BUNKERJR53
New member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
I've been using GHS BOOMER "9's" for 25 years plus. Never let me down.
I've been using GHS BOOMER "9's" for 25 years plus. Never let me down.
GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
- Thread starter Jackson Distortion
- Start date
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
I find Boomers a little too harsh for my classic rock/classic metal stuff, but for the more aggressive tones they're just the thing.
+1 on GHS Nickel Rockers. That's a great string that covers a lot of sonic territory. I'll take those when I can't get Gibson Vintage Reissues.
I find Boomers a little too harsh for my classic rock/classic metal stuff, but for the more aggressive tones they're just the thing.
+1 on GHS Nickel Rockers. That's a great string that covers a lot of sonic territory. I'll take those when I can't get Gibson Vintage Reissues.
SteveAlysis
Active member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
I did Boomers for a while, then DR, now im torn between Daddario and Dunlops.
My hands sweat a lot so I deal with rust issues Daddario and Dunlops seem to last and sound the best for my tastes.
I did Boomers for a while, then DR, now im torn between Daddario and Dunlops.
My hands sweat a lot so I deal with rust issues Daddario and Dunlops seem to last and sound the best for my tastes.
eschoendorff
New member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
I've been trying a bunch of different strings lately. I really like Thomastik-Infeld (esp for acoustic). Pyramid strings are good too. For GHS, I never really bonded with the regular Boomers, but I am really liking the Progressives. Their Burnished Nickel string sound great on my Strat too.
Those are just my preferences. At the end of the day, I could easily survive with D'Addario though.
I've been trying a bunch of different strings lately. I really like Thomastik-Infeld (esp for acoustic). Pyramid strings are good too. For GHS, I never really bonded with the regular Boomers, but I am really liking the Progressives. Their Burnished Nickel string sound great on my Strat too.
Those are just my preferences. At the end of the day, I could easily survive with D'Addario though.
zakk_speed
New member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
Not for me, they barely lasted past tune up - Elixir 9's on the shredders and 10's on the fixed bridges.
That would be me. As a side note I tried coated slinkys on a couple of guitars this week - epic fail - the unwound strings went visibly black after tuning up and playing for 30 minutes...I think I must sweat insanity sauce.
Elixirs seem to be immune though, only problem I've had is they can unwind at the ball end in strat style trem guitars, the slinky titaniums win there.
Tone wise you give up some top end with elixirs and the feel is more slippery, but the fact they last more than I day is a win for me.
I'm off to drink some more battery acid
Not for me, they barely lasted past tune up - Elixir 9's on the shredders and 10's on the fixed bridges.
That would be me. As a side note I tried coated slinkys on a couple of guitars this week - epic fail - the unwound strings went visibly black after tuning up and playing for 30 minutes...I think I must sweat insanity sauce.
Elixirs seem to be immune though, only problem I've had is they can unwind at the ball end in strat style trem guitars, the slinky titaniums win there.
Tone wise you give up some top end with elixirs and the feel is more slippery, but the fact they last more than I day is a win for me.
I'm off to drink some more battery acid
ArtisanLuthiers
New member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
These are great strings to get a guitar ready to sell on eBay, lol. Personally, they just feel too slick, don't hold up (compared to D'addario, DR or even Ernie Ball). In my experience they just don't have a long working life.
To each his own, but this brand is not in my top 5 ... or maybe even top 10.
These are great strings to get a guitar ready to sell on eBay, lol. Personally, they just feel too slick, don't hold up (compared to D'addario, DR or even Ernie Ball). In my experience they just don't have a long working life.
To each his own, but this brand is not in my top 5 ... or maybe even top 10.
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
Kind of where I am also. Always liked the smooth feel of Boomers but years ago had breakage issues directly over the saddle on my Floyed guitars. Went to XL 120's they are consistent and work so never changed.
Kind of where I am also. Always liked the smooth feel of Boomers but years ago had breakage issues directly over the saddle on my Floyed guitars. Went to XL 120's they are consistent and work so never changed.
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
They went to sealed packs now even for the individual gauges (singles), so no more corrosion/breakage issues with the plains.
I've never had any issues with shorter life or breakage but for awhile years back there was a lot of old corroded plains getting past QC.
