Cheapest place for strings?

MattKid

Where do you buy your strings?

Voodu Child

They're not the cheapest out there, but I buy GHS strings, about €3 a pack from thomann. Obviously there's postage, but I just wait until I have a big order and throw a dozen or so sets on top.

Thomann do their own strings, about a quid a packet, but ive broken quite a few high-Es on those strings, and normally I never do. Plus, even though they're sealed packets, I had a string missing in one set. So I wouldnt recommend them that much tbh.

-=al=-

elixers, they jsut last ages, they're 15 set in town, but its alright, i had a set on with regular use for about a month+

Sergio

ebay.com is the only way to go and buy from american dealers.i always buy in bulk and its way cheaper than rip of ireland/europe!

feylya

www.webstrings.com

Perhaps not the highest quality strings but they're good enough for practicing or random gigs.

Dord

I like http://www.saitenkatalog.de

ThOnda

When I need strings, I just buy them. One set a year, approximately. Shop in Tallaght is not there any more. It was Saturday afternoon. Shops on Capel street were closed on Sunday. So I ended in Clondalkin today.
What a story to buy one set of strings!

Dord

1 set a year?! :eek:

Rigsby

ThOnda wrote: »

When I need strings, I just buy them. One set a year, approximately. Shop in Tallaght is not there any more. It was Saturday afternoon. Shops on Capel street were closed on Sunday. So I ended in Clondalkin today.
What a story to buy one set of strings!

I can only speak for bass strings, but they are at least half the price on ebay as they are in Dublin ( surprise ! surprise ! ). :rolleyes:

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

1 set a year?! :eek:

:eek: :eek:

ball ox

Dord wrote: »

1 set a year?! :eek:

do you play the harp?

darrenw5094

Try www.strings.ie in Mayo. 2 day delivery.

Rigsby

darrenw5094 wrote: »

Try www.strings.ie in Mayo. 2 day delivery.

About the same price after postage as in any shop in Dublin ( for bass strings ).

No big deal there. ! :rolleyes:

Dord

Rigsby wrote: »

:eek: :eek:

I know. He must not play very often, or maybe he likes rusty strings.

I usually get around 3 months out of a set of bass strings, although I do pay a bit extra for the ones I use. They've got 24K Gold windings and retain their sound a lot longer than normal nickels. Plus they look cool. :cool:

spoonbadger

voodoo_child wrote: »

They're not the cheapest out there, but I buy GHS strings, about €3 a pack from thomann. Obviously there's postage, but I just wait until I have a big order and throw a dozen or so sets on top.

Thomann do their own strings, about a quid a packet, but ive broken quite a few high-Es on those strings, and normally I never do. Plus, even though they're sealed packets, I had a string missing in one set. So I wouldnt recommend them that much tbh.

Oh lol, €3 for a pack of strings is effin' dirt!.

You should try restringing with EB/d'addario 11s ever 2-3 weeks! .

And i wouldnt (and you shouldnt!!) touch cheap, generic brand crap like "thomann-brand strings". They're completely poo!!

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

I usually get around 3 months out of a set of bass strings, although I do pay a bit extra for the ones I use. They've got 24K Gold windings and retain their sound a lot longer than normal nickels. Plus they look cool. :cool:

I'm the same - around 3 months (give or take). I wipe them with a cloth moistened with meths after each gig/practice. Helps prolong their life and brightness. My other bass is strung with flats which I've had on for about 2 years. Some people have had these ( TI Jazz flats ) on for up to ten years :eek: still sounding as sweet as ever. So plenty of savings there.

Dord

Oh yeah, I have La Bella tapewounds on one of my basses and I don't intend taking them off unless they break. But I doubt that will happen with my playing.

A bass player from one of the bands I listen to uses a 70's Jazz with the original flats on it. I had D'addario Chromes on a P bass for about 2 years. They still sounded great!

Voodu Child

spoonbadger wrote: »

And i wouldnt (and you shouldnt!!) touch cheap, generic brand crap like "thomann-brand strings". They're completely poo!!

No. They're not.

They're 4 or 5 times cheaper than a pack of d'addario (which i used to use for years), and they're definitely not 5x 'worse'. Not even close.

They are what they are; cheap affordable strings that arent that much worse than the bigger brands.

Dord

FYI, there are only so many string factories in the world. A good few of the brands out there are rebranded.

Voodu Child

Dord wrote: »

FYI, there are only so many string factories in the world. A good few of the brands out there are rebranded.

Yep, and apart from the exotic high-end stuff (nanoweb and all that malarky), they're all using more or less the same grade of steel & nickel etc.

