Not a fan of GHS Strings...

[mmbongo]

I want to try the progressives, but silks really bug me. I just cant handle this look. The fact that they are all tattered, and they never line up, they just look sloppy compared to a string that doesn't use them

Keep in mind that if you DO decide to try Progressives on your Warwick, you'll need to buy extra long E and B strings. The ones they package in their sets are shorter than all the other strings and will not fit on a Warwick. Take a wild guess how I know

www.bassstringsonline.com sells the singles, so you can do that or build an entire custom set from singles. GHS charges a premium for singles though.

 

[deckstirparnell]

I've used Boomers since they originally came out. I've also used Pressurewounds on certain basses since they came out. Love 'em both. Progressives didn't do much for me. I live in GHS's home area and have an Artist Endorsement with them so I guess I have a biased opinion.
Everybody's ears, likes and dislikes are different. Also everybody's chemical makeup in their skin is different. Some people's strings last them a long time. Other peoples chemical makeup kills strings fast. Not a choice we get to make.
Far be it from me to tell you what to like or not like. Use what makes you happy.

 

[mmbongo]

I've used Boomers since they originally came out. I've also used Pressurewounds on certain basses since they came out. Love 'em both. Progressives didn't do much for me. I live in GHS's home area and have an Artist Endorsement with them so I guess I have a biased opinion.
Everybody's ears, likes and dislikes are different. Also everybody's chemical makeup in their skin is different. Some people's strings last them a long time. Other peoples chemical makeup kills strings fast. Not a choice we get to make.
Far be it from me to tell you what to like or not like. Use what makes you happy.

When DID they first come out? Were Boomers their first bass strings?

 

[Jamarvic]

I've used Boomers since they originally came out. I've also used Pressurewounds on certain basses since they came out. Love 'em both. Progressives didn't do much for me. I live in GHS's home area and have an Artist Endorsement with them so I guess I have a biased opinion.
Everybody's ears, likes and dislikes are different. Also everybody's chemical makeup in their skin is different. Some people's strings last them a long time. Other peoples chemical makeup kills strings fast. Not a choice we get to make.
Far be it from me to tell you what to like or not like. Use what makes you happy.

Good point, I'm not a string killer, but I know a couple of players that have the clammiest hands and will kill strings, I've had the bad luck of letting them use my bass when we've been on the same gig and seen it first hand.

 

[Contractor821]

What kind of sound are you looking for, and specifically what aren't the Boomers doing for you? I've played the bulk of our sets so would be happy to give you a couple of options based on that info.

Im looking for something thats really bright and punchy, a lot of people have said Boomers are perfect but I cant seem to get into Boomers. I know that GHS strings are considered one of the best brands and I have absolutely nothing against the company, I would just like to try a different set if at all possible.
The Boomers are bright, dont get me wrong but im just not a fan of them, its hard to explain why, is there any other set that is really bright and punchy I could give a try?

 

[Jon Moody]

Keep in mind that if you DO decide to try Progressives on your Warwick, you'll need to buy extra long E and B strings. The ones they package in their sets are shorter than all the other strings and will not fit on a Warwick. Take a wild guess how I know

Yeah, the .130 I use for my bass (which is only available in standard long scale) has the silk go about 1/8" or so past the nut on my Streamer LX and Corvette. Maybe next time I'll grab an extra long B string and see if it makes any difference, but I haven't noticed anything other than aesthetics in the two years I've been using them. Tonally there hasn't been any real difference, and especially when you're using a Fretwrap on strings, where the silk is becomes a moot point.

Im looking for something thats really bright and punchy, a lot of people have said Boomers are perfect but I cant seem to get into Boomers. I know that GHS strings are considered one of the best brands and I have absolutely nothing against the company, I would just like to try a different set if at all possible.
The Boomers are bright, dont get me wrong but im just not a fan of them, its hard to explain why, is there any other set that is really bright and punchy I could give a try?

We've got a lot of bright and punchy strings, if you're not married to nickels.

As mentioned a couple of times, Progressives will be brighter and are a great string. I feel the sound is a little more growly than some of our other ones, but not overly so (especially since I have them on a couple Warwicks that have their own signature growl). I'd probably recommend these first for you to try out.

Brighter than that are Super Steels, which are very hi-fi and articulate. When I originally started with GHS (as a humble endorsing artist), I first grabbed a set of Super Steels, as they were tonally close to what I was using prior. They sound amazing and have a tight, focused sound that you could equate to "piano clarity."

