Flatwound String Prices

[edencab]

hi TB-ers...is it just me, in Canada, or are Flat wound bass string prices through the roof?

Dunlops $95
Thomastiks $99
D'addario Chromes $60 and tapewounds $72
DR $62
Ernie B's $55-70
Fenders $52 and tapewound $60
Rotos $52
GHS Brite Flats $42, Precisions $48

** don't forget to add 13% tax to walk out the door

yes I know inflation, supply chain, etc. and they last forever, but wow....or am I just cheap?

and Dunlops at $95, are they that good?

 

[michael_t]

The last set of GHS Precision Flats I got three months ago cost me $12.99 USD after a $20 gift certificate. I'm hoping they'll last for the next 10-15 years.

 

[G On Bass]

I bought my most recent set of flats ~5 years ago and they were much less. I hope prices come down in the next 5-10 years when I need another set.

 

[flannel cat]

I use EB,s cobalt flats, they are over 50 bucks, at my closest music shop ,have not found any under that.

 

[gln1955]

GHS Precision Flats are $US 44 at Fret Nation. Yes, for a little over one penny a day, you can enjoy a set of flatwound strings for the next ten years!

 

[aus_bass]

You guys in the US, don't know how good you've got it. Prices down here:

EB Slinky Flatwound (5 string) - $139
TI Jazz flats - $109 (on sale. were $122) (5 string $169)
Roto RS77 Flats - $79
Roto RS88 Tapes - $100
La Bella 760FS / M / FL - $99
La Bella LTF - $100
D'Add Chromes - $89
Fender 9050 flats - $69

Prices are AUD. GHS & a few others are generally not available here. Which means buying online plus international shipping.

 

[Grinderman]

Dunlops flats are not worth that price. They've jumped, but if you shop you should find them for much less.

I used them for a while, but I had some difficulties with defective product that involved intonation problems.

I've moved on to Fender 9050M for my Jazz, GHS Precision 105-55 flats for my maple neck '58 type P, and LaBella 760M DTFs for my other P. I've found I like my flats on the heavier, al dente side.

The LaBella strings were $48; Fender and GHS were less than that. All three are solid options and better value, IMO.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

hi TB-ers...is it just me, in Canada, or are Flat wound bass string prices through the roof?

Dunlops $95
Thomastiks $99
D'addario Chromes $60 and tapewounds $72
DR $62
Ernie B's $55-70
Fenders $52 and tapewound $60
Rotos $52
GHS Brite Flats $42, Precisions $48

** don't forget to add 13% tax to walk out the door

yes I know inflation, supply chain, etc. and they last forever, but wow....or am I just cheap?

and Dunlops at $95, are they that good?

I can't answer your question re: Dunlop flats because I'd never buy them at that price. I'm assuming they're not *that* good

But I will say that some strings end up being cheaper when you shop around online, even including shipping from U.S. based retailers. I've saved money recently on La Bella tapewound sets from Strings By Mail rather than ordering through my local L&M store. My cost from SBM, including shipping and exchange rate, was a few bucks lower than L&M's price before tax. Lead time was also way longer at L&M. So it was a no-brainer. Customer service is fantastic at SBM, in my experience. I will be a return customer for sure. With Black Friday deals that might be on right now at the various online retailers, you might be able to save money on some of these flats as well compared to what you'd pay locally.

 

[Phaidrus]

Dunlops flats are not worth that price. They've jumped, but if you shop you should find them for much less.

I used them for a while, but I had some difficulties with defective product that involved intonation problems.

I've moved on to Fender 9050M for my Jazz, GHS Precision 105-55 flats for my maple neck '58 type P, and LaBella 760M DTFs for my other P. I've found I like my flats on the heavier, al dente side.

The LaBella strings were $48; Fender and GHS were less than that. All three are solid options and better value, IMO.

How do your Jazz and Pbass survive 230lbs of tension? Did the truss rod need much adjustment?

 

[CalgAaron]

I’ve had TI Flats on my P bass for over 4 years. Just changed them to EB Cobalt Flats. I feel like I got my moneys worth on the TI’s.

Depends what province you’re in but it’s only 5% sales tax in ‘Berta.

 

[Grinderman]

How do your Jazz and Pbass survive 230lbs of tension? Did the truss rod need much adjustment?

Truss rods needed some adjustment but they're all fine.

With each neck taken off and truss rod nut loosened, I forced the necks into a back bow on my bench while retightening the nut enough to hold the back curved shape, slightly in excess of what will ultimately need to be maintained in final adjustment. After that, necks goes back on, strings on. Small adjustments are made, only loosening the truss rod nut in small increments (no tightening), until the exact amount of desired relief is achieved.

The purpose of this approach is to only have the truss rod and nut do the work of holding or maintaining the desired amount of neck relief under load, not further stress loading the truss by making the rod and nut do the job of forcefully manipulating neck curvature, in opposition to the wood of the neck and the pull of the strings.

 

[SulzerType2]

Dunlops have become perversely expensive in the UK. Now at £95 for a set in some places. They were £25 when first introduced!

Even Rotosound flats are more expensive and they are wound here (and not very good).

 

[gary mitchell]

Fender flats $27.99

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I bought my most recent set of flats ~5 years ago and they were much less. I hope prices come down in the next 5-10 years when I need another set.

And there is the upside... 10 years between changing flats?
How often is the average string change for Squeakies?

 

[Vinny_G]

Harley Benton HQS Bass 45-100 (12.90 USD)

 

[el murdoque]

I just checked German Thomann for their prices and a 6 string set of TI flats costs €85.
Now I'm tempted.

 

[edencab]

Harley Benton HQS Bass 45-100 (12.90 USD)

$63 to ship to Canada...1 envelope?.....

 

[kodiakblair]

For those of us in the UK

Dunlops £60
Thomastiks £47
D'addario Chromes £55 and tapewounds £80
DR £42 - £52
Ernie B's £55
Fenders £27 and tapewound £50
Rotos £37
GHS Brite Flats £34, Precisions £38

Missing from OP's list.

Italian made Galli £33
La Bella £43
Pyramid £43
Optima £38
Sadowsky £60

Being predominantly a flats player, I'm running

70% TI jazz flats
10% Status Hot Wire tapes
10% La Bella Jamerson
10% Fender

Never could take to D'Addario chromes/half rounds/tapes or EBMM cobalts; no reason to try GHS.

 

[J-Mags]

For those of us in the UK

Dunlops £60
Thomastiks £47
D'addario Chromes £55 and tapewounds £80
DR £42 - £52
Ernie B's £55
Fenders £27 and tapewound £50
Rotos £37
GHS Brite Flats £34, Precisions £38

Missing from OP's list.

Italian made Galli £33
La Bella £43
Pyramid £43
Optima £38
Sadowsky £60

Being predominantly a flats player, I'm running

70% TI jazz flats
10% Status Hot Wire tapes
10% La Bella Jamerson
10% Fender

Never could take to D'Addario chromes/half rounds/tapes or EBMM cobalts; no reason to try GHS.

Fender 9050s are a bargain the world over. I just changed mine after 18 months because I like em bright. I think most people would say they were just getting good.

 

[SulzerType2]

I'm really enjoying the £16 Olympia 45 - 100 flatwound set on my P Bass. They thump like La Bellas and broke in very quickly. They start out with a bright G and dull E, but have evened up.