And the string winding machines all work on the same principle, half of them are probably made by the same manufacturer anyway.

-=al=-

nanoweb technology is the key to long life

the strings dont actually rust though, thats the cool thing, last ages, they're great for my rg, which i do not like restringing much, its jsut mroe hassle, i used to use da'darios but the effort to restring, as for a strat or les paul id be less inclined to use them, but still do, i usualy have 2-3 guitars going at the same time so saves hassle

signature code violation there btw voodoo child, and image AND text!! ...just letting you know

darrenw5094

Exotic are Snake Oil Brand strings......hocus pocus to make you sound better and more sustain too....where would we be without sustain......huh
Oh....and they are more expensive too........
http://sobstrings.net/

Dord

darrenw5094 wrote: »

Exotic are Snake Oil Brand strings......hocus pocus to make you sound better and more sustain too....where would we be without sustain......huh
Oh....and they are more expensive too........
http://sobstrings.net/

Actually I was thinking about buying some of those recently. It's hard to get pure nickel strings nowadays. I wouldn't mind trying them out.

DeadSkin

darrenw5094 wrote: »

Exotic are Snake Oil Brand strings......hocus pocus to make you sound better and more sustain too....where would we be without sustain......huh
Oh....and they are more expensive too........
http://sobstrings.net/

Ohhhh snake oil, oooohh Rock Formula, must get me some. They make DeadSkin good guitar player :pac:

darrenw5094

Sounds good......typical American......overdramatic names for everything.

I bought a PRS with SOB strings 9.5's already fitted and didn't notice too much difference.......

-=al=-

9.5's? id like to try them, i go for 9's on my strats and rg and 10 on les paul and sg

darrenw5094

Yes....9.5's. I didn't know they existed until recently. 9's can be a bit too light, and the 10's a bit heavey for my delicate fingers.

9.5's are perfect for me on a guitar with fixed bridge!!

Dord

11's FTW! :cool:

DeadSkin

darrenw5094 wrote: »

Exotic are Snake Oil Brand strings......hocus pocus to make you sound better and more sustain too....where would we be without sustain......huh
Oh....and they are more expensive too........
http://sobstrings.net/

Just thought I'd let ye know, if anyone was interested in buying from the above website, hold back.
I'm havin' a little bit of hassle with them at the minute, will keep ye posted

Dord

DeadSkin wrote: »

Just thought I'd let ye know, if anyone was interested in buying from the above website, hold back.
I'm havin' a little bit of hassle with them at the minute, will keep ye posted

I was thinking of buying from them recently but didn't...
Care to elaborate?

DeadSkin

Dord wrote: »

I was thinking of buying from them recently but didn't...
Care to elaborate?

Ah they're trying to hit me with extra shipping costs.
No sign of the strings after 2/3 weeks. Tried to contact them, no joy, the email bounced back!!!
Had to open a paypal dispute just to get in contact with them.
Some lame excuse about their mailbox being full, yet they got the mail for the dispute.
It's only then they decide to hit me with additional shipping costs.

Dord

That's a joke!

DeadSkin

Dord wrote: »

That's a joke!

I'm not laughin' :pac:

Aye, tis a pain in the hole alright!

Slaanesh

I recently made a purchase from webstrings.com

Got 10 packs of electric 11's
And 10 packs of acoustic 10's.

Cost: €48.94 including delivery.

I'd be terrified to think what that would cost me here.

Johnny Storm

DeadSkin wrote: »

Just thought I'd let ye know, if anyone was interested in buying from the above website, hold back.
I'm havin' a little bit of hassle with them at the minute, will keep ye posted

Just to give you a basis for comparison. He (Dean Farley) told me in an email about a year ago re postage:

You will pay $11-14.00 USD for up to 10 sets!

Not to excuse them but I believe it is pretty much a one-man operation. I didn't buy the strings in the end but I have read on other forums that they are really the business.

DeadSkin

The pisser for me was, there was no sign of the strings for a few weeks and couldn't get in contact with him.
It was only then, when he seen the paypal dispute did he decide to make contact and then mention the extra shipping costs.
When the order dropped, he shoulda dropped me a mail and told me about the extra shipping costs, I probably would have still bought them.

MattKid

Here is a thread on SOB strings and a few people have had problems getting deliveries

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=424673

Darkstrike

Damn' I was thinking of getting some of theose SOB bass strings too.

I usually don't mind paying for bass strings to much, as they can last me a really long time, on some basses I even like the sound of dead rounds, but I have two basses that tend to kill strings way too fast to be replacing, an I want them to hae a fairly agressive tone, which I won't get from flats.

