NPS String Experimentation

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I'm with Emanuel Apascaritei here... the Mangans are excellent. Even string to string. Excellent note integrity. Pretty punchy with a tasteful amount of low mids and just the right amount of top end. Lower tension, smooth and they feel great.

I'm not seeing much similarities with EB strings. They are closer to a fusion of DR Low Riders (feel), Fodera NPS (tone) and Dunlop Super Brights (tone/feel).

They sound good on a P bass but great on a jazz. While my preference is still with round core strings I believe I may be calling Mangans my favorite hex core string. I like where they sit in the audio spectrum and (surprising for me and hex core) how they feel under both hands.

The set on my P I'm moving over to my wifes Squier VM 77 jazz. I think they will kill on it. (EDIT: I was wrong. On this bass they only sounded OK. Much better on my jazz.)

 

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Three years ago I started the process of NPS experimentation and this thread was born. With this last round I've decided I'm done experimenting with NPS strings. Here are some final thoughts before I close up shop...

Round core wins! They are more compliant and the give underneath the fretting hand is priceless. Versions with higher tension have a better striking hand response, improved overtones and harmonics. Even at higher tension the fretting hand is never uncomfortable.

Give me mids! Mids at the string add character to the instrument itself. As the strings age the bass still cuts through no matter what. Sure you can EQ in more mids but it doesn't sound the same. If you play direct a lot that instrument character becomes all the more important. Call me crazy but there is just something about string interaction with the instrument wood and pickups that can't be replicated any other way.

Fodera NPS are still the winner and will continue to live on my J bass. They feel great and sound great. Tension is just right, response is even and predictable. They are unparalleled in longevity for non-coated NPS strings and always cut through the mix. IMHO these strings are the baseline and standard for what a string should be. I will always start with them for any future basses.

GHS Round Core Boomers came as a big surprise and stole the show on my P bass. They have serious emphasis in the low mids and loads of throaty growl. All strings have a warm and fat tonal response yet still a top end that lasts a good amount of time. They are just what this P bass wanted. For those of you like myself that have been turned off by the tension of their hex core counterpart, don't let that stop you from trying these out. The tension is greatly reduced and they feel great. A unique aspect to these strings that shouldn't go unnoticed is the fact that GHS designed them to not require crimping.

Fodera NPS = Excalibur
GHS Round Core Boomers = Mjolnir


In the future I may experiment with flats and SS rounds but for now I'm hanging up my experimentation hat. That is my story for now. Peace out.

 

[Stan_da_man]

I think Roundcore Boomers are my next purchase - I prefer 45-100 gauge nowadays and Sunbeams, which are my go to string, are too low tension for that. These Boomers are a little higher tension but still have that roundcore give which I love. Plus the fact they have that low mid growl and fat bottom makes them sound right up my street.