Review: GHS Balanced Nickels 4M-NB

[Pbassmanca]

A lot less bright and a lot more stiff would be more accurate, but yes

Sounds like my kind of bass string...

 

[Linnin]

I took the 4L-BN set off my P after one gig...not for me, I'm spoiled with LaBella 760FLs.

If you're in love with flats there is never any reason to try rounds. I have to have both. So I do.

 

[tallboybass]

The BN set will probably find its way to the Jazz eventually. I like both rounds and flats, but apparently, only flats on the P.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Too middy, not enough lows.

Sorry to hear they didn't pair up well with your bass/tone goals.

"Too Middy" is generally what I look for in a set of bass strings.

How's the string tension?

I very much refer high tension strings. The only round core strings I've tried were a set of Fodera Nickels. Awesome strings, IMO, but just a tad too loose feeling for my fretting hand.

Hopefully the tension of the Balanced Nickels are comparable to the M3045 hex core Boomers set. If they are, I'm all over these to use on
a couple of my 4-string basses.

Best regards!

 

[Linnin]

Hopefully the tension of the Balanced Nickels are comparable to the M3045 hex core Boomers set. If they are, I'm all over these to use on
a couple of my 4-string basses.

Oh yeah, the feel & flexibility are very similar to hex core Bass Boomers.

 

[michael_t]

How's the string tension?

I very much refer high tension strings. The only round core strings I've tried were a set of Fodera Nickels. Awesome strings, IMO, but just a tad too loose feeling for my fretting hand.

Now that I've had a chance to give my 4L-NB set (40-101) a good workout over the weekend, I can say their overall playing feel is not that different from my beloved PW ML7200. So, you should be okay with the 4M-NB.

Also, in terms of the actual tension (ie pulling weight), BN 4M-NB, PW M7200 and Boomer M3045 are all within a few pounds of each other. So, you should be able to slap them on and go without any major setup modifications.

Pressurewound M7200 = 187.1 lbs.
Boomer M3045 = 186.5 lbs.
Balanced Nickel 4M-NB = 184.2 lbs.​

 

[Linnin]

Now that I've had a chance to give my 4L-NB set (40-101) a good workout over the weekend, I can say their overall playing feel is not that different from my beloved PW ML7200. So, you should be okay with the 4M-NB.

Also, in terms of the actual tension (ie pulling weight), BN 4M-NB, PW M7200 and Boomer M3045 are all within a few pounds of each other. So, you should be able to slap them on and go without any major setup modifications.

Pressurewound M7200 = 187.1 lbs.
Boomer M3045 = 186.5 lbs.
Balanced Nickel 4M-NB = 184.2 lbs.​

I only like math when @michael_t does it for me, and yes I agree with all of the above.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Is anyone running the GHS balanced nickel set on a Precision bass? I'm looking to put a set of these on my Jazz bass, but also I've got a sweet maple neck P with a very light alder body and the Seymour Duncan SPB-1 pick up that I am debating which strings to pair with. I have used the Rotosound Roto bass strings, which I'm not quite sure if they're using a pure nickel wrap or not, but I quite enjoyed how mellow sounding they were straight out of the package. The only Factor I'm considering in not putting a set of those on the above-mentioned P Bass, that I have sitting in a drawer, is that they are the .110 - 0.050 set, which while hefty, had a big, percussive sound that I quite liked. I wonder if the balance nickels would be a good alternative to that set for my maple FB Precision?

 

[Linnin]

Is anyone running the GHS balanced nickel set on a Precision bass?

Yes, that is exactly what my review was based upon, a 2017 Fender American Professional Precision.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Yes, that is exactly what my review was based upon, a 2017 Fender American Professional Precision.

Ah, perfect. I'm going to go back and read that review, I couldn't remember if anyone had mentioned using the balanced nickels on a Precision.

 

[michael_t]

Is anyone running the GHS balanced nickel set on a Precision bass?

I have the light set (4L-NB, 40-101) on my 2014 Am Std P, all stock with CS60 PU.

 

[trothwell]

And I have the 4M medium set on a stock Fender 1962 AVRI Precision... very good sound!

 

[Pbassmanca]

I'm going to be procuring a set very shortly: I think they may be just the thing my Jazz bass has been looking for and perhaps one of my P basses as well!

 

[trothwell]

I'm going to be procuring a set very shortly: I think they may be just the thing my Jazz bass has been looking for and perhaps one of my P basses as well!

Would enjoy hearing what you think of them on a Jazz bass, if you try it!

 

[michael_t]

Would enjoy hearing what you think of them on a Jazz bass, if you try it!

Yeah, me too...

 

[Pbassmanca]

For sure guys, it's definitely going to happen. I will definitely do my own little review of them once I get them strung up and played a bit.

 

[Pbassmanca]

I'm hopefully going to pick up a recording interface soon that I can use with my laptop, because I would like to be able to record sound samples of my basses when I'm trying different pickups and string combinations etc. I think it makes it somewhat helpful for others to be able to hear what you're talking about beyond just using words to describe the sounds.

 

[trothwell]

I think it makes it somewhat helpful for others to be able to hear what you're talking about beyond just using words to describe the sounds.

I agree!

 

[michael_t]

I will definitely do my own little review of them once I get them strung up and played a bit.

If I'm not mistaken, I think you're the one who mentioned the Fender 7150 pure nickels as one of your favorite. I would be interested in a comparison between the 7150s and the BNs.

 

[Mediocrity Man]

Any comparison to the DR Pure Blues I'm using now?