Sorry I mean 4M-NB...edit has been made.
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Review: GHS Balanced Nickels 4M-NB
- Thread starter Linnin
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- balanced tension ghs nickel review
I think we are talking GHS bass strings across three (or more) different threads!Then you're in the right place. Carry on...
It's all good. 
I still don't know if I want to put my new set on my StingRay or my Jazz. I'll go for the jazz, probably.
I just hope to get enough clarity in the attack and articulation, possibly also a decent slap tone?
I like to use different bass for different tones, but I recently realized I like both my Ray and Jazz as all-around instruments so I'm looking for a good overall string set.
I just hope to get enough clarity in the attack and articulation, possibly also a decent slap tone?
I like to use different bass for different tones, but I recently realized I like both my Ray and Jazz as all-around instruments so I'm looking for a good overall string set.
You also might want to consider the Round Core Boomers as a slightly brighter option to the Balanced Nickels. Nickel-Plated Steel vs. Pure Nickel, the RCBs do provide a little more "snap" at the top end, though not zingy bright.
If I were you, I'd try the BNs on the Ray and the RCBs on the J.
@Jon Moody Do you have any plans to use the same technology (Balanced tension, same number of wraps per string) for your flatwounds?
How would the community compare the feel (smoothness on fingers) and string noise between BN’s vs PW’s vs RCB’s?
Reason for asking:
I love the feel of BN’s - they are just perfect and I am coming “up” from flats. And they are a tone match made in heaven on my PJ. Like flats in terms of warmth, but but better because they fill in much more sonic space with just the right touch of harmonic interest.
So far on the Jazz.... the BN’s also sound great. But I might want to keep experimenting. Not so much that I am not happy with the BN+Jazz tone. sits great too. it’s just that I might want to separate PJ and my J in terms of utility. Eg to use my Jazz to push a bit more little more forward and rocking in my band’s mix for certain songs. Since only own these two basses, i need to make the most of them.
PW’s might have a tonal edge on the Jazz vs BN’s...something to do with a very deep low end plus some upper mid growl that just ends up sounding really cool on the J bass. I’d need to go back to compare to be sure. BUT I find PW’s to still be just a tad rough.
So if RCB’s are smoother than PW....then I might just give them a whirl on the Jazz to complete my GHS odyssey.
I don't get this at all. The PWs have become my go-to string because of their smooth texture compared to any other rounds I've tried. Sure, BNs and RCBs are very smooth for rounds, but they're not as smooth as PWs.
To me personally, the main thing about the PWs is they're stiffer-feeling (NOT rougher) than the other two due to the hex core, which is actually a good thing in my book because that's what makes them punchier. The Alloy 52 also gives them a tonal character of their own.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
That's a good question. It's a lot trickier with flatwounds, since there's the additional ribbon wire and grinding process. In the immediate future, probably not. That's not to say I won't do it, but it's very low on the list at this point. And, we need to remember, I handle all the string projects at GHS of which the bass strings are a small part.
Agreed. However...
The question in my mind is how much better can you actually make them, considering they're pretty darn good already both in terms of "balanced tone" and "balanced feel" without having to go through the whole process of re-designing them for the sake of "balanced construction"?
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
If I can make them better, I'll look into it. If I can't, I'm not gonna re-design something just to wave the "new and improved!" flag around.
Hmmm. I swear the BN’s feel is smoother than what I remember of the PW’s.
I’m referring specifically to the “catch” of the string while plucking finger style. I found my calluses were not up to the PW.
I don’t disagree that both PW and BN are smoother than run of the mill rounds in this regard. l am stoked to have found these strings, super cool.
at the time I tried the PW’s I was coming “up” in brightness scale from LaBella flats, so I suppose it is possible I just didn’t have the built up some callus and now would perceive thing differently a month or so into my string changing journey.
Maybe I should do a side by side to confirm.
Appreciate ya’lls perspectives.
I’m referring specifically to the “catch” of the string while plucking finger style. I found my calluses were not up to the PW.
