I've got a hybrid set of singles. .40 .55 .75 .95. low tension but same great GHS sound. the .45 .60 .80 .105 set I had was too high tension on my left arm, I was getting pains. the lower set sounds the same but way more elastic. love live GHS
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Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats
- Thread starter Linnin
- Start date
I've got a hybrid set of singles. .40 .55 .75 .95. low tension but same great GHS sound. the .45 .60 .80 .105 set I had was too high tension on my left arm, I was getting pains. the lower set sounds the same but way more elastic. love live GHS
Yeah I started the same way, first experimenting with a .105, then a .100. Both were too "tight" feeling...the 45-95 was just right.
agreed. I loved the midrange of TI's but felt they didn't have the flatwound thump, more like a muted roundwound. the GHS are perfect. thick bass and mids, light top, thumpy decay. but now with the lighter scale they are pliable just like the TI.
I've never used such light gauge strings. Is there any difference in tone or attack, or is the general sound the same?
great question. so far I'm still breaking in mine (3 months standard for GHS) so I can't give a 100% answer. But so far the tone is there similar to a bigger set. I'll report back.
Welp, the Optimas are no more. Two of the strings snapped at the string tree on the headstock. Lasted a whole 20 minutes on the bass until they snapped. What I heard compared to the GHS, well, there's no comparison.
Although the Optima's E string sounded great, the others in the set sounded way too zingy and hollow and not at all like when they were on my other P-bass.
So the old GHS strings are back on there. I had a feeling I shouldn't junk the strings before seeing if the Optimas could hold up, and they can't.
The GHS set seems to be ok, but I know I'll be lucky if I get another 3 months out of them before they'll be too unstable. That'll learn me to always tuning and detuning the strings to adjust the truss rod.
They still sound great though.
Although the Optima's E string sounded great, the others in the set sounded way too zingy and hollow and not at all like when they were on my other P-bass.
So the old GHS strings are back on there. I had a feeling I shouldn't junk the strings before seeing if the Optimas could hold up, and they can't.
The GHS set seems to be ok, but I know I'll be lucky if I get another 3 months out of them before they'll be too unstable. That'll learn me to always tuning and detuning the strings to adjust the truss rod.
They still sound great though.
Ah. I probably should have figured that out, as I have to move the A to access the truss on my 5 string. Haven't had a bass with a headstock truss access for a bit, so it slipped my mind.
I'm using the lighter set of GHS specifically because they somehow manage to have the exact same tone and more importantly, response under my fingers as the heavier set. There aren't many flats that manage to do that, IME. In other words, there's no excess flop when I dig in, and I'm not sacrificing that for a tighter feel on either the plucking or fretting end. In this regard, they're perfect for my needs, whereas the std gauge just feels uneven...but that's for my hands.
If there's anything I wish I could coax out of my currently well broken in set of 45-60-75-95, it's just a little more top end overall. You'd think that wouldn't be a problem with my GK700RBII, but maybe it's the nature of the beast with these strings. Worth mentioning I also use a fair bit of compression via a Keeley Bassist, which naturally attenuates the highest highs, so there's that. I'm sure someone not squishing with a similar comp (or any comp at all) or perhaps using one with a little more inherent brightness probably doesn't have to contend with this.
Its also easier on the truss rod itself to take the string tension off the neck before adjusting, its possible to snap the rod if tightening against the strings.
If you're dealing with a poorly built neck or an already overly tightened truss rod, then yeah, maybe. When you loosen strings and don't adjust under tension, its an uphill battle because the relief is getting pulled back a little as soon as you tighten the strings again. Adjusting under tension while forcing the neck into a slight back bow as you tighten is a much more accurate method, IMO.
did some session work last night and they just sound amazing in the mix. breaking in nicely.
they feel great to play too (.40 .55 .75 .95), equal tension and output and just like a dream. I feel that this set is the answer to the age old "TI flats sound but in a more traditional flatwound". Low tension, heavy mids, but more bass and lighter top like a traditional flat. I'm in love.
they feel great to play too (.40 .55 .75 .95), equal tension and output and just like a dream. I feel that this set is the answer to the age old "TI flats sound but in a more traditional flatwound". Low tension, heavy mids, but more bass and lighter top like a traditional flat. I'm in love.
Well, in a fit of needing cash, I sold both basses with the GHS precisions. In both cases, the guys who bought them said they were in love with the sound and will keep the strings on as long as possible -- one of them it being his first bass with flats ever.
So yeah, both of them are gone. What really surprised me was one of them was in love with my kit P-bass. Fell even more in love once he saw the bass and then played it (and listened to it). He immediately told me the sound he was hearing was the one he'd been searching for all this time.
I'm sad, but happy I've possibly hooked a couple of other people onto the GHS flats. Now I need to get myself another set, although I do like the Webstrings currently on my nightmare orange bass...
So yeah, both of them are gone. What really surprised me was one of them was in love with my kit P-bass. Fell even more in love once he saw the bass and then played it (and listened to it). He immediately told me the sound he was hearing was the one he'd been searching for all this time.
I'm sad, but happy I've possibly hooked a couple of other people onto the GHS flats. Now I need to get myself another set, although I do like the Webstrings currently on my nightmare orange bass...
I haven't. They don't seem to sell them anymore, unfortunately. I have my suspicions as to which company it might be, but nothing definite. They do sound a lot like GHSs, though. They are elevator cables, though.
I've had a set on a '71 Jazz for several months and the E sounds like oooold flat thump, but the other three strings are still pretty bright compared to the E. (I have other basses and have no idea how many hours are on them. Not a huge amount for sure.) I keep thinking they will even out but so far there's still big difference. If I put foam under the A-G they sound like the E. I love feel and the sound, but the tonal differnce is a little hard on my OCD tone nerve. Nothing anyone can do about it, but I wonder if others have experienced this to this degree with decently played strings. Possibly an odd set?
This has been one of the common complaints regarding the GHS P Flats in the past. However, the E string was re-formulated sometime in the last year or so to make it balance better with the rest. Maybe the set you have has an old E string.
I would suggest you contact @Jon Moody, who might be able to fix you up with a newly-formulated E string.
I guess I'm the contrarian in that I wanted all of the strings to sound like the E rather than trying to make the E sound like the others. Just do a lot of chromatic runs on the high strings and they'll settle in just fine in six months time with daily play.
