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NSD: Ken Smith: mismatched sets??
- Thread starter dickfitts
- Start date
Based on more recent posts by another user, the silks on Ken Smith Compressors are starting to match better now that GHS, who winds strings for Ken Smith, appears to have sufficiently recovered from the supply shortage issues with silks.
What's interesting is you actually ordered the Compressors to try... I was just reading in your thread on "Jazz bass string choice" that you didn't like GHS Pressurewounds for their tone. The Compressors are basically the same string as the Pressurewounds, both being Alloy 52 "rollerwound" made by GHS.
2 sets of Ken Smith master series strings I recently got, had 3 strings with one shade of purple, but the G strings in both sets had a different shade.
Great strings however! Jon Moody, formerly of GHS, explained about the silk situation awhile back. It’s only a cosmetic issue, one that IMHO can easily be overlooked, because the strings are so good.
Great strings however! Jon Moody, formerly of GHS, explained about the silk situation awhile back. It’s only a cosmetic issue, one that IMHO can easily be overlooked, because the strings are so good.
I decided to give them a fair, thorough try and to break them in. I’ve actually not put them on yet though because TI flats sound and feel so good on this jazz bass. still, I’m craving just a tad more bite. I might but the kens on this weekend. TIs are just so hard to beat on a jazz bass, so I’m not sure I’ll do it.
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I just wanted to follow up on this thread that to me the compressors do not feel exactly the same as the pressurewounds, they feel much better. They are more supple, and they are smoother. I hate pressurewounds, but I love these compressors on my stingray!!
I respectfully disagree based on my own experience with the Pressurewounds and the Compressors. But again, FEEL is a subjective thing. So, we can agree to disagree.
Isn't there a guy here who works for GHS? We should ask him.I respectfully disagree based on my own experience with the Pressurewounds and the Compressors. But again, FEEL is a subjective thing. So, we can agree to disagree.
There are plenty of other people over the years here on TB saying they feel different to them them as well. But I am not 100% sure I am correct.
I just took both E strings in my hand, same gauge, and inspected them. Color of metal is definitely exactly the same. No surprise there. If I run both through my fingers, the GHS version seems to have more drag, rougher. It's tough to see, but when I lined them up it seems the Compressors have more wraps in the same area... smaller wraps. The Compressors feel softer to me, closer to TI Jazz Rounds and when I bend them they seem more flexible.
Again I could be wrong, but I have tried Pressurewounds at least 5 times over the years, and they immediately came off each time. When I put the compressors on, I was IMMEDIATELY in love. The mind is powerful though, so I would love to know once and for all if they are the same. I happen to love purple, so it could be just that
@Jon Moody Can you enlighten us?
Jon Moody used to work for GHS, but he left there last year.
Isn't there a guy here who works for GHS? We should ask him.
There are plenty of other people over the years here on TB saying they feel different to them them as well. But I am not 100% sure I am correct.
I just took both E strings in my hand, same gauge, and inspected them. Color of metal is definitely exactly the same. No surprise there. If I run both through my fingers, the GHS version seems to have more drag, rougher. It's tough to see, but when I lined them up it seems the Compressors have more wraps in the same area... smaller wraps. The Compressors feel softer to me, closer to TI Jazz Rounds and when I bend them they seem more flexible.
Again I could be wrong, but I have tried Pressurewounds at least 5 times over the years, and they immediately came off each time. When I put the compressors on, I was IMMEDIATELY in love. The mind is powerful though, so I would love to know once and for all if they are the same. I happen to love purple, so it could be just that
@Jon Moody Can you enlighten us?
Not anymore... @Jon Moody is no longer with GHS.
If you think the Compressors are better than the Pressurewounds, so be it. It won't matter to me one way or the other.
It matters to the world, would just like to get the definitive answer. It's been discussed for like 20 years on here without the facts.
Not picking sides here but something to consider is that if you take a ghs pressurewound and a compressor side by side you could indeed be feeling smoother due to a slight difference in how the metals came out of the machine. We know these come in batches. Also everything with the Ken Smith line is custom spec so it could definitely come down to a different winding speed of the machine and or a different core size, different number of wraps, etc. Ive used Smith strings and I absolutely think they are unique vs what you get from most companies. Im pretty sure Ken custom specd all those strings when ghs was in the pre production phase.
haha it’s not about picking sides I just want to know the facts. If I am wrong that’s completely fine. I would be very surprised, though. I picked up an immediate, discernible difference when I tried them for the first time. Smoother, softer, more flexible.
And that definitely doesn't surprise me. Lots of factors at play here. On top of that i absolutely believe that they are unique vs the standard stuff ghs makes. Thats what makes custom custom. Lol
It won’t be very scientific, but I’ll tape off a 2” section of both and count the wraps with a magnifying glass. If it’s close, I’m probably just off. If it’s significant, that could say something.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
No NDAs (that I can speak on lol), but out of respect for the relationships that I made with specific builders AND the fact that we referred to the program as “Private Label,” I won’t be speaking on such comparisons.
