GHS to make a Flatwound version of their Balanced Tension strings?

[red_rhino]

Not to hijack the discussion, but do guitar players obsess as much as bass players about string tension, construction, silk colors, winding length, etc? Seems like most of the guitar players I know have been using the same brand and type of string that they settled on 20+ years ago.

 

[Killing Floor]

Why not? They make balanced rounds, seems like an easy decision. I'd try a set.
I wonder with all the private label OE strings they sell, do they make balanced flats for someone else already?

 

[BassJuju]

I recently have become a huge GHS fan. I’ve switched all my basses to them. I love the heavy boomers, the precision flats, and the balanced nickels are amazing. I just ordered 3 sets of Balanced Nickels from CME and told them to stock them for the future. I would absolutely love to try a set of balanced flats. Please, add them to the line.

 

[michael_t]

THESE are exactly what I’ve been waiting for GHS to make.

I knew you would like it.

How about "pure nickel pressurewound on a round core"? GHS already offers such a thing as an electric guitar string called "Nickel Rockers". Why not for bass?

Products - NICKEL ROCKERS™ - GHS Strings

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Nope, I can't stand the floppiness and the soft attack of round-cores.
But I would try them anyway because I may be surprised.

Just asking, you find Bass Boomers floppy? Soft attack? I have a set on my PJ right now and I have no issues with attack and floppyness. I use the .105 gauge. They hold up well over many hours of play.

That said, my usual strings are DR Lo Riders hex core, .105 gauge.

As for the FW users.. that’s their problem. LOL. Way too much snobbery there over a sound that sounds like a flat tire, flap..flap..flap.. LOL!!! Chin up!!

 

[Vinny_G]

Just asking, you find Bass Boomers floppy? Soft attack? I have a set on my PJ right now and I have no issues with attack and floppyness. I use the .105 gauge. They hold up well over many hours of play.

If you're talking about the RC Bass Boomers, I can't say, I haven't tried them yet. They're on my list though, because I like what I hear in demo videos. As for the classic Boomers, these are good NPS strings, but I much prefer the Super Steels. And I recognize, as michael_t said, that they are a bit more balanced than the competition.

I've been making my own balanced tension sets for a while with single strings of different brands of hex-core steel rounds, but it would be more interesting for me (and cheaper) to buy ready-made sets specially designed for this purpose, as D'Addario did with their EXL-BT series.

Now, I realize I'm in the minority, so I don't think I will see this in my lifetime, but I am convinced that the balanced tension concept is the future of bass strings.

 

[TC.65]

The Balanced Nickels were a big step forward for GHS in terms of innovation - balanced construction, pure nickel final cover and round core.

How about a flatwound version of them? Pure Nickel flatwound on a round core with balanced construction!

This whole idea of "balanced construction" for a flatwound is an intriguing one, and a very challenging one, considering its main objective is "balanced tone" across all strings and up and down the neck. How many posts have we all read by people complaining how unbalanced their new set of flats sounded, and people advising them to give them six months to ten years for them to "balance out eventually"?

I would definitely try them! IMHO The GHS Balanced NICKELS are the best round wound strings made.

 

[matthewwithanm]

I've been really enjoying their flats but I haven't tried the balanced nickels. Maybe I'll grab them next time but I haven't been playing my roundwound basses that much lately so a flatwound version would be cool!

 

[whero]

I'm a big fan of the GHS Balanced Nickels. More than the tension, I appreciate the balance of tone and volume from the E to the G, No more of that weak, thin sound in the upper register. If GHS made a balanced flat I'd definitely give it a go, but I love the BNs so much I can't guarantee I wouldn't just go back to them.

 

[Root 5]

Because your original email to Elizabeth (which I'm CC'd on), asked about making a set of flats like our Balanced Nickels, which is slightly more involved than just "balanced tension."

If you make a set of pure nickel flats, I'll be whipping my wallet out and throwing lots of loonies & toonies at you.

Personally, I don't care about balanced tension. I think it's overstated.

 

[Max Bogosity]

Not to hijack the discussion, but do guitar players obsess as much as bass players about string tension, construction, silk colors, winding length, etc? Seems like most of the guitar players I know have been using the same brand and type of string that they settled on 20+ years ago.

That’s pretty much my experience. I messed around a lot with different strings when I started playing electric guitar ‘way back when’ and eventually came to the conclusion that they all sounded basically the same so I might as well buy from the guys that would let me trade in string packages for pint glasses.

Back to the OP, I don’t care much about balanced tension, but I sure would like a flat wound B string that plays notes instead of just going fump fump fump.

 

[NKBassman]

If you're talking just about "balanced tension," have you looked into the CM3050 set (45-60-80-105)?

Because your original email to Elizabeth (which I'm CC'd on), asked about making a set of flats like our Balanced Nickels, which is slightly more involved than just "balanced tension."

The CM3050s worked wonderfully for me.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

If you're talking about the RC Bass Boomers, I can't say, I haven't tried them yet. They're on my list though, because I like what I hear in demo videos. As for the classic Boomers, these are good NPS strings, but I much prefer the Super Steels. And I recognize, as michael_t said, that they are a bit more balanced than the competition.

I've been making my own balanced tension sets for a while with single strings of different brands of hex-core steel rounds, but it would be more interesting for me (and cheaper) to buy ready-made sets specially designed for this purpose, as D'Addario did with their EXL-BT series.

Now, I realize I'm in the minority, so I don't think I will see this in my lifetime, but I am convinced that the balanced tension concept is the future of bass strings.

GHS Bass Boomers.

 

[Markzts]

I have three 30" scale basses that have all ended up with GHS Balanced Nickels on them. The tonal consistency as well as tension consistency are the reasons why. If I could get a flatwound set of those for one of those basses that would be great!

 

[DaveAceofBass]

That would be awesome. Maybe a little brighter / less dampened version on a round core...as long as they keep making them in the 38” wind, they are some of the only strings that fit my bass.

 

[michael_t]

...as long as they keep making them in the 38” wind, they are some of the only strings that fit my bass.

Ironically, the only wish I have for a few of the current GHS models (Precision Flats, Brite Flats & Super Steels) is they be made available with 37.25" winding length like the rest of the lineup.

 

[Border]

I love the feel of the Balanced Nickels. While I cannot measure their tensions, they have a great feel and tone from string to string. Flats with a similar feel and even timbre from string to string would be awesome.

I agree completely. I love the Balanced Nickels and have them on a couple of my basses. I have recently started playing flats and confess to liking them so far. I would absolutely love to play a set of Balanced Nickels flats.

 

[stratovani]

Hopefully any new strings from GHS will not be as sticky as their Brite Flats. After two months of continuous playing mine are finally starting to feel not sticky.

 

[michael_t]

Hopefully any new strings from GHS will not be as sticky as their Brite Flats.

A simple alcohol wipe BEFORE INSTALLATION. My Brite Flats were as smooth as any flats after three days of playing in.

 

[G On Bass]

I was asked by Elizabeth Randall (the National Sales Manager for GHS strings)
if a set of Balanced Tension Flats would be welcome by bassists?

I said YES-YES-YES!!!

Please comment if you agree! With enough support, maybe we can make it happen.

If they made a light gauge 5 string set without a tapered B I would absolutely buy and try a set.