Strings on the cheap

[billboogie]

Being busy with 4 bands these days I’m finding myself blowing through strings.
I like em fresh and change often.
Where are the deals?
Is buying bulk singles a $ saver?
Anyone find a cheap brand performing surprisingly well?

 

[Monkey Man]

Now that's my kind of question, Bill.

Mind you, it's just 'cause I'm piss-poor, but I've been meaning to start a thread asking the question for many months now, so thank you!

EDIT:
Glad you didn't specify guitar, 'cause bass strings cost an arm and a leg, and I always need both. Types of strings, that is...

 

[Riggins1966]

I get 12 packs of EB Hybrid Slinkys for $46 on ebay. Less than $4 a pack is a pretty solid deal.

Not sure what brand you use, but Bulk like that is best.

Hell, if you use D'Addarios, this is a helluva deal:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DAddario-EXL11 ... SwkvtbzXXw

 

[LP Freak]

Dunlop nickel electric are awesome strings and cheap if you shop around. I played Slinky’s forever and switched.

 

[Monkey Man]

I get 12 packs of EB Hybrid Slinkys for $46 on ebay. Less than $4 a pack is a pretty solid deal.

They're the 9s aren't they?

If so, I'd be down for that 'cause EB's prices shot through the roof here in Australia a few years ago. They used to be cheap, no-brainers, but then, like, tripled in price all of a sudden.

Even at the current Aussie-dollar value, the deal you get would work out at roughly $7 AU per pack, which is less than half what they cost me in the stores here. Thanks man!

Link?

 

[Riggins1966]

I get 12 packs of EB Hybrid Slinkys for $46 on ebay. Less than $4 a pack is a pretty solid deal.

They're the 9s aren't they?

If so, I'd be down for that 'cause EB's prices shot through the roof here in Australia a few years ago. They used to be cheap, no-brainers, but then, like, tripled in price all of a sudden.

Even at the current Aussie-dollar value, the deal you get would work out at roughly $7 AU per pack, which is less than half what they cost me in the stores here. Thanks man!

Link?

yep, 9-46.

That's just crazy. Not sure why they would have shot up so much over there.

here ya go:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Sets-Ernie- ... 1438.l2649

he runs out from time to time, but re-ups pretty quickly when he does.

edit: just noticed it says they only ship to united states. Hopefully if you hit them up they can make an exception.

 

[stratjacket]

I periodically scour the web for string deals. Every time, the best deal I can find are Dunlop strings at Sweetwater. Three packs for $8.97 ($2.99 per pack) and free shipping. Haven’t found a better deal on any strings, anywhere.

Example for 10-46, but they have other sizes for the same price.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...-steel-electric-strings-010-046-medium-3-pack

 

[itsme]

I buy whatever's on bulk sale, which is usually the Ddarrio 25 pack dispenser box. I won't spend over $4 per pack. And that's too much IMO.

 

[LP Freak]

I periodically scour the web for string deals. Every time, the best deal I can find are Dunlop strings at Sweetwater. Three packs for $8.97 ($2.99 per pack) and free shipping. Haven’t found a better deal on any strings, anywhere.

Example for 10-46, but they have other sizes for the same price.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...-steel-electric-strings-010-046-medium-3-pack

That’s where I got mine. And if you buy a dozen sets they’re even cheaper

 

[Metlupass2]

Buy elixir nanoweb and you won't have to change them!

 

[Riggins1966]

I periodically scour the web for string deals. Every time, the best deal I can find are Dunlop strings at Sweetwater. Three packs for $8.97 ($2.99 per pack) and free shipping. Haven’t found a better deal on any strings, anywhere.

Example for 10-46, but they have other sizes for the same price.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...-steel-electric-strings-010-046-medium-3-pack

that's a killer deal, thanks for that And I really like dunlops.

 

[LP Freak]

I like the Exlixir Optiwebs. They seem the most natural of the coated strings. The nanowebs seem to darken things a bit. Nothing you can't EQ out, but the Optiwebs seem to resolve that.

And they feel weird

 

[Monkey Man]

I get 12 packs of EB Hybrid Slinkys for $46 on ebay. Less than $4 a pack is a pretty solid deal.

They're the 9s aren't they?

If so, I'd be down for that 'cause EB's prices shot through the roof here in Australia a few years ago. They used to be cheap, no-brainers, but then, like, tripled in price all of a sudden.

Even at the current Aussie-dollar value, the deal you get would work out at roughly $7 AU per pack, which is less than half what they cost me in the stores here. Thanks man!

Link?

yep, 9-46.

That's just crazy. Not sure why they would have shot up so much over there.

here ya go:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Sets-Ernie- ... 1438.l2649

he runs out from time to time, but re-ups pretty quickly when he does.

edit: just noticed it says they only ship to united states. Hopefully if you hit them up they can make an exception.

Thanks brudda!

I periodically scour the web for string deals. Every time, the best deal I can find are Dunlop strings at Sweetwater. Three packs for $8.97 ($2.99 per pack) and free shipping. Haven’t found a better deal on any strings, anywhere.

Example for 10-46, but they have other sizes for the same price.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...-steel-electric-strings-010-046-medium-3-pack

Thanks man.

 

[Speeddemon]

I like the Exlixir Optiwebs. They seem the most natural of the coated strings. The nanowebs seem to darken things a bit. Nothing you can't EQ out, but the Optiwebs seem to resolve that.

And they feel weird

But have you tried the Optiwebs though?

I put a set a few months ago on my '68 RI Strat that I don't play that often, so I wanted strings that would last *and* keep their tone.
I enjoy the Optiwebs so much that I ordered a few sets more for my Ibanez and Kramer SM-1.

Mind you, maybe 15-20 years ago I tried the Polywebs and didn't care for them; duller tone and visible scrapings coming off the strings after a while. Like a baby snake shedding its skin.
Apparently the Nanowebs are sort of in between, but my experience with the Optiwebs are definitely that they feel and respond like uncoated strings.

Otherwise I just use EB Slinky's and the Dunlop Heavy Core Heavy (0.10-0.48) for guitars that I tune in Eb.