Review: GHS Balanced Nickels 4M-NB

[rzero]

I heard a rumor that a magnetic-wrap version may be in the works.

Whoops. I just learned that pure nickel is magnetic.

Anyway, I have not had a chance to use these with an amp, but I can say on an acoustic bass, played acoustically, these are the best strings I have played, and I have tried a lot of different string types and brands on the acoustic bass. In fact, playing acoustic is when I started to notice the difference in tone with respect to the different number of wraps on a string. A while ago I determined that balanced-tension was the way to go for tonal consistency on an acoustic, played acoustically (my jury is still out on whether this is the case on electric or amplified acoustic; it's complicated, and I may need a new amp).

However, with every previously available set, I ran into what was usually a relatively twangy single-wrap G and/or a relatively dark/muted 3-wrap E. This issue is now gone with the Balanced Nickels. The difference is quite noticeable. The tone is great, and consistent across all strings.

 

[unclebass]

Just bit the bullet and ordered a set of balanced nickels, along with a set of GHS flats for my short scale. Hoping all the reports for both sets are true...

 

[Linnin]

Just bit the bullet and ordered a set of balanced nickels, along with a set of GHS flats for my short scale. Hoping all the reports for both sets are true...

It's True! It's True!

 

[TheIndieKid]

It's True! It's True!

I agree. My GHS flats were almost worn in sounding out the packet. I don’t know if you’ve had problems Linnin, but when I take my hand off the tuning post, the strings slightly drop in pitch. There’s no slack, having stretched them a fair bit.

 

[Linnin]

when I take my hand off the tuning post, the strings slightly drop in pitch.

What bass and tuners? My Fenders never do that.

 

[mjmeche]

I got compliments at a festival this weekend they were amazed at the low end and punch and bite.

 

[trothwell]

I got compliments at a festival this weekend they were amazed at the low end and punch and bite.

Even random passers-by on the street are enamored with the tone of GHS Balanced Nickels!

 

[TheIndieKid]

What bass and tuners? My Fenders never do that.

Supro Huntington III and I’m not sure of the tuners. Are very touchy though.

 

[Linnin]

Supro Huntington III and I’m not sure of the tuners. Are very touchy though.

Buy A Fender @TheIndieKid

 

[TheIndieKid]

Buy A Fender @TheIndieKid

I have a Mustang! Don’t use it though

 

[Jon Moody]

Supro Huntington III and I’m not sure of the tuners. Are very touchy though.

Interesting, as I have no problem with the tuners on my Huntington II fretless (that's sporting BNs right now). They're the smaller Gotoh-style tuners, but definitely a knockoff.

 

[TheIndieKid]

Interesting, as I have no problem with the tuners on my Huntington II fretless (that's sporting BNs right now). They're the smaller Gotoh-style tuners, but definitely a knockoff.

I really liked the BN’s on my bass. I can’t remember having tuning issues with them though. It’s quite weird. I’ve seen people say the tuners feel touchy, but not anything about letting the tuning drop. And your strings have rave reviews, with Linnin saying they hold tune amazingly. I really enjoy them as well. I must have some sort of anomaly (which, to be honest, I ALWAYS seem to have when it comes to basses and it’s always a bad one). Anyway, meanwhile to keep the thread on track I found the balanced nickels to be amazing and with surprisingly high tension on my bass, but in a good way that kept them feeling almost like a long scale. They are really hard to get a hold of in the U.K.

 

[Jon Moody]

I really liked the BN’s on my bass. I can’t remember having tuning issues with them though. It’s quite weird. I’ve seen people say the tuners feel touchy, but not anything about letting the tuning drop. And your strings have rave reviews, with Linnin saying they hold tune amazingly. I really enjoy them as well. I must have some sort of anomaly (which, to be honest, I ALWAYS seem to have when it comes to basses and it’s always a bad one).

I'd see if you can tighten the tuners at all first? If it were the string, you would be able to hold the tuner and the string would still detune/slip. You've mentioned that the slipping happens after you let go of the tuner, so I'd try tightening them first.

Anyway, meanwhile to keep the thread on track I found the balanced nickels to be amazing and with surprisingly high tension on my bass, but in a good way that kept them feeling almost like a long scale. They are really hard to get a hold of in the U.K.

