My local Wally World sold bass strings for a time; First Act, I assume. They were not a "real" brand name, I do remember that. I bought several sets of them over time - when you need strings @ 1 A.M., what else you gonna do? They were surprisingly good, whatever they were - they sold for about $18/set, best I remember. Only complaint I had about them were that they went dead fairly quick. I will definitely be getting several sets of these - if there the same as the ones I used before (they have to be), then I say it`s an awesome deal - especially someone who wants to experiment with different gauges (me!) Thanks for posting the link !
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Has anyone tried First Act strings? ($1.99/pack blowout)
- Thread starter pudgychef
- Start date
Seems like I remember Media Play selling some bass strings back in the day. They were Epiphones, and they cost $10.99 a pack. I would get my friend who worked there to pick me up some with his employee discount which brought the down to around 8 bucks. They would sound OK for a couple of weeks then go dead as a doornail. They weren't bad for "get by" strings, but that was about it.
I dont know about the First Act bass strings. I think my guitard cousin picked up some of the First Act guitar srtings at wallymart, and gave'em a try he said the same thing I said about the Epi bass strings.
I dont know about the First Act bass strings. I think my guitard cousin picked up some of the First Act guitar srtings at wallymart, and gave'em a try he said the same thing I said about the Epi bass strings.
Not a very good instrument company because they have a dirt-cheap budget line? Ever check out the rest of their line? Astounding if you ask me...and a large amount of rock and metal bands in recent history! A Delgado is high on my GAS list.
As for the strings...for $2 it wouldn't hurt anyone to at least try them. Sure, the price wouldn't indicate anything even remotely decent but neither would the SX basses and those seem to be a great bang for the buck. I'd just wait to reserve judgement until I actually read some reviews or tried 'em myself.
How do you go from n00b to snob so quickly? I thought only the jaded veterans got to play the high-dollar cards around here.LOL
But that's a Delgada, isn't it, chappie? Quite different from the regular First Act stuff. And yes, it wouldnt' hurt to try those strings! They might not be so terrible after all!
A reply like this is why I tell my students to use a grain of salt with TB posts..
YOu havent's seen them.. havne't tried them.. don't know about them but have a hard opinion on them?
Who knows what they are.. heck I loose this much in vending machines and shrug it off.
I've bought bulk pack strings from a local vendor... they have Proof they're XLs.... at $5/set I'd be dumb not to install a fresh set on every bass.
Tim
Rummaged around and found an empty pack - they were indeed First Act strings that I`d tried several sets of. Came in a blue and white box. My WM only sold the Med. SS`s, so that`s what I`ve tried. They sounded surprisingly good, but went dead fast, like I said in my earlier post. That being said, since I confirmed they were the same strings, I just ordered 2 sets of everything they have - will be a fun experiment trying `em out.
At $2 a pack ($6.50 to my door), I couldn't resist and picked up a pack. Within 36 hours of ordering, they were on my door.
I don't intend on using them except as an emergency backup or if I get in the mood to do some weird experiment or something. But, they look like normal strings.
Looking forward to my Dunlop's arriving soon, though. Tired of these Thomastiks; not at all my style / liking.
I don't intend on using them except as an emergency backup or if I get in the mood to do some weird experiment or something. But, they look like normal strings.
Looking forward to my Dunlop's arriving soon, though. Tired of these Thomastiks; not at all my style / liking.
I received mine. I ordered 5 packs. They sent 4 of the wrong gauge. 
anyways, put the correct ones on, sounded decent actually.....for about 7 hours of play time and then you could almost feel them die under your hands.
for those first few hours they sounded fine...ish
anyways, put the correct ones on, sounded decent actually.....for about 7 hours of play time and then you could almost feel them die under your hands.
for those first few hours they sounded fine...ish
i haven't tried these strings and don't intend to. I'm also not one for lottery tickets, but I think you'd probably be better served to try some la bella's at 30x the price than to spend the time stringing up your bass with these abominations.
The brand name is First Act, which is apparently an acknowledgement of their quality: "Hey we're definitely not the best, but we showed up." - sounds like a motto huh?
The brand name is First Act, which is apparently an acknowledgement of their quality: "Hey we're definitely not the best, but we showed up." - sounds like a motto huh?
Good. Then they'll be good enough for my intended use.
Thanks.
Thanks.
I received mine. I ordered 5 packs. They sent 4 of the wrong gauge.
anyways, put the correct ones on, sounded decent actually.....for about 7 hours of play time and then you could almost feel them die under your hands.
for those first few hours they sounded fine...ish
When I moved cross country to prove my manliness I was broke and needed an instrument. I went to Walmart and bought their full scale acoustic. I played the snot out of it with stock strings for 2 months. It sounded OK. Not great, but it made music for $100. Then I moved back home with my better gear and returned it for a full refund (gift card) at my local Walmart.
yeah, but there is a use for cheap back-up emergency strings when you are working regularly...
In particular if you have 3 or 4 instruments that see regular work (like earning you money to play them once a week) than it gets pricey to have $60-70 dollar strings on each AND back ups sets for each. Why not spend the money on your main strings, and save a few bucks on emergency backups you hope never to use?
I figure $6-700 'per bass' string budget 'per year' is reasonable...why double it unnecessarily?
First Act also makes some VERY pricey, high end gear....those Delgado basses are $1800 plus!!! Could you only use one in an opening act due to the brand name? Of course not, that's simpleton talk.
Are they good strings? no, do they sound good enough that you could throw them on a $200 Squire and fill the dance floor? Heck yeah, assuming you are good enough....
that sounds nice when you say it like that, but are YOU going to use them? I keep Ernie Balls for my backups. They're quality and also affordable
I already did....and as I said in the earlier post I will keep them as emergency backups on gigs with the hope of NEVER using them....and at $2 I don;t care if I ever do...but having used them I know they will be good enough to finish the job if I have to...but hey stick to your Ernie Balls....now there is a premium string right?
I am sure there are DR, Labella and Thomastik snobs that would laugh at your Slinkys too! Funniest are the guys who cop attitude about using good strings etc...and never play outside of their bedroom or garage...like your mom notices the tone difference!!
While I agree with the second part of that statement, I can't agree with the first part.
There is no possible hard in TRYING inexpensive strings on an instrument. They're not going to hurt it in any way. What's the worst that could happen?....answer: they might sound bad or break. In that case, take 'em off and you've learned something.
And I don't see the issue with strings that might go dead early - some of us really like the sound of "dead" strings. The strings on my basses vary from about 6 months old to 38 years old. Most are at least 2 years old, and I'm sure they would be considered "dead".
It all depends on what YOU, the user, like. Condemning strings based solely on price makes no sense to me.
Well, my set of the stainless steels showed up.
I normally use GHS Super Steels and these were put on a precision with a passive PJ config.
They're awful. Just awful.
Compared to my tastes they sounded damned near dead out of the pack.
If there were a gig emergency I would debate on playing on 3 strings but would probably end up putting one on.
I normally use GHS Super Steels and these were put on a precision with a passive PJ config.
They're awful. Just awful.
Compared to my tastes they sounded damned near dead out of the pack.
If there were a gig emergency I would debate on playing on 3 strings but would probably end up putting one on.
