I like the tone of alloy52 strings. I guess they are not as popular for the simple reason that nickel and stainless strings are just wildly popular.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Why aren't alloy 52 strings more popular?
- Thread starter Gorn
- Start date
I had to whip out my two year Pressurewounds strings after reading this thread. Gotta love them alloy 52's :')
Chef
In Memoriam
This thread was started almost 4 yr ago, when I didn't know anything about Alloy 52.
Today I'm a huge fan of the GHS Pressurewounds, and the big part about it has to do with Alloy 52 and its tonal characteristics as well as longevity.
Today I'm a huge fan of the GHS Pressurewounds, and the big part about it has to do with Alloy 52 and its tonal characteristics as well as longevity.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
I'd say a lot of that comes to price. Alloy 52 is, by and large, twice as much for us to get in wire spools as NPS or SS.
Plus, a lot of people just go with what they know, and are leery of trying out something different.
I've been using SS half-rounds on my guitars, but I'm about to buy some GHS Progressives. From reports I've read, they'll probably become my new fave & I need to try pressure-wounds next time on a bass.
For a while I thought Cobalt was the answer for SS brightness w/o the fretwear, but reports on Cobalts say they're rough on frets. (which is why I've been avoiding SS)
For a while I thought Cobalt was the answer for SS brightness w/o the fretwear, but reports on Cobalts say they're rough on frets. (which is why I've been avoiding SS)
Alloy 52 is magnetically more active than pure nickel, resulting in more punch with crunchy mids. Pure nickel is much warmer with smoother mids.
This observation is based on the GHS Pressurewounds (Alloy 52) on my J and the GHS Balanced Nickels (Pure Nickel) on my P.
I’m curious. Might buy a set now. How do they compare to GHS Precision Flats? More midrange and punch or less?
Are you referring to the Progressives or the Pressurewounds? Or, Alloy 52 in general?
In the order of brightness:
- Progressives (roundwound, falls in between the Super Steels and the Boomers).
- Pressurewounds (rollerwound, round-ish tone with mellower top-end with meatier bottom).
- Brite Flats (half-rounds/groundwound, flatwound-ish tone with some bite between the PWs and the Precision Flats).
I could have sworn that yesterday I read Progressives enhance the mids, but can't find that at all today 
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
If you're looking for tension, in terms of the scientific reason, our String Tension Guide has all of that information readily available. You can download that here.
If you're looking for tension, in terms of stiffness and playability, I'd say all things considered, it's probably our Brite Flats, followed by Pressurewounds and then Progressives.
