Why are 5-string sets so expensive?

[Bubba Love]

As a recent 5 string convert, I find myself somewhat put off by the apparent cost of B strings. On Strings Direct (http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk) the 4 string EB Slinkies will cost you £16, whereas the 5-string will cost £23. £7 for a B string? On Stringbusters there's a similar £6 difference. Is there a different manufacturing process that makes B strings more difficult and costly to make?

I apologise if this is a dumb question.

[jzbass6]

Originally Posted by Bubba Love

As a recent 5 string convert, I find myself somewhat put off by the apparent cost of B strings. On Strings Direct (http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk) the 4 string EB Slinkies will cost you £16, whereas the 5-string will cost £23. £7 for a B string? On Stringbusters there's a similar £6 difference. Is there a different manufacturing process that makes B strings more difficult and costly to make?

I apologise if this is a dumb question.

Welcome to the world of the 5 stringer, I'm in agreement and would like to know also. I imagine it has to be more expensive to make the heavier B string but not to the tune of anywhere from a third up to half the cost of a 4 string set.

[rusty66]

just count yourself lucky you dont live in australia. a good five string set (elixers for example) will set you back $130.00 (AUD) Pretty sad when I can buy them from the staes for less than half that posted. its the great aussie string rip off. at least someone is getting rich!!!

Cheers

Rusty

[dman_113]

Originally Posted by rusty66

just count yourself lucky you dont live in australia. a good five string set (elixers for example) will set you back $130.00 (AUD) Pretty sad when I can buy them from the staes for less than half that posted. its the great aussie string rip off. at least someone is getting rich!!!

Cheers

Rusty

Sounds like you should be in the string import business man.

[Bubba Love]

I've been doing a bit of thinking. What if it genuinely does cost more to produce a thicker string? You could break down a £16 4 string pack thus:

• E = £6
• A = £4
• D = £3.50
• G = £2.50

In that case, a £7 increase to include the B string wouldn't be that bad. I'm clutching at straws here admittedly but it might not be as simple as people make out. When you add the fact that 5 string sets aren't as popular you may be getting towards the answer.

[ehque]

Originally Posted by Bubba Love

I've been doing a bit of thinking. What if it genuinely does cost more to produce a thicker string? You could break down a £16 4 string pack thus:

• E = £6
• A = £4
• D = £3.50
• G = £2.50

In that case, a £7 increase to include the B string wouldn't be that bad. I'm clutching at straws here admittedly but it might not be as simple as people make out. When you add the fact that 5 string sets aren't as popular you may be getting towards the answer.

Doesn't work that way, I'm a 6 player and 6 sets are even worse. Surely the expensive C string throws your equation out of whack.

[Bubba Love]

You say that, but upon closer investigation Stringbusters have D'addario 4 5 and 6 string sets for £13.50, £20.00 and £22.00 respectively. I think a £2 difference for a 0.30 C string would fit into my scale quite nicely.

Looking at this list for single Rotosound strings, there is a price increase as you go into the heavier gauges. Obviously this list is hardly definitive due to the altered costs associated with packaging each string seperately, but I think I may have answered my own question. Score!

[Snarf]

To avoid the absurd cost of fiver packs, I just buy a 4-string set of DR's, then throw on a string from a bulk pack. You can get bulk B strings at juststrings.com, you wind up saving like $4-5 that way.

[jzbass6]

Originally Posted by Snarf

To avoid the absurd cost of fiver packs, I just buy a 4-string set of DR's, then throw on a string from a bulk pack. You can get bulk B strings at juststrings.com, you wind up saving like $4-5 that way.

Question is how well balanced is the tone, volume and string character. This prompts me to start a thread I'e often wondered about, how many people string their basses with mixed set.

[Snarf]

Originally Posted by jzbass6

Question is how well balanced is the tone, volume and string character. This prompts me to start a thread I'e often wondered about, how many people string their basses with mixed set.

Well, the bulk B string sounds like crap compared to the DR's. But, the B string is the least-played string on my bass, and the notes are so low that a super nice sounding string is not totally necessary. To me, the saved money outweighs the deficiencies in tone.

[CHILDISHGAMBINO]

Weird, I play a four string tuned b e a d and I buy five string sets of strings because they are cheaper than the heavy 4 string sets here plus I don't need the g string so they keep it and give me a little price cut(the 5 string set is still cheaper if I keep all five strings). Weird.

[jzbass6]

Originally Posted by Snarf

Well, the bulk B string sounds like crap compared to the DR's. But, the B string is the least-played string on my bass, and the notes are so low that a super nice sounding string is not totally necessary. To me, the saved money outweighs the deficiencies in tone.

Man I was hoping to follow your lead but I use my B string a lot and it's got to be solid.
Thanks, Snarf

Bubba Love
I would check out webstrings at http://www.webstrings.com/, their Detroit Bass Stainless Steels are decent strings, $12.99 a set US. I'm sure they'll do international shipping.
Peace

[Bubba Love]

Originally Posted by jzbass6

I would check out webstrings at http://www.webstrings.com/, their Detroit Bass Stainless Steels are decent strings, $12.99 a set US. I'm sure they'll do international shipping.
Peace

Cheers buddy. Wow, that does look like a good deal, provided they're decent strings. One set on its own comes in at around £11.50 with shipping charges, that's around half of what I'm paying at the moment. I'll probably try a set for poops and giggles, see what happens. If that could become my regular string that would be fantastic!

[Temcat]

I think that the reason is that 5-stringers are not as common as 4-stringers, so sales volume for these is lower.

[Jostein]

Or you could just exchange it less frequently. Like every second or third time you exchange the other strings.

That is, if you don't use it so much...

Originally Posted by Snarf

To avoid the absurd cost of fiver packs, I just buy a 4-string set of DR's, then throw on a string from a bulk pack. You can get bulk B strings at juststrings.com, you wind up saving like $4-5 that way.

[Bubba Love]

Originally Posted by Temcat

I think that the reason is that 5-stringers are not as common as 4-stringers, so sales volume for these is lower.

Bingo.

[Elemetal]

My question is why the **** do 6 string strings cost so bloody much?

[Jake of Bass]

For the same reason that 5 string sets cost more than 4 string sets - less are sold, so what they miss out on in the lower number of sales they make up for on increased prices.