True..There are only 3 or 4 big string makers in the States.. All those different strings you see in fancy packets are made by one of only a few manufactures.
They just put them in different packaging.
I bought some loose 1sts and 2nds from the States a year or so back and bought about 700 spares for pupils etc.. They were from 'Musicians friend '.
Nothing wrong with them at all ( Well wound at the ball end ) and the guy who got them for me and posted them over told me they were Gibson .