Makes sense.

The notes from "A" down to "E" in my rig are relatively indistinct on the "E" string.

This could be due to either strings ( which I doubt at this point ), the bass ( which I'm trying to set up properly. String & pickup height matter )
or my iPad interface being defeated by the laws of physics and not properly establishing pitch.

Swapping the stock flats to the Balanced Nickels helped a lot.

Lowering the pickups helped a bit more.

I don't even have an actual amp to play it through anymore. All iPad all the time.

I'll probably try it though a friend's amp to eliminate the possibility that the interface has poor pitch detection.

I'm chalking it up to both getting to know my new bass and what it will or won't do and my hypersensitivity to pitch.
 
#663
claudel said:
FWIW, I've at least partially solved my pitch definition issue by fooling around with string height and pickup height.

Lower notes seem to be more distinct and identifiable.

Still not 100% on, though.

At this point I doubt the strings themselves are part of the problem.
Click to expand...

When I first tried the BNs on my Am Std P, I had to fiddle around with the pickup height as well. The pure nickel cover seems to interact differently with the pickup compared to the standard NPS or Alloy 52.
 
  • Like
Reactions: claudel
#664
claudel said:
FWIW, I've at least partially solved my pitch definition issue by fooling around with string height and pickup height.

Lower notes seem to be more distinct and identifiable.

Still not 100% on, though.

At this point I doubt the strings themselves are part of the problem.
Click to expand...
The sweet spot on your pickup height is almost always lower than you might think.
 
  • Like
Reactions: whero and claudel
#666
Had the BNs on my 05 Pbass for a few months now and I have to admit I don't want to take them off. Normally I like flats on a Precisions and this one in particular, but the bass sounds big, full and has just enough pleasant mid bite. They are a little mellow in some ways but slightly impolite in others. A really amazing string. Sounds good with fingers or pick. With a pick they are not overly clanky and clicky as some rounds can be and still maintain some beef.
 
  • Like
Reactions: whero, Linnin and michael_t
#667
Jon Moody said:
They differ quite substantially. Most of it's in the copy, but the gist is that they're a pure nickel wrap (as opposed to nickel-plated steel) wound over a round core. The G and E strings are designed in such a way that they're tonally very similar to the D and A, as well as being balanced within 3lbs total swing.
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting... How much. Do they come in stupidly skinny (.95 to .35)?
 
#668
#669
Jon Moody said:
Check with your favorite place to buy strings, either online or brick 'n' mortar.
Click to expand...

I did, but it's not showing anything in the UK, unfortunately. Edit: found them on Amazon - £31.41 plus £3 postage, which isn't too awful.

Only the Light (40-101) and Medium (44-106) are available.
Click to expand...

To me that's medium and heavy, but I will check the actual tension - it might actually be light and medium due to the nickel wrap.
 
#670
I've been playing a bit more than usual lately, as in addition to my regular project, the annual charity gig I do with my old (early 1980s) band is coming up this weekend. There are six of us, spread around five different cities, so everybody rehearses separately. This year we're also playing a one-hour set at our keyboard player's 60th birthday party the night before, so I've been putting in some extra time for that as well.

I say all this to point out that my balanced nickels are very well settled in now. They've been on the bass for just on six weeks, and have close to 90 hours of playing time on them. I love the sound of these strings. Warm, deep tone, with just the slightest hint of roundwoundsound detectable when slapping or using the 80s chorus. And this weekend, there will be chorus. The balanced tone is noticeable, and something I was definately looking for, as I tend to move around the neck quite a bit. I'm tempted to try the pressure wounds next time, for comparison purposes, but I have a feeling that my long term choice will be the BNs.

I'd be interested to know from @Jon Moody or any BN users about their experiences/expectations of the life of the BNs. Back in the day when I was chasing the zing and played bright roundwounds I'd change them about every three months, but I'd expect to get a lot more out of the BNs.
 
Last edited:
#671
whero said:
I'd be interested to know from @Jon Moody or any BN users about their experiences/expectations of the life of the BNs.
Click to expand...

Mine were 8 mths old when I took them off. They came off not because they needed changing, but only because I wanted to try the GHS Precision Flats on my P bass. I probably could have gone for another few months with the BNs.

They broke in quickly (about a week) and after that kept the same tone the whole time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: crucislancer and whero
#672
michael_t said:
Mine were 8 mths old when I took them off. They came off not because they needed changing, but only because I wanted to try the GHS Precision Flats on my P bass. I probably could have gone for another few months with the BNs.

