Cheap Strings in the UK?

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benecol

Cheap Strings in the UK?

Post by benecol »

It's that time of the season - going to restring the Jazzmaster and Tele. I usually just pick up a couple of sets of roto reds (11's) from my friendly neighbourhood shop, but since they got all hissy after my son had the audacity to hit a cymbal, fuck 'em. So where's nice and cheap online? Any recommendations?
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NickS
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Post by NickS »

Can send you my spreadsheet with links. Last time I looked, for Roto pinks:

hotroxuk 2.80
Strings Direct 3.95
soundslive.co.uk
stringexpress.co.uk 3.90
cheapstrings.co.uk
GAK 4.00
stringbusters.com 3.50
dv247
highlystrung.co.uk
newstrings.co.uk 3.55
FairDealMusic.com 1.79
Dawsons 5.49
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euan
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Post by euan »

I <3 Strings Direct

I'm pretty sure if you order now you will get it tomorrow morning. Thats what I usually do when I need strings.
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Mike
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Post by Mike »

Just get a 10 pack from ebay. Only way to buy strings.

If you're buying less than 10 packs it means you don't like playing guitar enough
benecol

Post by benecol »

Jesus Mike, that's like the Scarface, big rock of coke method of buying strings. Also, I heard on the gear page that the mojo gradually escapes over the years as the nickel alloys change polarity.

NickS, thank you very much.

And Euan too, for the sake of politeness, although you brought least to the table. More effort next time please.
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Mike
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Post by Mike »

I'd rather pay less for strings and have packs on hand when I need them.

Call me a nut, that's the way I like to lead my life.

I go through 10 packs in 2 months easy.
benecol

Post by benecol »

Blimey, really? Is that a corrosive, sweaty gig hands thing? Not breakages, I'm guessing.
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Mike
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Post by Mike »

Both.

I have weird sweat which corrodes strings, plus my "enthusiastic" playing style yields breakages. Two on Monday's practise alone.
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Post by James »

I got 12 packs from webstrings for a little under £24 shipped. They came very quickly and I've no complaints about the quality.

http://www.webstrings.com/
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Post by NickS »

James wrote:I got 12 packs from webstrings for a little under £24 shipped. They came very quickly and I've no complaints about the quality.

http://www.webstrings.com/
Completely out of wimpy .009"s
A Better Way: Webstrings contracts the same manufacturers that the most popular labels use for their strings. That's right they're the same high quality American made strings. So you see, there's a good chance that your favorite strings are exactly what we're selling!
Rotosound? Added to my list, anyway.
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euan
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Post by euan »

benecol wrote: And Euan too, for the sake of politeness, although you brought least to the table. More effort next time please.
I can't say more than I use them exclusively for buying strings because I've had such great experience from them. I've order pretty late in the day, paid no postage and then gotten them the next day including a Saturday. All good things.
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Post by rrrob9 »

Webstrings Website wrote:"There are only a handful of companies that actually manufacture strings. Most of today's string labels have one of these string factories manufacture strings for them and they simply put their label on them. "
I never thought there was much difference between brands TBQH.
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Post by deadonkey »

apart from ernie balls, which are complete nonsense. look at them too hard and they snap.
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Post by James »

I had a set of ernie balls on a guitar for over 2 years. I've broke about 3 ernie balls during years of use, and each break was my fault. I tried D'addarios and broke 2 through playing (low E and D strings) the second day I had them on.

I don't see any reason for the ernie ball hate.
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Post by superfuzz »

James wrote:I had a set of ernie balls on a guitar for over 2 years. I've broke about 3 ernie balls during years of use, and each break was my fault. I tried D'addarios and broke 2 through playing (low E and D strings) the second day I had them on.

I don't see any reason for the ernie ball hate.
+1, ive only had one string fail, that was after it was on my main guitar for 6 months. I should have changed it anyway.
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Post by Mike »

James wrote:I had a set of ernie balls on a guitar for over 2 years. I've broke about 3 ernie balls during years of use, and each break was my fault. I tried D'addarios and broke 2 through playing (low E and D strings) the second day I had them on.

I don't see any reason for the ernie ball hate.
Your experience is the reverse of mine, but I make my way through D'Addarios.

I sweat too much and play too often and too rigorously not too. I love them as strings though.
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Post by vivadeluxxe »

I used Ernie Ball 10-52s for about 6 months but changed back to D'Addarios eventually because the Ernie Balls snapped more often...
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Post by James »

I'd still say webstrings is the way to go. For £2 a set it's well worth trying them out.
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benecol

Post by benecol »

I ended up taking a Mike-ish route, and bought three packs for a tenner on eBay, with free postage. Thanks all.
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Post by Mike »

Good man. Don't you feel like a PRO?