That is confusing terminology from then especially since they said the following in an interview: The final ribbon of flat wrap is pure nickel; NOT nickel plated steel
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Pure Nickel Alchemists Union
- Thread starter e-flat
- Start date
That statement doesn't say anything about nickel plated steel, and clearly it's not. It's an alloy...not nickel plated or pure nickel.
Yes but TI said themselves:"The final ribbon of flat wrap is pure nickel; NOT nickel plated steel" which adds confusion as on one hand they are saying it is a nickel alloy and on the other they are saying it is pure nickel
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Pyramid Pure Nickels are amazing. They need a LONG time to break in but once they've reached their signature sound they are possibly my favourite roundwound. It's either the Pyramids or TI Superalloys. They last forever too.
I tried the Pyramids based on your description from a long-ago post... they’re terrific! Love their pure nickel guitar strings, too.
All that I use are the TI Jazz Flats and GHS Balanced Nickels. Those 2 sets of strings do all that I want or need. Doesn't get any better than that!
Just ordered a set of the GHS BN's in Medium. Be here Friday so I'll be able to play em in for a couple of days and get used to them before our rehearsal on Sunday. Along with just being nice to finally get the band back together will be nice to get to test them out in a band situation right out of the gate.
The Balanced Nickels break in fairly quick and they sit in the mix really well. I absolutely love them!
One of my minor ( major? ) musical pet-peeves is nickel-plated strings being called "Nickel" strings. They ain't.
I've instantly become a fan of pure nickel strings with the set of GHS BN's I put on yesterday. They've reigned in a couple of things that I haven't liked about rounds on my Moollon and was starting to think it was going to be a flats only bass. BN's are warm, punchy, as well as clear and articulate...but not sterile or anemic by any means. It's the first round wound that I haven't had to play in for a month or so before I could start rolling the tone knob up!
D
I finally got around to testing the GHS Balanced Nickels. I got the 44-106 sets, both long scale and short scale.
I wasn't sure what to expect because I'm a huge fan of pure nickel roundwounds but generally not a big fan of GHS strings. I love how GHS roundwounds feel under the fingers, always very nice and smooth, but I've always preferred the SOUND and lifespan of other strings. For reference: I'm generally a big fan of Thomastik and Pyramid strings + some but definitely not all Roto sets.
I really like these GHS Balanced Nickels though. I still slightly prefer the sound of broken in Pyramid Pure Nickels but it's a close call. Both sound great for a smooth, fat roundwound tone. The Pyramids have a very unique smooth fatness when broken in and the GHS BNs aren't QUITE there but both sound GREAT.
Where they differ a lot is perceived tension. I say "perceived" because I have no idea about the actual tension figures. I guess "stiffness" would be a better term. The GHS BNs are more flexible, the Pyramid PNs are stiffer. Both are within what I would call "normal" stiffness though, not flabby or bridge cables. Having said that, I've only ever used the 45-105 Pyramids so I guess the lighter sets will be more flexible. But when comparing 45-105 Pyramid and 44-106 GHS the Pyramids definitely have a "tighter" feel. Which one is "best" will be purely down to personal taste but like I said, both are well within what I would call "normal" stiffness and I doubt anyone will dislike the tension/stiffness of either (and there's always lighter gauges available from both brands).
One huge advantage with the GHS BNs is that they don't have the long break in period of the Pyramids. The Pyramids sound very clanky (and not in a good way) before they reach their super smooth/fat broken in sound. This may take weeks or longer. When they do they are still my favourite but the GHS BNs are a very close second for a fat, smooth roundwound tone.
If I had to say ONE negative thing about the GHS BNs it would be that they seem to have worse than average tuning stability when brand new. Not a bit deal though, they've been very stable for me once they settled in.
I've only used the Balanced Nickels for about two weeks now so it remains to be seen how they will hold up in the long run. The Pyramids just get better and better with age and never seem to "die". They are a bit like flats in that regard. The Balanced Nickels seem to have a bit more traditional roundwound "feel" to them so I suspect they may not have this long term quality but like I said, this remains to be seen.
Definitely my favourite GHS strings, by far!
I wasn't sure what to expect because I'm a huge fan of pure nickel roundwounds but generally not a big fan of GHS strings. I love how GHS roundwounds feel under the fingers, always very nice and smooth, but I've always preferred the SOUND and lifespan of other strings. For reference: I'm generally a big fan of Thomastik and Pyramid strings + some but definitely not all Roto sets.
I really like these GHS Balanced Nickels though. I still slightly prefer the sound of broken in Pyramid Pure Nickels but it's a close call. Both sound great for a smooth, fat roundwound tone. The Pyramids have a very unique smooth fatness when broken in and the GHS BNs aren't QUITE there but both sound GREAT.
