"Very smooth-sliding strings. Round wire is slightly flattened in the winding process to provide a flatter surface. Strings have bright tone, but not as bright as roundwound strings."
GHS Strings
"GHS Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers of high quality strings for fretted instruments. GHS produces strings for electric, acoustic and classic guitar, electric bass, banjo, mandolin, and a wide array of specialty and ethnic instruments. From Battle Creek, Michigan, USA (where GHS was founded in 1964), fresh-from-the-factory strings and music products are delivered direct to retail stores in the USA and to distributors in over 70 countries around the world.
With over 200 standard sets and 700 single strings, GHS has a set that is right for you.
String Design
The string specialists at GHS bring a craftsman-like approach to each aspect of string design. From material selection to such intricate factors as core-to-cover ratio, winding direction, wire tension and alteration of the wire, GHS designs state-of-the-art strings that enhance the sound quality of all playing styles and instruments. And with ongoing research, GHS develops string innovations that anticipate music trends and instrument modifications worldwide.
String Manufacturing
To build a quality product, state-of-the-art equipment is a necessity. At GHS, all strings are made on machinery designed and built in-house. The GHS design engineers utilize the latest technology to develop computer controlled string making machines that monitor such intricate parameters as the number and type of twists on the ball end, winding speed and direction, core and cover wire tension, cover wire angle and wind length. Modern quality control methods ensure that the final product meets GHS's rigid specifications.
Factory Fresh
GHS knows that you want your strings to be as fresh as the day they were made. All GHS facilities are environmentally regulated to control temperatures and humidity. Sensitive raw materials and bulk products are further wrapped in protective bags for storage. Coiled strings are placed in string packets that, in independent laboratory tests, have proven to offer the optimum protection from humidity. Finally, the GHS swift order shipment (usually within 24 hours of order placement) guarantees that GHS strings arrive in your retail store factory-fresh.
How String Material Affects Tone and Feel
The hardness of common materials used in the cover wire of strings affects both the tone and "feel" of a string. Usually, with all else remaining constant, the harder the material the brighter the string. This relationship shows why stainless steel produces a very bright sound and nickel, a softer material, produces a warmer sound. However, a hard material can be abrasive to both fingers and frets. At GHS, our unique "Alloy 52", used in Progressives and White Bronze strings, is softer and less abrasive than a stainless steel but produces a tone almost as bright. Common cover wire materials include (ranked by order of brightness) stainless steel, Alloy 52, nickel plated steel, pure nickel, and for acoustics, brass and bronze.
The core wire for all strings and all plain steel strings (both acoustic and electric) are made from tin plated Swedish steel."
