The new era of Blue Steels

Apex was started by Dean Markley employees in the original winding plant when Dean Markley closed it down. They went through several winding companies so it makes sense for them to go to Apex if they have done that.

 

Apex was started up by a few of the people who used to work for Dean Markley. But this is the first time I've heard of current Dean Markley brand being outsourced to Apex. Where did you get the info?

 

I know Apex make Cryos strings which is very Blue Steelish. I wonder if that is the link? I do know BrentSimons has tried Apex Cryos.

 

Used a ton of the Dean Markley Blue Steels in the days of regular gigging... they are in my top 2 all - time favorites.

Where can we source the new Apex Blues?

 

I was originally a Rotos guy... but then I fell in love with the original Blue Steels.
So I was pretty bummed when I heard they were no more. Than I heard ( on Talkbass) that Apex had reintroduced them. Haven't had a set of the new ones yet, but I hope they're at least close to the old ones.

 

More choices = better because more musicians can find their favorite.
Too deep in the thread to not have a pic of a really nice figured bass. What’s up?

 

This is great news...I used them 20 years ago or more, and switched to SR2000's which became my favorite string for 20 years until they too became ridiculously inconsistent. Here's hoping Apex will or has fixed that.

 

Googling the address of the old Dean Markley plant shows that it is now a plastic injection manufacturing company so I guess Apex didn't re-open the Dean Markley American Windings plant after all.

 

This is an good read with a little bit of history thrown in!

46 years of making strings Kalamazoo woman winds down into retirement

 

I used Blue Steel for a long time, until i no longer got them on a 2 for 1 deal.

 

Interesting....I remember liking Blue Steels a lot during my first few years of playing/learning. Will have to try out these Apex's once I run through my bulk stock.

 

I’d be curious where you heard this, as I was told elsewhere. From what I understand, Apex is a small shop (a handful of ppl at most) that wouldn’t have the manpower to take on a Private Label like DM. But maybe?

 

None of those threads say anything about Apex making strings for DM after they were sold. I don't think Apex is involved with DM, save for being founded by the shop manager of American Winding (the name of the string factory DM owned at one time).

And no, the Blue Steels made now are similar, but probably not exactly like they were. DM's been sold twice (I think; at least once) and who knows how accurate the specs were kept.

I would wager the Apex Cryo's are closer to the orig DM Blue Steel than what's being made at present.