Why Do I Love GHS Bass Boomers???

[billgwx]

After all these years I've hit an instance where I am not loving Boomers at all. I installed a extra-long set of regular Boomers on my '98 American Standard P, and ran them through the body rather than the bridge. (I installed a newer high-mass bridge to have both options, as the stock bridge of that era only allowed through-body stringing.) They are way too tense and sound bland, with no punch. Was going to use them in a recording, but the Jazz Bass wearing round-core Boomers through the bridge was so much more lively and snarly. I may tweak the setup to see if I can improve things, otherwise it's back to the same strings on the P. Lesson learned here perhaps not to hastily buy strings that might be "close enough"...

 

[jwilson67]

I know I have tried Boomers in the past and there was just nothing that stuck out to me about them. For NPS strings I much prefer Ernie Ball. Everybody is different though and I know plenty of players who swear by them! I play Cobalt rounds now and nothing compares to those strings.

 

[Backdrop]

Just ordered my first set of Boomers after using D'Addario for years. Crossing my fingers.

 

[michael_t]

I'm officially done with the regular hex-core Boomers in favor of the Round Core Boomers for myself.

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

I have used almost every brand and make of strings on my MIA jazz with EMG's. I'm fairly new to TB and I don't ever really see much about GHS Boomers other than that folks can't stand them.

I can't seem to find anything that sounds better to me. I actually took a set of TI jazz flats off of the bass to put Boomers on it! Crazy right!?

I wanted to like Dr Hi Beams, Rotosounds, or anything a little more unique but they just don't sound the same. Any thoughts on GHS Bass Boomers???

Same here. They are warm sounding out of the. package with minimal zing. I have Chromes on one bass and Boomers on the other. While the Chromes are round and warm, almost fuzzy on the low end (typical of flats) the Boomers are tight and punchy, without the clang and zing that you get with a lot of rounds. This is my first set of Boomers, so I can't comment, but others have mentioned that they die out pretty quick, which I am hoping for. I kind of like the sound of a dead round wound string. I want punch and thump without the high end zing or low end mud.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

.....GHS Boomers are warm sounding out of the package with minimal zing......Boomers are tight and punchy, without the clang and zing that you get with a lot of rounds.

I've noticed the same things tonally about Boomers. IMO they have a very unique sound that I haven't found in any other brand of nickel plated roundwounds. Their solid lows, punchy low mids, well voiced midrange, and rolled off ultra highs have made them my all time favorite roundwound.

@Jon Moody ,If it isn't a trade secret, could you please shed some light on what gives GHS Bass Boomers their unique tone?

 

[Jon Moody]

@Jon Moody ,If it isn't a trade secret, could you please shed some light on what gives GHS Bass Boomers their unique tone?

Since that has to do with the specific construction of them, I won't say a lot.

However, it's no secret that we use slightly larger core diameters in our strings compared to the rest. There's a reason.

 

[michael_t]

@Jon Moody ,If it isn't a trade secret, could you please shed some light on what gives GHS Bass Boomers their unique tone?

I've read somewhere that most NPS strings have SS for the under-winding, while they use NPS under the NPS for the Boomers.

I may be wrong, of course, for my name is NOT @Jon Moody.

 

[FirewalZ]

I used Boomers when I was first learning the Bass in the late 80's/90's. I recently bought my first set in many years and put them on my P bass. It's a great match, low mid forward, fuller lows and rolled back highs. The tension on the Mediums is a bit closer to flats...probably a perfect fit for a flat player looking for rounds.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Since that has to do with the specific construction of them, I won't say a lot.

However, it's no secret that we use slightly larger core diameters in our strings compared to the rest. There's a reason.

Thank you, Jon!

I did wonder if the larger core contributed played a role in their tone.

As for the other proprietary things, they truly make a difference. -And that goes double for Pressurewounds. ​