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GHS Balanced Nickel strings

#1,041
Stan_da_man said:
What is the output like compared to a NPS roundwound?
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I can't speak to an NPS comparison, but I will say that I recently switched a set of GHS Super Steels off of my MTD and replaced them with GHS Balanced Nickels. Either the output is noticeably lower, or the top end is just not as present, the latter is obviously going to be the case. My typical rehearsal space amp settings had to be bumped up a good bit for comparable volume. Again, this might just be the presentation of top end fooling my ears into thinking the output is lower, but it sure feels lower. That's not a bad thing per se, given that volume knobs exist :p
 
#1,047
silky smoove said:
I can't speak to an NPS comparison, but I will say that I recently switched a set of GHS Super Steels off of my MTD and replaced them with GHS Balanced Nickels. Either the output is noticeably lower, or the top end is just not as present, the latter is obviously going to be the case. My typical rehearsal space amp settings had to be bumped up a good bit for comparable volume. Again, this might just be the presentation of top end fooling my ears into thinking the output is lower, but it sure feels lower. That's not a bad thing per se, given that volume knobs exist :p
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Strings with a pure nickel outer wrap definitely have a lower output than nickel plated steel, because pure nickel doesn't have the magnetic properties of steel or nickel-plated steel.

I can't speak to the Balanced Nickels, but I am using Dunlop Hybrid Nickels on one of my basses and its output is far lower than for any other string I've tried because it has pure nickel outer layer. I had to goose my amp to get it sounding good, and I've never had to really do that before. It's funny that those Dunlop Hybrid Nickels are marketed as a "metal" string, yet they have low output, a polite sound, and dull out too quickly for me. That being said, the Dunlop Hybrid Nickels are easily the best feeling strings I've ever used, both in terms of texture and flexibility. They feel so plush. I just wish they lasted longer and didn't sound so timid.

So there it is.
 
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#1,048
I tried Balanced Nickels. Their outer wrap is very soft, and the strings developed deep dents from the frets. I never get anything more than shiny spots on any other string I've used.
The 5 string set also just felt heavier than anything else I've ever used.
 
#1,049
Did I read somewhere on TB of players talking (complaining) about the BNs having a tendency to get lost in the mix in real world (live) situations?

I still have a set in my drawer. I remember liking them for recording, but never played out with them.
 
#1,050
Selim said:
Did I read somewhere on TB of players talking (complaining) about the BNs having a tendency to get lost in the mix in real world (live) situations?

I still have a set in my drawer. I remember liking them for recording, but never played out with them.
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I had the 40-101 set on my P bass for 8 mths. Never had any issues of "getting lost in the mix" in live band settings.
 
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#1,051
I bought a set for my Mustang. It's the best I've had any Mustang sound. And I've had at least a dozen over the years. I will be trying them on some of my other long scale basses soon. On the Mustang, they are actually brighter than I thought they would be (that's a good thing). But they have less clank and string/finger noise (also a good thing). Just a really nice "balanced" tone. Tension is low just like I prefer. I don't know how they will sound when they "settle in," but I hope it won't be too much different than their new sound... because they are just about perfect for what I want out of a Mustang bass (in this case a Vintera 70s Mustang).
 
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#1,053
Christcr said:
I don't know how they will sound when the "settle in," but I hope it won't be too much different than their new sound...
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Based on my experience, there isn't a big difference between their new tone and their broken-in tone, which lasts a long time. I had the 40-101 set on my P bass for 8 mths and their tone didn't change that much the whole time. I probably could have gone another few months.
 
#1,054
Christcr said:
I don't know how they will sound when they "settle in," but I hope it won't be too much different than their new sound...
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IME they sound similar, but not identical, to their new tone for quite a while. That said, it’s as if one day you grab your bass and they’re utterly and completely dead. The lifespan is good, and the death is abrupt and sudden. I’ve not noticed this behavior with any other string. You’ll know immediately when they need to be replaced.
 
#1,055
silky smoove said:
That said, it’s as if one day you grab your bass and they’re utterly and completely dead. The lifespan is good, and the death is abrupt and sudden. I’ve not noticed this behavior with any other string. You’ll know immediately when they need to be replaced.
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Interesting... I've never kept any string on any of my basses long enough for them to be truly dead. I guess this is why it's always a good idea to keep a new set on hand before the sudden death happens. ;)

GHS Pressurewound is another one that can last a long time in their "broken-in" state, but when they die, it happens suddenly. Luckily, I haven't experienced that myself as I'm in the habit of changing them once a year whether they need to be replaced or not.
 
#1,056
Will change out the Balanced Nickels on the Nordstrand Cat bass on New Year's Day, which works out to eight months' daily play. And only swapping in new Balanced Nickels because New Year's Day is when I do all my essential bass maintenance. The new set will mark the third set of Balanced Nickels the bass has worn in three years.* There are two fresh sets of short scale Balanced Nickels in the string larder, so I'm set for a good while.


* Played in a set of white short scale DR Neons for four months. Like them fine. Just turns out I like the Balanced Nickels better and swapped in the current set.
 
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#1,057
silky smoove said:
IME they sound similar, but not identical, to their new tone for quite a while. That said, it’s as if one day you grab your bass and they’re utterly and completely dead. The lifespan is good, and the death is abrupt and sudden. I’ve not noticed this behavior with any other string. You’ll know immediately when they need to be replaced.
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Has anyone had this happen with La Bella Chicago Style strings, given their similarities?
 
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#1,059
I'm thinking about trying a set of GHS Balanced Nickels on my recently acquired 2018 Fender Aerodyne PJ, but that bass has a 7.25" radius (as far as I know) fingerboard, and the train of thought is that balanced tension sets don't work as well with such a round radius neck since the A and D strings are further from the pickups. Conventional gauged sets have thicker A and D strings to compensate for that whereas balanced tension strings have thinner A and Ds.

Has anyone tried a set of Balanced Nickels on a vintage radius-necked bass and what were your results?

ASIDE: On another note, @silky smoove what you describe is what I found with DR Pure Blues. Sounded great for a decently long time, but then one day they just up and died like Wile E Coyote falling off a cliff. No gradual decay/decline, just one day good and the next day plop. Too bad, because I liked how those strings split the difference between Sunbeams and Hi-Beams.
 
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