The UK (and abroad) is always tricky, because unlike the US, we deal through distributors who then sell to the dealers. And we can't really go to the distributors and say "You need to stock more of _____" because they'll say "Our dealers aren't asking for that, so no."

 

[TheIndieKid]

I'd see if you can tighten the tuners at all first? If it were the string, you would be able to hold the tuner and the string would still detune/slip. You've mentioned that the slipping happens after you let go of the tuner, so I'd try tightening them first.




The UK (and abroad) is always tricky, because unlike the US, we deal through distributors who then sell to the dealers. And we can't really go to the distributors and say "You need to stock more of _____" because they'll say "Our dealers aren't asking for that, so no."

I’ll have another go. Already tried doing it but I’ll try tightening them all again.

More people over here need to realise how well they’d sell ):

 

[Jon Moody]

More people over here need to realise how well they’d sell ):

While I agree with that, from a business standpoint, if there aren't people asking about them, they don't want to stock them. And I get that, I really do.

 

[TheIndieKid]

So, @Linnin here’s question for you, but I don’t know how hard it is for you to answer, depending on deliberation over your two most loved string sets but do you prefer BN’s or Precision Flats on your basses? And which one suits the sound of single coils more?

 

[Linnin]

So, @Linnin here’s question for you, but I don’t know how hard it is for you to answer, depending on deliberation over your two most loved string sets but do you prefer BN’s or Precision Flats on your basses? And which one suits the sound of single coils more?

The thing of it is, that I don't have to deliberate at all. I have my '76 Precision in five year old GHS Precision Flats and my new 2018 Fender American Professional Precision in GHS Balanced Nickels. Both sound superb with Fender split single coil pickups. So I get to choose both all the time, and never one or the other.

If, however, I only had one bass and money was tight and going to stay tight for over a year or so I would choose flatwounds for their longevity and ability to sit in a band mix perfectly well. Flats are versatile in their own way, but once you say slap or modern klank an' tank gothic gnome metal, you must pop for rounds over and over again. It is the way of the bass world. Right now I have a fairly new set (about a month old) of good old hexcore GHS Bass Boomers on my 2012 Fender American Standard Jazz. They are glorious when aggressively picked with wrath & rage.

 

[Rompin Roddy]

This may be the string I eventually put on my red Blazer P.

It's currently strung with the oldest, gunkiest set of roundwounds. It's dark, taught, not the easiest to play, tone knob almost exclusively fully open..

But man does this thing have a thump and a punch that sits in and cuts through even the most competitive mixes. It's borderline flatwound, with just enough of that roundwound high mid bite (but really not much and can use a little more).

The strings are past their prime, but it's still a killer thumping machine and I've been reluctant to change the strings in fear of losing the incredible balls this thing has.

After reading this entire thread I'm thinking this may (?) be the string to try... When the time comes of course.

 

[TheIndieKid]

The thing of it is, that I don't have to deliberate at all. I have my '76 Precision in five year old GHS Precision Flats and my new 2018 Fender American Professional Precision in GHS Balanced Nickels. Both sound superb with Fender split single coil pickups. So I get to choose both all the time, and never one or the other.

If, however, I only had one bass and money was tight and going to stay tight for over a year or so I would choose flatwounds for their longevity and ability to sit in a band mix perfectly well. Flats are versatile in their own way, but once you say slap or modern klank an' tank gothic gnome metal, you must pop for rounds over and over again. It is the way of the bass world. Right now I have a fairly new set (about a month old) of good old hexcore GHS Bass Boomers on my 2012 Fender American Standard Jazz. They are glorious when aggressively picked with wrath & rage.

Thing is, what makes roundwounds have less longevity? I mean, if it is intonation issues (which I don’t understand, when flatwounds can get them too), can’t you just play them more gently so there are no indents in the strings?

 

[Jon Moody]

Thing is, what makes roundwounds have less longevity? I mean, if it is intonation issues (which I don’t understand, when flatwounds can get them too), can’t you just play them more gently so there are no indents in the strings?

It's more the tonality of the string that's the issue.

In the case of roundwounds, people change them once they sound thick and undefined. This could take around a month.

In the case of flatwounds, people wait UNTIL they lose that "new string sound." This could take around a month.