Pure-Tone strings *cheap*

idoru · #1 04-22-2008, 07:40 AM

G'day all,

just had my first practice with a new set of strings from a little known business here in Australia, "Pure-Tone". AUS $21 inc. free shipping, for a set of Nickel-rounds in .050 .065 .085 .105 gauges. They're made in Korea, with rather fetching red silk wraps on both ends.

They seem to be made to suit a range of basses - there's enough meat on the strings to suit through-body stringing or a 35" scale, which means that on my SX P-bass there was a half-turn of .105 on the E string capstan. A little unsightly perhaps, but it seems to have caused no problems.

Took it to practice tonight & the bass fairly sang - a warm but well defined fingerstyle tone, and bitey pick tone that wasn't too harsh like new steels can be. I'm very impressed considering how little money I spent. Australian TBers, have a go - if you like them, you can get three sets for $55

ilikeindie · #2 04-22-2008, 06:26 PM

Yeah, this sounds like an advertisement

idoru · #3 04-23-2008, 12:36 AM

Yeah, and you sound like a guy who can't check out user profiles. Pure tone = South Australia, user Idoru = Brisbane, Queensland. Maybe you could look up on Google Maps sometime. It's a heads-up for my fellow Aussie TBers who might need some cheap strings.

Edit: what else should I expect from a dude with 17 posts to his name?

A.CLAYTON · #4 04-23-2008, 12:53 AM

Play nicely now.

PilbaraBass · #5 04-23-2008, 01:02 AM

doesn't sound like an advertisement to me...sounds like a review...

Me???? I buy D'Addario XL's on E-Bay ...

(does THAT sound like an advertisement, too?)

idoru · #6 04-23-2008, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.CLAYTON

Play nicely now.

Normally I would - the guy just really struck me as being a jerk for no good reason. I have little humour left due to an 11 month old daughter who now has the teeth of a 2 year old - those came through while our bathroom was being renovated, and I'm now so far beyond drained it's not funny

Wwolof · #7 04-27-2008, 06:33 PM

OK, I'll grab a set. Usually I EBay D'Adds myself, but the guy is local and seems worth a try.

stanknuckle · #8 04-27-2008, 07:32 PM

I've been buying Puretone strings for the past 4 years. They are cheap that's for sure abut I find they have a long life. Not a fan of the red silk ends against my maple neck.
I put a review of the string on BGRA. FTTC.

Wwolof · #9 04-29-2008, 02:03 AM

Got mine today and the E is as dead as dead!

Gave Mick a call and he said he'd had a quality control issue on his last batch of bass strings – this is the third dead string out of 300 sets he knew of. I'll have a new one tomorrow (free replacement). The other 3 are really very good indeed.

Will report back when I know more!

Wwolof · #10 04-29-2008, 02:10 AM

Oh yeah — that is a fail rate of less than a quarter of a percent. It's not optimal, but the guy will fix it quick.

stanknuckle · #11 04-29-2008, 05:58 AM

I guess they aren't cheap for no reason... However I have had no problems, just luck I guess.

saxofunk · #12 04-29-2008, 06:26 AM

So far the description matches strings I got from MusicYo.com several years ago for $4.99/set (US). Red silk and an occassional dead E string... No more cheap strings for this player.

Wwolof · #13 04-29-2008, 07:51 PM

I got the E in — these strings are good! Rich and round.

PilbaraBass · #14 04-29-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wwolof

Oh yeah — that is a fail rate of less than a quarter of a percent. It's not optimal, but the guy will fix it quick.

sorry, but 3 dead E's is a 1% failure rate on E-strings...

you can't factor in good A's, D's and G's into this equation.

One bad string DOES spoil the bunch, you know.

idoru · #15 06-02-2008, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wwolof

Got mine today and the E is as dead as dead!

Gave Mick a call and he said he'd had a quality control issue on his last batch of bass strings – this is the third dead string out of 300 sets he knew of. I'll have a new one tomorrow (free replacement). The other 3 are really very good indeed.

Will report back when I know more!

I had the same problem when I ordered a 3 pack - one was perfect, one was slightly dead and one was utterly rubbish. No problems with any of the A D or G strings. Two emails and no repsonse, I'll have to give them a call.

c-

idoru · #16 07-10-2008, 03:24 PM

Took a while to get back to me, but they sent me out three replacement E strings free of charge, and a huge apology too. They invoiced the transaction anyway, so I've got more to claim on tax...

The new strings will only suit a top-loading 34" bass - the string tapers just before it gets to the capstan. And yeah, the new E strings sound every bit as good as the rest of the set.

I'll definitely be doing business with these guys again - I'm eyeing off their guitar strings too, they have some good hybrid sets.

c-