Do you buy strings in person?

[Lo-E]

I do a little bit of each. Even though I live in a major city I often find it difficult to find the specific strings I’m looking for in stock.

My way around this is to order strings through a local shop when that option is available and to order online when the strings I want are a hassle to order.

For instance, my default roundwounds, D’Addario’s XL Balanced Tension set is easy to order from my local shop so I order six sets at a time and they get me a really good price.

I also really like DR strings but my favorite local shops don’t carry them so I order them from Jason at Fretnation. There are other strings I like for certain basses that I have trouble finding locally so, again, I’m forced to buy online.

I would always prefer to do business locally but I can only do that if local businesses can get me what I need.

 

[Bikeguy57]

The great Satan Amazon since Strings Online, or whatever it was called closed.

 

[Manticore]

I buy them online by the case.

 

[jmullenite]

When I lived in Brooklyn I bought my strings locally. Since moving to a different metro area I order online since the local stores don't carry the strings I use.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

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?

I bought mine right here on the Talkbass store.

 

[lowplaces]

The last good Indy local shop closed so I just order online now.
Both acoustic guitar and bass strings.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Online for me.

 

[VintageOldMan]

I cannot remember which decade I bought my last set but they are semi-flat wound.

 

[Clark W]

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?

Actually I tend to get my strings from a local mom & pop shop, but they keep a good selection of D'Addario in stock. Then GC brick & mortar 2nd, but most of the time I end up at the mom & pop shop anyway cause GC tends to not keep what I want in stock a lot. Then online from Sweetwater or direct from D'Addario when I have enough points built up on their site to get my strings for free which happens about twice a year, or did. With 8 basses I was buying a lot of strings. Down to 5 basses and playing my custom built Ferner all the time now, so I suspect my string buying is gonna slow down some except for the NYXL strings I'm using on the custom. I've had a set of NYXL strings on my custom bass for 8 weeks now and playing about 8 to 10 hours every week. I figure at that rate I might make it another month or two before changing them again. Don't know for sure though cause until November I never used NYXL strings on any of my basses.

 

[Jaycat]

Do you buy strings in person?​

No, I send my manservant to fetch them.

 

[wompwomp]

for the amount of instruments I own I don't buy a lot of strings but I would absolutely use my local shop. she sells loose strings so you can build a non-standard set and have them reset intonation etc.

also once I was complaining about my back and the owner went to the back and brought me back this herbal balm she makes, just gave it to me as a fellow sufferer. can't get that kind of service online my local spot is the best

 

[ac100X]

I prefer to buy on-line, in a impersonal way, that way there are no strings attached.

 

[J Wilson]

I live a few blocks from one of Nashville's best music stores, Corner Music (www.cornermusic.com), one of the few stocking Sadowsky (and G Gould) dealers, so I go by as it gives me a good excuse to walk around and get an eyeful.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I live a few blocks from one of Nashville's best music stores, Corner Music (www.cornermusic.com), one of the few stocking Sadowsky (and G Gould) dealers, so I go by as it gives me a good excuse to walk around and get an eyeful.

I'm glad I don't live near Nashville way too much candy!

 

[iiipopes]

I used to. Then my favorite strings were either discontinued, or I couldn't get the brands and gauges desired at my local or even regional brick-and-mortar stores. So now I do all my bass string shopping on-line.

 

[Michedelic]

I buy what I can find in blow-out/clearance bins/boxes…as long as they’re rounds, I’m good. I don’t fuss over brands, as long as they’re the better quality, and as the prices are theoretically lower, I can afford to experiment. I buy multiples, stock up, and don’t change them anymore than I have to.

 

[Heavy Blue]

Up until now, I've always bought them from my local Ma & Pa. I just have them order them in if the ones I want aren't in stock. Sometimes it does take quite awhile for them to arrive though so lately I've been considering ordering them online.

I've only bought 3 things online ever. All basses lol.

 

[el murdoque]

I used to, before my go-to shop closed down. Now I'd have to go 90 minutes one way and that's too much for a pack of strings.
They never had the strings I wanted, but were of course able to order them.

 

[Nedmundo]

Both, but usually in person. I've discovered that a small shop in Center City Philadelphia carries DR strings and has reasonable prices, so I've been buying from them lately. If it's not in stock, I'll order through them. It's a wonderful little M&P shop that carries an astounding array of budget gear and caters largely to street musicians and kids. It's also a full Roland dealer, and they carry some very high quality accessories. I like supporting them, but I do occasionally buy elsewhere.

For guitar strings I'm happy with D'Addario, which I can buy just about anyplace.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

Even though I live in a major US metro area, none of the strings I need/use (6 string Kalium and T-I JF) are available in any brick-and-mortar stores I know of. So it's strictly online for me. I would buy locally if I could, but I can't, so I don't.