Help Me Identify These Magical Mystery Strings

[ohheypaul]

See the attached pictures for reference! I love these strings so much but I cannot track down what they are so I can order more.

Some observations:

• Full round or possibly pressurewound? Definitely not flats or groundwounds. They do feel a bit smoother than new nickel d'addarios but it could be due to age.
• The metal is a bit darker grey than d'addario nickels (see photo) suggesting a different alloy?
• Purple silks at both ends.
• Silver ball ends.
• No taper at the ball end.

 

[michael_t]

Purple silk at both ends, 38" winding length, silver ball ends and a smoother feel than rounds. They all point to Ken Smith Compressors, which are Ken Smith version of the GHS Pressurewounds, which are Alloy 52 (nickel-iron) "rollerwound".

 

[tindrum]

Definitely Ken Smith. Could they maybe be the Rockmaster set? The windings don’t look different than a normal roundwound to me.

 

[GTHintz]

Definitely Ken Smith. I can spot the silver ball and purple from a mile away. I used to love these. I wish I didn't have such a hard time finding deals on them like I used to.

 

[ohheypaul]

Purple silk at both ends, 38" winding length, silver ball ends and a smoother feel than rounds. They all point to Ken Smith Compressors, which are Ken Smith version of the GHS Pressurewounds, which are Alloy 52 (nickel-iron) "rollerwound".

Does the Alloy 52 explain the darker metal?

 

[tindrum]

Does the Alloy 52 explain the darker metal?

If they are stainless steel strings they’ll be darker as well.

 

[ohheypaul]

Definitely Ken Smith. I can spot the silver ball and purple from a mile away. I used to love these. I wish I didn't have such a hard time finding deals on them like I used to.

Do the Rockmaster or Compressors have purple silks?

 

[tindrum]

Do the Rockmaster or Compressors have purple silks?

Rockmasters definitely do.

 

[michael_t]

Do the Rockmaster or Compressors have purple silks?

Most Ken Smith strings come with purple silk at both ends, except for the Burner NPS rounds, which have blue at one end and gold at the other (can't remember which is which).

 

[michael_t]

Does the Alloy 52 explain the darker metal?

Alloy 52 does have its own unique appearance. Not as light and silvery as nickel-plated steel and not as dark and dull as stainless steel.

 

[SharpCat]

The pics really look like rounds and not roller/compressor/pressure to me. Just sayin'.

 

[GTHintz]

Do the Rockmaster or Compressors have purple silks?

Both have purple silk. Burners have orange silk.

 

[michael_t]

The pics really look like rounds and not roller/compressor/pressure to me. Just sayin'.

You may be right... I was just looking at a couple of close-up pics of the GHS Pressurewounds and they do look flatter on the surface than the ones in the OP's pics.

 

[burgerdj]

Didn’t GHS make the range of Smith strings?

 

[michael_t]

Didn’t GHS make the range of Smith strings?

Yes, they still do.

 

[burgerdj]

Yes, they still do.

In that case, I vote for Smith Compressors and if you can’t find them, then GHS Pressurewound. Either way, I think you’ll be pleased

 

[DavidEdenAria]

They look not flat enough to be Pressurewounds unless the pic is distorting them somehow....dunno...i have no knowledge of Ken Smith strings.