10 sets of strings ?

[carl h.]

If you were stocking a store with bass strings and only had room for 10 sets, what would you stock.

I was asked this, and the store will be taking my recommendation. I know what I'd like, but what do bass players who are not me like? I want to cover most tastes, not just my own preferences.

Lets hear what YOU would want in inventory!

[Jazzdogg]

TI jazz flats

If there were a store that sold no rounds, that's where I'd shop.

[cloverkeys]

Really heavy rounds, I know its not a brand but its a pain to find anything over 45 sometimes.

[Audiophage]

Originally Posted by cloverkeys

Really heavy rounds, I know its not a brand but its a pain to find anything over 45 sometimes.

Definitely. I hate that I can't support any of my local stores with string purchases because I prefer a .050 G.

[mmbongo]

DR and D'Addario should cover most everything.

DR for variety and high quality strings, D'Addario for the price.

DR:
HiBeams/Fatbeams for steels.
Nickel Lo Riders for nickel.
DDT's for downtuning.
Black Beauties for coated.
Neon for coated/novelty.

D'Addario:
XL's for nickel.
ProSteels for steels.
Chromes for those 2 people who use flats.

Well that's 8 sets. Add Elixir because some people swear by them.
Elixir nickel.
Elixir steels.

There's your 10 sets.

[waleross]

+1 to what was already listed, I would add Roto's , having just gone back to them on my (2) P Basses................

[tylerwylie]

I would stock the standard Ernie Ball strings, D'Addario nickels, steels, and chrome, DR Hi Beams, Lo Riders, Sunbeams, Black Beauties, Rotosound 66 steels, GHS Boomers.

Should cover most people's tastes.

*Edit* I'm partial to Circle K and Fodera strings, and some DR strings, however I think these sets of strings should best cover what people are looking for when they walk into a shop.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Is it room in inventory "Cost" or physical room?

The cost on only 10 sets of strings is going to go way up when you figure in shipping from various manufactures. If you buy from a distributor rather than direct I suppose 10 sets would work, but refilling with one or two sets would be a high cost in freight per set. (Although not many manufacturers / distributors will even sell one or two sets)...

If you only want 10 sets maybe deal direct with one manufacturer to help keep freight costs down. Find a manufacturer or distributor / reseller that would sell to you that carries a wide variety of strings and can help work with you to keep freight costs lower.

[basstoven]

A variety of Flatwounds, Roundwounds (nickel and steel) and if their is room some tapewound nylons or some acoustic strings

[soulman969]

I guess I'll be the one here to state the obvious. Based on the described needs and desires of the typical posters in this forum there is no way only 10 different sets would satisfy the needs of the average bass playing community. In addition to that, as Jason points out, the store would find difficult to price competitively and still be profitable.

There's a reason why so many of us buy online from Jason's company and it's because of price, selection and his value added expertise. Few if any local music shops could even come close to matching that.

Now, having said all that I'd suggest to them they simply act as a convenience store for locals and carry only high quality but very reasonably priced strings like DR's and GHS's. A sampling of 10-12 different strings from those lines should cover a lot of needs. If it was my shop that's what I would do. Kind of a 7-11 convenience shop when someone needs it now!

[darkstorm]

Rotosound swing swing 66 steal and nickel. Dr noens green, & yellow, DR lowrider, GHS boomers, Ernie bass slinky & cobalt, Daddario xl, and Dean Markley blue steel.

[LucienBel]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

DR and D'Addario should cover most everything.

DR for variety and high quality strings, D'Addario for the price.

DR:
HiBeams/Fatbeams for steels.
Nickel Lo Riders for nickel.
DDT's for downtuning.
Black Beauties for coated.
Neon for coated/novelty.

D'Addario:
XL's for nickel.
ProSteels for steels.
Chromes for those 2 people who use flats.

Well that's 8 sets. Add Elixir because some people swear by them.
Elixir nickel.
Elixir steels.

There's your 10 sets.

Pretty much what I'd do. Maybe throw some GHS in there because I'm not a really big Elixir fan, but yeah.

[PJMiDi]

Originally Posted by tylerwylie

I would stock the standard Ernie Ball strings,

I very rarely see these mentioned here, I use them on the majority of my basses. Great strings for the price.

My list would be those then mmbongo's list without the ProSteels. Or keep them and take out the neons, but everyone loves neon it seems.

[Matthew_84]

I can only recommend 3 based on personal preference but I would certainly stock:

D'addario Chromes
GHS Precision Flats
GHS Black Nylon Tapewounds

[tylerwylie]

Originally Posted by PJMiDi

I very rarely see these mentioned here, I use them on the majority of my basses. Great strings for the price.

My list would be those then mmbongo's list without the ProSteels. Or keep them and take out the neons, but everyone loves neon it seems.

Despite what you see on these boards, they're popular strings. My list is more meant to serve the average guy who might check out a shop and want to get some strings. Should have most tastes covered.

[PJMiDi]

Definitely a pretty good variety of brands on your list. And yea I keep trying different strings and going back to the EB regulars, can't complain at just under 20 a pack

[G3Mitch]

Originally Posted by tylerwylie

Despite what you see on these boards, they're popular strings. My list is more meant to serve the average guy who might check out a shop and want to get some strings. Should have most tastes covered.

+1.

I buy strings online cuz I know what I want, and pretty much no retailer stocks them here in NZ, + its cheaper. But if I NEEDED strings that day, that list would have what I need(could use, lol)

Its expensive being fussy.

EDIT: I use dean markley blue steels btw.

[tylerwylie]

Originally Posted by G3Mitch

+1.

I buy strings online cuz I know what I want, and pretty much no retailer stocks them here in NZ, + its cheaper. But if I NEEDED strings that day, that list would have what I need(could use, lol)

Its expensive being fussy.

EDIT: I use dean markley blue steels btw.

The strings I use aren't even in my list(Fodera and DR Fat Beams) however with those 10 I would be fine, most Fat Beam users will enjoy Hi Beams, but the reverse may not be true. It's about anticipating demand really, so keeping a good variety while holding strings that are very popular is a balancing act when limited to 10 different sets.

[carl h.]

Thanks for the input. I'll be making a recommendation this week.

[u84six]

I would stock 4 variations of flats, 4 variations of rounds, and 2 types of tape wounds. That way, some local players would take a chance on using flats and finally see what they're missing.

I just installed a new set of DR Sunbeams on my Jazz bass, and they are just "OK". But truthfully, it helped me appreciate the flats I've been using even more.