Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yet more questions from me - I'm not familiar with these strings and haven't seen them mentioned anywhere other than in Rick retailer ads. I did a search here and various folk talked about trying them, liking/disliking etc but I'm intrigued as to why they were made in the first place. What is is it they do that made Rickenbacker want to issue them with their new guitars and if they're beneficial, why don't other guitar makers factory fit similar strings - or do they?

GHS Nickel Rockers are another popular rollerwound (or compressed roundwound) string. There are a couple of advantages to the compressed/rollerwound concept. First, they're the tonal middle-ground between the dull thud of flats and the bright ring of roundwounds. And secondly, the strings begin as a slightly larger gauge that are then physically squished to the desired gauge which gives you a string with greater mass yet similar tension. This should give the string better tuning stability and longer life.

Clint wrote:GHS Nickel Rockers are another popular rollerwound (or compressed roundwound) string. There are a couple of advantages to the compressed/rollerwound concept. First, they're the tonal middle-ground between the dull thud of flats and the bright ring of roundwounds. And secondly, the strings begin as a slightly larger gauge that are then physically squished to the desired gauge which gives you a string with greater mass yet similar tension. This should give the string better tuning stability and longer life.

OK- that makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the info.

martynwelch wrote:

Clint wrote:GHS Nickel Rockers are another popular rollerwound (or compressed roundwound) string. There are a couple of advantages to the compressed/rollerwound concept. First, they're the tonal middle-ground between the dull thud of flats and the bright ring of roundwounds. And secondly, the strings begin as a slightly larger gauge that are then physically squished to the desired gauge which gives you a string with greater mass yet similar tension. This should give the string better tuning stability and longer life.

OK- that makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the info.

I heard from the guy at my local guitar shop that they are easier on the frets and go well with the super low action on a rickenbacker.

Are these the same thing as "1/2 Rounds"?

I'm not sure, but I think the string wraps on 1/2 rounds are ground down, not compressed.

Clint wrote:I'm not sure, but I think the string wraps on 1/2 rounds are ground down, not compressed.

Affirmative.

That makes sense--thanks guys!