Tried some new strings..

[funkybass]

Got a GC gift card for Christmas and used it for strings. The GC I went to had a terrible selection of strings. I normally use Daddario XL's but bought a set of fat beams and a set of Dunlop nickels. The fat beams went on my SR5 and the dunlops on my carvin sb5000. I really liked the fat beams, but the jury is still out on the dunlops. I might order a set of sunbeams and fat beams to try on the carvin. The dunlops felt kind of rough. I'm pretty impressed with the fat beams though I must say. Gotta go to BassStringsOnline and order more.

[bassist4dalord]

My experience is never settle for Guitar Center's in-store bass string selection. First off, D'Addario Chromes, for example, cost something like $40 in the store, as opposed to $22 online (Bass Strings Online) NO THANK YOU! That, and they never have a good selection.

That being said, I've not used any of those strings (besides the XLs; love them). Best of luck with those strings!

[funkybass]

I usually buy online too but needed to use my gift card.

[FunkMetalBass]

I tend to buy guitar strings at GC or SamAsh, but never bass strings.

[Pilgrim]

GC doesn't carry much - if anything - in flats, and never short scale flats. That makes their string stock irrelevant to me.

Juststrings.com or Imperial Guitar online Welcome To Imperial Guitar & Soundworks are usually my first stops, but Welcome to Bass Strings Online - Your Custom Bass String Shop... is a member here and has a good reputation.

But I can always find a guitar strap there which suits my fancy.

[Jay2U]

Originally Posted by bassist4dalord

My experience is never settle for Guitar Center's in-store bass string selection. First off, D'Addario Chromes, for example, cost something like $40 in the store, as opposed to $22 online (Bass Strings Online) NO THANK YOU! That, and they never have a good selection.

That being said, I've not used any of those strings (besides the XLs; love them). Best of luck with those strings!

Same here in Europe. The string selection of most stores is terrible. Even the very big ones aren't well sorted regarding bass strings. I've seen d'Addario chromes (45...100) for 45 Euros ($ 65) a set! Very often there's also lack of knowledge. They simply can't answer questions regarding effective length (string through), whether the nut of a specific bass accomodates a specific gauge, or what sound might be expected. So if I wanna get a picture of specific strings, I start searching forums and reviews.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Jay2U

Same here in Europe. The string selection of most stores is terrible. Even the very big ones aren't well sorted regarding bass strings. I've seen d'Addario chromes (45...100) for 45 Euros ($ 65) a set! Very often there's also lack of knowledge. They simply can't answer questions regarding effective length (string through), whether the nut of a specific bass accomodates a specific gauge, or what sound might be expected. So if I wanna get a picture of specific strings, I start searching forums and reviews.

It's impossible to say whether or not strings will fit a nut because nuts aren't entirely consistent and should be filed on an individual basis anyway. Any nut can accommodate any gauge provided the sum of the string gauges aren't more than the nut.

String length is also a tough call since most manufacturer's don't believe in making any specs (other than gauge) public knowledge, but it's not too hard to open up a pack of strings and take a quick measurement.

[Jay2U]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

It's impossible to say whether or not strings will fit a nut because nuts aren't entirely consistent and should be filed on an individual basis anyway. Any nut can accommodate any gauge provided the sum of the string gauges aren't more than the nut.

String length is also a tough call since most manufacturer's don't believe in making any specs (other than gauge) public knowledge, but it's not too hard to open up a pack of strings and take a quick measurement.

I thought, or at least hoped, that bass manufacturers would specify max string gauges. I looked up the specs of my simple Ibby and surprise: The paper manual says 45...100, the manual on their website says 45...105. It's not much difference, but it is. Of course nuts can be re-worked to accommodate bigger gauges. If required nuts can be replaced.
Indeed it's not hard to open up a pack, but many string sets are packed in sealed bags...

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Jay2U

I thought, or at least hoped, that bass manufacturers would specify max string gauges. I looked up the specs of my simple Ibby and surprise: The paper manual says 45...100, the manual on their website says 45...105. It's not much difference, but it is. Of course nuts can be re-worked to accommodate bigger gauges. If required nuts can be replaced.
Indeed it's not hard to open up a pack, but many string sets are packed in sealed bags...

Even if they were consistent, an additional .005" is hardly noticeable. It's one two-hundredth of an inch (about 1/9 of a millimeter). Also, most string manufacturers' gauges aren't exact, so .005" could very likely be only .003". I've found that most nuts can seat a .115" E-string with no problem.

[Jay2U]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Even if they were consistent, an additional .005" is hardly noticeable. It's one two-hundredth of an inch (about 1/9 of a millimeter). Also, most string manufacturers' gauges aren't exact, so .005" could very likely be only .003". I've found that most nuts can seat a .115" E-string with no problem.

Yep, I've noticed there's a measurable tolerance. Even between the same type of strings of the same manufacturer there can be a clear difference. I can't hear the difference between .100 and .105 Chromes, but I clearly feel it, tension-wise. I'm not sure, but I think that the gauges specified are rounded numbers for ease of use. On my Ibby a .105 has a tight fit through the nut. I think a .115 needs a little filing. an extra quarter of a mm is a lot, it's 10%. This is pure theoretical, as a .115 produces too much tension for me anyway.

[ksandvik]

GC does price matching. Print out the price from juststrings.com that seems to have good deals and take the printout to GC. I usually get my DR Lo-Riders for $21-23 or so.