Where they differ a lot is perceived tension. I say "perceived" because I have no idea about the actual tension figures. I guess "stiffness" would be a better term. The GHS BNs are more flexible, the Pyramid PNs are stiffer. Both are within what I would call "normal" stiffness though, not flabby or bridge cables. Having said that, I've only ever used the 45-105 Pyramids so I guess the lighter sets will be more flexible. But when comparing 45-105 Pyramid and 44-106 GHS the Pyramids definitely have a "tighter" feel. Which one is "best" will be purely down to personal taste but like I said, both are well within what I would call "normal" stiffness and I doubt anyone will dislike the tension/stiffness of either (and there's always lighter gauges available from both brands).
One huge advantage with the GHS BNs is that they don't have the long break in period of the Pyramids. The Pyramids sound very clanky (and not in a good way) before they reach their super smooth/fat broken in sound. This may take weeks or longer. When they do they are still my favourite but the GHS BNs are a very close second for a fat, smooth roundwound tone.
If I had to say ONE negative thing about the GHS BNs it would be that they seem to have worse than average tuning stability when brand new. Not a bit deal though, they've been very stable for me once they settled in.
I've only used the Balanced Nickels for about two weeks now so it remains to be seen how they will hold up in the long run. The Pyramids just get better and better with age and never seem to "die". They are a bit like flats in that regard. The Balanced Nickels seem to have a bit more traditional roundwound "feel" to them so I suspect they may not have this long term quality but like I said, this remains to be seen.
Definitely my favourite GHS strings, by far!
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Great summary of the BNs, thanks for the review! I’m a massive Pyramid Nickel fan, too, and really love their depth. It’s hard to beat them for an all-around Pure Nickel string... I think one of the reasons i keep coming back to them in my constant cycle of string tasting is that they have a smoother, more laid back top end once they are a couple weeks old and their midrange isn’t “forced” sounding. I agree, too, that they seem to get a bit fatter as they age.
I believe the only pure nickel ones I've tried are the TI short scale Jazz Rounds on my Wattplower (unless the stock strings on the JMJ Mustang are the 7150s). Love the feel on them there & the tonal difference was pure win for me coming from the NYXLs I had on it previously. Really surprising was the degree of the healthy bump in output experienced w/ that string change.
TI Jazz Rounds (long scale) are my newest obsession - i just put a set on my stack-knob Jazz Bass. I’ve been hunting for the perfect string compliment for that bass & think I may have finally found them in the TI Rounds. No woof or bass hype, strong vocal midrange, and the top end is clear with no “zing” or artifice.
D
Those are absolutely wonderful strings but very unforgiving if your bass isn't in immaculate condition. Anything less than a PERFECT neck with PERFECT fretwork and there WILL be buzz, even when raising the action sky high.
Very unique strings. There's nothing even remotely close out there. The sound is so perfectly balanced that it makes other strings seem groteque by comparison. But they're also so light that I'm having problems controlling them unless I keep my focus on not digging in too hard. So they don't really suit my style of playing. But I still keep a J-bass with them installed because I love them so much and use them quite a bit in the studio.
I have spoken directly to Thomastik Infeld. They told me the Jazz Flats and Jazz Rounds are pure nickel.
Gabriel Tenorio Pure Nickel Rounds:
These have been on my wish list for a long time, and I finally ordered a set to try on my Jazz Bass.
Tonally, my first impression was that the Tenorio Pure Nickels are closest to Pyramid Nickels (some of my favorites) - focused low end, clarity in the highs but with laid back treble, and a generally warm voice. They are round core, but not “floppy” or bendy at all. (Think Fodera Nickel tension rather than DR Sunbeams.) Nice and taut but not a “high tension” string. These measure 45/62/85/104 on my calipers.
After comparing them directly to Pyramids & playing them for several days, I’m getting a feel for the Tenorio Nickels’ unique characteristics... a little more “rasp” than Pyramids, and a little more midrange as well. The comparison that I keep coming to is: 85% Pyramid Nickels with 15% DR Fat Beam (the slight midrange rasp and focused lows). These are great strings, though pricey- Tenorio is a one-man shop, and the quality of these strings shows the pride he takes in his work.
These have been on my wish list for a long time, and I finally ordered a set to try on my Jazz Bass.
Tonally, my first impression was that the Tenorio Pure Nickels are closest to Pyramid Nickels (some of my favorites) - focused low end, clarity in the highs but with laid back treble, and a generally warm voice. They are round core, but not “floppy” or bendy at all. (Think Fodera Nickel tension rather than DR Sunbeams.) Nice and taut but not a “high tension” string. These measure 45/62/85/104 on my calipers.
After comparing them directly to Pyramids & playing them for several days, I’m getting a feel for the Tenorio Nickels’ unique characteristics... a little more “rasp” than Pyramids, and a little more midrange as well. The comparison that I keep coming to is: 85% Pyramid Nickels with 15% DR Fat Beam (the slight midrange rasp and focused lows). These are great strings, though pricey- Tenorio is a one-man shop, and the quality of these strings shows the pride he takes in his work.
Yep on all counts. Love them on my P Bird. They stay in tune forever too.
