Freakin' 6-string prices...

Lorenzini · #1 03-24-2007, 09:19 AM

I love DRs but I am not paying $40 after tax or shipping or whatever for a damn set!!!

I would love to try some Labellas or Dean Markleys... $40 bucks too!

So am I stuck with D'Addarios which, to me, are just mediocre in life, tone, crunchiness. Don't get me wrong, they are great strings, but at that price point $25 after tax, shipping, etc... You get what you pay for eh?

theschnitt · #2 03-24-2007, 10:09 AM

I really like the Carvin stainless. They are manufactured by LaBella and sold under the Carvin name. THey're only $16 a set, plus $10 shipping, but the shipping is a flat fee, so if you get a couple of sets it's a screaming deal. About a year ago I tried a set of the stainless and one of the nickel, it was well worth it to experiment with this brand.

Pete in Tucson

therealting · #3 03-24-2007, 10:36 AM

Be glad you don't live here in the UK...

73jbass · #4 03-24-2007, 10:40 AM

It looks like you have at least 3k worth of basses,and you're complaining about 15.00 more for a set of strings that will last at least twice as long? You'll come out ahead in the long run with the DR's.I put Elixers on every bass I have except one,including two 6 strings. They are worth every penny. 40.00 for a 4 string set of Elixers,as opposed to at least 2 sets of D'addarios at 25.00 each,you'll come out 10.00 ahead. Plus you don't have to take the time to restring.Quality strings are worth the extra expense.

Roland777 · #5 03-24-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealting

Be glad you don't live here in the UK...

How much? Strings in Sweden come out at about 45€ for a four-string pack on average. Elixirs clock in at 100€. That's 57 and 115USD respectively. Luckily enough I've found saitenkatalog.de...

DocBop · #6 03-24-2007, 11:57 AM

One thing that's helped me save on strings is trying to throw my business to my local store. They get to know you as a regular and prices get better. Recommend them to others prices continues to get better. They know I buy stuff other places, but are nice to me because I give them first crack at the sale. So build a relationship with your local stores it pay off in long run.

Also notice lately all stores and online are low on strings. Seems like just about all the strings I used are having to be backordered. It's like DR's are only ones people have all the time and I quit using DR's.

bassplayer2106 · #7 03-24-2007, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

I love DRs but I am not paying $40 after tax or shipping or whatever for a damn set!!!

I would love to try some Labellas or Dean Markleys... $40 bucks too!

So am I stuck with D'Addarios which, to me, are just mediocre in life, tone, crunchiness. Don't get me wrong, they are great strings, but at that price point $25 after tax, shipping, etc... You get what you pay for eh?

You ought to live in the UK, $40 is about £20.
A 6 string set of DRs is about £45, that's about $90 more or less with the postage.

I'm using Status hotwires on my headless 6, they're about £20 for a set, and compare quite nicely with the DR strings.

DemoEtc · #8 03-24-2007, 12:42 PM

If you were a UB player, you'd pay that much or a single string pretty much.

Lorenzini · #9 03-24-2007, 05:11 PM

Well yes but upright strings last forever.
I'll just get the DRs; Longnecks, Hi Beams or Lo Riders will do the job for a long time.

Dr. Eagle · #10 03-24-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theschnitt

I really like the Carvin stainless. They are manufactured by LaBella and sold under the Carvin name. THey're only $16 a set, plus $10 shipping, but the shipping is a flat fee, so if you get a couple of sets it's a screaming deal. About a year ago I tried a set of the stainless and one of the nickel, it was well worth it to experiment with this brand.

Pete in Tucson

I agree! I use the Carvin strings, they are made by La Bella and they last quite a while. They are aroud that $40 level for 3 sets... The stainless are great and so are the nickel round wounds.
There's no way I can justify paying the kind of prices you are talking about. I had tried some different strings (D'Addario, Ken Smith, to name two) thinking they might be better.. and all they ended up being were more expensive.

Lorenzini · #11 03-25-2007, 01:19 AM

Cool. Next set I try will be Carvin nickels.

Dr. Eagle · #12 03-25-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

Cool. Next set I try will be Carvin nickels.

I've been buying mine through the Carvin ebay outlet store lately. Since it costs $8 to process the order, its best to get more than one of anything, so I buy 3 or 6 sets at a time (they are packaged in 3 set packs, but they have started selling them in individual sets lately through the catalog). Since you are trying them out you may want to buy one set through the catalog. But the purchase price is less than $40 for 3 sets.

I use Carvin strings on all my basses. Since they started using La Bella about 9 or 10 years ago, the strings are a super outstanding value. Before the switch to LaBella you never knew what brand you would get under the Carvin name.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carvin-6011-6-st...QQcmdZViewItem

SGT. Pepper · #13 03-25-2007, 12:06 PM

I actually like D'Addario's and they are one of my strings of choice. So are DR's however. A set of D'Ad's last me about three months {nickel}. DR's Last me six months. So it comes out to about the same. They are totally different soundwise but I like both. The D'Addarios are nice and smooth feeling and have a good thump about them when they wear in a bit. Your not missing that much.

BassoP · #14 03-25-2007, 06:06 PM

I do my 6 sets out of a 4 set and a pair of singles (there is so little selection in 6 sets, and I like a much fatter B string than most sets come with). I just ordered some from just strings, and they were right about 30 a set. They were having a rotosound set sale (18 bucks), the Bs were 7 or 8 each, the Cs were more like 4.

FoHBass · #15 03-26-2007, 02:26 PM

$40 after shipping for a 6 string set??? I used to pay $35 for a five string set of Lo-Riders before tax at the Guitar Center here in Richmond, Va. I would imagine that'd be a good price, and worth it, too.

therealting · #16 03-27-2007, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland777

How much? Strings in Sweden come out at about 45€ for a four-string pack on average. Elixirs clock in at 100€. That's 57 and 115USD respectively. Luckily enough I've found saitenkatalog.de...

Dude, that's seriously expensive! A four pack of Elixirs here is about 30 GBP, which is about half of USD115...

saxnbass · #17 03-27-2007, 04:48 AM

Is he complaining about $40 for a 6-string set of DRs? Here in Italy, it's like $50 for a 4-string set. And about $75 for a 6-string set.