Strings etc. in Canada

carbon fibre · #1 09-08-2006, 11:10 PM

As I'm going to Vancouver area soon to visit family I am anxious to know where to buy bass accessories. I would like to benefit from the lower prices of strings etc. compared to Europe. What I'm looking for is:
Set of Thomastic spirocore Solo tuning
Set of Pirastro Obligatos
Set of Helicore Orchestra, medium gauge
all for a 4-string 3/4 bass.
And maybe also a Fishman Full Circle

Please, Canadians, tip me of shops - also online stores.

Thanks.

Jake deVilliers · #2 09-09-2006, 04:26 PM

I honestly don't know of a store in Vancouver where you could get all of that. You'd need at least three stores, and I'm not sure you'd be happy with the prices. Its a funny little town.

If I were you, I'd order them from your favourite online resource to be delivered to your relatives' house or take a day trip to South Seattle and visit Hammond Ashley.

Seeya, Jake

**Damon Rondeau** · #3 09-10-2006, 08:58 AM

Within the last coupla years, Long & McQuade has beefed up its strings ("strings" as in violin family instruments) merchandise selection -- at least it has here in The Peg. I can actually walk over there and pick up some rosin, a set of Weichs, or check out one of those weird-shaped Gage travel basses. For DB, this has never been true until recently.

Here's the thing, though: they won't have the solo spiros, they won't have the Obligatos and they won't have the Helicores. They will probably have a pickup or two for DB, but chances are it won't be the Full Circle.

They will, though, order all of 'em for you and the price and turnaround time will be pretty good -- better than mail order, usually.

Dunno if it's the same elsewhere in Canuckistan but L&M here in town has really expanded its selection of everything and the folks seem, well, nicer. They don't throw me out like they did 30 years ago or ignore me like they did 15 years ago. I really like 'em these days.

As for Canadian online stuff, it's practically zilch. We buyers-of-strings-from-American-online-vendors suffered a blow recently when Lemur decided it would only use FedEx or UPS -- not the post office -- for shipment to Canada. An insurance concern, I gather. Anyway, the brokerage fees those couriers charge make strings crazy expensive. Too bad -- the post office was so sensible. You could get strings for just a small premium over the advertised American prices. Now the courier wants fifty bucks to carry the strings in and they can get hosed, eh?

**Francois Blais** · #4 09-10-2006, 10:46 AM

You can possibly get those items, except the Full Circle, from George Heinl in Toronto.
They now have an on-line catalog.
However, I'd email them about the solo Spiros. They were out of stock during the summer.
You could order and make the stuff delivered to the address in Vancouver.
Hope this helps!

Dr Rod · #5 09-10-2006, 02:22 PM

As much as it pains me to admit it, I order through Shar Music (www.sharmusic.com) out of Michigan. Somehow our Canadian compatriots don't have the speed and service that some of these american companies have.

Shar music has a canadian pricing section, and you pay your provicial taxes directly so that it goes clear through customs, no extra trips to the airport to pick up your parcel, no COD taxes.

Their selection is not quite as good as the bass specialty stores, but they have all they ones you mentioned. They are fast and their service is top notch.

Do make sure to tell them not to split the order if strings need to be back ordered, unless you don't mind paying extra shipping charges.

carbon fibre · #6 09-10-2006, 06:22 PM

Thank you so much, gentlemen, for your useful advice and for the time you took.
I checked all the stores and ended up ordrering at Shar's. That seemed the easiest.

In fact, it so happened that my brother ended up going to Canada instead of me, and I can't really ask him to go to Seattle for me. I would have loved to go myself.
Anyway - these days it's not so easy for a foreigner to pop across the border just like that. 9-11 paranoia, you know. Of course you know. If we have it here, you must have it tenfold or more with you.

Thanks again and good luck to you all.

Aaron Saunders · #7 09-13-2006, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francois

You can possibly get those items, except the Full Circle, from George Heinl in Toronto.
They now have an on-line catalog.
However, I'd email them about the solo Spiros. They were out of stock during the summer.
You could order and make the stuff delivered to the address in Vancouver.
Hope this helps!

Heinl's is a great place, but The Soundpost (also in Toronto) is cheaper for strings and has a similarly great selection.