intro & query

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intro & query

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kevinjacobs

Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 29 2015

intro & query

Hello, I am based in Cardiff, UK. Struggling with flamenco guitar for about ten years now.
Does anyone know if it is possible to buy individual flamenco guitar strings? I have masses of all strings except 5th string and I have just broken another! I can't be the only one.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 29 2015 17:15:25

Cloth Ears

Posts: 152
Joined: Apr. 26 2005

RE: intro & query (in reply to kevinjacobs)

Yes, it is quite possible from most online vendors. I tend to get through basses much quicker than trebles.

Here is a page of Savarez strings that include individual ones:
http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/savarez-m37

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 29 2015 17:21:54

kevinjacobs

Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 29 2015

RE: intro & query (in reply to Cloth Ears)

thanks for that

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 30 2015 8:02:32

Blondie#2

Posts: 530
Joined: Sep. 14 2010

RE: intro & query (in reply to kevinjacobs)

Hi Kevin

Very limited choice in the UK for single strings, but you can also get them from strings by mail in the US (huge choice), which works out cheaper if you buy a load, and there's also an online German strings supplier I have used in the past too which has a good range, will dig out the URL when I get to my PC..

If you keep breaking strings though, something is wrong, possibly a sharp edge at your bridge or the nut. You shouldn't be breaking strings.

Welcome to FF and hope you are enjoying the rugby

I'll be visiting my folks in Penarth in a few weeks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 30 2015 8:43:40

kevinjacobs

Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 29 2015

RE: intro & query (in reply to kevinjacobs)

thanks I'll take a look when you send link - enjoy Penarth. Kevin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 30 2015 11:07:22

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: intro & query (in reply to kevinjacobs)

flamenco guitar strings?
we all know how one set of strings can sound great on one guitar and not so on another, or how one player loves that set and another loathes it.
When a string company markets a "flamenco" set, it is surely just marketing, 'cos those strings are usually a mix of pre-existing "classical" strings.
Each company's selection of "flamenco tension" or whatever they call it will suit one player or guitar and not another.
That's not to say that some of the so-called "flamenco strings" aren't good.
I just tried a set of Savarez Tomatito and they were amazing, but only for 2 days, then they went downhill in sound, by day 10 they were going stiff and on day 11 they were off.
I just can't afford Savarez strings, as I would have to change them once a week, instead of once a month with what I usually use (D'Addario, which some people hate).
And I know a guy who has an old Ramirez and he leaves those same Savarez Tomatito strings on it for months on end!
It's very personal for sure, I know some folks swear by La Bella 820 flamenco strings, but I have never got on with tuning them.

The Savarez Tomatito strings pack says the trebles are mix of alliance and new cristal. There was a post on here a while ago where someone posted the basses are Cantiga.

anyway, anyway, this site sells single strings: http://www.stringbusters.com/ I have used them for some years now. Compare their prices, they are cheap.

and I recently found this site that sells singles and half sets of basses: http://www.d-msupplies.co.uk/ but haven't ordered anything from them yet. They seem even cheaper, would be great if they prove reliable.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 30 2015 17:28:35

Blondie#2

Posts: 530
Joined: Sep. 14 2010

RE: intro & query (in reply to kevinjacobs)

quote:

ORIGINAL: kevinjacobs

thanks I'll take a look when you send link - enjoy Penarth. Kevin

https://schneidermusik.de/shop1/index.php/cPath/397_1

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 30 2015 17:50:07

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: intro & query (in reply to Blondie#2)

quote:

Very limited choice in the UK for single strings, but you can also get them from strings by mail in the US (huge choice), which works out cheaper if you buy a load, and there's also an online German strings supplier I have used in the past too which has a good range, will dig out the URL when I get to my PC..

how many strings do you have to buy to make shipping from the US cheaper than buying in the UK from StringBusters?

ditto SchneiderMusik shipping from Germany?

strings direct also seemed expensive compared to stringbusters

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 1 2015 11:47:41

Johnc

Posts: 114
Joined: Apr. 16 2011
From: UK

RE: intro & query (in reply to mark indigo)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mark indigo

quote:

how many strings do you have to buy to make shipping from the US cheaper than buying in the UK from StringBusters?

I got two packs of D'addario T2 from strings direct in usa, cost £19 including delivery.
two packs delivered from String busters in uk are £28.80..

so I guess not many

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 1 2015 12:32:58

Blondie#2

Posts: 530
Joined: Sep. 14 2010

RE: intro & query (in reply to Johnc)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Johnc

quote:

ORIGINAL: mark indigo

quote:

how many strings do you have to buy to make shipping from the US cheaper than buying in the UK from StringBusters?

I got two packs of D'addario T2 from strings direct in usa, cost £19 including delivery.
two packs delivered from String busters in uk are £28.80..

so I guess not many

And two packs of Savarez Cantigas from Schneider: £18.96
Same from Stringbusters; £26.80

..so not many there either

Edit: actually Mark I'm really glad you asked this, I use to use Schneider years ago when I played mainly classical, to buy carbon 3rd strings to swap out the 'tubby' sounding G.

