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Without BSO, Where Do We Get Strings Now?

#123
J Posega said:
With BassStringsOnline being closed down at the moment, where is the next best place to get strings?

I know nobody else will have customer service or selection as great, but we can't be too picky that the best is taking a rest.

Quick shipping, competitive prices, and an easy-to-navigate website are a must IMO.

(Personally, I need a set of short scale strings for a modded Squier Bronco)
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I've been getting them from here...
TalkBass.com > Buy Bass Guitar Strings from the TalkBass Store

I bought them before BSO closed because the supporting member discount basically paid for the membership itself with just one purchase. It was shipped quickly and I even got a free sticker.

Paul is also easy to get ahold of and personally contacts you with any issues or questions pertaining to your order. This kind of service is what we typically desire in a retailer, and he offers it. It's a good value.
 
#128
i generally buy a half dozen sets of roto 66's at a time and at least a couple of sets of TI jazz rounds at a time, so: i shop for price on the day i order.

i think i've purchased from just about all of the sources mentioned in the thread at one time or another --- it can be from any vendor --- but amazon/ebay have gotten my last couple of orders.
 
#129
I go to Guitar Center, joined the String Club, then present the lowest price I can find for the strings I want on my phone, show it to them, they beat the price & then apply a monthly discount on top of that better price for one set of strings, then use the best price for additional packs... My best suggestion. You will not pay less for strings anywhere else like that
 
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#130
The one stop shop:

24739-v2-197x.jpg


Cheapest place I've found DR nickel lo-riders.
 
#134
basscapes said:
... and add to the fact that Rotos come from England (or at least we are told that!)...
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That’s the way a tariff works.

Because it’s a tax on exports as well as imports, American steel is now more expensive everywhere in the world except America. Even if Roto doesn’t use American steel to make their strings (in which case the reason it would cost more to make them would be obvious) American steel has now effectively been removed from the global supply/demand equation - in other words there has been a net decrease in world supply.

For the purpose of setting prices, a decrease in supply is functionally equivalent to an increase in demand, so steel manufacturers in EVERY country (including in the UK) have been able to raise their prices accordingly.

While I understand not wanting to get a political lecture when trying to buy bass strings, the facts are the facts. This is why politics are important - they touch every facet of our lives, even if we would prefer they didn’t (and even when we pretend they don’t).

In this case, this tax was very specifically instituted by a single person, against the wishes and advice of his closest advisors, his party, and every respected economist in the world. So to suggest laying the blame where it belongs isn’t so much “political” as it is “accurate.”

Full disclosure - I support the tariff.
 
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#136
callofcthulhu said:
That’s the way a tariff works.

Because it’s a tax on exports as well as imports, American steel is now more expensive everywhere in the world except America. Even if Roto doesn’t use American steel to make their strings (in which case the reason it would cost more to make them would be obvious) American steel has now effectively been removed from the global supply/demand equation - in other words there has been a net decrease in world supply.

For the purpose of setting prices, a decrease in supply is functionally equivalent to an increase in demand, so steel manufacturers in EVERY country (including in the UK) have been able to raise their prices accordingly.

While I understand not wanting to get a political lecture when trying to buy bass strings, the facts are the facts. This is why politics are important - they touch every facet of our lives, even if we would prefer they didn’t (and even when we pretend they don’t).

In this case, this tax was very specifically instituted by a single person, against the wishes and advice of his closest advisors, his party, and every respected economist in the world. So to suggest laying the blame where it belongs isn’t so much “political” as it is “accurate.”

Full disclosure - I support the tariff.
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I suggest it’s wise for a retailer to stay clear of placing or implying blame here — regardless of the facts, it’s just not a good customer experience. It would be better to state simply that the cost of steel has increased.

I will refrain from offering an opinion on the tariff issue.
 
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#138
Stevorebob said:
I suggest it’s wise for a retailer to stay clear of placing or implying blame here — regardless of the facts, it’s just not a good customer experience. It would be better to state simply that the cost of steel has increased.

I will refrain from offering an opinion on the tariff issue.
Click to expand...
I disagree. I think it is very wise for a retailer to be transparent about what has caused an increase in their prices.

I dealt with landscapers facing the same issue a few months ago, and appreciated them being straightforward about why prices were currently higher than expected for a given project.
 
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