"prey" over 5.00 in "profit"
M&P music stores subsist on renting space to teachers giving lessons, renting band instruments to school kids.
not bass strings that they sell 10 of per month.
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The unavailability of strings
- Thread starter dougjwray
- Start date
M&P music stores subsist on renting space to teachers giving lessons, renting band instruments to school kids.
not bass strings that they sell 10 of per month.
With all of the strings out there, you are really limited yourself by avoiding to buy strings online. It's already been said, but with amount of SKUs from just even one brand, there's no way a retailer is going to stock that many. Just 1 brand could have sets in different materials (rounds, flats, half rounds, steel, nickel, etc) and then within that they might have different scale lengths, different number of strings per set, etc. To stock all of that from just 3 or 4 different brands would be a huge amount of inventory and I would bet the majority of those strings would not sell (aside from the standard gauge, 34" 4-string sets).
It's a numbers game... 
True Fact: for every bassist who posts on TalkBass, there are more than sixty quintillion (that's a six with 17 zeros behind it)
who only buy off the rack at the music store!!
True Fact: for every bassist who posts on TalkBass, there are more than sixty quintillion (that's a six with 17 zeros behind it)
who only buy off the rack at the music store!!I'm in the same boat over here in South Africa. They largely only stock Elixers and D'Addario so I have been exclusively buying my strings(la bella flats) from Sweetwater, which believe it or not workout quite a bit cheaper. Even after shipping and custom duties. Bass strings in general costs 3-4 times that in the US.
I worked in a mom + pop music store where several of us were bass players, and we got on a run of ordering strings for friends and for us to try as well. I can promise you half or two/thirds of them are still there 20 years later. For every guy who swears by this one or that one, most guys use Boomers, XL's, Ernie Balls, and Rotos. For most stores, ten sets of Optima Golds or T-I anythings . . . . . is a lifetime supply, and all this is amplified by most guys who will buy them online for 25 cents less. . . . . and stretch that out to TWO lifetimes for that store.
Fortunately, there are some great online sites where you can get damn near anything if you must.
Fortunately, there are some great online sites where you can get damn near anything if you must.
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I do believe you man, I am finding that even with shipping costs there are still some good deals to be had.
Back in the old days, when there were no such things as big box stores, the internet, and magazines were our primary source of information, I only used GHS Boomers. I used them for decades. When gigging heavily, they got changed every 6 weeks or so.
Back then, it was not uncommon, in fact, it was practically expected, that any store you went in around town was offering 2 for 1 deals on strings. I can't remember the last time I saw that. I can't say there's any non- big box stores left to test that either.
Back then, it was not uncommon, in fact, it was practically expected, that any store you went in around town was offering 2 for 1 deals on strings. I can't remember the last time I saw that. I can't say there's any non- big box stores left to test that either.
I think OP is making a mistake by assuming that the typical bassist ever buys new strings! 
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
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- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
I like buying local too, and I get it... but you're already here... why not try the Talkbass Store?
Bass Guitar Strings
I had a micro-rant last week about why more players don't use stainless steel. One can do anything with them and the sizzle can be tamed easily.
One cannot walk into a consumer-level store and expect anything but consumer-level products.
I understand your frustrations, but it's not like strings are a try it before you buy it scenario.
To all those who commented on my post that stores stock what sells, I have an interesting anecdote to share.
In 1974 I was in the Army stationed at Fort Monmouth in NJ and used to head home in CT on alternate weekends. I bought my round trip bus tickets in advance at a drug store just outside the main gate of the base that also happened to sell guitar strings but only Black Diamond brand, medium gauge. I had a Yamaha guitar that I kept in my locker in the barracks and guess what strings I used when I needed a new set.
P.S. Black Diamonds were legendary for being the worst guitar strings you could buy at the time. One step above barbed wire. They went out of business, but apparently 20 years ago someone bought the rights to the name and started making strings again. I guess they are better now. I've yet to see any in a local store, whether a music store or a drug store
In 1974 I was in the Army stationed at Fort Monmouth in NJ and used to head home in CT on alternate weekends. I bought my round trip bus tickets in advance at a drug store just outside the main gate of the base that also happened to sell guitar strings
but only Black Diamond brand, medium gauge. I had a Yamaha guitar that I kept in my locker in the barracks and guess what strings I used when I needed a new set.P.S. Black Diamonds were legendary for being the worst guitar strings you could buy at the time. One step above barbed wire. They went out of business, but apparently 20 years ago someone bought the rights to the name and started making strings again. I guess they are better now. I've yet to see any in a local store, whether a music store or a drug store
I always ordered strings for my Steinbergers online from Just Strings because stores never had any.
You need a straw purchaser to buy them online for you. My dad does zero online shopping, but every so often he sends me a request for something on Ebay.
Or maybe you oppose online shopping on the principal that it takes away sales from brick stores. If that is the case, most brick stores sell online already.
Or maybe you oppose online shopping on the principal that it takes away sales from brick stores. If that is the case, most brick stores sell online already.
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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This is merely a "grumpy old man" thread...
It amazes me that there are strings which are loved and recommended daily by many on TB, but which are NEVER in the big stores. (Guitar Center and Sam Ash are the ones I frequent... the Mom & Pop stores are mostly gone, and I avoid ordering anything online whenever possible. I like to anonymously hand over the cash.)
I'm talking about things like: DR Sunbeams and Lo Riders; Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats; anything GHS other than regular (hex core) Boomers; Rotosound flatwounds; D'Addario Half Rounds; the LaBella Jamerson set; Fender Pure Nickels, etc., etc.
Yes, I know that there is limited physical space in a brick & mortar place, and some brands don't sell as well as others. But you often see empty wire racks.
It's just that there seems to be such a disconnect between the apparently huge popularity of many strings, and their availability-- other than online.
That is all. Return to your regular duties.
I bet if you call (juststrings) Link Removed they would let you send them a money order for whatever strings you wanted.
Or most know that beyond flats or rounds, all strings sound the same, especially in a live setting, and they don't waste time and money trying 20 different brands. They buy what's on the shelf.
And even if there was a difference, turning nobs on the amp is free.
Sam Ash and GC are both having trouble making payments to suppliers so its a wonder they have any inventory of anything. Buying online saves me long drives to either so I'm okay with that and paypal is pretty anonymous.