I don't own a classical any more, and none of my flamencos need a carbon 3rd, but I'd forgotten how much I could save! I've been buying strings from Ebay recently but Schneider is actually a couple of quid cheaper per set even than that.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 1 2015 13:42:14

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: intro & query (in reply to Johnc)

quote:

I got two packs of D'addario T2 from strings direct in usa, cost £19 including delivery. two packs delivered from String busters in uk are £28.80..

now I'm really confused!

when I look up Strings Direct they are in the UK, and sell D'Addario T2 as singles or in the Dynacore sets - what is a "pack" and how many strings are in it?

comparing Strings Direct UK price for normal tension T2 set of trebles is £5.05, Stringbusters £4.50

the Dynacore sets are £14.99 at Strings Direct UK, at Stringbusters they are £13.50 each for up to 4 sets, then £13.20 for 5-9 sets, then for 10 or more £12.90

the regular Pro-Arte EJ45 or EJ46 are £8.99 at Strings Direct UK, at Stringbusters £8.25, £8.00 and £7.75 (depending on quantity).

regular pro arte singles seem to vary between £6.74 and £7.25 for a set of 3 basses (ie. 6th, 5th and 4th strings) depending on tension at Strings direct UK, and at stringbusters all tensions are £6.60 for a set of 3 basses

shipping at stringsdirect uk £1.50 or free for orders over £30, Stringbusters £1.80* regardless of size of order

I will order from the site offering the best deal, as long as they are reliable

EDIT: *originally I put £1.50 but realised they have put ship charge up 30p

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 12:00:01

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: intro & query (in reply to Blondie#2)

quote:

And two packs of Savarez Cantigas from Schneider: £18.96 Same from Stringbusters; £26.80

price quoted for Savarez Cantigas on Schneider is 15.59 Euros, 14.81 Euros if you buy 6+ sets and 14.03 Euros if you buy 12+ sets.

the shipping cost quoted is 14.90 Euros, I make that 46.08 Euros for two sets.... then you will probably have to pay a small fee to your credit card company to convert currency - how do you make that £18.86???

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 12:11:25

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: intro & query (in reply to Johnc)

Stringbusters is the best place to buy strings in the Uk.

Best prices and good service.

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Kevin Richards

http://www.facebook.com/#!/kevin.richards.1048554

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 12:17:55

Johnc

Posts: 114
Joined: Apr. 16 2011
From: UK

RE: intro & query (in reply to mark indigo)

sorry I must have had a bit of a moment there!
I meant stringsbymail in the us
and by pack I meant the dynacore set of 6 strings.(EJ45TT @$9.95)

https://www.stringsbymail.com/daddario-pro-arte-dynacore-normal-tension-ej45tt-full-set-7653.html

but a pack of trebles is $4.59
shipping is $3 (ish)

so if you're buying anything more than a pack or a few singles its cheaper from them (pretty quick delivery too, considering)

I'm not brave enough to buy from ebay

* EDIT: when I bought them originally I paid just over $12 per pack, so now at less than $10, I imagine the total would come down to less than the original £19 i paid, also i used paypal for the transaction so secure, and no cc charges

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 12:31:11

Blondie#2

Posts: 530
Joined: Sep. 14 2010

RE: intro & query (in reply to mark indigo)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mark indigo
how do you make that £18.86???

Its what the total came to went I went as far as the checkout with Paypal.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 14:24:26

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: intro & query (in reply to Blondie#2)

quote:

I've been buying strings from Ebay recently

I used to do that until I got caught out with some counterfeits

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Kevin Richards

http://www.facebook.com/#!/kevin.richards.1048554

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 14:27:08

Blondie#2

Posts: 530
Joined: Sep. 14 2010

RE: intro & query (in reply to krichards)

quote:

ORIGINAL: krichards

quote:

I've been buying strings from Ebay recently

I used to do that until I got caught out with some counterfeits

Yes you have to be careful - but some sellers are legit music shops.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 14:32:30

Ricardo

Posts: 14803
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: intro & query (in reply to kevinjacobs)

D and A strings break first most commonly. To be frank, if you are letting the strings get so old they break, it was time to change the ENTIRE SET weeks ago.

Now if the strings are pretty fresh and you always break the A string, could be a bad batch (same brand) or a groove cutting the string at the bridge, nut, or over a certain fret. What I tend to do is as the strings get old, I remove the basses only, and put em back on slightly off set from where they were before (take up the slack on the bridge end)...so the wear down spots are not over the same positions...this adds a bit of life to em. On a gig if I pop an A or D, I try to save it as old strings tend to pop at the bridge so if you keep slack at roller end, you can reuse and get through the gig. Better change whole set next day.

hope that helps.

Ricardo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 15:56:54

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: intro & query (in reply to Johnc)

quote:

shipping is $3 (ish)

you're kidding, $3 international shipping from US to UK? wow! that is really cheap! if that's right then it's worth it. I know the prices in $ are cheap, but I assumed the post charge would make it not worth it, shipping from abroad usually is expensive.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 16:40:32

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: intro & query (in reply to Blondie#2)

quote:

quote:ORIGINAL: mark indigo how do you make that £18.86??? Its what the total came to went I went as far as the checkout with Paypal.

did you buy the strings? they must have been on some special offer the day you bought them.

when I looked at the website earlier today just the strings alone came to 31.18 Euros, so even if I had been able to choose a cheaper shipping option no way would I have got an exchange rate that charged me £18.86 for 2 sets.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 16:45:38

Johnc

Posts: 114
Joined: Apr. 16 2011
From: UK

RE: intro & query (in reply to mark indigo)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mark indigo

quote:

shipping is $3 (ish)

you're kidding, $3 international shipping from US to UK? wow! that is really cheap! if that's right then it's worth it. I know the prices in $ are cheap, but I assumed the post charge would make it not worth it, shipping from abroad usually is expensive.

Well... On my invoice from a couple of months back it was 3 and a bit, I've just ordered two more packs and the shipping is now $8. But with the price of the strings dropping a little. It still only cost me £19 delivered.

But there's one more thing I just realised, if the cost of goods is less than around £15 then there's no import or vat duty, so 2 packs is ok. I think if you order larger amounts then you may fall foul of customs and vat, and I think also the post office will charge you a handling fee if duty is to be paid (I'm not 100% sure about that but I have been stung before)

John

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 2 2015 17:37:46