Pressure wounds

[Bent77]

Who besides GHS makes a compressed NPS string?

I like the sound of worn out slinky’s, but I didn’t see those from EB unless I missed them on their site
It typically takes me a year to get them good and dead, I don’t have sweaty or acidic hands

 

[bholder]

I think Ken Smith does ("Compressors"), but they're just a custom gauge of the GHS strings under the covers (from what I read).

 

[michael_t]

Who besides GHS makes a compressed NPS string?

First off, GHS Pressurewounds are NOT nickel-plated steel; they're Alloy 52, which is a nickel-iron alloy. The same with Ken Smith Compressors.

The only NPS "pressurewounds" in the market are the SIT Silencers.

Rotosound also has their version of "pressurewouds", called Solo Bass 55, but only in stainless steel.

 

[dagrev]

Bent- Was there something about the GHS version that turned you off? They are great strings. I've used them for years and have them on a couple basses. On those two, they are The string. I never consider other options for those two.

 

[Bent77]

Bent- Was there something about the GHS version that turned you off? They are great strings. I've used them for years and have them on a couple basses. On those two, they are The string. I never consider other options for those two.

I used a set once before, but don’t remember much about them. My overall experience with GHS has been “meh”

 

[dagrev]

I used a set once before, but don’t remember much about them. My overall experience with GHS has been “meh”

I see. They don't sound like anything else GHS offers. Ground-wounds are awful, in my experience, but the GHS PWs work great for me in a couple applications, and never had a failure. The bad thing is they aren't as cheap as many roundwounds for trial purposes. I've bought a set in the classifieds. Not as expensive to try anything that way.

 

[michael_t]

I like the sound of worn out slinky’s, but I didn’t see those from EB unless I missed them on their site
It typically takes me a year to get them good and dead, I don’t have sweaty or acidic hands

I replaced the GHS Pressurewounds on my P bass with a set of DR Nickel Lo-Riders a little over a month ago, and so far I really like them. They have nice punchy warmth to their tone with smooth but clear midrange without a zingy top end. They're not "pressurewound" as such but probably one of the smoothest-feeling roundwounds I've tried.

Do you actually want your strings "dead and worn out", or "well broken-in"?

 

[Charley Umbria]

I use EB Super Slinkies almost exclusively, but I also have one bass with Pressurewounds. If you’re looking for something that feels and sounds like broken-in Slinkies, Pressurewounds are not it. I like the Pressurewounds for what they are, though.

 

[Bent77]

I see. They don't sound like anything else GHS offers. Ground-wounds are awful, in my experience, but the GHS PWs work great for me in a couple applications, and never had a failure. The bad thing is they aren't as cheap as many roundwounds for trial purposes. I've bought a set in the classifieds. Not as expensive to try anything that way.

Yeah been keeping an eye open. Use any of these on a Bird?

 

[Bent77]

I replaced the GHS Pressurewounds on my P bass with a set of DR Nickel Lo-Riders a little over a month ago, and so far I really like them. They have nice punchy warmth to their tone with smooth but clear midrange without a zingy top end. They're not "pressurewound" as such but probably one of the smoothest-feeling roundwounds I've tried.

Do you actually want your strings "dead and worn out", or "well broken-in"?

Kinda like that well broke in

 

[Bent77]

I use EB Super Slinkies almost exclusively, but I also have one bass with Pressurewounds. If you’re looking for something that feels and sounds like broken-in Slinkies, Pressurewounds are not it. I like the Pressurewounds for what they are, though.

Talk to me about the Slinkies vs Super Slinkies

 

[michael_t]

Talk to me about the Slinkies vs Super Slinkies

Just different names for different sets of gauges.

Extra Slinky = 40-60-70-95
Hyper Slinky = 40-60-80-100 (new)
Super Slinky = 45-65-80-100
Hybrid Slinky = 45-65-85-105
Regular Slinky = 50-70-85-105
Power Slinky = 55-75-90-110
Beefy Slinky = 65-80-100-130

Super Slinky 5-string = 40-60-75-95-125
Regular Slinky 5-string = 45-65-80-100-130
Power Slinky 5-string = 50-70-85-105-135

Slinky Long Scale 6-string = 32-45-65-80-100-130

NOTE: Super, Regular and Power Slinkys are NOT the same sets of gauges between 4-string and 5-string.

