Etiquette Question - Bring Your Own Strings?

[TheArchitect]

If they have what you want to use in stock, you should buy your strings from them. If they do not stock them, you should ask if you can supply your own strings. If they are okay with that, under no circumstances should you expect them to warranty strings you purchased elsewhere. If they say then can special order your strings, but will not warranty them in any way, RUN as far and as fast as you can! That's part of the risk they assume using strings that they sell.

What?? No one warranties strings. What nonsense

 

[bigboy_78]

My guy isn't attached to a store, so supplying the new strings is part of the deal when he does a set-up. I like my strings, so he takes them off and puts them back on.

 

[LHbassist]

I PREFER my clients supply the strings of choice, as I'm labor only in my shop. I do buy some parts and strings on Amazon, and simply have them reimburse me. Why? I really really do not want to deal with the tax collection, and adding all of that to the invoice. Plus- the client gets precisely what they want.

 

[Pirate Captain]

99% of techs are not going to care one way or the other...but there's always that ONE guy that gets weird (and then you go to a different shop)

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Any shop I’ve gone to requests that you supply your preferred strings. But once you get past “I’m gonna break the truss rod”, setting up your bass by yourself is really easy.

 

[smogg]

String choice is integral to the setup process. There little point in having it setup with other strings that have different gauge, tension and feel as you’ll just undo the work they have done when you eventually change the strings.

^^^^^ this this and more this ^^^^^

 

[Zooberwerx]

People are really picky about their string selections so, no, it's not in bad form to bring your own. For that fact, a decent tech will fold your selection into the set-up....a 50-110 set of roundwounds requires a different approach than my LaBella LTF's.

BTW: you can remove "strings" and substitute with pickups, preamp, bridges, tuners, etc. if not readily available or a stock item for the attending tech.

Riis