GHS acquires Innovation bass strings
Innovation, the British double bass string brand founded in the late 1990s, has been acquired by the US string maker GHS. Production has now moved from Innovation’s original home in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales, to Battle Creek, Michigan
Particularly popular in the Rockabilly market, Innovation bass strings became quickly established as an affordable, quality product and were soon were successful in other genres, too. Initially made in the General Music Strings factory in Treorchy (home of Picato) , following the factory’s closure, Innovation’s strings were then made in its own small facility situated across the valley. Innovation’s owner, Strings and Things, confirmed to MIN that production difficulties, coupled with problems caused by the distance between the company’s base in Shoreham on the English south coast and the factory in Wales, had made it hard to run successful. An approach from GHS was accepted, which resulting in not just the acquisition of the brand but also the shipping of the machinery on which the strings were manufactured to GHS in the USA, along with a master set of handmade strings to be used as reference templates.
In a statement, the US string maker says: ‘GHS will now add Innovation strings to its line up as both manufacturer and worldwide distributor of the Innovation brand of strings for stand-up bass that includes orchestral, jazz, bluegrass and rock-a-billy. GHS has a proud lineage dating back to 1964, over the years producing a huge number of various products for bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitar, ukulele, banjo, dulcimer, bajo sexto, and much more’.
‘As one of the largest producers of music string products in the world, we anticipate that our lengthy background in manufacturing strings, combined with the Innovation traditions will guarantee that Innovation will continue to be a unique offering in stand-up bass strings,’ added GHS President Russ McFee.
Innovation products will be available through GHS and its distributor and retailer base as GHS implements full manufacturing production in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Info: www.ghsstrings.com
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Source: musicinstrumentnews.co.uk
