Review: GHS Balanced Nickels 4M-NB

[Ewo]

Placed an order for a couple sets with Bass Strings Online. Looking forward to giving these a test drive.

@Jon Moody , had a curiosity about the construction. IIRC, the G, D, A, and E have two cover windings. How about the B string on a fiver set? Was wondering if that differs from the usual practice, too.

 

[michael_t]

I've been using and enjoying DR Nickel Lo-Riders, I wonder how these might compare. Gonna have to give them a try, I've always wanted to use GHS strings since they're from my neck of the woods.

If you like the Nickel LRs, try the GHS Pressurewounds first. More similarities between those two than these BNs.

 

[Jon Moody]

Placed an order for a couple sets with Bass Strings Online. Looking forward to giving these a test drive.

@Jon Moody , had a curiosity about the construction. IIRC, the G, D, A, and E have two cover windings. How about the B string on a fiver set?

Sadly no, the best we could do was a .115 on two covers so the B string is 3. However, it sounds/feels really solid with the other four, which ultimately was more important than anything else.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

I had ordered a set right away and was saving them for a new bass I have coming, but this thread got the better of me so I took them out last night and put them on my G&L SB-1.

Can confirm these strings get along quite nicely with MFD pickups. I'll leave it to others more articulate on the matter to describe the tonal qualities, but suffice it to say they have a lot of what I like in a string and very little of what I don't like. They feel great, too. Definitely a winner for me.

And yeah, I'm kind of into strings.

 

[Linnin]

I think you'll be surprised, with the 2 cover construction on the G.

It's Glorious! Very powerful too, if you like to pop those high notes.

 

[michael_t]

And yeah, I'm kind of into strings.

View attachment 2795096

I see the packaging for Fender 7150ML, which is pure nickel on a hex core. It would be interesting to compare the two.

 

[Ewo]

Sadly no, the best we could do was a .115 on two covers so the B string is 3. However, it sounds/feels really solid with the other four, which ultimately was more important than anything else.

I was kinda figuring that 130 might require another wrap... But if the feel and tone are more consistent than usual, that's still a gain! Looking forward to putting these on my Sadowsky.

 

[mjmeche]

They do make a short scale set for my Mustang!!!

I am wondering how

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

I see the packaging for Fender 7150ML, which is pure nickel on a hex core. It would be interesting to compare the two.

It's difficult for me to compare in any detail because I only had the Fenders on for about a week, with a couple of days off before I switched. But I guess I could say that the GHS sound the way I was hoping the Fenders would sound once they broke in. The Fenders had an abundance of that hazy new-string ringing that difficult to mute, and trying to eq it away reduces expressiveness. The GHS's are a hair tinny/piano-ish for my taste, but it's easier to tame without having to eq a hole into my tone. I'm also not spending too much time chasing tone at the moment because I'm waiting for a fancy new cab.

Sorry I can't be more precise.

 

[Linnin]

This just in from the for what it's worth department ...
I had replaced the stock D'Addario made Fender 7250's on my Fender American Professional Precision with a set of D'Addario EXL170BT's that were languishing in their sealed nitrogen package. Tonally not much difference. I do like the BT's overall feel; flexibility, and playability. Average tension is about 41 lbs. This was my first and only reference to balanced tension bass strings. Like most roundwounds they are typically a 90 day stringset. Good solid everyday roundwound strings. Made on Long Island, New York, U.S.A.

I can't tell any difference in the feel of NPS vs Pure Nickel. Tone yes. Feel nope. Output volume seems about the same too. You'd have to use a dB meter to really measure, but according to my Extraordinary Audio Receiving Sensors (E.A.R.S.) they are pretty much the same.

Tension averages around 41 for the 170BT's and 46 for the 4M-NB's. You can most certainly feel the difference. The NB's require a bit more downforce to intonate, and are not quite as flexible as the 170BT's. The NB's feel more even, and more importantly sound more even across the fretboard, but it is close.

While both stringsets are good in their own right, the Balanced Nickels are the Dark Stars in the ghs constellation of bass stringsets. I like everything about them and for $4 or $5 more they are well worth the additional expense.

