GHS pressurewound blue silk wrap? (not black)

[Bobbylon]

I just got a set of GHS pressurewound from Amazon prime delivered. I’ve been using these strings for a few years and they’ve always had black silk wrap. These ones had blue silkwrap, and were visibly old and rusty. I’m sending them back either way because they are rusty. Did GHS used to make pressurewound with blue silk wrap years ago? Or are these not even the correct string lol. The winding looks a little different than a regular pressure wound, see pic below. So I’m thinking these are actually some other type of string altogether, incorrectly packaged, that also happen to be old and rusty. Thoughts?

 

[michael_t]

As far as I know, GHS Pressurewounds have always had black silk.

The ones before 2015 had black silk at both ends while the more recent ones only have silk at the tuner end.

I don't think the ones you have are the real thing.

 

[Auer]

View attachment 5140813 I just got a set of GHS pressurewound from Amazon prime delivered. I’ve been using these strings for a few years and they’ve always had black silk wrap. These ones had blue silkwrap, and were visibly old and rusty. I’m sending them back either way because they are rusty. Did GHS used to make pressurewound with blue silk wrap years ago? Or are these not even the correct string lol. The winding looks a little different than a regular pressure wound, see pic below. So I’m thinking these are actually some other type of string altogether, incorrectly packaged, that also happen to be old and rusty. Thoughts?

Amazon?

Someone stuck their old strings back in the pack and returned for a refund.

 

[Bobbylon]

Amazon?

Someone stuck their old strings back in the pack and returned for a refund.

These strings are unused. They aren’t bent or cut or anything. But they’re certainly old with visible rust on them. Probably been sitting in some warehouse for 10 years. And I agree they are not pressurewounds. No biggie I’m gonna return them and just hope this doesn’t happen again lol

 

[michael_t]

These strings are unused. They aren’t bent or cut or anything. But they’re certainly old with visible rust on them. Probably been sitting in some warehouse for 10 years.

Can you post a pic of the package they came in?

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I haven’t played any pressure wounds for a long time, probably more than 10 years, and they were black silk at that time. I hope there aren’t vendors on Amazon trying to pass off some super cheap stuff as name brand, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

Did your packaging look like this?

 

[Bobbylon]

Yes there is the correct outer packaging and string sleeves on the inside.

 

[BOOG]

Not saying that this is the answer but, a few years ago, I tried (and returned) a set of EB Cobalts that had the same silk and were rusted out of the package. They might have been a repackaged return that somebody did “the ol’switcheroo”?

 

[Jon Moody]

Yes there is the correct outer packaging and string sleeves on the inside.

looks like someone swapped Brite Flats or another type of groundwound string in for those Pressurewounds.

And no, they’ve never had blue silk on them.

 

[salmon256]

Amazon?

Someone stuck their old strings back in the pack and returned for a refund.

This. Sadly this happens, people buy new ones, give in old ones. Amazon was nice when someone mixed up all the strings and left old ones with me, but it's scummy. StringJoy called this out and let people know they are well aware when someone does this. But I had more luck buying used/open box strings it's rare this happens.

 

[SharpCat]

That is indeed scummy. I like GHS pressurewounds and also DR strings, but both of them use unsealed packaging. I prefer given this behavior to buy sealed packages to ensure no substitutions.

 

[Deleted member 368008]

GHS are the only brand of strings you can buy in Scandinavian countries in general stores, and not in particular music stores. Hardware stores and so on. It is of stainless steel though, so why not? They're not particularly cheap priced or overpriced but in between.

Picky about silk color? I would love the day all string manufacturers drop any silk on their strings. Black, blue or red, any color. I never ever understood the point of that, and when asked Rotosound - especially their headless double ball end strings where the silk carries on way over the zero fret well into the first fret of the speaking length of the strings - their reply is that in a kind of vein "these goes to eleven..." or similar. Basically as in "it doesn't matter". So I avoid them like them plauge. And wish to spread that gospel...

Now, the gripe is that all packages today of strings, it does not actually tell you if it has silk wrap or not. Not in specs not in sight. So you can't tell until it's too late (opening up and breaking the sealed package) that you've wasted money on something you can't really use. It's the same back at the bridge, that they say "it doesn't matter" that little bit of silk going out along the string a bit. Totally b*ll*cks. I think they should leave the industry altogether, and go pound sand instead.

