GHS vs Dunlop for drop C#

[GBassLondon]

Hi talkbassers,

After a long and boring process (including a thread on here), I have realised I need heavy guage strings for playing in drop c#. I play metalcore, clean tone, using a Warwick streamer stage 2 four string (1989 model with EMGs)

I now know I need a 115 for the bottom string which leaves me a straight choice between GHS boomers (50-70-95-115) and Dunlop Heavy Cores (55-75-95-115).

I have played the Dunlops. They work well but are unremarkable. I have never played GHS. People either say they are amazing or they are total waste and go dead really fast. Concerned about that because ideally I would have coated strings but no one does them in this guage.

Can anyone offer any opinions or experience? Once I have the set I like I’m gonna get a pro setup on the bass and then stick to that string choice.

 

[michael_t]

I have never played GHS. People either say they are amazing or they are total waste and go dead really fast. Concerned about that because ideally I would have coated strings but no one does them in this guage.

One's "dead" is another's "well-broken-in"... People who complain about the Boomers going dead too fast are the ones who love the fresh zing, which is not something they are designed for. They're more for meaty lows with punchy low-mids with grit and grind.

The Round Core Boomers that are on my Jazz bass are almost 5 mth old and showing no signs of being "dead"; they're just nicely broken in.

 

[GBassLondon]

One's "dead" is another's "well-broken-in"... People who complain about the Boomers going dead too fast are the ones who love the fresh zing, which is not something they are designed for. They're more for meaty lows with punchy low-mids with grit and grind.

The Round Core Boomers that are on my Jazz bass are almost 5 mth old and showing no signs of being "dead"; they're just nicely broken in.

Are there different types of core on Boomers then? Which is better?

 

[michael_t]

Are there different types of core on Boomers then? Which is better?

Regular Boomers are hex-core.

I would say the hex-core Boomers are probably better for down-tuning as they tend to retain their tension/stiffness better than the round-core version.

 

[GBassLondon]

Thanks Michael!

Anyone else care to jump in?

 

[bassboysam]

i like the la bella drop tune. i use them for C# standard. might be too much tension for drop C#.

i've pretty much tried every GHS string. did not like a single set.

 

[NecroticNoise]

I prefer the Dunlop heavycores I use the same as the 120 which is the same as 115 from Ernie ball to Dunlop I've enjoyed haven't been to big on ghs not that there's anything wrong with them comes down to preference I believe

 

[GBassLondon]

Little update for you all I’ve had Boomers on for four months and I REALLY like them. But they aren’t for people who like that 100% new sound as that goes quickly. But they keep that 70% brightness for ages and they had a lot of body to them. So Dunlops are probably better for brighter tone but as long as you like a full, middy sound, Boomers will last ages. If you like bright and twangy though, you will consider that your Boomers have gone dead in a fortnight.