Why Do I Love GHS Bass Boomers???

[michael_t]

As much as I've been enjoying playing my P with the Boomers (custom, 45-60-80-105) for the last couple of months, the question remains in my mind as to whether these offer enough extra in tonal qualities over the Pressurewounds that I love so much.

Just to complicate the issue even further, I will have a brand new set of Round Core Boomers (45-105) to try on my J next week.

Boomers vs. Boomers, let the battle begin!

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Never thought I'd say this but I'm really liking the way 45 - 100 feels with a pick, no hand cramps think I'm sticking to this gauge now. The strings don't sound too tinny with a pick either

I also really like the way my EBMM Sterling sounds with Boomers too, Rob. I normally use Hybrid Slinkys on it, - which are also great, IMO, but I needed a fatter sound for a recording project, and the Boomers gave my Sterling exactly what I hoped for.

 

[jcerio]

I was a Boomer user through the years. In my opinion they make my basses sound most like the sound I hear in my head. Then I got a taste for slightly less "stiff" feeling strings. I'm now back to Round Core Boomers and I love them! I use them on my 2-jazz pickup MTD Kingston Grendel and they rule.

 

[Linnin]

I'm now back to Round Core Boomers and I love them!

They're good! I switched from GHS Pressurewounds to GHS Round Core Bass Boomers.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

They're good! I switched from GHS Pressurewounds to GHS Round Core Bass Boomers.

Those RC's must be extra super duper good to make you switch from the Pressurewounds!

-No worries, I'll keep holding down the Fort on the hex core Boomers and the Pressurewounds!!!

 

[michael_t]

Those RC's must be extra super duper good to make you switch from the Pressurewounds!

-No worries, I'll keep holding down the Fort on the hex core Boomers and the Pressurewounds!!!

I don't know about @Linnin, but I would never give up the PWs for anything! I just need to go find another J bass (Am Pro) to put them on.

Meanwhile, if my first impressions of the RCBs are any indication, I may not need another set of hex-core Boomers once I'm done with the ones currently on my P.

 

[dagrev]

They're good! I switched from GHS Pressurewounds to GHS Round Core Bass Boomers.

What? Some things in life are certain. Like not giving up Pressurewounds and always keeping them on something. I haven't found anything that does what they do, so they will always be around. (However, I play bass and that certainty is subject to change.)

 

[rob_thebassman]

So had them on over a week and can already notice how they're supposed to sound, very boomy, I've yet to try them in my band so will post my verdict

 

[BurnOut]

Used to love a fresh set on the guitar, they were crunchy delicious. As others have pointed out here they lost that beautiful crunch after about a week. Never tried em on a bass.

 

[rob_thebassman]

Used to love a fresh set on the guitar, they were crunchy delicious. As others have pointed out here they lost that beautiful crunch after about a week. Never tried em on a bass.

Probably more boomy than crunchy

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Used to love a fresh set on the guitar, they were crunchy delicious. As others have pointed out here they lost that beautiful crunch after about a week. Never tried em on a bass.

IMO the hex core Bass Boomers aren't incredibly bright fresh out of the package, and just like you've described with Guitar Boomers, they have a crunchy sound.

The new string "Zing" that they have goes away within the first few days, but the crunch remains. The sound they have past that point is really solid. Big lows, punchy low and high mids, and enough top end to cut through. For me, they keep these sound qualities for 4 to 6 weeks.

There's a ton of string brands and different types of strings available, and I haven't even came close to trying them all out, but IMO Bass Boomers have a sound that I haven't found from any other nickel plated roundwound string.

 

[Al Kraft]

There's a ton of string brands and different types of strings available, and I haven't even came close to trying them all out, but IMO Bass Boomers have a sound that I haven't found from any other nickel plated roundwound string.

At least on my Warwick Corvette Standard (German model), the Dunlop Nickel Rounds sound pretty darn good.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

At least on my Warwick Corvette Standard (German model), the Dunlop Nickel Rounds sound pretty darn good.

I haven't tried the Dunlops yet, Al. I really should give a set a whirl.

 

[Al Kraft]

I haven't tried the Dunlops yet, Al. I really should give a set a whirl.

I don't think I would have ever tried them, but a technician who worked on my Warwick (who was also a bass player) recommended them and put a set on for me to try. The sound and feel was nice and I've just kept using them ever since.

 

[rob_thebassman]

So tonight was my first time playing bass boomers in a band... Fantastic! Just the right amount of bass mid and treble for it to cut through

 

[michael_t]

Boomers vs. Boomers, let the battle begin!

I've played my P with the Boomers exclusively for the last two and a half months and it's been quite enjoyable. I love the punch and I love the grind.

This morning I had a chance to put the new Round Core Boomers on my J to the test in a live band setting. And I have to say I like these even better than the regular Boomers. The same punchy bottom but with a bit less grunt and grind, they seem to add warmth to my J bass tone while retaining smooth but clear top end. The good just got better.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I've played my P with the Boomers exclusively for the last two and a half months and it's been quite enjoyable. I love the punch and I love the grind.

This morning I had a chance to put the new Round Core Boomers on my J to the test in a live band setting. And I have to say I like these even better than the regular Boomers. The same punchy bottom but with a bit less grunt and grind, they seem to add warmth to my J bass tone while retaining smooth but clear top end. The good just got better.

So the RC Boomers slightly fatten the tone of your Jazz Bass, yet you still have plenty of top end on tap. Brilliant! I'm thinking about trying a set of them on my Alembic Europa, but I'm trying to decide if I want to try the Balanced Nickels first. BTW, my Alembic has sported Bass Boomers for close to 2 decades. It's an inherently bright bass, and the Boomers warm it's tone up and give it a rawness that I haven't been able to get from any of the other brands of rounds that I tried on it.

 

[michael_t]

my Alembic has sported Bass Boomers for close to 2 decades. It's an inherently bright bass, and the Boomers warm it's tone up and give it a rawness that I haven't been able to get from any of the other brands of rounds that I tried on it.

There is a reason why Jimmy "Flim" Johnson uses the Boomers 45-130 on his Alembic.

 

[Jon Moody]

There is a reason why Jimmy "Flim" Johnson uses the Boomers 45-130 on his Alembic.

IIRC he was one of the original artists that help prototype the B string.

 

[crucislancer]

I started out using GHS Boomers back in the late 80s, and used them for about 10 years, then moving on to other brands (DR, Rotosound, D'Addario, Fender). I recently picked up a set of PWs and love them, so thought it was time to give GHS another shot. Just strung up my Geddy Lee Jazz with roundcore Boomers, and holy smokes they are awesome. Love the punch and feel of these strings. I have a set of balanced Nickels coming next week, might put those on my Fender PJ but may try them on the Jazz first. Might have to get a set of regular Boomers for comparison soon as well.