I'm curious because I assumed most buy strings mail order...also there is no way a local store can carry a big selection no?...I very much miss small local music stores but in recent years I did frequent Guitar Center as independent shops became fewer....are there small brick and mortar shops that do mail order strings or is it mainly walk in business, lessons repair etc?
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Do you buy strings in person?
- Thread starter DavidEdenAria
- Start date
Not usually. I order my strings directly from D'Addario's website or from Sweetwater. Most GCs don't have my preferred gauges. I only buy in person if I need them ASAP or if they're on sale.
- Oct 22, 2015
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- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
We have two mom & pop music shops, and I buy strings from then when I can. When I can't, that means I need something only available online. For a quick hit on Slinkys, I'm local.
If I need a brand my local store stocks I still check there first but more and more often they don’t have stuff like 30” scale strings in stock. Last time they ordered something it took a month to get what I could have gotten online in a few days. Anyway my tastes run more to European made flats I can only get online and I’ve been getting those from the manufacturers.
I buy strings pretty much exclusively online.
I very seldom find D’Addario Pro Steels 5-string sets locally.
I do well between Strings by Mail and the D’Addario Player site.
I very seldom find D’Addario Pro Steels 5-string sets locally.
I do well between Strings by Mail and the D’Addario Player site.
On the rare occasion that the one more-or-less real music store where I live, has strings I like? Then, yes, I do. I will occasionally make the 90 minute drive from South Bend to Ft. Wayne, to see what Sweetwater has - or mostly, doesn't - have. I don't use round wounds at all - even on my guitars; and, I'm afraid that my taste in flat wounds is... well, they're not flats you're likely to see in a local American music store. I have to order them on line, about 90-95% of the time... 
I haven’t bought strings at a store this century.
Almost never - there's a MUCH wider selection online (esp. in a large country such as mine), and there tend to be better discounts online.
I buy all my strings online. Way cheaper than buying them in-store (around here at least).
I get all mine through Jason at FretNation, and technically it's in person since I pick them up at his shop after a quick chat and placing an order. He takes care of everyone the best he can and I'll always go to him first. Heck, he's the best dude ever and has even brought an order to my house on his way home. How's that for service?!
Greg at Rocket Music stocks a pretty god selection of strings.
Online for me. There are stores in my area but none stock La Bella DTFs in 5 string sets. I get them from an interstate bass specialist. Ordering from USA is outrageously expensive. I only did that once.
When I played DR Pure Blues, the local guitar shop always seemed to have my gauges. I was happy to support them. Since I switched to Elrick strings, I can only order by mail. But Rob Elrick is still a small business owner. And his strings are unlike anything I’ve ever played. So I’m happy to support him as well.
I try to buy strings from local stores. I’m lucky I have a few music stores just a few minutes walk from my house. One of them stocks DRs so I’m good.
Because my strings a very specialized, 23" scale flatwound nylon core that I use on 21" scale violin/Hofner knockoff, I have to order them from either Kala or Strings by Mail.
Brandon Shea
Commercial User
I buy strings in person if they’re available. Usually there’s a better selection of guitar strings compared to bass though, so I still end up buying online a lot.
The selections of strings for six string bass is much greater online.
