Help Identifying/Recommending Roundwound Strings

[michael_t]

I've been looking at the Balanced Nickels too, thanks! The balance across strings is certainly appealing. How does their tone compare? From the videos I've watched, they seem a quite a bit more mid-forward while more muted on the top- and bottom-end compared to the Sunbeams.

I've tried both the Sunbeams and the Balanced Nickels in the past. SB have a fuller and warmer bottom with a brighter top end, while the lows on the BN are deep and more focused. I did like the smooth but clear midrange on the BN. As already mentioned above, BN are firmer in feel than SB. In fact, the BN 40-101 would feel closer to the SB 45-105.

 

[cornwallis89]

I've tried both the Sunbeams and the Balanced Nickels in the past. SB have a fuller and warmer bottom with a brighter top end, while the lows on the BN are deep and more focused. I did like the smooth but clear midrange on the BN. As already mentioned above, BN are firmer in feel than SB. In fact, the BN 40-101 would feel closer to the SB 45-105.

Thanks - would you say the Sunbeams are more appropriate for a classic vintage (roundwound) tone on a P, or that they'd both fit the bill, just different and personal preference?

 

[smatanovic]

If the OP likes the "softer and flexible feel" and "high end sparkle" of the strings in question, the Boomers would be the last thing I would recommend as they're one of the stiffest of rounds.

Not the round core Boomers; I find them very flexible.

 

[Dincrest]

Thing is, the Round Core Boomers have the meat of their tone in upper mids and the OP prefers a more subdued midrange. In my experience, they're more mid-forward than the Balanced Nickels which I think have enough mids to sit well in the mix but are smooth and subdued enough that they don't get honky and take away from the other frequencies.

 

[michael_t]

Thanks - would you say the Sunbeams are more appropriate for a classic vintage (roundwound) tone on a P, or that they'd both fit the bill, just different and personal preference?

I would say the BN, being pure nickel, can do "vintage" better than the SB, which I would consider more "modern". I did try the BN on my P bass, and liked the warmth without losing any of the clarity.

 

[michael_t]

Not the round core Boomers; I find them very flexible.

I did mean the regular hex-core Boomers. RCB are comfortable but still not quite as flexible as the Sunbeams, at least based on my experience.

 

[smatanovic]

I did mean the regular hex-core Boomers. RCB are comfortable but still not quite as flexible as the Sunbeams, at least based on my experience.

Good to know. I’ve never tried DR strings.

 

[cornwallis89]

I would say the BN, being pure nickel, can do "vintage" better than the SB, which I would consider more "modern". I did try the BN on my P bass, and liked the warmth without losing any of the clarity.

Thanks, looks like I'll have to try them!