Author Topic: cheap strings in the UK (Read 15974 times)

big steve · « **on:** September 22, 2005, 05:59:34 PM »

what's the cheapest place to get strings posted to the UK? i'm sick of £5 a pack shop price. there are a few reasonably good sites for buying in bulk, but what's the best? i would probably be ordering about 20 sets of d'addario 10 EXLs. www.stringthis.com has very good prices, even with shipping to the UK the price for 15 sets is $75 which is about 40-45 quid instead of 75. trouble is, there is a risk of getting stuck for import tax

(sometimes you get taxed, sometimes the package slips through. this has happened a couple of times ordering from www.empirebmx.com - it's harsh enough - £9 tax on a $55 order, but then a fiver of that was royal mail "holding charges" or whatever they call it

)

what's y'alls experiences? the 25 for $59 pack on MF makes me green with envy - it has free shipping, i'm considering getting a friend in the states to get one and post it to me....

Bainzy · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2005, 06:01:24 PM »

www.axesrus.co.uk - £4 a pack for fender bullets, free next day postage and discounts for bulk orders

big steve · « **Reply #2 on:** September 22, 2005, 06:53:30 PM »

would anyone else (preferably skint teenagers living in the UK) be interested in clubbing together so we can get a bigger order?

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2005, 08:02:18 PM »

Strings Direct, a tenner for a 3 pack of D'Addarios and bulk discounts on other large orders. www.newstrings.co.uk are worth a look at. I've tried some of their gear and can't really fault it. If you're into named brands of strings, like Fender, Gibson etc just think about the premium you're paying for all those guys sitting on their arses in PR and marketing when all you're really getting is the stock stuff from the big, often nameless, string manufacturers.

Custom79 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2005, 09:42:18 PM »

Quote from: big steve

what's the cheapest place to get strings posted to the UK? i'm sick of £5 a pack shop price. there are a few reasonably good sites for buying in bulk, but what's the best? i would probably be ordering about 20 sets of d'addario 10 EXLs. www.stringthis.com has very good prices, even with shipping to the UK the price for 15 sets is $75 which is about 40-45 quid instead of 75. trouble is, there is a risk of getting stuck for import tax

(sometimes you get taxed, sometimes the package slips through. this has happened a couple of times ordering from www.empirebmx.com - it's harsh enough - £9 tax on a $55 order, but then a fiver of that was royal mail "holding charges" or whatever they call it )

what's y'alls experiences? the 25 for $59 pack on MF makes me green with envy - it has free shipping, i'm considering getting a friend in the states to get one and post it to me....

I usually buy from the States in packs of ten (D'Addario 10's) and they work out at about £28-29 inc shipping and they come in a jiffy bag and I've never been skunked for tax yet :D

nuntius · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2005, 09:48:25 PM »

Used to use stringbusters.com

Now using www.stringsdirect.co.uk because of how I was treated by stringbustsers. Basically, they missed some stuff off my order, and then sent me the rest incorrectly. To add insult to injury, one of the ebony bridge pins I ordered was also cracked in this follow up order.. I wasn't best pleased!

Have never had issues with stringsdirect.co.uk - I've seen some of your reviews there as well, Bob :D

big steve · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2005, 09:56:45 PM »

custom79, what site do you use?

chrisola · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2005, 10:02:44 PM »

£5 a pack!

thats cheap as chips isnt it?

My local shops sell at £7.50+ depeding on the gauge\brand :E

big steve · « **Reply #8 on:** September 22, 2005, 10:38:28 PM »

£5 a pack is the cheapest a local shop gets, for d'addarios. elixirs etc are naturally more expensive

rinse_master · « **Reply #9 on:** September 22, 2005, 10:41:45 PM »

My local only about 12 miles away! sells Ernie Ball's for £6.50, and I think they were the cheapest sets they had.

Custom79 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2005, 12:05:02 AM »

Quote from: big steve

custom79, what site do you use?

I use these http://stores.ebay.co.uk/MusicWonderland-UK originally an eBay purchase but now I buy direct and you get money off each time you order. Their prices have gone up a pound or two since I last used them.
My mates shop sells D'Addarios at £5.50 for a set of tens, he said he'll sell them to me for £3 a set to keep my custom :lol:

jt · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2005, 01:49:47 AM »

:D Hi Steve i use strings direct there great ! i order 10 packs of GHS Boomers at a time it costs £ 3.60 a pack. Next day delivery check`em out

:D 8)

R/2e · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2005, 08:45:07 AM »

www.cheapstrings.co.uk

Hard to beat usually. £2 postage whatever the size of the order. D'Addarios £3.09 a set

Skybone · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2005, 03:05:46 PM »

I really like the service from http://www.stringbusters.com/. Great selection at reasonable prices.

If you're after valves as well as EH effects & other stuff, try http://www.hotroxuk.com/. I think they offer one of the best services in the UK for musicians, great deals on all sorts of kit. Cool.

IMO FWIW.

big steve · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2005, 04:50:45 PM »

:O those prices for that ebay shop are the best yet! 30.95 shipped for 10 sets, thanks for the link man.

maybe buying in bulk actually costs more in the long run, since if you have 20 packs of strings sitting in the house you're more likely to change them more often...