Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Any clue who makes Rickenbacker guitar strings?

I just got 4 sets in the mail & am curious.

There's a thread discussing this on the RIC website forum. They're made to spec for RIC & compressed. No one else has that process done. I believe that a lot of string suppliers share the same makers. It's quite common in many manufacturing fields for many retailers to source parts or supplies from a few common makers & repackage the end product.

I know that DR Strings compress their Pure Blues & Tite-Fits so I didn't know if they made Ric strings or if someone else did. I heard that there are only like 3 companies actually making strings with Dean Markley being one of them.

What exactly is a compressed string? I think I get the general idea from the name but I'm sure somebody on this forum has a good technical explanation of their production. Also, what are the typical benefits/drawbacks?

Compression, at least to my way of thinking, is a process that makes the string uniform throughout its length.

As I understand it, some compression processes involve running the strings over a roller as a final step. This puts a smoother surface on the string which makes it less noisey as you move your fingers over the fretboard. At the same time, the string retains most of its round wound characteristics and so tends to be brighter.

Sorry this isn't the technical explanation you are looking for Stubby.

That's a practical bit of info-particularly the noise reduction part. And, I'm willing to bet yours ain't the last word on this!

I believe the wound portion is compressed to an oval shape then wound over the core. GHS makes compression wound bass strings. I don't know if they make compressed guitar stings.

DR Strings website has a good explanation of the process if I remember right.
Happy Thanksgiving!

You are almost certainly right Stubby.

Since I play a lot of hard rock, metal and punk, plus a lot of lead playing, I have found that the compressed round wounds just didn't quite give me the sound that I need. I made the switch to Rickenbacker Pure Nickel Wound (10-46 gauge) and I couldn't be happier. In fact, I like these strings so much that I put a set on my Gibson V just for the heck of it, and they sounded great on that guitar as well.

I didn't know Ric offered any other strings other than the compressed round wounds...

Yes, they offer more than just the compressed round wound. Rickenbacker offers the Pure Nickel Wounds on their website, plus your local Ric dealer should be able to get you some.