This paper is concerned with the smooth representation theory of the general linear group G=GL(F) of a non-Archimedean local field F. The point is the (explicit) construction of a special series of irreducible representations of compact open subgroups, called semisimple types, and the computation of their Hecke algebras. A given semisimple type determines a Bernstein component of the category of smooth representations of G; that component is then the module category for a tensor product of affine Hecke algebras; every component arises this way. Moreover, all Jacquet functors and parabolic induction functors connecting G with its Levi subgroups are described in terms of standard maps between affine Hecke algebras. These properties of semisimple types depend on their special intertwining properties which in turn imply strong bounds on the support of coefficient functions.