Prices going up, up, up...

MollyKay · #1 12-04-2007, 04:27 PM

The price of everything is going up, up, up…I just purchased another new set of Thomastik Weich stings and this set cost $16.00 more then the set last month and that set had gone up $24.00.

Understanding what is going on in the global market with American dollars value verse the Euro etc…are they any suggestions for another string that is as good or last as long as the Thomastik Spiro’s? The answer maybe no…but I just had to ask. I’m not picking on the price of Thomastik strings because everything is going up, but I would be willing to try another string.

Any suggestions, advice or opinions welcome…any yeh I know…get a cheaper hobby then collecting basses…already thought of the obvious.

TroyK · #2 12-04-2007, 05:37 PM

Tough to beat Spirocores if thats what you like, but you might take a look at the price of Helicores. They are a US product, so you're not suffering the arbitrage that we're getting with the Euro right now.

I think LaBellas might be American too, but I'm not sure I would go there from Spirocores. You might like Helicores, though if you haven't tried them. Pizzicato or Hybrid.

Still, if you love Spirocores, you're probably going to want Spirocores. Even for those of us who chronically experiment, most of what we fool around with is also European.

Marcus Johnson · #3 12-04-2007, 06:26 PM

How much did you pay, if you don't mind?

I still think they're the best bargain in the bin, because they last so long. But I haven't priced them recently. I guess I'd better get that loaner set of Weichs back from my student!

MollyKay · #4 12-04-2007, 08:17 PM

The price of the first set was $116.50, second set was $124.50, yesterday they were $140.75 and I was told there will be another price increase the first of the year...I got nine basses in the hobby shop to restore...yikes! I do like these strings and agree they are a long lasting good investment. For the most part they sound good on every bass I have tried them on. I'm just looking for idea's and input. The string supplier I used recommended the Helicores as well...maybe they are the next best choice. I am all pizz, so bowing is not a consideration when selecting strings. I am afraid a cheaper string will be just that...cheap.

Thanks!

**Francois Blais** · #5 12-05-2007, 11:21 AM

Super-Sensitive is another US company, with a wide strings choice, and good quality.
The higher quality bass sets are the Supremes and the Pinnacles.

Kolstein is also american made, but he has only two choices; the Varicore, which is steel but designed for orchestral playing, and the Heritage, which is steel on synthetic, like Obligatos.

The Corelli strings are made in France, but the nickel set is inexpensive.

Bruce Lindfield · #6 12-05-2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MollyKay

Understanding what is going on in the global market with American dollars value verse the Euro etc…

Well the dollar has plumetted in value against the British pound - which means that most foreign imports are actually getting cheaper for us!!

wingnut · #7 12-05-2007, 11:35 AM

Labella supernils, $60.00 and last me about a year practicing every day, rehearsal two to three times a week and gigging two to six times a month.

Kevin Hsieh · #8 12-05-2007, 11:37 AM

I'm keeping my eye out in the classifieds for two sets of E A and D mittels. I think I just acquired two Superflex G strings. If i find two used sets of mittels, then i'm good for about 3 to 5 years?

flatback · #9 12-05-2007, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Hsieh

I'm keeping my eye out in the classifieds for two sets of E A and D mittels. I think I just acquired two Superflex G strings. If i find two used sets of mittels, then i'm good for about 3 to 5 years?

yea we'll see bout that (if you aren't jonesing for other strings in 5 years I'll eat my hat) ...thanks for the chart man.
p

MT Spaces · #10 12-05-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MollyKay

.... Any suggestions, advice or opinions welcome…

Molly .... I live about 60 miles away from some of the biggest sheep runnin' operations in Montana. I could probably talk to some of those Norwegian sheep ranchers and arrange for a 55 gallon drum of innards to be shipped to you if you want to make your own gut strings

. I know you are likin' the Gamuts you got from Papa Toad so here's your big chance

. If you don't want to make bass strings .... at least you would be stocked up for chitlins and hush puppies for awhile

. And then there's all those roadkill deer and antelope I see .... wonder what kind of strings could be made there ... it was good enough for the Crows and Cheyennes for their bows back in the late 1800's .... however I don't know if there would be sinews long enough to make bass strings. Let me know and get me your shipping address

.