They broke in quickly (about a week) and after that kept the same tone the whole time.
Click to expand...

I went 9 months with mine, but I may put them back on soon. I needed something a bit more aggressive for my new band, and while the BNs sound amazing, they weren't what I needed at the time. I've had them on all three basses, and in the end they sound the best on my Nate Mendel P with GZRs.
 
#673
whero said:
I'm tempted to try the pressure wounds next time, for comparison purposes, but I have a feeling that my long term choice will be the BNs.
Click to expand...

Do try the PWs. They are as amazing, if not more so than the BNs. I think if I could only have one string (perish the thought!), I think it would be the PWs--and I'm a flat lover.
 
#676
whero said:
I'd be interested to know from @Jon Moody or any BN users about their experiences/expectations of the life of the BNs. Back in the day when I was chasing the zing and played bright roundwounds I'd change them about every three months, but I'd expect to get a lot more out of the BNs.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what to tell you, as there are so many different variables that go into string life, and what someone considers a decent length of time. Plus, I tend to change my strings pretty frequently due to work (if someone has issues with a certain set, prototyping different sets, etc..) and gigging schedule (usually have 10 a month) so I wouldn't be a good source to give an estimate on how long a string "should" last.
 
  • Like
Reactions: whero and TonyP-
#677
I have had balanced nickles on 1 bass for about a year...Its not the uber bright by any means at this point BUT it still has usable top end.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Root 5
#678
-Asdfgh- said:
To me that's medium and heavy, but I will check the actual tension - it might actually be light and medium due to the nickel wrap.
Click to expand...

In terms of the actual tension figures (as in the pulling weight), here are a couple of comparisons:

Balanced Nickel 4M-NB (44-60-80-106) = 184.2 lbs.
Boomer (regular hex-core) M3045 (45-65-85-105) = 186.5 lbs.

Balanced Nickel 4L-NB (40-56-76-101) = 172.3 lbs.
Roundcore Boomer RC-M3045 (45-65-85-105) = 173.4 lbs.
​
In terms of the overall playing feel (stiffness/flexibility), I found the 40-101 set very comfortable, like a typical light-gauge set, without being too loose and floppy like some round core strings from other companies tend to be.
 
#679
michael_t said:
In terms of the actual tension figures (as in the pulling weight), here are a couple of comparisons:

Balanced Nickel 4M-NB (44-60-80-106) = 184.2 lbs.
Boomer (regular hex-core) M3045 (45-65-85-105) = 186.5 lbs.

Balanced Nickel 4L-NB (40-56-76-101) = 172.3 lbs.
Roundcore Boomer RC-M3045 (45-65-85-105) = 173.4 lbs.
​
In terms of the overall playing feel (stiffness/flexibility), I found the 40-101 set very comfortable, like a typical light-gauge set, without being too loose and floppy like some round core strings from other companies tend to be.
Click to expand...

A set of Daddarios (XLB040,60,80,100) come in at 155lbs, so the GHS are under somewhat more tension. How much that matters (hex versus round core) I am not sure. I have a set of DR Sunbeams, but they are in the spares box, with a whole load of other strings without silks... so I am not sure which ones they are! I'll see if I can find any other string tensions to compare against (e.g. JF344, JR344). Answer 140lbs and 122lbs total each for the TI sets.

Edit: TI power bass (.106 E, .47G) comes in at 184lbs.

I'll wait for a skinnier set.
 
Last edited:
#680
Finally threw a set of the Light BN's on my 4 string Gibson yesterday. Been struggling to find a string I loved on this bass, or a set that had the right balance of sound and feel. Tried all the usual suspects and finally went to the BN's. They are the string for this bass (also have a set on this basses 5 string brother).

I usually prefer pretty light strings that have a flexible feel. I do not like zing.

Some striking things about the balanced nickels:

  • Aren't super flexible but are still somehow comfortable to play, Feeling more comfortable than some lower measured tension stings.
  • Are bright without the zing or clack. The is a mystical and magical place I didn't think existed. The BN's must be magic or cursed
  • Seem to last longer that other nickel rounds. Once they settle in (a few days IME) they sound that way for quite some time. And I'm a regular string changer of nickel rounds.
Color me very impressed with these strings. They do so many things right. Count me in as a believer. Kudos to the fine people at GHS! :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassPilot, wschenk, whero and 4 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back