Probably try Webstrings, or GHS Boomers from StewMac.

Dord

Darkstrike wrote: »

Damn' I was thinking of getting some of theose SOB bass strings too.

I usually don't mind paying for bass strings to much, as they can last me a really long time, on some basses I even like the sound of dead rounds, but I have two basses that tend to kill strings way too fast to be replacing, an I want them to hae a fairly agressive tone, which I won't get from flats.

Probably try Webstrings, or GHS Boomers from StewMac.

I use these strings...



They last a lot longer than regular nickel rounds, have a strong tone and seem to have improved the volume balance across the strings compared to the D'addario XL's I previously used. Plus they look damn cool! They's Gold! :cool:

Click the picture to be taken to the store. The shop is based in Germany and send them by DHL so they get here really fast. The guy is great to deal with also.

Darkstrike

Dord wrote: »

I use these strings...



They last a lot longer than regular nickel rounds, have a strong tone and seem to have improved the volume balance across the strings compared to the D'addario XL's I previously used. Plus they look damn cool! They's Gold! :cool:

Click the picture to be taken to the store. The shop is based in Germany and send them by DHL so they get here really fast. The guy is great to deal with also.

I've been wanting to try them for a while now!

Dord

I'd definitely recommend them! :thu: I've been getting 3+ months or even more from a set whereas I'd kill the D'addario's in a month or less.

Brian May endorses their guitar strings. :cool:
If I was going to endorse any strings it would be these also.

Here's a picture of one of my basses with them on.

Darkstrike

Ooh! Hot!

I'll try to pick up a set, most strings can last me 5/6 months, but my Jazz kills' 'em way too fast, its the bar...........

Broke a set of thomastics the other week, will not be uying them for it again!:D



EDIT: Is that a Westone?!

Royale with Cheese

I got a load of Dean Markley Blue Steel bass strings recently for $10 a set from stringsandbeyond.com. Got 6 sets for about €60 delivered. I'm not all that fussy about strings, these ones do me grand. Bit of an odd gauge though, 46-102. Suits me grand.

Will just wait til I see another deal like that and stock up again. Really can't be affording to spend €200 a year on strings (I've 2 basses I use just as often as each other).

Edit: Actually I'm pretty sure it was less than €60. Probably about €50. Strings were $10 a pack and shipping was $20.

Dord

Darkstrike wrote: »

Ooh! Hot!

I'll try to pick up a set, most strings can last me 5/6 months, but my Jazz kills' 'em way too fast, its the bar...........

Broke a set of thomastics the other week, will not be uying them for it again!:D



EDIT: Is that a Westone?!

Nah, it's an Aria Pro II. :cool:

Rigsby

Hmmm.. E41 incl shipping is pricey alright. I suppose they are gold plated after all. Seem nice strings though.

"DR's" are supposed to last longer than most roundwounds. Has anyone tried them ?

Dord wrote: »

I use these strings...



They last a lot longer than regular nickel rounds, have a strong tone and seem to have improved the volume balance across the strings compared to the D'addario XL's I previously used. Plus they look damn cool! They's Gold! :cool:

Click the picture to be taken to the store. The shop is based in Germany and send them by DHL so they get here really fast. The guy is great to deal with also.

Darkstrike

Dord wrote: »

Nah, it's an Aria Pro II. :cool:

Nice.......:cool:

Dord

Rigsby wrote: »

Hmmm.. E41 incl shipping is pricey alright. I suppose they are gold plated after all. Seem nice strings though.

"DR's" are supposed to last longer than most roundwounds. Has anyone tried them ?

I had DR's on my other Aria and didn't like them. Severe volume loss and not much highs.... I didn't like them at all.

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

I had DR's on my other Aria and didn't like them. Severe volume loss and not much highs.... I didn't like them at all.

That's surprising. I've seen nothing but great reviews of them on other forums. However, I accept that strings are a very personal choice.

DeadSkin

Well, got me money back from that snake oil dude. He said all the problems were on his side.
I'd say if anyone were to do business with him from here, maybe drop him a mail first to sort shipping costs.

yevveh

I use Elixir lights for bass (.045-.100). €50 squid in town but will last me 3-4 months, depending on how regularly I've been playing. Splitting a lot of time over the last year between bass and guitar so this set has probably lasted me 6 months. Can't remember the last time I changed them exactly anyone recommend a good place to get them cheaper online?

ps. Dord can you post or PM me a picture of your bass, it looks very pritty

Rigsby

yevveh wrote: »

anyone recommend a good place to get them cheaper online?

I get some of my strings on www.lordofthestrings.com and also I find ebay fairly competitive pricewise.