Review: GHS Balanced Nickels 4M-NB

[michael_t]

what in your opinion makes the BN's better for your P than the PW's?

P + BN = Full-bodied and warm lows with creamy smooth mids. When I play my P bass, I like to FEEL the phat bottom by sitting just right in the mix in a non-aggressive way.

J + PW = Tight, punchy lows with crunchy mids for when I need to be a bit more aggressive to be heard.

 

[Sandwell]

P + BN = Full-bodied and warm lows with creamy smooth mids. When I play my P bass, I like to FEEL the phat bottom by sitting just right in the mix in a non-aggressive way.

J + PW = Tight, punchy lows with crunchy mids for when I need be a bit more aggressive to be heard.

OK I think you sold me there. Also your descriptions confirm what I was hearing from the @trothwell clips in the other BN thread.

 

[Linnin]

the big question: should I replace the PW's on my P Bass for some BN's?

 

[dagrev]

View attachment 2833378

I sure love the PWs on my Fender Hotrod PBass and Regenerate Heritage Plus ('55 PBass modernized). Can you elaborate on what the BNs do vs the PWs?

I've got to stop reading this thread or I'll be buying strings....

 

[Linnin]

I've got to stop reading this thread or I'll be buying strings....

Buy them, and listen for yourself! I'll never buy Pressurewounds again. Balanced Nickels for me from here on out.

 

[crucislancer]

Buy them, and listen for yourself! I'll never buy Pressurewounds again. Balanced Nickels for me from here on out.

Wow! That's a solid endorsement. I agree, for the most part. The PWs still work better for me on my Deluxe PJ and Jazz. But on my Precision? Balanced Nickels all the way.

 

[michael_t]

I'll never buy Pressurewounds again.

 

[Linnin]

I'll have to seriously compare Round Core Bass Boomers with Balanced Nickels as far as my Jazz is concerned. For right now RCBB's are the jazziest. I go surfing on my jazz with Fender 8250's. They're the twangiest.

 

[crucislancer]

I'll have to seriously compare Round Core Bass Boomers with Balanced Nickels as far as my Jazz is concerned. For right now RCBB's are the jazziest. I go surfing on my jazz with Fender 8250's. They're the twangiest.

I took my RCBs off my Jazz in favor of the PWs, but I'm holding on to them for now. Might put them on my Deluxe PJ at some point.

 

[Linnin]

I took my RCBs off my Jazz in favor of the PWs, but I'm holding on to them for now. Might put them on my Deluxe PJ at some point.

ACK!

 

[dagrev]

Buy them, and listen for yourself! I'll never buy Pressurewounds again. Balanced Nickels for me from here on out.

What? Can they really be that good?!!! These strings may be what I’ve been looking for all my playing life...something that makes me sound great!

 

[Linnin]

What? Can they really be that good?!!!

They Is Be, Yes.

 

[crucislancer]

ACK!

Well, I do have my eye on getting a new Jazz bass at some point soon. I can save them for that

 

[Linnin]

Well, I do have my eye on getting a new Jazz bass at some point soon.

The new American Professionals are super Killer-Killer, and the American Elites are God's own basses.

 

[crucislancer]

The new American Professionals are super Killer-Killer, and the American Elites are God's own basses.

Yeah, I demoed a American Pro Jazz with a rosewood board, I was impressed. Haven't had the chance with the Elites yet. Though I was thinking about a AVRI '64 Jazz. Choices! It's gotta wait until after I move in the Spring.

 

[jnewmark]

I'm thinking of trying these on my Squire VM P bass. I'm used to Fender 7250 Nickle rounds, so, should I try to match the gauges ?

 

[michael_t]

I'm thinking of trying these on my Squire VM P bass. I'm used to Fender 7250 Nickle rounds, so, should I try to match the gauges ?

If you're talking about the 7250M (45-65-85-105), then the 4M-NB (44-60-80-106) should be fine.

 

[Linnin]

I'm thinking of trying these on my Squire VM P bass. I'm used to Fender 7250 Nickle rounds, so, should I try to match the gauges ?

If you are satisfied with your current gauge then, yes.

If you're talking about the 7250M (45-65-85-105), then the 4M-NB (44-60-80-106) should be fine.

^^^Agreed^^^ You shouldn't have to make any changes to your setup unless you want to.

 

[NKBassman]

I already posted in the other long thread on these, but here’s my condensed first-impression review after about an hour of play time:

• These strings are very thick and rich in the low end, but I wouldn’t describe them as muddy or dark. For all the talk about how full these sound, I also found them a lot brighter than I expected them to be right out of the package. That’s not a bad thing though, there’s a nice clarity there. Plus I expect them to calm down after a few more hours of playing. Should be well balanced tonally once the “zing” phase is through.
• I would describe them as somewhat smoother feeling than your average nickel plated steel.
• Re. tension, they did not stand out to me one way or the other... not loose, not tight, easy on both fretting and plucking hand.
• Intonation was spot on right out of the package, coming off a set of Dunlop Super Brights.

 

[trothwell]

• These strings are very thick and rich in the low end, but I wouldn’t describe them as muddy or dark. For all the talk about how full these sound, I also found them a lot brighter than I expected them to be right out of the package. That’s not a bad thing though, there’s a nice clarity there. Plus I expect them to calm down after a few more hours of playing. Should be well balanced tonally once the “zing” phase is through.

I found that the low end gets even thicker and richer after some playing time.