Thank God there's competition where other manufacturers have dropped that one since ages ago. No one ever complained that a string does NOT have silk on them. Maybe derailing th thread, but I would swap manufacturer immediately. Change brand, any other major "non-silk" brand will do.

I've always been wary of GHS strings, and the usual "switcher'oo" that occurs when doing a refund buying them online. I think you should be wary of this, and it's only to drop GHS a mail and ask them if they started to use blue silk on them, simple as that.

 

[michael_t]

Now, the gripe is that all packages today of strings, it does not actually tell you if it has silk wrap or not. Not in specs not in sight.

GHS is the only company I know of who actually tells you type of winding, winding material, type of core wire and SILK COLOR as well as winding lengths right on their website.

For example...

Products - PRESSUREWOUND™ - GHS Strings

Products - BASS SUPER STEELS™ - GHS Strings

Products - BASSICS™ - GHS Strings

...and so on...

 

[jglunt]

GHS is the only company I know of who actually tells you type of winding, winding material, type of core wire and SILK COLOR as well as winding lengths right on their website.

For example...

Products - PRESSUREWOUND™ - GHS Strings

Products - BASS SUPER STEELS™ - GHS Strings

Products - BASSICS™ - GHS Strings

...and so on...

Kudos to GHS for doing this. DR is similar. So many string makers seem to keep their specs a secret. Why? My Pressurewounds were bought from a popular website specializing in strings for many kinds of instruments. They have black silks. And they didn't cost but a couple dollars more.

 

[Jon Moody]

Kudos to GHS for doing this. DR is similar. So many string makers seem to keep their specs a secret. Why?

Probably because it's proprietary. That's the recipe of how the strings are made; why should they give that up?

 

[SharpCat]

Probably because it's proprietary. That's the recipe of how the strings are made; why should they give that up?

Because it only helps the consumer. The other manufacturers in most cases can figure out the ‘secrets’ without too much trouble.

 

[Jon Moody]

Because it only helps the consumer. The other manufacturers in most cases can figure out the ‘secrets’ without too much trouble.

To a point.

The only critical information for the general consumer is what kind of string it is (roundwound, flat), what material and winding length. The core shape can go either way, which depends on if the company is using it as a feature/benefit or not.

Anything past that is information that the general string-buying population (which is not on Talkbass ) does not need, nor care about.

 

[SharpCat]

To a point.

The only critical information for the general consumer is what kind of string it is (roundwound, flat), what material and winding length. The core shape can go either way, which depends on if the company is using it as a feature/benefit or not.

Anything past that is information that the general string-buying population (which is not on Talkbass ) does not need, nor care about.

Fair enough. But most string makers don’t even give that much info, as @michael_t noted.

 

[jglunt]

Probably because it's proprietary. That's the recipe of how the strings are made; why should they give that up?

I get that the main info is the scale length, the winding material, and the type of winding and that that info is easy to find. But I have a friend who hates strings with a hex core. He says they feel too stiff for him when he's playing. I sort of prefer a hex core because if it's a little stiffer, I can get better action without picking up fret clack. Everybody is different about that, but very few manufacturers publish that info on their website. What would it hurt? Would they go out of business if they published they used a hex core or a round core? GHS and DR are still in business, and that info is available on their websites. On the other hand, they're only bass strings and not worth worrying about. Just sayin'...

On another subject, about 3-4 months ago, I put a set of Pressurewounds on my G&L SB-2--the bass with two volume controls and no tone control. I played it at a four-night gig week before last, and FINALLY they sounded exactly like I hoped they would. Talk about a long break-in period! But they played and sounded incredible, so much so that I'm thinking of trying them on another bass or two.

 

[Deleted member 368008]

GHS is the only company I know of who actually tells you type of winding, winding material, type of core wire and SILK COLOR as well as winding lengths right on their website.

Oh dear...read again please...

Now, the gripe is that all packages today of strings, it does not actually tell you if it has silk wrap or not. Not in specs not in sight.

I could give a **** about websites. Still do not see the silk wrap LENGTH....