RE: got a new CheckMate Thunderbird
Pretty sure you got a Dynaflight '97 string, 14 or 15 strands. It's not built for ultimate speed (you could go with a lot fewer strands and a shorter serving), but I never cared much for the piano wire strings, and usually the speed gain is minimal. I like the durability and lack of stretch/creep with them, along with reduced shock more than the speed increase.
Chad