Bricks and mortar, you're not helping yourselves...

endacl

OK, first up, I admit this is a rant, and I know I could have phoned around first!

I support local retailers where I can. I always have done. Unless the saving for buying online is massive I'll walk into your shop, and I'll buy what I need from you.

I need to restring some guitars. I want to buy strings. I use Elixir phosphor bronze on my acoustics. Have done for some years. I don't use anything else. I've obviously tried other brands, but I don't like them as much. On my classical I use D'Addario Pro Arte hard tensions. Have done since I was a student.

Neither of these are esoteric hard to find items. Both brands are common as muck. Except in Dublin. I change strings on the classical monthly, and more regularly on the acoustics. I spent most on a lovely sunny Saturday driving from shop to shop looking for these very ordinary, run of the mill items. Nowhere has them in stock. One very well known retailer kindly offered to order them in. This is the same offer they've made three times so far this year...

So, local shops, I'm sorry to report, I'll be ordering online from now on. I know. Strings aren't a high value item. You won't retire early from selling strings. They are however a bread and butter item. I buy a lot of them. You haven't lost a customer as such. I just won't be buying my strings in Dublin any more. It's actually quite sad to type this. I avoid online shopping where I can. I pay over the odds to support my local shops. I want to buy local. Why won't you facilitate this?

*rant ends*

Rigsby

Deja Vu !!!!

Yours is not the first such thread here on "Boards" and I'm sure it wont be the last.


I buy my strings on : www.lordofthestrings.com

Save yourself the hassle (and enjoy sunny saturday afternoons )...buy on line. If the Dublin music shops have not copped on at this stage, there is little hope that they ever will.

groovie

Might I recommend strings.ie fast and friendly!

endacl

Rigsby wrote: »

Deja Vu !!!!

Yours is not the first such thread here on "Boards" and I'm sure it wont be the last.


I buy my strings on : www.lordofthestrings.com

Save yourself the hassle (and enjoy sunny saturday afternoons )...buy on line. If the Dublin music shops have not copped on at this stage, there is little hope that they ever will.

groovie wrote: »

Might I recommend strings.ie fast and friendly!

I must admit, I was kinda expecting 'we'll, you can't expect every shop to carry exactly what you want' type responses! Thanks for the suggestions. Will check them out.

Seriously though, is it just me or is this a scenario that's only arisen in recent years? I never remember not being able to find those brands. It's not like I went looking for lute strings. It'd be like walking into a shop to buy a snickers, only to be asked ' will a Mars bar do ya?'.

First world problems, eh?

Dord

I've had similar issues. I was looking for stainless steel bass strings recently and got some strange looks in quite a few shops. I wasn't even being picky on the brand. I found a pack eventually,but I think in future I'll order online.

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

I've had similar issues. I was looking for stainless steel bass strings recently and got some strange looks in quite a few shops. I wasn't even being picky on the brand. I found a pack eventually,but I think in future I'll order online.

+1.

Guitar string choices are scarce enough in Dublin, but even less so for the poor bassist.

You got strange looks when asking about stainless steels...imagine the reaction I got when I inquired about flat wounds ?

slavetothegrind

i think owner operated music stores are the only ones that give a damn really.

otherwise you have a staff member on a modest wage who would rather not be disturbed in his surfing or noodling with some instrument or other.

ok that's harsh, but not a rare experience

if you came in to my shop i would have offered to stock them for you and given you a pack of something decent to tide you over for a couple of days until your strings came in. A quick chat would reveal the info you gave above, and good service would breed loyalty on a personal and shop level.

strings.ie will be delighted to get your business i'd imagine!

endacl

slavetothegrind wrote: »

i think owner operated music stores are the only ones that give a damn really.

otherwise you have a staff member on a modest wage who would rather not be disturbed in his surfing or noodling with some instrument or other.

ok that's harsh, but not a rare experience

if you came in to my shop i would have offered to stock them for you and given you a pack of something decent to tide you over for a couple of days until your strings came in. A quick chat would reveal the info you gave above, and good service would breed loyalty on a personal and shop level.

strings.ie will be delighted to get your business i'd imagine!

Pm me your shop details, and you'll get my cash. I still would like to buy local.

Dord

Rigsby wrote: »

+1.

Guitar string choices are scarce enough in Dublin, but even less so for the poor bassist.

You got strange looks when asking about stainless steels...imagine the reaction I got when I inquired about flat wounds ?