 

[michael_t]

I can't tell any difference in the feel of NPS vs Pure Nickel. Tone yes. Feel nope.

I remember the EXL170BT to be noticeably rougher in texture, as well as harsher in tone.

Output volume seems about the same too. You'd have to use a dB meter to really measure, but according to my Extraordinary Audio Receiving Sensors (E.A.R.S.) they are pretty much the same.

One initial concern I had about these being pure nickel was their potentially lower output level based on what I had read. No such issue with the BNs.

Tension averages around 41 for the 170BT's and 46 for the 4M-NB's. You can most certainly feel the difference. The NB's require a bit more downforce to intonate, and are not quite as flexible as the 170BT's. The NB's feel more even, and more importantly sound more even across the fretboard, but it is close.

I find it interesting the 4L-NB set is perfectly balanced at 43 lbs., which is slightly more than the EXL170BT despite smaller gauges.

While both stringsets are good in their own right, the Balanced Nickels are the Dark Stars in the ghs constellation of bass stringsets. I like everything about them and for $4 or $5 more they are well worth the additional expense.

Between the Balanced Nickels and the Pressurewounds, I'm now completely sold on GHS as the string brand of my choice for their unique and innovative designs.

My big thanks to @Jon Moody, who works tirelessly to keep us happy and intrigued.

 

[Linnin]

I remember the EXL170BT to be noticeably rougher in texture

Rougher texture, yes. The BN's have a smoother wind on the wrap. But strictly the feel of one metal over another, I cannot tell any difference.

 

[Killens84]

Are these tension ratings for a 34” bass? How much higher would the tensions be if you put them on a 35” bass? I’m thinking on which gauge set I’d like to try on my 35” 5-string P bass.
I currently have a set of .40-.100 (with .130 B) DR Nickel Lo-Riders on it, and I like the feel of those. But I know they’re hex core, which tend to be a little stiffer than round core.

 

[michael_t]

Are these tension ratings for a 34” bass? How much higher would the tensions be if you put them on a 35” bass? I’m thinking on which gauge set I’d like to try on my 35” 5-string P bass.
I currently have a set of .40-.100 (with .130 B) DR Nickel Lo-Riders on it, and I like the feel of those. But I know they’re hex core, which tend to be a little stiffer than round core.

I would go with the light set if I were you. I find the BNs to be positively firm, though not uncomfortably stiff, despite the round core.

 

[NKBassman]

the Balanced Nickels are the Dark Stars in the ghs constellation of bass stringsets.

That's a good thing, right?

 

[NKBassman]

Between the Balanced Nickels and the Pressurewounds, I'm now completely sold on GHS as the string brand of my choice for their unique and innovative designs.

My big thanks to @Jon Moody, who works tirelessly to keep us happy and intrigued.

Big +1 for that!

• Pressurewounds are lovely strings and are sitting pretty on my P bass.
• Precision Flats tickled me more than any other flat ever has (though still not enough to commit to using flats).
• I can't wait to find something from GHS that'll work on my Jazz bass, likely starting with the Balanced Nickels when the time comes.
• I should note I've used and recorded with whatever the regular Bass Boomers are on my jazz before with excellent results. I'm still fairly ignorant of the mechanical differences between hex/round core, etc.

 

[Linnin]

That's a good thing, right?

It is indeed!

 

[73BLow]

My 4M-NB's are on the way from New Hampshire. I hope they deliver tomorrow. I was just about to try flatwounds for the first time until I heard Jon's video.

 

[Linnin]

My 4M-NB's are on the way from New Hampshire. I hope they deliver tomorrow. I was just about to try flatwounds for the first time until I heard Jon's video.

That's a good thing! If you only have a single electric bass guitar, you need at least one other. For flatwound strings. I couldn't exist without a flat wound only Fender Precision Electric Bass Guitar.

 

[73BLow]

I couldn't exist without a flat wound only Fender Precision Electric Bass Guitar.

It will be my next purchase.