Roughest feeling Nickel Roundwounds?

[Salem6127]

I think another choice for a textured nickel string is GHS Bassics. If you get really sweaty on stage and feel like your fingers slip and slide on smooth strings, GHS Bassics have plenty of that tactile grippiness you like in steel strings.

As an added bonus, they are very nicely priced (you can get 'em for under $20 at FretNation GHS Bassics Bass Strings) and have far superior longevity over GHS Boomers. GHS Boomers break in/go dead (depending on who you talk to) within a week. Bassics still sound pretty fresh months later.

GHS Bassics are not a "budget" string. They are a good value string. I think they're one of GHS' best strings and worth trying for what you want.

I was quite interested in GHS actually, and a recent mystery string investigation I've been pursuing points to Bassics: 36.5" ball to taper length, no silks, good grip with very long break in tone, bright shiny gold ball ends (not to be confused with darker brass gold like ernie ball, DR, and some others).

Interesting how the better value alternative to Boomers lasts much longer before going dark. I've seen other users here note the same experience as well.

 

[michael_t]

I was quite interested in GHS actually, and a recent mystery string investigation I've been pursuing points to Bassics: 36.5" ball to taper length, no silks, good grip with very long break in tone, bright shiny gold ball ends (not to be confused with darker brass gold like ernie ball, DR, and some others).

Interesting how the better value alternative to Boomers lasts much longer before going dark. I've seen other users here note the same experience as well.

First off, the winding length (ball end to taper) on the Bassics are 37.25", not 36.5".

The main difference between the Bassics and the Boomers is only the final cover on the Bassics is nickel-plated steel with all stainless steel inner layers, while the Boomers are all nickel-plated steel, except for the inner most layer of the 3-wrap strings, ie anything bigger than .100. That's why the Bassics are brighter with a clear and crisp top end.

By the way, I personally don't find the Bassics "rough and grippy".

 

[Salem6127]

First off, the winding length (ball end to taper) on the Bassics are 37.25", not 36.5".

The main difference between the Bassics and the Boomers is only the final cover on the Bassics is nickel-plated steel with all stainless steel inner layers, while the Boomers are all nickel-plated steel, except for the inner most layer of the 3-wrap strings, ie anything bigger than .100. That's why the Bassics are brighter with a clear and crisp top end.

By the way, I personally don't find the Bassics "rough and grippy".

I did notice GHS makes both a "standard" and "universal" long scale which kinda confused me. But were they always 37.25? I came across this photo from one of the bassics threads:

Regardless, I've seen how much you like these strings in your 2019 thread, really got me inspired to try em. Are they still in your rotation?

 

[michael_t]

I did notice GHS makes both a "standard" and "universal" long scale which kinda confused me. But were they always 37.25? I came across this photo from one of the bassics threads:

View attachment 7034919

Regardless, I've seen how much you like these strings in your 2019 thread, really got me inspired to try em. Are they still in your rotation?

36.5" is the old "long scale", but GHS transitioned most of their strings to 37.25" several years ago, including the Bassics and the Boomers. The only confusing part is a lot of those paper sleeves haven't been updated.

 

[michael_t]

I've seen how much you like these strings in your 2019 thread, really got me inspired to try em. Are they still in your rotation?

Yes, I still do keep stock of the Bassics light set (40-102) as one of my top three "all-purpose nickel rounds".

 

[mateybass]

Warwick Red Labels must surely be the roughest roundwounds ever, but they are stainless steel, and also utterly horrible IMO.

But rough nickels? If you mean nickel plated steel, probably Roto 66 nickels (blue packaging). Great strings!!

Warwick Red come in stainless steel and nickel variants. For some reason, Warwick sell them both in identical packaging which means you have to look very carefully at the text and product number to make sure you get the right set. I find the nickel not as rough as the stainless (which I bought by accident once - see above), I also find they last a long time, longer than the DR High Beams I used to use.