GHS Boomers: WTF

[Aristocat]

So I'm in the process of experimenting with different pick gauges and strings and I decided to try out GHS Boomers.

I didn't like them a year ago but I decided that I might have been premature in my thoughts regarding longevity and sound.

Threw my new notion out the window as I strung my LP up tonight. The D string had this weird, 1/2 inch extra wrapping around it near the fourth/fifth fret. It was noticeably large and it felt like I was going from a .09 to a .13 when sliding on it.

That didn't bother me nearly as much as when the string was in tune; every note was not.

My intonation is not off nor does my guitar need a set up as I just did one a couple of weeks ago after refinishing again (summer in NC).

Don't know if this is a QC thing or if I was unlucky but needless to say, I will not be buying any GHS strings ever again.

Have some Rotosound and DR lined up next. Hopefully I fare better with them.

 

[guitarman967]

Love GHS Boomers. Been playing GHS for 20 years now. Theyve always been perfect for me for whatever reason. Nothing else sounds right to me and I've yet to have a bad batch in that time.
It's weird, I've tried other strings and they never sound right. I took off the last set (EB slinky's on a student of mine's request) within a week because I couldnt stand how they changed my tone. I had to tweak my whole rig again.
You definitely cant underestimate how strings affect your sound and how you play, that's for sure.
Tell me what you've settled on. I'm interested to know.

 

[Chubtone]

I've been playing GHS Boomers for 30 years and selling them for 20 years. I have never seen a single instance of this on the sets I've used and never had a customer return the strings for this reason. If someone showed me a string like you are describing I would just hand them a new set and scratch my head.

I love the way GHS strings sound. I have tried many other strings over the years but always go back to GHS.

 

[Aristocat]

Love GHS Boomers. Been playing GHS for 20 years now. Theyve always been perfect for me for whatever reason. Nothing else sounds right to me and I've yet to have a bad batch in that time.
It's weird, I've tried other strings and they never sound right. I took off the last set (EB slinky's on a student of mine's request) within a week because I couldnt stand how they changed my tone. I had to tweak my whole rig again.
You definitely cant underestimate how strings affect your sound and how you play, that's for sure.
Tell me what you've settled on. I'm interested to know.

For a long while, I'd recommend DR to customers because I liked their QC and the strings are very consistent with awesome tone.

Lately, I've been wanting to switch things up.

I used EB for a long time. But even after wiping, the strings would go in 2-5 days (playing 3 hours a day, 5 days a week-avg). I had high hopes because the only other GHS set I played other then my initial set was a 70's LP with 12 gauge GHS Rockers (or w/e it's called) and that was really cool sounding.

I think I just got a bum string. I'm excited for the Rotos as I've never tried them. I've also been using D'Addario for a couple of years now and I'm starting to dislike them.

 

[glpg80]

Used to love GHS boomers but with my acidity and sweat they didnt last very long. When GHS strings go dead you can definitely tell. Intonation, feel, breakage, etc.

I landed on EB's and have been using them for many years with good luck. Great lifespan and very dependable. They do have a shimmering characteristic that i hate when fresh, but eventually they settle. I do like the feel of unwound GHS strings more than unwound EB's however i much prefer the tonality of EB's over GHS.

I think each person could go either way on what they like or have experience with. It does not mean GHS is a bad string, but in my experience i have had better luck with other brands.

 

[Aristocat]

Used to love GHS boomers but with my acidity and sweat they didnt last very long. When GHS strings go dead you can definitely tell. Intonation, feel, breakage, etc.

I landed on EB's and have been using them for many years with good luck. Great lifespan and very dependable. They do have a shimmering characteristic that i hate when fresh, but eventually they settle. I do like the feel of unwound GHS strings more than unwound EB's however i much prefer the tonality of EB's over GHS.

I think each person could go either way on what they like or have experience with. It does not mean GHS is a bad string, but in my experience i have had better luck with other brands.

And I love D'Addario for their characteristics but their longevity sucks.

Catch 22 for me is that while I wear strings out rapidly; I hate coated strings.

Here's a pic although it's hard to see what's up.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I haven't had a reason to not use Ernie Ball's.

 

[charveldan]

You want these dude, GHS Nickel Rockers Custom Light 9.5 to .048 thank me later.

 

[Aristocat]

You want these dude, GHS Nickel Rockers Custom Light 9.5 to .048 thank me later.

Not if I get one with that funky fucking wrap again

In all seriousness though, I said above that the Rockers were the only GHS I tried that floored me. Albeit though they were 12's.

I dig heavier strings as I have an aggressive left hand while chording and soloing. I need to get locking tuners for my LP as I send the B,D,E,G strings out of tune rapidly.

