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- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
And THANKS! Glad you enjoy those strings!
Both. I've just about tried them all at this point.
And you're welcome. Really nice to have a new string that actually checks so many boxes.
I have a set of Fender PNs and from what I recall they never had the top end the BNs have. When I first played the BNs I was shocked how much clarity there was, and even a little more finger screech than expected and compared to the Fenders. From my experience thus far, I agree that the BNs seem like they will retain that top end longer. So far they are amazing on an 05 Precision.
Does anyone think these would be similar to the Dunlop heavycores that used a round core? They were my favourites but have been phased out
I don't think so.
Are you sure about the Dunlop Heavy Cores being on a round core. I always thought they were nickel-plated steel on a hex core.
How do these Balanced Nickels compare directly to the Fender 7150s? I'm a big fan of the 7150s - I think the only reason I took them off was because I needed steels for a rock band I had joined.
The BNs have that typical GHS low-mid punch. At least on the two basses I've tried them on. The Fenders are maybe a little less aggressive and more mellow I would say. The Fender's have less highs and are not a crisp. The BNs have some really nice top-end and clarity going on for nickles. Took me by surprise at first. My Fender's are older and sound good on my '62 Jazz with my current rigs. I plan on trying the BNs when the Fender's fade out, but that might be a while. I have not have them on the same bass as far as I know, so I can't do an exact comparison. To my ear, they do not sound a like. So I would say the BNs have more low-mids and highs as a generalization. Both are nice. I think the light gauge BNs are more flexible than the same in the Fender's.
If you like nickles but need more bite--the BNs may work for you. I'm not sure how they mellow with many hours of playing.
I read this whole thread over the last week or so and ordered a 106 set today. They’re going on my DarkStar P bass. Really looking forward to trying this set!
I just tried these on my fretless jazz with Nordy SE's. Holy Crap! what a great tone. BTW, a 2 stacked jazz and an Ampeg PF-50T.
Tx
Tx
Like any string, they don't necessarily work in every situation (bass, amp, cab)--but when they do--it's amazing.
OK, I was able to take the Fender PNs off my '62 Jazz and use the BNs today. The BNs are newer. I like the feel of the BNs better, I think. Not that the Fender's felt bad, I just think the BNs felt a little better under the fingers. Tone wise, I think I might like the Fender's a little better on this bass. I've had trouble getting a tone I'm really happy with and the Fender's seemed to calm down the right frequencies and have some punch without being honky sounding. The GHS BNs did sound good, but tended to maybe be a little too dull sounding--or less so than the Fender's. Both sound good with finger (mostly how I play) and with a pick.
I didn't get to do much tweeking so I'll give it another go and/or let them settle a little more. Again, they didn't sound bad at all, just maybe not quite as good as the Fender's on this bass. (They are killer on my 05 Precision.) Possibly it's that the Fender's have a little more mid-mids and that gives them a little more distinctiveness. I like big and thick, so I'm in no way shooting for clank or brightness in tone or a lot of upper mids. For this reason I thought the BNs would be perfect. Maybe they will as I try again.
If you haven't already taken off the BNs, you might consider playing them in for about ten hours before deciding for sure. I found that their tone changed (in my estimation, improved) after about ten hours, and then held that sound for months.
That said, you have re-sparked my interest in trying the Fender 7150s...
Thanks for your reply.
How does the tension compare to BNs? What gauge 7150s do you have?
I think I will leave them on a while. I really want to like them! I bought them lightly used, so I have no idea how much they've been played, but I'll stick with it a while longer.If you haven't already taken off the BNs, you might consider playing them in for about ten hours before deciding for sure. I found that their tone changed (in my estimation, improved) after about ten hours, and then held that sound for months.
That said, you have re-sparked my interest in trying the Fender 7150s...
The Fender's do have more time on them--but they do sound really good on that Jazz. Tames some unpleasant frequencies for my purposes but retains some punch and definition.
The Fender's are ML (100-). They seem about as stiff as the BNs in Med.
I have a set of BNs in ML that I like a little better--especially since I sliced my left index finger right on the pad. Had to play with three fingers for a couple months. Just now getting back to using the index finger and the loss of strength and soreness make the lighter strings much more enjoyable to play. But I don't like stiff strings anyway.
Punchy attack (like a mallet on a bass drum or floor tom) lives in the neighborhood of 150Hz. As the highs of the GHS Balanced Nickels recede over time, the low mids ease their way into prominence not unlike a kick boxer. I call it the Chuck Norris Effect.
I’ve been playing GHS pressurewounds almost exclusively for the last few years. On my G&L SB-2, which is by nature a HOT aggressive bass, they are approaching too much aggressiveness.
I just ordered a set of Balanced Nickels and am really looking forward to putting them on the SB-2. I should be receiving a G&L LB-100 (P-Bass) in the next couple of weeks and will put a set of broken in GHS Precision Flats on that (Yum!!).....or maybe a set of these Balanced Nickels....hmmmm
I just ordered a set of Balanced Nickels and am really looking forward to putting them on the SB-2. I should be receiving a G&L LB-100 (P-Bass) in the next couple of weeks and will put a set of broken in GHS Precision Flats on that (Yum!!).....or maybe a set of these Balanced Nickels....hmmmm
