Amazon Dean Markley Blue Steel, do these look genuine?

[Calvinc4s]

Anyone recently purchase Dean Markley Blue Steels that came packed like this?

I have been burned by counterfeit items from Amazon and the last time I bought these strings was 20 years ago. Do these look right?

 

[filmtex]

I thought they packaged each string in an envelope. Maybe this is just new packaging? Or perhaps a new source. Their website and FB page look pretty neglected IMHO.

 

[Calvinc4s]

I remember them being packaged in single string envelops also and vaguely remember them having blue silk.

Like these.

 

[tindrum]

I read somewhere that the company is basically not in the manufacturing business anymore and they sublet out production to other factories and as a result there have been inconsistencies. Seem to remember a good great here about lots of bad, defective strings.

 

[mmbongo]

Yes they no longer make their own strings so no telling what you are getting.

 

[Vinny_G]

Yes. I bought a set from Thomann recently and it looks just like yours. It's their new packaging.

 

[RasJay]

I will raise this from dead and am also concerned of how to identify genuine strings. Mine came as shown below from Amazon. Guitar Center here does not carry them and Sweetwater is backordered.

I will state a fact that Dean Markley has not been directly producing Blue Steels since at least the late 90's. My brother wound them at the time (late 90's - early 2000's) at some company in southern Michigan that Dean Markley contracted to. He would send me sets every once in awhile that he wound himself. Back then each string had a paper envelope and I do not remember if they had the blue silk.

I haven't had any since then and want to get a set to hear them again however am concerned as these look odd.

 

[GTHintz]

I will raise this from dead and am also concerned of how to identify genuine strings. Mine came as shown below from Amazon. Guitar Center here does not carry them and Sweetwater is backordered.

I will state a fact that Dean Markley has not been directly producing Blue Steels since at least the late 90's. My brother wound them at the time (late 90's - early 2000's) at some company in southern Michigan that Dean Markley contracted to. He would send me sets every once in awhile that he wound himself. Back then each string had a paper envelope and I do not remember if they had the blue silk.

I haven't had any since then and want to get a set to hear them again however am concerned as these look odd.

I bought a set just like that and they sounded great. They lasted a long time too. I know they are made in one of the other guy's factories these days but I had a good experience with a 5 string set bought about a year ago. You probably know about the apex cryo string company due to them being ex dean Markley string builders who started up after Dean cut ties at the Michigan facility. You might even know a couple of the guys working there even. I'd try them too. I've been meaning to but keep finding deals on Blue steels so i keep buying those.