ianwild16 Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Went to my local music shop to buy a set of my usual strings - Elite Stadiums. I'm certain the last time I bought some they were £18. But now the price had jumped from £18 to £24! Its one of those shops with no price tags on anything, I'm sure they just make up the price on the spot...sod that i thought, i'll buy some off the t'interweb. Then they offered me the cheap strings for £12. Like a fool I bought them. [attachment=35085:DSC00530.JPG] Alice strings...Made in China. Tried to fit them yesterday to a MIM P bass with standard bridge, but the metal loop on the string is too small to be held by the bridge. It first popped out when i was tightening up to tension, but you can pass it through the hole in the bridge at a certain angle. The loops are definately smaller than the loops on the elites which are on the guitar. [attachment=35086:DSC00531.JPG] Luckily I didn't just cut the old string off, which I normally do. So now i'm gonna have to go back and either get me money back or ask them to replace them with string which will fit. [attachment=35087:DSC00532.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Thanks for the headsup Ian, Not that I ever buy strings, but if I were I'd opt for the cheapest in the shop being as tight fisted as I am. strange that someone would actually make strings that don't fit, you'd have thought that they'd at least bothered to have a look at one of the most popular basses on the market to see if they work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Thanks Ian. Think you have probably saved me wasting dosh. Due to serious financial restraints I've been tempted with these and similiar ones on the bay. For the foreseeable it's going to be string boiling for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_D Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 I actually bought some flats a few years ago that did the same. Werent cheap either, Rotosounds I think. Just slipped right through my MIM bridge. Come to think of it. Might not have been the flats but I'm pretty sure it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep Thought Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 I'm getting all my strings from these boys in future, right here on Basschat:- [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=61198&pid=632856&st=0&#entry632856"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry632856[/url] Good service, good strings, cheap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 (edited) If you want to keep the strings, cut off the ball end from an old set (that stay on your bass) and run the new string through the old ball end. I had to do this so I could use a guitar string on my 7 and it works surprisingly well. Although now I think about it, a bigger string might not fit... YMMV. Edited October 25, 2009 by velvetkevorkian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Check out Hartke ones. Half the price of Ernie Balls and I struggle to tell the difference. They may actually be better... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leftbass Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 [quote name='stingrayfan' post='635950' date='Oct 25 2009, 10:24 AM']Check out Hartke ones. Half the price of Ernie Balls and I struggle to tell the difference. They may actually be better...[/quote] I've been using Hartke strings for a few months now and they are pretty good nice and bright and long lasting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 [quote name='gary mac' post='635901' date='Oct 25 2009, 09:24 AM']For the foreseeable it's going to be string boiling for me.[/quote] Soak in meths, doesn't screw them up as much as boiling, only thing is eventually the end you wind snaps from being straightened and bent so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 (edited) I didn't like the Hartke ones, although they were cheap. Used them for a couple of gigs and tbh i couldn't wait to replace them If i need really cheap strings i use the Cheetah/Johnny Brook ones from Crack Converters at £6 a pop (they used to be £4), had a few sets and they do the job. Never had a bad set either. Surprisingly good on fretless too! EDIT: I liked the cheapy Warwick sets at around £11 from Stringbusters. IIRC they did Elites for around £15 last time i looked too Edited October 25, 2009 by lemmywinks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 I can vouch for the price rise on strings. Everything has gone up massively in the last few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 [quote name='stingrayfan' post='635950' date='Oct 25 2009, 10:24 AM']Check out Hartke ones. Half the price of Ernie Balls and I struggle to tell the difference. They may actually be better...