DR price hike = me finding new brand

Snarf · #1 03-29-2009, 03:04 PM

Love DRs but $40 before tax isn't cool.

I'm looking at the strings made by the boutique builders. Fodera, Smith, Pedulla. Which one of these are closest to DR Lo Riders?

Thanks

(b)Assman · #2 03-29-2009, 04:35 PM

wow, I'm about to switch to DR's too.

Hrmmmm

alexofc69 · #3 03-29-2009, 04:42 PM

Dr's are worth it to me period. The Perfect bass has good prices especially when you sign up for their emails and they send you promo codes.

dj150888 · #4 03-29-2009, 04:43 PM

Prices haven't gone up here (but we're already paying more than you). I won't be changing from DRs any time soon anyways.

andrewd · #5 03-29-2009, 04:45 PM

The only over-$40 sets I'm seeing are the extra lifes. Has the price not increased yet?

XansNiceSweater · #6 03-29-2009, 04:51 PM

I'm still getting my hi-beams for $30 a set after tax...

Kyon` · #7 03-29-2009, 08:41 PM

Yeah, I think it's just were you're buying them man. I just picked up a few fatbeams for $29 with tax each.

4stringrob · #8 03-29-2009, 09:24 PM

yeah, I'd ask some questions where you're buying them from. Don't tell DR but I don't see myself switching from Lo Rider stainless any time soon, even if they raised their prices. But here's a great online place to buy strings from, consider comparing what you're paying to their price+shipping.

http://www.juststrings.com/drstrings...assguitar.html

BillytheBassist · #9 03-29-2009, 09:26 PM

I'm still payin up man......they are worth it to me.

steamthief · #10 03-29-2009, 09:35 PM

Six four string sets of Hi-Beams and Fat Beams consistently sell for about $120 buy-it-now on eBay. Use the live.com 14% discount with Paypal, you're looking at well under $20 a set shipped to your door.

Nickel Lo-Riders are my favorites, but I wouldn't pay $40 a set, either.

D Rokk · #11 03-29-2009, 09:36 PM

22.99 a set here.. i remember paying 45 for a set of blue steels for my five string.. only time i ever changed those strings

Brick Top · #12 03-29-2009, 09:39 PM

21.55 here before shipping.

http://imperialguitar.stores.yahoo.n...oridbasst.html

Cheers,
BT

moles · #13 03-29-2009, 10:30 PM

I remember something funny happening up here with DR's a few years ago. They were already relatively expensive (I think about $45CAD before taxes for a 4 set) I figured it was worth it (loved the sound) but just barely (hated the way they went from sounding good to completely utterly dead in the space of two days).

Anyway, all the stores in town started dropping them - and when I asked one of the sales guys I know a bit, he told me that the wholesaler that was supplying this part of the country jacked the prices up. The price hike (as I understood it, purely from the wholesale supplier) was such that the music stores would basically be paying what they were already retailing a set for.

So, $45 bucks wholesale, plus store markup....no thanks. Started using Firewires, then those cheap Rotosounds.

Whatever happened obviously straightened out awhile ago now, because I bought a set of hi-beams for $30 a few months ago. I told my story to the guy at the register and he had no idea they'd ever gotten that pricey.

They sounded great, just like I remembered. Lasted for a couple of months.

And then they went from great to dead in two days........

king_biscuit · #14 03-29-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarf

I'm looking at the strings made by the boutique builders. Fodera, Smith, Pedulla.
Thanks

Those strings are actually made by GHS, Daddario, or La Bella. Why not just go to the source?

Snarf · #15 03-30-2009, 07:00 AM

Should have mentioned, I'm buying 5 string sets, at Guitar Center.

I wouldn't save any money ordering online because of shipping. Bummer that crap companies make the boutiques. Guess I'll have to shell out then.

D Rokk · #16 03-30-2009, 07:28 AM

guitar center is ur problem.. 36.99 at the local guitard center. and like i said 22.99 at REAL guitar stores

wingnut · #17 03-30-2009, 07:48 AM

Two for one here in vegas at 27.99 for a four string pack.

Tony G · #18 03-30-2009, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarf

Should have mentioned, I'm buying 5 string sets, at Guitar Center.

I wouldn't save any money ordering online because of shipping. Bummer that crap companies make the boutiques. Guess I'll have to shell out then.

I disagree. Go to www.theperfectbass.com, find the set of strings you want, add them to your cart, and put "talkbass" in the promo code box for 15% off.

Brick Top · #19 03-30-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarf

Should have mentioned, I'm buying 5 string sets, at Guitar Center.

I wouldn't save any money ordering online because of shipping. Bummer that crap companies make the boutiques. Guess I'll have to shell out then.

Well I live on a cow path in the north...and online shopping is all I have access to. It works for people like me that want to have some variety for shopping besides Walfart.

Cheers,
BT

hasbeen · #20 03-30-2009, 08:56 AM

Like others have posted, I think you can get a better price.

I try not to be dogmatic about gear.....what is best and such. Having said that, I feel DR makes the finest bass strings available...period.

I've visited their operation too....a couple of times. They can easily be considered a "boutique" brand. Mark's care in development and his team's care in constructing the best string available, keeps me a loyal customer.