Strings went dead overnight...

[michael_t]

it is obviously not gunk or oils in the windings that accumulates there overtime.

Gunk that accumulates overtime is certainly one of the factors why strings go dead eventually, especially roundwound strings. But there are other factors involved, such as inferior materials used as well as poor workmanship and lack of consistency in QC.

 

[kgbeast]

Gunk that accumulates overtime is certainly one of the factors why strings go dead eventually, especially roundwound strings. But there are other factors involved, such as inferior materials used as well as poor workmanship and lack of consistency in QC.

Are the later listed reasons also the ones that affect DR and Ernie Ball strings or we are back on Chinese inferiority bias?

 

[michael_t]

Are the later listed reasons also the ones that affect DR and Ernie Ball strings or we are back on Chinese inferiority bias?

It's a fact some generic strings (not just Chinese ones) are inferior in both materials and workmanship. There is a reason why they're cheaper than others.