As for the tone, I really love what they have, which is fuller mids and a less boomy low end (should not be called boomers).
These traits are mainly because they use a round core instead of hex like most nickel-steels.
A round core of equal width will have less tension than a hex, but to compensate they use a slightly larger core,,,,,but not quite as big as in their actual "large-core".
Boomers are great for a guitar that is bright but somewhat scooped. They will help bring fullness to the midrange and make the lows a little less boomy, unlike their name.
They went to sealed packs now even for the individual gauges (singles), so no more corrosion/breakage issues with the plains.
I've never had any issues with shorter life or breakage but for awhile years back there was a lot of old corroded plains getting past QC.
As for the tone, I really love what they have, which is fuller mids and a less boomy low end (should not be called boomers).
These traits are mainly because they use a round core instead of hex like most nickel-steels.
A round core of equal width will have less tension than a hex, but to compensate they use a slightly larger core,,,,,but not quite as big as in their actual "large-core".
Boomers are great for a guitar that is bright but somewhat scooped. They will help bring fullness to the midrange and make the lows a little less boomy, unlike their name.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
WHen I was a kid in the 80s -EVERYONE played GHS Boomers if you wanted to play Metal or Hardcore -it was like the "in" hip string -but I only played them until I knew literally anything about my growing preferences which led to EB Slinkys and Supers -because they were the only string EVERYBODY carried in the 90s and were cheap -which were really good, but always seem to break on me live -especially G and B. Have some DR guitars, but tonal consistency was an issue for me -Then to D'Addario XL and then NYXL and never looked back -they are the best overall IMO
WHen I was a kid in the 80s -EVERYONE played GHS Boomers if you wanted to play Metal or Hardcore -it was like the "in" hip string -but I only played them until I knew literally anything about my growing preferences which led to EB Slinkys and Supers -because they were the only string EVERYBODY carried in the 90s and were cheap -which were really good, but always seem to break on me live -especially G and B. Have some DR guitars, but tonal consistency was an issue for me -Then to D'Addario XL and then NYXL and never looked back -they are the best overall IMO
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
Used to use GHS when I was mixing & matching sets because one of the local shops stocked almost all the individuals, and charged the price of a regular set. About 10 years ago, I picked up a cheap 7 string off Craigslist, and the only 7 set GC had was D’Addario. They sounded and felt great, and I’ve been pretty loyal since.
That said, I’m sure I could go back to GHS and be happy.
Used to use GHS when I was mixing & matching sets because one of the local shops stocked almost all the individuals, and charged the price of a regular set. About 10 years ago, I picked up a cheap 7 string off Craigslist, and the only 7 set GC had was D’Addario. They sounded and felt great, and I’ve been pretty loyal since.
That said, I’m sure I could go back to GHS and be happy.
mojosman
New member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
I'm in the Nickel Rockers camp, at least for Strats. I'm still trying different strings on my Les Pauls. Years ago I had the privilege to share some beers with the late great Smokin Joe Kubek, and we talked guitars, amps, strings, and stuff. He was a endorser of GHS strings, and they had a custom set with his name on them back in the day, but they were huge. I think 13 ga was the high high E. He told me try their semi flat nickel rockers. I haven't seen them in a while, they were regular nickel rockers put through some sort of roller to slightly flattened them. They were killer strings, comfortable and great tone. I haven't seen any in a long time, so I just use either the regular nickel rockers or the Eric Johnson ones, whichever I see at the store.
I'm in the Nickel Rockers camp, at least for Strats. I'm still trying different strings on my Les Pauls. Years ago I had the privilege to share some beers with the late great Smokin Joe Kubek, and we talked guitars, amps, strings, and stuff. He was a endorser of GHS strings, and they had a custom set with his name on them back in the day, but they were huge. I think 13 ga was the high high E. He told me try their semi flat nickel rockers. I haven't seen them in a while, they were regular nickel rockers put through some sort of roller to slightly flattened them. They were killer strings, comfortable and great tone. I haven't seen any in a long time, so I just use either the regular nickel rockers or the Eric Johnson ones, whichever I see at the store.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
I wouldn't say this about any other part of Guitar playing because I like to support the little guy, but strings are something you change all the time if you are playing out, so I would never pick a string that couldn't be acquired locally at basically every guitar store. So less common and boutique strings are out for me -I've had too many procurement emergencies in my day.