I don’t disagree that both PW and BN are smoother than run of the mill rounds in this regard. l am stoked to have found these strings, super cool.
at the time I tried the PW’s I was coming “up” in brightness scale from LaBella flats, so I suppose it is possible I just didn’t have the built up some callus and now would perceive thing differently a month or so into my string changing journey.
Maybe I should do a side by side to confirm.
Appreciate ya’lls perspectives.
Sounds like the "catch" you're talking about may have more to do with the hex-core stiffness and resistance to the plucking force than the surface texture.
Meanwhile, I was referring to their smoothness as in quieter slides with less drag for the fretting hand.
possibly... I will do a side by side later this week
I had the added complication I’m that I accidentally Amazon-ordered the ML set of PW’s, whereas I usually go for medium 45-60-85-105 or close to it. I am like you in that I prefer a bit of tension in the strings. It may have been the interaction with the lighter gauge and my “flat adjusted” fingers.
So if I do go back to PW’s I would probably re order a Medium set
OR I will try the RCB’s. Or both!
I had the added complication I’m that I accidentally Amazon-ordered the ML set of PW’s, whereas I usually go for medium 45-60-85-105 or close to it. I am like you in that I prefer a bit of tension in the strings. It may have been the interaction with the lighter gauge and my “flat adjusted” fingers.
So if I do go back to PW’s I would probably re order a Medium set
OR I will try the RCB’s. Or both!
I've been using the ML7200 set for the last few years both on my P and J. M7200 would be a bit too stiff for my liking, so I will be trying it on my J for DGCF tuning in the new year.
Keep in mind the PWs are slightly stiffer than typical hex-core rounds of similar sizes.
I put the PW back on my Jazz and this gave me an opportunity to compare side by side PW with BN’s for string feel.
To Michael_t’s point the PW ARE indeed a little smoother and yield a little string noise is less if one glides a finger up and down the string in side by side evaluation. Not a big difference, both are smooth and quiet.
But there’s also subtle different feeling when you dig in... a really hard dig on the PW generates a slight rough tactile feeling on the finger tip, whereas the BN’s don’t have this...they “yield” smoothly, if that’s a thing. really minor and honestly I think as I start to adjust my technique a bit (vs a month ago on a set of flats that have more tension) becomes a total non issue, since the tone is better without such hard of a touch.
Final Verdict: J Bass
The BN’s were great, but PW even greater on this bass. There is a special mojo going on tone wise between my Jazz and the PW’s, for me anyway.
P bass
in contrast, there is also special (but different) “mojo connection” going on with my PJ and the BN’s especially with the P pickup solo’d. It’s a mellow warm “centered” tone that fills in the mix of the band. And super playable. Becoming my #1 with this pairing,
thanks to GHS for making these strings
To Michael_t’s point the PW ARE indeed a little smoother and yield a little string noise is less if one glides a finger up and down the string in side by side evaluation. Not a big difference, both are smooth and quiet.
But there’s also subtle different feeling when you dig in... a really hard dig on the PW generates a slight rough tactile feeling on the finger tip, whereas the BN’s don’t have this...they “yield” smoothly, if that’s a thing. really minor and honestly I think as I start to adjust my technique a bit (vs a month ago on a set of flats that have more tension) becomes a total non issue, since the tone is better without such hard of a touch.
Final Verdict: J Bass
The BN’s were great, but PW even greater on this bass. There is a special mojo going on tone wise between my Jazz and the PW’s, for me anyway.
P bass
in contrast, there is also special (but different) “mojo connection” going on with my PJ and the BN’s especially with the P pickup solo’d. It’s a mellow warm “centered” tone that fills in the mix of the band. And super playable. Becoming my #1 with this pairing,
thanks to GHS for making these strings
Sounds like what you're experience is the difference between a hex core and a round core the way they respond to the plucking force. A hex core offers more resistance with a stronger initial attack, while a round core would have a slightly softer attack with a more supple feel.
I tend to agree with your assessment regarding the two.