 

[Motorpud]

Boomers are pretty much the worst strings I've tried. I bought about 6 packs one on a whim and like 4 packs had at least one string that broke during stringing or shortly thereafter

I've had pretty good luck with DRs so that's what I've learned not to stray too far from. I like the elixirs as well, but they tend to cut some highs which depending on the amp, isn't always a bad thing IMO.

 

[JTyson]

I've been playing GHS Boomers for 30 years and selling them for 20 years. I have never seen a single instance of this on the sets I've used and never had a customer return the strings for this reason. If someone showed me a string like you are describing I would just hand them a new set and scratch my head.

I love the way GHS strings sound. I have tried many other strings over the years but always go back to GHS.

This ^
And since they started putting them in sealed packs, I like them even more. I think you can store them longer.... I think...

 

[JTyson]

Used to love GHS boomers but with my acidity and sweat they didnt last very long. When GHS strings go dead you can definitely tell. Intonation, feel, breakage, etc.

I landed on EB's and have been using them for many years with good luck. Great lifespan and very dependable. They do have a shimmering characteristic that i hate when fresh, but eventually they settle. I do like the feel of unwound GHS strings more than unwound EB's however i much prefer the tonality of EB's over GHS.

I think each person could go either way on what they like or have experience with. It does not mean GHS is a bad string, but in my experience i have had better luck with other brands.

And I love D'Addario for their characteristics but their longevity sucks.

Catch 22 for me is that while I wear strings out rapidly; I hate coated strings.

Here's a pic although it's hard to see what's up.

Thats annoying
I think you just got a only done 1 time in the history of strings thing there, maybe they meant for that to be down by the bridge for heavy downstroking and had a brainfart
I'd get them to swap it out

 

[metalmaniac93]

I have been using GHS Boomers since the 80s, but have used Dean Markley, D'Addario, and Ernie Ball. Coated strings suck!!!

 

[Aristocat]

Used to love GHS boomers but with my acidity and sweat they didnt last very long. When GHS strings go dead you can definitely tell. Intonation, feel, breakage, etc.

I landed on EB's and have been using them for many years with good luck. Great lifespan and very dependable. They do have a shimmering characteristic that i hate when fresh, but eventually they settle. I do like the feel of unwound GHS strings more than unwound EB's however i much prefer the tonality of EB's over GHS.

I think each person could go either way on what they like or have experience with. It does not mean GHS is a bad string, but in my experience i have had better luck with other brands.

And I love D'Addario for their characteristics but their longevity sucks.

Catch 22 for me is that while I wear strings out rapidly; I hate coated strings.

Here's a pic although it's hard to see what's up.

Thats annoying
I think you just got a only done 1 time in the history of strings thing there
I'd get them to swap it out

Lucky me, right

I used to work for the place I got them from and they run it like a Pawn Shop (owner also owns a huge pawn shop in NC) so there's no way I'll get a swap out.

I once had to deny a guy a refund on a Mexican Strat due to a warped neck. Don't know if he left it in the car for too long or messed with the truss rod. In any case; that did it for me. I left shortly thereafter.

 

[Aristocat]

I have been using GHS Boomers since the 80s.

Rob, this isn't about you

 

[metalmaniac93]

I have been using GHS Boomers since the 80s.

Rob, this isn't about you

I do not have any problem with them. Never have.

 

[Aristocat]

I have been using GHS Boomers since the 80s.

Rob, this isn't about you

I do not have any problem with them. Never have.

That's why I'm bummed because a lot of guys are digging them. Sonically, I liked the Rockers so I'm getting another set of those.

 

[metalmaniac93]

I have been using GHS Boomers since the 80s.

Rob, this isn't about you

I do not have any problem with them. Never have.

That's why I'm bummed because a lot of guys are digging them. Sonically, I liked the Rockers so I'm getting another set of those.

Never tried the Rockers? Maybe I should one day!! I am with Chubtone on this and I have been a faithful user of GHS Boomers since the early 80s with deviation from them when I cannot get anything else at a local store at short notice.

 

[guitarmike]

I've been playing Elixir's pretty much since they came out. I have 4 guitars and have to change strings every 2-3 months now instead of every month. I had to get used to them but once I did it was worth it. They don't fade and die like other strings and as long as you change them when you see a decent amount of the coating start to shred you will not break a string. They are the best strings for me.

 

[Aristocat]

I have been using GHS Boomers since the 80s.

Rob, this isn't about you

I do not have any problem with them. Never have.

That's why I'm bummed because a lot of guys are digging them. Sonically, I liked the Rockers so I'm getting another set of those.

Never tried the Rockers? Maybe I should one day!! I am with Chubtone on this and I have been a faithful user of GHS Boomers since the early 80s with deviation from them when I cannot get anything else at a local store at short notice.

I just wish I had an explanation for the weird wrap. I can't be the only one to ever encounter something like that.

Rockers just rock