[/quote] +1. Great strings for the price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Another +1 for those Hartke strings... in fact if anyone wants to give them a try I bought a bunch of 4 & 5 string sets a while back, drop me a PM and yours for what I paid for them. If you've already tried them don't be greedy, let someone else try these ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 I used to use the Hartke strings.....very good VFM. Just recently tried Roberts strings 45-65-80-100 and was very impressed. Bright sounding with good attack and seem to last very well....only about £8 a set Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 [quote name='lemmywinks' post='636216' date='Oct 25 2009, 03:56 PM']EDIT: I liked the cheapy Warwick sets at around £11 from Stringbusters. IIRC they did Elites for around £15 last time i looked too[/quote] i've switched from elites (which i was using for about 15 years) to warwicks, based on a set of warwick reds i got a year or so ago. admittedly i've moved up to the warwick blacks now, but i love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6stringbassist Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 I know everyone's circunstances are different. But I really wouldn't waste my money on cheap strings. What's the old saying - buy cheap and pay twice ? I use DR's and they last for months and months, the set I have on at the moment is about 4 months old but sounds as bright as when I put them on. I'd rather pay a little more for something that lasts that long rather than keep buying them every month or so, it's cheaper in the end (in my book anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 [quote name='6stringbassist' post='636328' date='Oct 25 2009, 05:56 PM']I know everyone's circunstances are different. But I really wouldn't waste my money on cheap strings. What's the old saying - buy cheap and pay twice ? I use DR's and they last for months and months, the set I have on at the moment is about 4 months old but sounds as bright as when I put them on. I'd rather pay a little more for something that lasts that long rather than keep buying them every month or so, it's cheaper in the end (in my book anyway).[/quote]DR strings are the best I've played and like Kev says, they last for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 I've had good cheap strings from Webstrings - www.webstrings.com . I've got some cheap Hartke's to try, but my wild extravagance in putting a set of DRs on seems to have been justified - 6 months now and still pretty bright sounding. I'm not a noted string-killer though since my hands don't sweat much. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeBrownBass Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 I'm a massive fan of EBS strings atm, seem to last for ever and are really well priced! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwild16 Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 Ended up takin the strings back...... Loads if ' I've never heard of that happening before!' and 'you must be playing a Fender copy'..... They finally offered me the Elite strings I originally wanted for the price I paid for them last time - £18. A lot of fannying about when I could just buy them off the interweb for less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Hw about these? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-guitar-strings-Nickel-Light_W0QQitemZ130339386824QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Guitar_Accessories?hash=item1e58d535c8"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-guitar-strings-...=item1e58d535c8[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 [quote name='ianwild16' post='638692' date='Oct 28 2009, 02:05 AM']Ended up takin the strings back...... Loads if ' I've never heard of that happening before!' and 'you must be playing a Fender copy'..... They finally offered me the Elite strings I originally wanted for the price I paid for them last time - £18. A lot of fannying about when I could just buy them off the interweb for less.[/quote] Always buy from your shop whenever you can. Music shops are closing more than opening, and those that open are the big chains. Even in those you can save a couple of pence but end up with little or no personal service. The shops are always useful, especially if you want advice, try something out, or just touch and feel. The lad's snare broke an anchor the other day, local shop found a spare part, fitted it, retuned the top skin and gave it all a clean up. Charge? Nothing. Cost? a drink, which was a pleasure. If we bought all our stuff from the web it would be a month long chase around trying to get the spare part. When we bought the snare he did a good deal for us but still I could have saved a couple of quid on the net. In the end that would have been the wrong decision. I'm happy to pay a little extra from my shop than buy from the web, I think its worth it. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moos3h Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 I totally agree with you greg, we should all be supporting our local music shop, but sadly the difference for me is not a little extra. My local charges £24 for D'ads. Stringstar have just sent me some, complete with order tracking, arrived next day for £14. The tenner, for me, is just not an acceptable amount of markup to be paying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cris the man Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 [quote name='lemmywinks' post='638780' date='Oct 28 2009, 09:09 AM']Hw about these? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-guitar-strings-Nickel-Light_W0QQitemZ130339386824QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Guitar_Accessories?hash=item1e58d535c8"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-guitar-strings-...=item1e58d535c8[/url][/quote] better off with shoelaces! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='636169' date='Oct 25 2009, 03:05 PM']Soak in meths, doesn't screw them up as much as boiling, only thing is eventually the end you wind snaps from being straightened and bent so much.[/quote] This doesn't arise with dual ball systems. As long as you can live with the "80's throwback" stigma... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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