If you're stuck, gimme a shout. I've got an unopened set of chromes here.

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

If you're stuck, gimme a shout. I've got an unopened set of chromes here.

Thanks for the offer Dord.


The incident I described happened a while ago. I got nearly seven years :eek: out of my previous set of TI jazz flats. I've just restrung my bass with a new set (bought on line) and also have a set in reserve.
So I think I'm OK for a while.

Thanks again though.


BTW, do you use flats yourself ? It seems that not many Irish bassists do.

Dord

Rigsby wrote: »

Thanks for the offer Dord.


The incident I described happened a while ago. I got nearly seven years :eek: out of my previous set of TI jazz flats. I've just restrung my bass with a new set (bought on line) and also have a set in reserve.
So I think I'm OK for a while.

Thanks again though.


BTW, do you use flats yourself ? It seems that not many Irish bassists do.

I've used them before, but usually use rounds. I have a set of tapewounds knocking around (5+ years) that I've had on a few basses. Really nice feel and sound. I'm currently rebuilding a midscale bass that I think I'll throw them on.

I can understand Irish shops not stocking this stuff, mainly for the fact that it's quite rare someone would want it. But, you'd think the bigger shops would at least have a good range in gauge and types in the standard stuff. Apparently not...

Rigsby

Dord wrote: »

I can understand Irish shops not stocking this stuff, mainly for the fact that it's quite rare someone would want it.

Yes, I can understand a shop not stocking flat wounds as not many use them and those who do, might only buy every few years.

However there is no excuse for not stocking a bigger selection of round wounds. I use DR Sunbeams (45-105) on my other basses. I think only "Music Maker" stocks them, but only on occasion. Even a quick look on "Strings.ie" shows that they dont have that particular one....never did AFAIK.

I suppose it is my own fault for not following the multitude when it comes to string choice.

Buying on line I get what I want...when I want it.

Dord

Very true.

I used to order online solely, and gave my business to Schneider Music in Germany. They have an unbelievable range in strings and offer discounts for bulk purchase. Everything from budget to top end for all manner of instruments. Not sure I'd try €2.70 guitar strings though. I think next time I'll put in an order there, but I'm sorted for the moment.

http://schneidermusik.de

endacl

Rigsby wrote: »

Yes, I can understand a shop not stocking flat wounds as not many use them and those who do, might only buy every few years.

However there is no excuse for not stocking a bigger selection of round wounds. I use DR Sunbeams (45-105) on my other basses. I think only "Music Maker" stocks them, but only on occasion. Even a quick look on "Strings.ie" shows that they dont have that particular one....never did AFAIK.

I suppose it is my own fault for not following the multitude when it comes to string choice.

Buying on line I get what I want...when I want it.

Well... A few days after you want it.

endacl

Dord wrote: »

Very true.

I used to order online solely, and gave my business to Schneider Music in Germany. They have an unbelievable range in strings and offer discounts for bulk purchase. Everything from budget to top end for all manner of instruments. Not sure I'd try €2.70 guitar strings though. I think next time I'll put in an order there, but I'm sorted for the moment.

http://schneidermusik.de

That's exactly what I meant when I started the thread!

I did a search on their site for 'elixir'. Nothing else. Just that one word. The first result in the search was exactly what I spent Saturday looking for. Even down to the gauge. That's how 'bog standard' my regular string requirement is!

Rigsby

endacl wrote: »

Well... A few days after you want it.

Yep..a few days. I dont mind waiting, once I know they are on the way.



BTW, our posts in this thread dont even mention the price saving to be had on line.....so I will....:P

On the rare occasion when "Music Maker" did have the DR's I mentioned earlier, in stock they were in or around €34. I get mine on line for €23 (incl. postage).

With the best will in the world to support Irish shops, that's just too much of a difference for me...if if I could get them in Dublin.

bnt

I had a similar experience with bass strings, trying to find an extra light set (with a 0.035 G string). Not a chance in Dublin, everyone had the same small selection of sets. I got a couple of "we can order them in" responses, but I can order them in, so why should I pay a hefty markup for that?

I'm thinking of buying a 6-string bass at some point - didn't see any of those, never mind suitable strings for one. :cool:

languagenerd

endacl wrote: »

I need to restring some guitars. I want to buy strings. I use Elixir phosphor bronze on my acoustics. Have done for some years. I don't use anything else. I've obviously tried other brands, but I don't like them as much. On my classical I use D'Addario Pro Arte hard tensions. Have done since I was a student.