Above that are the Contact Cores, which are the Super Steels but with an exposed core by the bridge. I've used these as well, and they offer a little more focus on the lower strings (starting at D they're exposed). These are on my fretless basses and they do really well to even out the darker nature of those basses.

If there's anything else I can answer, please let me know.

 

[Gasman]

Are Progressives nickel or SS? I've used Boomers and liked them, but I keep going back to Roto66's for roundwound strings. I don't really care for the feel of the Roto's as much, but in the end they get the sound I want from a roundwound string. I've tried D'addario, Fender, DR, and Dean Markley stainless steels, but they don't cut it for me. Where would you say the Progressives fall in the brightness/tone spectrum?

 

[Jon Moody]

Are Progressives nickel or SS?

That I'm going to have to check on.

I've used Boomers and liked them, but I keep going back to Roto66's for roundwound strings. I don't really care for the feel of the Roto's as much, but in the end they get the sound I want from a roundwound string. I've tried D'addario, Fender, DR, and Dean Markley stainless steels, but they don't cut it for me. Where would you say the Progressives fall in the brightness/tone spectrum?

Compared to the Roto 66s (that I've used many times as well), I'd say the Progressives are a bit darker and fuller sounding, but retain that aggressiveness that the Rotos have.

 

[SolarMan]

I've never tried GHS rounds - those progressives sound interesting.

For flats, however, I think the GHS Precision flats are número UNO.

 

[Gasman]

Sweet. Thanks!

 

[Stevorebob]

Are Progressives nickel or SS?

My one complaint about GHS (as well as many others in the musical instrument industry) is the lack of clear information on their website. Is "fillament grade alloy" nickel, stainless or neither? Are the strings hex core or not? Is the B tapered or not? Are there silks or not, and if so, what color? (While I have this micro-rant going, as for others: What is the string spacing of that bass? What is the resistance of that big-bicks cable? Will that pedal work for bass or just kill the low end? )

Where would you say the Progressives fall in the brightness/tone spectrum?

This is one very good feature on the GHS site: There is a bright-to-mellow scale that indicates where each GHS string fits. Good for comparing one GHS string to another. (Would be great if a string retailer -- ot maybe an overly ambitious TBer -- could score strings in a similar manner relative to one another. )

 

[madbassplaya]

Are Progressives nickel or SS? I've used Boomers and liked them, but I keep going back to Roto66's for roundwound strings. I don't really care for the feel of the Roto's as much, but in the end they get the sound I want from a roundwound string. I've tried D'addario, Fender, DR, and Dean Markley stainless steels, but they don't cut it for me. Where would you say the Progressives fall in the brightness/tone spectrum?

From what I understand they are a nickel and iron alloy. Great sounding string! Full and even tone. Not as bright as a stainleaa but brighter than some nickels.

 

[Hopkins]

Keep in mind that if you DO decide to try Progressives on your Warwick, you'll need to buy extra long E and B strings. The ones they package in their sets are shorter than all the other strings and will not fit on a Warwick. Take a wild guess how I know

www.bassstringsonline.com sells the singles, so you can do that or build an entire custom set from singles. GHS charges a premium for singles though.

That's not my bass. I don't have a bass with silks on them so I had to find a picture on Google

 

[ejaggers]

I had Boomers on my P for a while, but didn't keep them very long because I wanted flats. I can't really say anything bad about them because I didn't really use them that much. I went to LaBella deep talking on my P, but I had GHS Brite Flats on my Coronado, and loved them. I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned them. I put the Boomers on a project bass that I recently completed, but it needs a setup, so I still haven't used them much.

057912

 

[Jon Moody]

From what I understand they are a nickel and iron alloy. Great sounding string! Full and even tone. Not as bright as a stainleaa but brighter than some nickels.

That is correct; not a plating but an alloy. Same stuff that was used in our B52s, and currently in the Pressurewounds and Bright Flats.

 

[mrjim123]

I love the GHS Pressurewounds. They have a very nice tone that sits in the middle between rounds and flats. Good review here: .

 

[madbassplaya]

Here's a shot of the Progressives on my Valenti:

 

[led4thehed2]

Every now and again I'll try different strings, but I always come back to GHS Boomers. I finally got to the point where I learned my lesson and now I don't even bother with other strings.

 

[JTE]

I don't like Boomers, but that's only one kind of bass string they make. Seems silly to say you don't like GHS when you haven't tried Precision Flats, Brite Flats, Progressives, Super Steels, etc.

John

 

[96tbird]

^pressurewounds.