What is the most expensive string you've ever bought?

[wmmj]

There is an extra polishing step which I’m sure adds something to their cost. But I also think it's mostly due to them lasting as long as they do. A roundwound string’s lifetime is measured in months. A flatwound’s is measured in years. Or with TIs it’s sometimes measured in decades. Kinda like eyeglass frames. They know most people are going to put off purchasing a new pair of glasses for as long as possible. So they get as much of your money as they can up front.

Truth is, flatwounds are going to be significantly cheaper on an annual basis compared to your average set of rounds, assuming you replace rounds multiple times per year. If you buy something like HiBeams ($25) and restring every three months you spent $100 compared to a set of TIs that will set you back $85 most places. So you saved yourself $15 over rounds in the first year alone. Year two the TIs will still be going strong and should easily last anywhere from five to ten years. So there’s zero replacement cost during that period.

Another way of looking at it is by dividing the cost into the number of months useful life before replacement.

TIs = $85 amortized over 60 months (5 yrs) is $1.42 per month.

HiBeams = $25 amortized over 4 months is $6.25 per month.

My current set of TI flats (4 string) have been on my G&L L-1000 since 2014, almost 10 years. The cost doesn’t bother me on a running basis.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Probably $250 for a set of upright strings.

bought a set of TI flats once or twice. Those are around 70 or 80.

 

[Grinderman]

To the best of my recollection, the most expensive string I've ever bought was a Sadowsky 5 string set of blue label flats. About $140 for a 5 string flat set. I think.

Is there a prize for the winner (or loser)?

 

[_B_E_A_D_G_]

Optima Chrome, around $80 for the 5-string set.
Loved them on the BB5000 with Ag pick-ups that I sold, loved them on the 2019 BFR Bongo 5 that I sold, cannot stand them on any of the basses I currently have.

 

[wncBass]

4-string sets:
i thought TI jazz rounds were pretty pricey, but dogal-hellborg stranded core sets are almost $80 USD, so they'd be the most expensive 4-string set i've purchased.

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i bought them just to try them out after reading about them on a TB thread. i like the set for several reasons, but among them is the compliant/bendy nature of them, and the very 'clear' sound.

Throw those suckers on a Glarry and double it's value. lol

 

[Super Bass]

Ernie Ball Cobalt flats, $68 a set in Canada! Unfortunately my favorite flats...

 

[Indiana Mike]

Cello strings
About $400

 

[ELG60]

Optima Gold rounds were close to a hundred bucks straight from Germany, and several sets of TI rounds and flats for five string basses were somewhat higher than $100.

 

[smo]

Velvet Anima DB set. No idea how much, I remember thinking they made TI Jazz Flats look like a bargain.

 

[Fun Size Nick]

If it’s $ per note played, it’s got to be the Gibson strings I bought (in an emergency, only option at the shop) back in 2001 which broke after playing maybe two songs…

 

[Vinny Vincenzo]

Full set gamut guts for my upright around 900 bucks if my memory is correct

 

[Dominic D]

It was probably the 5-string set of TI flats.

 

[MegaSwing]

I’ve never once spent more than $30 on a set of strings, fivers included. I guess I’m not that picky.

 

[Dincrest]

Either TI Rounds or Ritter Swordsteels.

The TIs were great strings, but overrated. Not at all worth the luxe price for me.
The Ritter Swordsteels had the absolute best fingerstyle tone ever... but the worst slap tone. Not at all worth the luxe price.

When it comes to strings, I'm like Pokemon- "gotta try 'em all." Rounds, flats, rollerwound, groundwound, steel, nickel, alloy, round core, hex core, budget brands, boutique brands, big brands, small brands... I've probably spent more money on strings than anything else. My worst GAS is string GAS.

 

[the_Ryan]

Yeah, if you asked this question on the DB side, EB string prices wouldn't seem too bad.

I think my regular setup of Thomastik Belcanto GD and Spirocore A and long E is almost $400? The extension string and buying singles in lieu of a set really inflates the price.

For the question at hand, probably a 5-string set of Thomastik Jazz Flats, which I genuinely adore but right now only one of my bass guitars has them (short scale, not 5-string) because the other two are much better suited to rounds.

 

[Chrisk-K]

TI Flats: $62.50 including tax from Amazon in 2023.

 

[Paul New]

They were only about $600 when I bought my set.

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[jjcarswell]

View attachment 5358127

$212.48

…but I added the c ext……it was a good bit more…but I really dig the strings!

 

[retslock]

To the best of my recollection, the most expensive string I've ever bought was a Sadowsky 5 string set of blue label flats. About $140 for a 5 string flat set. I think.

Years ago it was Maxima 24 carat gold plated. I loved their sound but they cost a bundle. Their current Optima equivalent with exchange rates for the Ozzie dollar is around $120 then add shipping. I still have two unused sets that I’ll sell. I don’t play 4 strings anymore.
These days in Australia a set of La Bella DTFs will set you back upwards of $120. Checking prices recently around Australia and various brands came in even up to $150.
Good thing flats last a long time and I don’t play upright bass. I don’t fancy visiting the bank manager to take out a loan.
Whatever you pay in the US you can just about double it for Oz.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

I’ve never once spent more than $30 on a set of strings, fivers included. I guess I’m not that picky.

I am realizing you don't have to spend alot for quality. DR, Apex, GHS, Magma. Although, I do really like the Dogal flats.