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GHS Super Steels on Precision Bass

#21
I just wanted to revisit this thread after ordering my first set of stainless steel rounds (:nailbiting:) in almost six years. GHS Super Steels 40-58-80-102-126!

I'm currently on a string quest for my Yamaha TRBX505, which is an active 5-string with dual humbuckers. I would never even dream of using SS rounds on my passive Fenders, but this Yamaha is a totally different animal; it tends to sound a little too "laid-back and low-key" (sort of like myself ;)) with either of my favorite nickel variety (Pressurewound/Round Core Boomer) and is in need of something with a little more sparkle and snap to infuse some "attitude and aggression".

I may not be able to try them for a while yet, though, as I have one other set to try out (GHS Bassics) as soon as I'm done with the Round Core Boomers. But I'm certainly looking forward to trying out the Super Steels later this year. So, stay tuned...
 
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#22
michael_t said:
I just wanted to revisit this thread after ordering my first set of stainless steel rounds :)nailbiting:) in almost six years. GHS Super Steels 40-58-80-102-126!

I'm currently on a string quest for my Yamaha TRBX505, which is an active 5-string with dual humbuckers. I would never even dream of using SS rounds on my passive Fenders, but this Yamaha is a totally different animal; it tends to sound a little too "laid-back and low-key" (sort of like myself ;)) with either of my favorite nickel variety (Pressurewound/Round Core Boomer) and is in need of something with a little more sparkle and snap to infuse some "attitude and aggression".

I may not be able to try them for a while yet, though, as I have one other set to try out (GHS Bassics) as soon as I'm done with the Round Core Boomers. But I'm certainly looking forward to trying out the Super Steels later this year. So, stay tuned...
Click to expand...

Did you consider GHS Progressives?

I hope you find what you're after! I played a Yamaha TRB1005 for years, never getting the sound out of it that I wanted, which I eventually found in passive Fender basses. I sometimes wish I had kept the Yamaha and tried more strings, tried different pickups, something... because I really enjoyed playing it by itself, but it just didn't sound good to me in a mix with other instruments.
 
#23
trothwell said:
Did you consider GHS Progressives?
Click to expand...

The only reason why I hesitate to try the Progressives is I'm not entirely sold on the "saddle hugger" (exposed core) feature.

trothwell said:
I played a Yamaha TRB1005 for years, never getting the sound out of it that I wanted, which I eventually found in passive Fender basses.
Click to expand...

Not that my Yamaha sounds bad as such; in fact, I do get plenty of compliments on my tone from band members and sound techs alike. It's just that my ears - like yours - are so used to the traditional passive Fender tones (P and J) as the "universal standard" that I'm still trying to figure out what this "modern active tone" is all about. The fact my Yamaha doesn't sound anything like my P or J is probably a good thing for the sake of having variety in tonal flavor once I grow to accept the simple idea it's SUPPOSED TO be different.

Meanwhile, it's giving me a good excuse to keep on trying different strings. ;):D
 
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#24
michael_t said:
I just wanted to revisit this thread after ordering my first set of stainless steel rounds :)nailbiting:) in almost six years. GHS Super Steels 40-58-80-102-126!
Click to expand...

michael_t said:
in need of something with a little more sparkle and snap to infuse some "attitude and aggression".
Click to expand...
If GHS Super Steels don't do it, nothing will. Wasn't it you that reported Lee Sklar ditched Rotosound 66s in favor of Super Steels? That in itself is high praise. I am looking forward to your review.
 
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#25
Linnin said:
If GHS Super Steels don't do it, nothing will.
Click to expand...

As I explore the brighter side of life by working my way up the GHS brightness scale, I decided to take one small step at a time, although the Super Steels may still be in the horizon. I actually canceled my order for them for now so I can order a set of Progressives instead. That means the Super Steels are third in line according to my plan.
  1. GHS Bassics (NPS final cover over stainless steel inner wrap) = slightly brighter than the Boomers (NPS final cover over NPS inner wrap).
  2. GHS Progressives (Alloy 52 roundwound) = my cup of tea as a huge fan of Alloy 52 (Pressurewound).
  3. GHS Super Steels (Stainless Steel) = uncharted territory.

Linnin said:
Wasn't it you that reported Lee Sklar ditched Rotosound 66s in favor of Super Steels? That in itself is high praise.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's true. Sklar swears by GHS SS for their consistency.
 
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#27
michael_t said:
I just wanted to revisit this thread after ordering my first set of stainless steel rounds in almost six years. GHS Super Steels 40-58-80-102-126!
Click to expand...

Just a follow-up to my post from exactly a year ago (Apr 9, 2019).

I never did get the Super Steels I was talking about because I ended up changing my order to the Progressives.

Fast forward one year...
My son (Victor) owns an Ibanez SR-1205E Premium, which he got from his mom and dad as a graduation gift when he finished grade 12 back in 2008. Sadly, this beauty has been sitting idle for the last few years as he's been too busy with his new full-time career to be spending any time playing the bass. So, I asked him if he would consider letting me use it off and on in exchange for my being able to keep it in tip-top shape at all times, including general maintenance and regular string changes. He agreed, with one condition... Stainless steel rounds only.

Guess what, I just happened to have a set of Sadowsky Blue Label SS rounds 45-130T in my stash that a bassist friend of mine had given me, so I went ahead with the string change with a full setup and maintenance work a couple of days ago. It's all spiffed up and ready for action now.

