GHS Strings - Super Steels or Boomers?

Joe Goldmark · From: San Francisco, CA 94131

Does anyone who uses GHS strings have an opinion as to which sets to buy?

Thanks,
Joe

Ray Harrison · From: Tucson, Arizona, USA (deceased)

I've used them on my basses in the past. Boomers lasted well and had a decent sound.
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Michael Robertson · From: Ventura, California. USA

I used GHS Boomers for years.
Then I got directed to Jagwire Strings and haven’t looked back.
Jagwire makes their specifically for pedal steel guitar and it shows.
In My Opinion anyway

robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

I've used GHS Super Steels since 1993. Excellent strings and they're available at a good price here on the Forum. I tried the GHS Boomers but they seemed too bright.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Depends whether you like stainless or nickel wound strings Joe. Super Steels are stainless round wound, Boomers are nickel round wound. I've got a set of Super Steels on a Zum right now and they're consistent with most other stainless sets I use.

The descriptions/labeling seems backwards to me as generally stainless strings are louder and brighter than nickel, but what do I know?

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Hi Joe,I use Boomers and like them a lot,I used to use some stainless strings they were a little too bright for my taste.I haven't tried Jagwire so I don't really know about them but a lot of people use them.hey man have a great Turkey day,Stu Winking

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chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

yeah, likewise joe...i've used individual gauge boomers from the store mostly and i like them. otherwise i'll use whatever someone will give me.

i just put cobra coils (a gift) on the zum...haven't really played them yet.

individual strings available at any store seem to work pretty well for me. ...maybe i'm not sensitive enough.

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

SS. Just played a new set last night after a YEAR of not changing them...

SHeesh. Time flies..

Smile

EJL

Tony Dingus · From: Kingsport, Tennessee, USA

I've been using Boomers for a long time and I'm happy with them.

Tony

Joe Goldmark · From: San Francisco, CA 94131

I've been using these strings for quite awhile and they certainly do the trick. I find myself switching back and forth between styles. The problem is that new strings always sound so good when I first put them on, compared to the old ones, that I'm just happy to have taken the time to change them and I always love which ever I've just put on.

I was wondering if anybody had really done some comparisons and had a strong opinion, and could tell me what it was that they liked. It seems to be pretty evenly divided so far.

Thanks,
Joe

Joshua Grange · From: Los Angeles, California

OK so here are some real world trials with different string brands I've done over the last few years in touring situations, where the sound of your guitar can mysteriously vary from night to night.

I currently have a GHS endorsement and have used both the Stainless and Nickel semi flat PSG sets ( The 'pink' and 'blue' sets), as well as Boomers.
I used them for about a year and a half while playing with kd lang, changing sets every week and a half or so. I enjoyed the zing of the fresh stainless steel sets most.

Before that I was using the Buddy Emmons SIT set, which were actually very good. I used those for about two years with Dwight Yoakam, We toured very heavily in 2006, about 4 shows a week. They were changed about once every week and a half. They sounded great and were manufactured extremely consistently.

Then I tried Jagwires. NO CONTEST. To me, they just sounded better. My guitar actually sounded richer. It was the first time I tried new strings and said "Whoah, what is happening here".
I used them while playing with the Dixie Chicks and was really really happy with the way my guitar sounded through the in ears, which is a very direct, unforgiving way of listening to the tone of your guitar. I think I changed the sets once or twice during the 4 weeks (!)
I use a modified Randy Beavers set and haven't looked back.
Jagwires are easily my favorite thus far.

Brad Malone · From: Pennsylvania, USA

Joe, GHS Super Steels work great for me..I use them on my Williams Series 600.

Doug Palmer · From: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

Joe, I worked at Emmons Guitar Company and we bought GHS Boomers and repackaged them to sell as Emmons Extra Lively. The Emmons Green pack was GHS smooth wound. I have not used any of the newer string brands so I can't comment on them, but have used the GHS for decades and love them. They are inexpensive, long lasting and readily available.

Doug
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Gary Preston · From: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Guys i have been a G.H.S. dealer for some time now and i use the '' Super Steels '' . I think if you check real close you may be surprised at who makes the other name strings mentioned here ! G.P.

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

GHS SuperSteels.
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Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I would love it if someone who REALLY knows would explain EXACTLY what the difference is between a piece of drawn out metal (aka 'music wire' - only made by a VERY FEW manufacturers worldwide) with a ball end on it (a 'regular' unwound string) and a string 'made for pedal steel'. I've used CobraCoil, Jagwire, and GeorgeL and the reinforced 3rd string .011 or offering the .0115 diameter are the only difference I've ever seen. Are the wound strings made differently? Differently HOW?

What does the mfgr do that makes Jags or Cobras better than GHS or SIT? Danny? Bobbe? Just curious. I've paid extra for those strings and found no longer life (Eric: Smile

) than with the SITs that I buy by the dozen for half the price.

What am I missing using those cheaper strings and why? I keep 3 guitars going and play 15-20 gigs a month so I'm changing one guitar or the other every couple of weeks. Gets 'spensive.
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Drew Howard · From: 48854

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Yeah == it's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it.
Wink

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Bob Simmons · From: Trafford, Alabama, USA

as was said earlier, check to see who actually makes the other brands ? I have been a GHS dealer for many years, have tried all the other brands but always came back to the regular boomers. By the way - the .o11 and .017 are SPECIAL PG strings .

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Bob
What (EXACTLY) is different about them? I'm looking for engineering answers not marketing hype.
(sorry, that's the only way I could say it)
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Neil Lang · From: Albert Lea, Minnesota, USA

I used Sho~Bud strings in the "olden" days of coarse. Ha!
I have used GHS Boomers for many years now. Since they started making the non-wound strings special for pedal guitar I very rarely break a string. I tried SS strings a few short years ago....I did not like them as good.
Neil
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