What? No more GHS Bassics?? WTH!

[michael_t]

I just happened to go on the GHS page for bass strings and discovered the Bassics are no longer there; instead, they have this new thing called "Solidwound Bass Boomers".

What is going on?

Products - Bass Guitar Strings - GHS Strings

Since 1964, GHS Strings has been expertly winding high-quality electric guitar strings in the heart of southwestern Michigan. As a leading manufacturer, we blend tradition with innovation to produce a wide variety of strings for electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, classical guitars...

www.ghsstrings.com

 

[GwenOnBass]

Que?

" SolidWound Ends provide direct contact to tuning posts ... "

 

[michael_t]

Que?

" SolidWound Ends provide direct contact to tuning posts ... "

As in "Boomers with no silk"?

The Bassics were unique in the sense only the final cover was nickel-plated steel with all stainless steel inner layers, giving them a "clean and clear" tone with a crisp (not zingy) to end. The Boomers have at least two layers of nickel-plated steel winding with only the innermost layer of 3-wrap strings (anything thicker than .100) being stainless steel, giving them a very different tonal quality from the Bassics.

 

[bassbrad]

I used Bassics for decades until GHS changed the gauging, core and their retail distribution scheme a few years ago. The 40-58-80-102 set had the perfect balance in sound and feel. IIRC that gauging was originally designed for the Steinberger bass which is where I first found that feel.

 

[michael_t]

The 40-58-80-102 set had the perfect balance in sound and feel...

Those are the exact gauges I've been using not only with the Bassics, but also with the GHS Super Steels and Ken Smith Compressors.

The new "Solidwound Boomers" come in the same gauges as Boomers, 40-55-75-95, 45-65-80-100 and 45-65-85-105. I've used the Boomers 40-95 in the past and liked them, but I still prefer the Bassics 40-102 over them.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

at least there’s roto bass

I just bought a set after getting bored with the limited edition stainless polished La Bellas I had

 

[iiipopes]

I just happened to go on the GHS page for bass strings and discovered the Bassics are no longer there; instead, they have this new thing called "Solidwound Bass Boomers".

What is going on?

Products - Bass Guitar Strings - GHS Strings

Since 1964, GHS Strings has been expertly winding high-quality electric guitar strings in the heart of southwestern Michigan. As a leading manufacturer, we blend tradition with innovation to produce a wide variety of strings for electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, classical guitars...

www.ghsstrings.com

I feel your pain. I felt the same way after using Progressives for over twenty, almost twenty-five years, then COVID came and pfft, they were gone. I guess with COVID cutbacks, GHS didn't think they needed another Alloy-52 string in addition to Pressure-Wounds and Brite-Flats.

 

[sonojono]

RIP GHS.

Progressives
Bassics

 

[michael_t]

at least there's roto bass

I just bought a set after getting bored with the limited edition stainless polished La Bellas I had

Going British... I'm tempted.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I don't try too many different strings, but by their description and some of the feedback I have read around here, the Bassics were on my short list.

 

[michael_t]

RIP GHS.

Progressives
Bassics

At least the Boomers will live on!

 

[sonojono]

At least the Boomers will live on!

Sadly. I'm just not a fan of Boomers anymore. I've tried, but they don't really do it for me, maybe it's just not the tone I'm after

 

[Kevnn4]

Wait.... we're supposed to change our strings?!

 

[Isaac_James]

Que?

" SolidWound Ends provide direct contact to tuning posts ... "

Finally, no more will I have to tune my bass with the strings floating a few millimeters away from the tuner posts!

 

[Isaac_James]

Must be a pretty recent change, they still have them on this "brightness bar" graphic.

 

[songwriter21]

Ever since discovering Elixir in the late 90s, I haven't seen the point of consistently using other strings. Imo, every other string, aside from a flatwound, is a waste of money.

 

[Dincrest]

I tried Bassics once before and remember liking them better than Boomers. They didn't feel as smooth, but they had a nice edge to their tone and better longevity. Price was nice too.

We'll see what Solidwound Boomers are all about.

 

[silky smoove]

Ever since discovering Elixir in the late 90s, I haven't seen the point of consistently using other strings. Imo, every other string, aside from a flatwound, is a waste of money.

I mean… unless you don’t like the sound of Elixirs. There are many that don’t.

 

[michael_t]

We'll see what Solidwound Boomers are all about.

From what I can gather, they're just the same Boomers but without the silk.

 

[michael_t]

Sadly. I'm just not a fan of Boomers anymore.

Same here...

I'll just have to stick with the SIT Power Wound Nickels and the DR Nickel Lo-Riders from now on.