Then I remembered about the Super Steels I was supposed to try on my 5-string Yamaha a year ago. Now that I have this extra bass to play with, it's providing me with an ideal opportunity to do what I wanted to do last year without messing with any of my three basses. So, I went ahead and placed an order for the Super Steels 40-58-80-102-126 tonight, thanks to Jason at Fret Nation, who gave me a great deal on them in the midst of this pandemic craze.

Here's my new adopted baby I'll be spending some quality time with...

Ibanez SR1205E 200406-1.jpg
 
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#28
michael_t said:
Just a follow-up to my post from exactly a year ago (Apr 9, 2019).

I never did get the Super Steels I was talking about because I ended up changing my order to the Progressives.

Fast forward one year...
My son (Victor) owns an Ibanez SR-1205E Premium, which he got from his mom and dad as a graduation gift when he finished grade 12 back in 2008. Sadly, this beauty has been sitting idle for the last few years as he's been too busy with his new full-time career to be spending any time playing the bass. So, I asked him if he would consider letting me use it off and on in exchange for my being able to keep it in tip-top shape at all times, including general maintenance and regular string changes. He agreed, with one condition... Stainless steel rounds only.
Click to expand...

How do you like that 5-string Ibanez vs. the 5-string Yamaha?
 
#29
trothwell said:
How do you like that 5-string Ibanez vs. the 5-string Yamaha?
Click to expand...

The main difference is the pickups - Nordstrand Big Singles vs. Yamaha Alnico humbuckers. I've always liked the sound of the Big Singles as they have more of the J bass flavor in their natural tone (passive) with a bit more bite than the humbuckers. There is a young bassist in my church who plays the SR1206E, which is the 6-string version of the same bass, and he always sounds good whenever I hear him play.

I've tried to set up the Ibanez as close to the way I have my Yamaha set up as possible. The main difference in the playing feel is the 16.5 mm string spacing on it vs. 18 mm on the Yamaha. I wasn't sure about the narrower spacing on the Ibby at first but didn't take me long to feel comfortable on it.

One thing I really hate about the Ibanez is the truss rod access at the headstock with a screwed-on cover. E, A and D strings are right over the three little screws holding the cover. What a pain! The Yamaha has the truss rod access at the heel of the neck like American Fenders, which is so much easier to work with.
 
#30
michael_t said:
The main difference is the pickups - Nordstrand Big Singles vs. Yamaha Alnico humbuckers. I've always liked the sound of the Big Singles as they have more of the J bass flavor in their natural tone (passive) with a bit more bite than the humbuckers. There is a young bassist in my church who plays the SR1206E, which is the 6-string version of the same bass, and he always sounds good whenever I hear him play.

I've tried to set up the Ibanez as close to the way I have my Yamaha set up as possible. The main difference in the playing feel is the 16.5 mm string spacing on it vs. 18 mm on the Yamaha. I wasn't sure about the narrower spacing on the Ibby at first but didn't take me long to feel comfortable on it.

One thing I really hate about the Ibanez is the truss rod access at the headstock with a screwed-on cover. E, A and D strings are right over the three little screws holding the cover. What a pain! The Yamaha has the truss rod access at the heel of the neck like American Fenders, which is so much easier to deal with.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I started playing bass on a 5-string Yamaha, and mostly used one 5-string Yamaha or another for years. Switched to Fenders about eight years ago because I wanted that sound. I've been thinking about getting another 5- or 6-string recently, but not sure what I want. :-)

Local stores ... well, they're all closed right now altogether... but even when they were open, the bass selection was pretty minimal.

The 5-string Stingray sounds real nice in demo YouTube videos, and might be a good next step in the "Fender" progression...
 
#31
trothwell said:
Thanks! I started playing bass on a 5-string Yamaha, and mostly used one 5-string Yamaha or another for years. Switched to Fenders about eight years ago because I wanted that sound. I've been thinking about getting another 5- or 6-string recently, but not sure what I want. :)
Click to expand...

There is no cure for GAS, is there? ;)

Here's what I'm GAS'ing for right now...

Yamaha BB735A: (The only thing missing in my current arsenal is a PJ.)

Yamaha BB735A 2 (800x800).jpg
 
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#33
trothwell said:
My newest bass, I've had for just over five years... I think I'm not doing too badly on mindless acquisition of gear... :)
Click to expand...

It's been almost two years since I got my Yamaha as my third bass. All three basses I own now I intend to keep for the rest of my life. Just one more...that's all I ask. And I'll make sure my next acquisition will be anything but "mindless". :D
 
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#34
Both the SS's & the BPN's are great strings. I like the grit in the SS's when needed; I like the roundness of the BNP's when needed.

To my ears, the SS's have the grind that SS's are supposed to have, without being harsh, as other stainless strings can be. Likewise with the BPN's - big, round, but with character, and I don't have to wait on them to settle in.
 
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#40
Stan_da_man said:
That would probably be the most fair comparison.
Click to expand...

I've played them both, but did not try to do a serious A/B comparison.

As I recall, I think the DR Steel Lo Riders felt smoother and more flexible than the GHS Super Steels of comparable gauge (though not as flexible as DR round core strings).

I found the DR strings to have a more "modern" and you might say "clean" or "sterile" sound... I think the GHS Super Steels have more of a vintage-y character.

My personal tastes tend to run more toward the GHS sonic character than DR, but I think they are both objectively fine, high-quality strings.
 
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