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Review: GHS Balanced Nickels 4M-NB

#221
Mediocrity Man said:
Any comparison to the DR Pure Blues I'm using now?
Click to expand...

Based on my limited experience with the Pure Blues, the BNs are noticeably firmer (in a good way) than any of the DR round cores, which I found to be a little too loose for my taste.

In terms of the tone, I remember the PBs to be pleasantly warm right out of the package like the BNs, but without the full-bodied bottom the BNs have.
 
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#222
michael_t said:
Based on my limited experience with the Pure Blues, the BNs are noticeably firmer (in a good way) than any of the DR round cores, which I found to be a little too loose for my taste.

In terms of the tone, I remember the PBs to be pleasantly warm right out of the package like the BNs, but without the full-bodied bottom the BNs have.
Click to expand...

Yea, I do have some concerns about the higher tension but I also miss out on that fuller bottom end.
 
#223
Arthur U. Poon said:
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. :bassist:

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!
Click to expand...
If high tension and middy are what you like, you will love these strings!
 
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#224
Pbassmanca said:
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?
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I have the 4M-NB set on my Nate Mendel P (Rosewood board, ash body, GZR pickups). They sound fantastic! In fact, I really think these will replace the PWs on that bass for good.

What strings do you have with the .115 E string?

tallboybass said:
If high tension and middy are what you like, you will love these strings!
Click to expand...

Mids for sure, but not really high tension. I am not struggling to bend them like I did with Chrome flats.
 
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#226
crucislancer said:
I have the 4M-NB set on my Nate Mendel P (Rosewood board, ash body, GZR pickups). They sound fantastic! In fact, I really think these will replace the PWs on that bass for good.

What strings do you have with the .115 E string?



Mids for sure, but not really high tension. I am not struggling to bend them like I did with Chrome flats.
Click to expand...
I have a set of Rotosound Roto bass strings with a .110 E string. I had to file the nut a bit to get it to fit.
 
#227
Where's that cat?

Jon Moody, I'm looking for you.

Just tried the new Balanced Nickels. Home run.

These are some GREAT strings. And I'm not even a nickel guy.

Went for the light set because average tension of 42 is close to the heavy steel balanced set on my C# bass.

These are shredder strings. Effortless to play. Like magic.

When I hear the term "pure nickel" I tend to think "vintage tone". Surprisingly, these are pretty zingy. And they sing. Not thumpy if that's what you're looking for - the heavier set may have more thump. These have plenty of solid bottom, but flexible enough to sing. I'm actually hoping some of the zing wears off as they age.

The G has a little of that typical G string twang. But instead of standing out as the only twangy string, the D has the same amount. Ascending and descending lines across strings have none of the usual "gaps" in tone, so it sounds like you're playing the same bass as you move across the strings. And the two-wrap E really slams.

If I had a complaint, it's that they aren't steel. I'm boosting mids at multiple frequencies to try and get some of my steel mid tone back. I'll definitely buy more of these nickels, but it'd be great if you could apply the same design to a steel formulation.

Outstanding, dude. Keep up the great work.
 
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#228
tallboybass said:
If high tension and middy are what you like, you will love these strings!
Click to expand...

Seem little higher tension when first installed. But after a few days felt average to me. Cetainly lower than chromes or Rotosounds. Mids are present but would say overly so. Strings seem very even to me across the spectrum. And I'm pretty used to TI flats.

Tone is subjective and everyones fingers are different though. Been waiting on other sets to try on different basses. Hoping for similar results but some basses can be picky about matching strings.
 
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#230
aproud1 said:
Seem little higher tension when first installed. But after a few days felt average to me. Cetainly lower than chromes or Rotosounds. Mids are present but would say overly so. Strings seem very even to me across the spectrum. And I'm pretty used to TI flats.

Tone is subjective and everyones fingers are different though. Been waiting on other sets to try on different basses. Hoping for similar results but some basses can be picky about matching strings.
Click to expand...

I haven’t paid much attention to the playing tension, though I can say that they are comfortable, at least for me. I’ve only really noticed the tension for strings that are much higher (Chromes, RS77s) or much lower (Dunlop SB).

I ordered 2 more sets of the 4M-NB, one will go on my Geddy Lee Jazz, the other I will save for later. I know the BN don’t work for my Precision Deluxe PJ, but I have yet to try them on my Jazz.
 
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#233
tallboybass said:
Absolutely! What isn't subjective though is the 1/4 turn I had to add on to the truss rod, switching to the LIGHT gauge BNs after running LaBella 760FL flats. "I know it's cwazy, but it's twue..."
Click to expand...

I don't think it's cwazy, but it is a bit surpwising that the light BNs have more tension than the 760FL. :D Not that it's a pwoblem...
 
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#234
OK! These strings have been on my 2017 American Professional Precision for 44 days and I would say at least 60 hours of playing time, so it's as good a time as any for an update.

I have to say that beyond the initial 8 to 10 hour play in period to settle them in, they just haven't changed much at all. At most the very highest highs have attenuated at bit, but the highs remain thick and sweet like honey. Midrange smooth as well aged whiskey. Low mids growl just as much and the taut pronounced bottom end is even more well defined. The punch is a bit heavier and the attack more percussive. They show no sign of losing altitude or attitude. If anything they actually sound better!

Addendum: Let me just add that they feel even better now and are noticeably more flexible.
 
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#235
I promised a direct comparison with D'Addario EXL-170BT's, so here it is in all it's balanced tension glory!

I have a lot of experience with the 170BT's having gone through three sets. I kept my American Standard Jazz strung in them for a year (2 sets) and I liked them muchly. I got a great deal on a left-handed 2017 American Professional Precision and romped on it. Once the stock Fender 7250's died I restrung with a new set of 170BT's I had in reserve. This is the very same bass I then restrung with GHS Balanced Nickels in this very review.

The 170BT's have more top end to start out with. Some say they are harsh. To me it is just the same old unmusical metallic zing/clang that the majority of roundwounds have. You can indeed feel the balanced tension between the strings and the string feel is good as is the string-to-string volume and tone. They are more flexible out of the pack. E string diameters are nearly the same at .107 vs .106. Total set tension is: 162.9 pounds for the 170BT'S vs GHS's 184.2 pounds.

There's where the similarities end. 170BT's are hex core with a nickel plated steel wrap while the GHS Balanced Nickels are round core with pure nickel wrap. The GHS are most definitely better balanced in every dimension: feel; tone, volume, and intonation up and down the neck. They are flat out amazing in that regard. Given playing time the GHS relax a bit and gain flexibility to the point where there isn't much difference between the two sets. GHS also feels smoother to the touch and has less string chatter vs the 170BT's.

I like the way GHS Balanced Nickels sound better than the D'Addario EXL-170BT's, but that is up to you as to which sounds better to your ear. I won't be buying any more D'Addarios.
 
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