Did you try Dublin Guitar Centre? They definitely do the phosphor bronze Elixirs (they did when I was last there about a month ago anyway) and I'm fairly sure they do the Pro-Artes, unless they've changed brands recently.

endacl

languagenerd wrote: »

Did you try Dublin Guitar Centre? They definitely do the phosphor bronze Elixirs (they did when I was last there about a month ago anyway) and I'm fairly sure they do the Pro-Artes, unless they've changed brands recently.

Thanks for the suggestion, and no, I didn't. Because I didn't want to drive into town. Seriously though, string-wise, that's like saying 'did you try the Centra on Dame St? They definitely have Mars Bars'.

My opening post was lamenting the fact that local shops, not city centre shops, don't carry 'bread and butter' items. If I'd known the only place in any way local to me involved driving into town and parking, I'd have gone directly to the interwebs to order a few sets. I don't mind popping into a city centre shop if I'm unavoidably in town for something else, but I'm not going in for something that one of the handier shops really should stock.

These aren't diamond coated unobtanium virgin nose-hair strings we're talking about here. They're bog standard sets. Again, it's like a sweet shop not selling Mars Bars. Of course, if I wanted poxy Martin strings.... Lovely guitars, but I'm not using they're strings for the same reason I wouldn't put Toyota tyres on my car.

languagenerd

endacl wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestion, and no, I didn't. Because I didn't want to drive into town. Seriously though, string-wise, that's like saying 'did you try the Centra on Dame St? They definitely have Mars Bars'.

My opening post was lamenting the fact that local shops, not city centre shops, don't carry 'bread and butter' items. If I'd known the only place in any way local to me involved driving into town and parking, I'd have gone directly to the interwebs to order a few sets. I don't mind popping into a city centre shop if I'm unavoidably in town for something else, but I'm not going in for something that one of the handier shops really should stock.

These aren't diamond coated unobtanium virgin nose-hair strings we're talking about here. They're bog standard sets. Again, it's like a sweet shop not selling Mars Bars. Of course, if I wanted poxy Martin strings.... Lovely guitars, but I'm not using they're strings for the same reason I wouldn't put Toyota tyres on my car.

Ok, sorry, I misunderstood your post then. When you said it was impossible to buy those strings "in Dublin" (& others were talking about Musicmaker), I assumed you were including the city too as that's where I'd always go for guitar stuff. 4 shops on Georges/Exchequer St - one is bound to have it! :P

I would've expected the Pro Artes to be easy to find though - aren't many other classical strings around that price/quality that they could stock instead...

Strings.ie

Rigsby wrote: »

Yes, I can understand a shop not stocking flat wounds as not many use them and those who do, might only buy every few years.

Even a quick look on "Strings.ie" shows that they dont have that particular one....never did AFAIK.

First off thanks to Groovie for the plug

To answer your point, Rigsby, we do try to get stuff in for customers. I have customers who might be the only person in the country that uses a specific set of strings and we'll try to keep a few sets in for them. The trouble with more specialist sets like DR, is we'll sell a hundred sets of D'addario or Ernie Ball to one set of DR so its not a good business move to invest our limited cash flow on too many items that don't sell. I wish we could stock everything but its not possible. I can tell you that the price you mention for the DR Sunbeams is below trade. In other words, I would make a loss to sell them to you at that price. I assume you source those from outside the E.U. and are getting them without vat and duty. Unfortunately, an Irish registered business cannot compete with that sort of arrangement.

As for endacl's original point, the Phosphor Bronze Elixir have only been out a couple of years and compared with the standard bronze Elixir we find they are no where near as popular though they are growing in popularity. I'd say we sell one set of Phos Bronze to every 25 sets of Bronze. Like us, small shops have limited cash flow so that's probably the reason. I would however say, if you're going to stock only one classical Guitar set, then stock Pro Arte. Its the market leader over here.
One thing I've noticed about a lot of music retailers is they are usually musicians and while that brings knowledge to the job, many of them tend to only want to stock brands they like. Strings are unique to each player and instrument. If I only stocked the strings I used I'd go out of business. You have to stock what your customers want regardless of what you think about a particular product.
Anyway, we have Elixir Phos Bronze in stock and I'd be delighted to get them through your door within a day or two