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Jon,
Curious as to why GHS chose pure nickel vs a nickel plated steel or even a stainless steel for these new balanced sets. Isn't the output of pure nickel much lower than nickel plated or stainless steel?
@Jon Moody - Doesn't Nickel have higher magnetic properties than steel - thus higher output?Jon,
Curious as to why GHS chose pure nickel vs a nickel plated steel or even a stainless steel for these new balanced sets. Isn't the output of pure nickel much lower than nickel plated or stainless steel?
@Jon Moody - Doesn't Nickel have higher magnetic properties than steel - thus higher output?
I thought it would be cool. And was also curious about pure nickel bass strings.
No sarcasm intended; that was why I went with pure nickel.
That's why. Nickel-plate would've been Bass Boomers and stainless would've been Super Steels, and at that point would've unintentionally reinvented the wheel.
Nickel is a very interesting metal. Before magnetic tape there were nickel platters that were 'cut' during recording. The very first tape recorders were 'wire' recorders. Instead of yet to be invented magnetic tape, thin flat nickel ribbon wire was used to record on. It is this very same thin nickel ribbon wire that was used to wrap the very first bass strings. We have come back to the purity of the original nickel ribbon wire. Let us rejoice and be glad.Doesn't Nickel have higher magnetic properties than steel - thus higher output?
I like that @Jon Moody said he did it out of curiosity. That's cool! That alone makes me want to go out and get some GHS strings right now!

Very interesting answer from a company rep! I would assume most companies would take their big seller (in GHS case Bass Boomers) and do a balanced tension set of those, I gues like D'Addario did with their XL balanced sets.
You aren't worried that the pure nickel will turn some people off from even trying them?
I kinda dig that thinking too. Maybe Jon Moody would be kind enough to let us gigging musicians try out a set if we agree to come here and do an honest review.![]()
And really, the balanced tension on these was a byproduct. I spent more time making sure they SOUNDED balanced over anything else, as I tend to use the entire fretboard when I'm playing. I wanted strings that did that.
Round-core Nickel flats are next?![]()
Stainless Steel (Contact Core Super Steel, Super Steel, Precision Flats), Nickel-Plated Steel (Bassics, Boomers & RC Boomers), Nickel-Iron alloy (Progressives, Pressurewound & Brite Flats) and Pure Nickel. Variety in tonal flavor is a good thing in my book.
Fixed it for you.
Is there going to be a B string available? I'm super interested but I only play BEAD 4 strings. Here's hoping...
Is there going to be a B string available? I'm super interested but I only play BEAD 4 strings. Here's hoping...
Invalid Link Removed, there are going to be two 5 string sets available, so yes.