Not sure how popular and common GHS are in stores anymore, but anything outside D'Addario, EB, DR would probably miss the cut on this approach because while most Guitar stores carry GHS -they usually only a couple of the most common sets.
I wouldn't say this about any other part of Guitar playing because I like to support the little guy, but strings are something you change all the time if you are playing out, so I would never pick a string that couldn't be acquired locally at basically every guitar store. So less common and boutique strings are out for me -I've had too many procurement emergencies in my day.
Not sure how popular and common GHS are in stores anymore, but anything outside D'Addario, EB, DR would probably miss the cut on this approach because while most Guitar stores carry GHS -they usually only a couple of the most common sets.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
^^^
This is my experience too. I used to use a lot of less common strings, like Nashville Straights, Peavey Stainless and Markley Blue Steels to name a few, but after experimenting with Boomers, Ball, et.al., I finally settled on D'Addario XLs and J-Series or EXP phosphor bronze for acoustics. The exception is my G&Ls with the DF Vibrato. These get Fender Super Bullets. I feel like the bullet end does its job and contributes to tuning stability.
The appeal of the D'Addario strings was their environmentally friendly packaging; their availability in even small town stores (important when touring!); and overall tone, quality, consistency and durability. They've been my string of choice for many years.
But I'd have no problem using a set of Boomers should the need arise.
Bill
^^^
This is my experience too. I used to use a lot of less common strings, like Nashville Straights, Peavey Stainless and Markley Blue Steels to name a few, but after experimenting with Boomers, Ball, et.al., I finally settled on D'Addario XLs and J-Series or EXP phosphor bronze for acoustics. The exception is my G&Ls with the DF Vibrato. These get Fender Super Bullets. I feel like the bullet end does its job and contributes to tuning stability.
The appeal of the D'Addario strings was their environmentally friendly packaging; their availability in even small town stores (important when touring!); and overall tone, quality, consistency and durability. They've been my string of choice for many years.
But I'd have no problem using a set of Boomers should the need arise.
Bill
T-Bone-BBQ
New member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
I get all my electric and acoustic strings from webstrings.com and never had any problems. I think they are made by GHS, but not sure. I can get them cheap per set and never have had any issues.
I get all my electric and acoustic strings from webstrings.com and never had any problems. I think they are made by GHS, but not sure. I can get them cheap per set and never have had any issues.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: GHS Boomers - Yay or Nay?
Quick story -last year I got a call from friends from California touring on the East Coast who asked if I was in NY or Philly coming to the show and if I could go find them certain strings locally before they hit town. Now, this band has a string endorsement -but their tour box of this certain string brand and gauge was lost or stolen in Boston, and they had gone to several guitar stores that didn't have them on the tour -so I called around Philadelphia (which I was not familiar with their music stores) and none of the guitar stores in Philly proper had these strings out of 3 I called -so I took an Uber to Cherry Hill NJ where the Sam Ash had them -point is their strings weren't available from any regular music or Guitar stores who carried strings -only at a big box supermarket store which carries everything
So, aside from every other kind of Guitar accessory, strings is the one thing I wouldn't deviate out of the quality ubiquitous options on.
D'Addario for me, but EBs and DRs are good too.
Quick story -last year I got a call from friends from California touring on the East Coast who asked if I was in NY or Philly coming to the show and if I could go find them certain strings locally before they hit town. Now, this band has a string endorsement -but their tour box of this certain string brand and gauge was lost or stolen in Boston, and they had gone to several guitar stores that didn't have them on the tour -so I called around Philadelphia (which I was not familiar with their music stores) and none of the guitar stores in Philly proper had these strings out of 3 I called -so I took an Uber to Cherry Hill NJ where the Sam Ash had them -point is their strings weren't available from any regular music or Guitar stores who carried strings -only at a big box supermarket store which carries everything
So, aside from every other kind of Guitar accessory, strings is the one thing I wouldn't deviate out of the quality ubiquitous options on.
D'Addario for me, but EBs and DRs are good too.
