Counterfeit Bass Strings?

[Axtman]

I have seen a few YouTube videos about counterfeit guitar strings. Have you ever run accross any counterfeit bass strings?

 

[JRA]

if i did, i didn't know it --- probably doesn't include some sets of funky roto 66s back when.

i'm casually experimenting with some string sets that have been discussed on TB (dogal, others). they're new to me, so i wouldn't know any difference between real and counterfeit if they deliver the goods.

 

[HHudson]

I have not had any issues that I know of (as @JRA above, if you have a new to you set, who knows), but if you search for "counterfeit" in this strings forum you will get a lot of hits.

From what I've read here, some people seem to have the problem with the big online shops which are not dedicated to music/strings... I suspect a lot of it is people returning sets with non original contents (which is really nasty) and then unchecked or unnoticed being sold again... [the same is true for pickups].

I usually purchace strings @ dedicated shops. Strings are usually a bit more reasonably priced at music or string specialty stores and they are probably more likely to catch buggers doing the above or any true counterfeits.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Anything can be counterfeited. All the more reason to purchase through known outlets, rather than trying to save a few $$$s.

 

[GTHintz]

I got used sit power steels from amazon once. They worked because they cut them long enough but was still a bummer. They sounded pretty good after i boiled them and strung them on a peavey parts bass i have.

 

[james condino]

The guitar market for strings is measured in millions of sets compared to thousands for basses, so there it makes less economic incentive for potential counterfeiting.

 

[kyral210]

The guitar market for strings is measured in millions of sets compared to thousands for basses, so there it makes less economic incentive for potential counterfeiting.

You say there’s no market for fake bass strings? I say you haven’t looked! Behold, fake EB!

 

[Danny C]

I've been getting DR Pure Blues strings from Amazon for years. Great price $23-24. I have many basses to string so price is important. They are third party sellers and I don't think they always come from the same party. I've never had an issue.

 

[Jhalb]

I bought a set of inexpensive Elixirs from China and got what I paid for. Definitely not Elixirs. Now I use Strings and Beyond and know what I’m getting.

 

[HaphAsSard]

The guitar market for strings is measured in millions of sets compared to thousands for basses, so there it makes less economic incentive for potential counterfeiting.

You say there’s no market for fake bass strings?http://Just found this amazing item...ectric Bass https://a.aliexpress.com/_EvVxTif

Technically, he does not...

Behold, fake EB!

@GIBrat51 has firsthand experience with, uhm, Ernie Bull strings.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

A few years ago there was a vendor in VENEZUELA selling Thomastic Infeld nylons at too good to be true prices. This was about the time Chavez was long gone and dogs and cats (protein) were silently ending up in cook pots. I was sorely tempted (what if it's the real deal?) But passed.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

FYI, TalkBass is a great place to get strings from!

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

FYI, TalkBass is a great place to get strings from!

Poo... I see the TalkBass store closed.

 

[buldog5151bass]

If the price is too good to be true, they l8kely are fakes, or fell off the back of a truck. Either way, not good.

 

[SubHuman]

Dang what next...counterfeit pennies?

 

[duke of earl]

Saw those EB super slinkys on Aliexpress prices are incredibly luring beware, I suspect they are repackaged Chinese brands, Alice, Fleor,etc. Brands found on harley benton,SX, and instruments made in China,Indonesia....hmmmmmm.

 

[duke of earl]

Wish to add that I have had name brand strings both roundwound for electric and acoustic bass that go dead especially the E and A string, while roundwounds eventually loose their crispy bright tone and maintain sustain I had the E or A string go dead I,m talking the sustain as if the body was made of cardboard ,my friend bass player had string break at the ball end while tuning at practice luckily at practice not a gig so even name brand strings are subject to failure it just happens sometimes maybe due to temperature variations, improper storage, or just a bad batch of materials due to impurities in the metals not the manufacturers fault, sometimes poopie happens.