GHS Balanced Nickels 044-106

I got two sets of GHS Balanced Nickels for testing: One long scale set plus this short scale set.

I wrote a separate review for the long scale set. To sum it up they sounded great but didn't last very long before they failed.

These short scale ones sound just as good and they still haven't failed the way the long scale set did.

The sound is warm yet clear. In fact, I don't understand the GHS "brightness chart" at all. These strings are rated several steps darker than Boomers but that's simply not true. These strings are much brighter and clearer sounding than Boomers if we compare their broken in sound. Sure, out of the box the Boomers are brighter but they only last a couple of days until that brightness is gone. These Balanced Nickels seem to last much longer (unless they fail completely like the long scale set I also purchased, see separate review).

I loved how the long scale set (44-106) felt. They were not nearly as stiff as the high gauge would suggest. These short scale ones are the same gauge. And I really mean string by string EXACTLY the same gauges. This doesn't exactly suggest a set that has been developed specifically for short scale. More like downsized long scale strings. And they don't feel nearly as nice as the long scale set. At least not for my taste. They're far too floppy for me. This will of course be down to personal taste so I'm sure a lot of people will love them. But I think it's poor that GHS just went with the exact same gauges on short scale instead of developing a more suitable short scale set.

If you generally like very light strings, say 40-95 on a long scale, you will probably like how these feel. Just don't expect them to be anywhere near as stiff as the rather high gauge suggests. They're very floppy, even for a roundcore.

Recommended to anyone looking for a floppy/loose feeling string with a very nice, warm yet clear sound.