MollyKay · #11 12-05-2007, 06:25 PM

Thanks Bob...you silly boy!

The Gamuts are excellent and are reserved for only my very best bass restorations. Some of these poor old basses come with the most rotten and dried out guts strings you would want to see...no bring them back to life...but thanks for the helpful suggestion of growing and herding new gut strings. There is a new market developed every day...I wonder what sheep wool is going for on the open market, dual purpose marketing?

Nils Ö · #12 12-05-2007, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MollyKay

The price of the first set was $116.50, second set was $124.50, yesterday they were $140.75

Hm, that is still $50 less than in Europe/EU (approx. $190 from mail order suppliers, VAT included). Strange... or is it only because of higher taxes?

Bruce Lindfield · #13 12-06-2007, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nils Ö

Hm, that is still $50 less than in Europe/EU (approx. $190 from mail order suppliers, VAT included). Strange... or is it only because of higher taxes?

This German shop has Spiros at 122 Euros - which seems pretty good to me...?

http://saitenkatalog.de/shop2/advanc...58e9788e8d4676

Dr Rod · #14 12-06-2007, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MollyKay

The price of everything is going up, up, up…

Actually, it's more like: "the dollar is going down, down, down"

Bruce Lindfield · #15 12-06-2007, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Rod

Actually, it's more like: "the dollar is going down, down, down"

That's my feeling here - especially as the £ is staying pretty strong!

**Bob Gollihur** · #16 12-06-2007, 10:47 AM

Speaking as a dealer: Our costs for most everything are going up due to exchange rate changes, transportation cost increases (coming and going), and other factors. I've gotten notices for the third increase this year from one string maker, and others are also coming in, as well as other products. These are primarily from Europe but also from other areas of the world due to routine inflation as well as energy costs. We've eaten some increases in costs, as well as UPS, etc., shipping costs, but that won't last, and UPS base pricing goes up again in January per usual, not to mention continual energy surcharge increases from them.

We hold price increases off until we get through shelf stock, but when our costs go up we've no choice but to mirror the increase. This particularly applies to strings as their profit margin is far slimmer than most stuff. If you're thinking about buying something early next year from a US or other dollar-based company, you may want to think about scoring it before the prices go up.

Kevin Hsieh · #17 12-06-2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Gollihur

Speaking as a dealer: Our costs for most everything are going up due to exchange rate changes, transportation cost increases (coming and going), and other factors. I've gotten notices for the third increase this year from one string maker, and others are also coming in, as well as other products. These are primarily from Europe but also from other areas of the world due to routine inflation as well as energy costs. We've eaten some increases in costs, as well as UPS, etc., shipping costs, but that won't last, and UPS base pricing goes up again in January per usual, not to mention continual energy surcharge increases from them.

We hold price increases off until we get through shelf stock, but when our costs go up we've no choice but to mirror the increase. This particularly applies to strings as their profit margin is far slimmer than most stuff. If you're thinking about buying something early next year from a US or other dollar-based company, you may want to think about scoring it before the prices go up.

thanks bob (ALL HAILL!). will keep that in mind.

Marcus Johnson · #18 12-06-2007, 11:45 AM

Thanks, Bob. That seals the deal.... I'm ordering some Spiros ASAP. Let's see.... I'm 51, so if I install them now, I should be good for the remainder of my career.

christ andronis · #19 12-06-2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Thanks, Bob. That seals the deal.... I'm ordering some Spiros ASAP. Let's see.... I'm 51, so if I install them now, I should be good for the remainder of my career.

mmmmmm...crustyyyy strings. Do they record well?

Marcus Johnson · #20 12-06-2007, 11:57 AM

Spiros have a Magical Crust Shield.

PS... I realized recently why I always end up going back to Spiros, all the other stuff aside. I'll be gigging along, minding my own business, happy with my semi-old-school sound... and then I put on a Drew Gress CD, like "7 Black Butterflies" with its gigantic growly bass mix, and that all goes out the window.

Basically, it's Drew's fault.

Plus, tuning once a year ain't bad either.