 

[Bent77]

Just different names for different sets of gauges.

Extra Slinky = 40-60-70-95
Hyper Slinky = 40-60-80-100 (new)
Super Slinky = 45-65-80-100
Hybrid Slinky = 45-65-85-105
Regular Slinky = 50-70-85-105
Power Slinky = 55-75-90-110
Beefy Slinky = 65-80-100-130

Super Slinky 5-string = 40-60-75-95-125
Regular Slinky 5-string = 45-65-80-100-130
Power Slinky 5-string = 50-70-85-105-135

Slinky Long Scale 6-string = 32-45-65-80-100-130

NOTE: Super, Regular and Power Slinkys are NOT the same sets of gauges between 4-string and 5-string.

You know, I think the super are what I normally use. Pink bag

I figured I’ll just order a few sets of different things and see what I like this week

 

[michael_t]

Kinda like that well broke in

In that case, you actually might like the DR Nickel Lo-Riders. I do like the sound of "well broken-in" NPS rounds myself, and that means punch and smooth warmth without zingy brightness or harsh overtones. The NLRs are giving me just that after only a month.

 

[Bent77]

In that case, you actually might like the DR Nickel Lo-Riders. I do like the sound of "well broken-in" NPS rounds myself, and that means punch and smooth warmth without zingy brightness or harsh overtones. The NLRs are giving me just that after only a month.

Thanks Michael, I’ll put those on the list for sure!

 

[Bob_Ross]

They [GHS Pressurewounds] are great strings.

Ground-wounds are awful, in my experience, but the GHS PWs work great for me in a couple applications.

Interesting. Conversely, I've used the Ken Smith branded version of GHS Pressurewounds (Smith calles them "Compressors") and the Ken Smith groundwound strings (no idea who makes those, but Smith calls them "Slick Round") and my impression is 180° opposite yours: I couldn't get rid of the Presurewound/Compressors fast enough, though I did try two or three different sets; they gave me nothing that I look for from a bass string...whereas the groundwound/Slick Round have become my go-to string on fretless bass for a punchy articulate but not-too-zingy Jaco/Percy/Mick Karn type of sound.

 

[michael_t]

the Ken Smith groundwound strings (no idea who makes those, but Smith calls them "Slick Round")

KS Slick Rounds are also made by GHS, and they're the closest sibling to the GHS Brite Flats (Alloy 52 groundwound/half-rounds).

I personally prefer the Pressurewounds over the Brite Flats, but that's a matter of personal preference. If you like the Slick Rounds better than the Compressors, that would be your personal choice. Great!

 

[dagrev]

Interesting. Conversely, I've used the Ken Smith branded version of GHS Pressurewounds (Smith calles them "Compressors") and the Ken Smith groundwound strings (no idea who makes those, but Smith calls them "Slick Round") and my impression is 180° opposite yours: I couldn't get rid of the Presurewound/Compressors fast enough, though I did try two or three different sets; they gave me nothing that I look for from a bass string...whereas the groundwound/Slick Round have become my go-to string on fretless bass for a punchy articulate but not-too-zingy Jaco/Percy/Mick Karn type of sound.

I still have a set, maybe two of the D'Add half-rounds. One day I might try them on something since it's been so long. It they sounded great, I could likely get used to the feel.

 

[bassdude51]

I have a Jack Casady bass with GHS Pressure Wounds 40-96. I really like them a lot! They sound like mellow rounds with the zingy high end rolled off a bit. But, I will say that by feel, I can't really tell that the outer winding is compressed. They feel like rounds to me and there is some finger noise when I slide from fret to fret. IMHO. YMMV.

 

[michael_t]

I can't really tell that the outer winding is compressed. They feel like rounds to me and there is some finger noise when I slide from fret to fret.

Prior to discovering the Pressurewounds, my two basses both had been wearing flats. So, I thought they sounded and FELT like any rounds. Nothing special.

Then I went on a spree trying out several different sets of rounds. It was when I came back to the PWs I realized how smooth they actually were in comparison. Just don't expect flatwound-like smoothness from the PWs.

It's all relative to one's expectations, I guess...