(01-24-2022, 04:43 AM)Silly Moustache Wrote: Interesting subject. It seems that everything is going up in price all over, and earlier this month (January 2022) I thought I'd do some price comparisons in he UK.Great post I only just saw this, thank you for the list.
It was a little too complicated to compare Amazon (with sneaky delivery options), Ebay (my most frequent purchasing option), and "Strings Direct" the largest and most efficient string dealer in the UK) so I wemnt with the latter.
Here's what I found :
I specified 12-53/54 gauge, Phosphor Bronze Hex core, and included coated/treated/uncoated.
The first priceis he current UK price (including VAT) and the second was the equivalent in USD.
All UK Prices include 20% VAT.
Brand Type .....£UK .... $USD
D’addario XS .... 18 .....24.40
Elixir Nano...... 17 ......23
Ernie Ball Paradigm 17 ... 23
D’addario XT .....15.50 .....21
Optima Gold ..14 .....19
Ernie Ball .... Coated 14 .....19
Rotosound .. Nexus 14 .....19
Cleartone .. 13 ...17.70
Martin ... MA 540T 13 ...17.70
GHS PB 12 ...16.30
D’addario NB 10.30 ....14
La Bella ... 10 ....13.60
DR Rare 10 13.60
John Pearse 600L 10 13.60
D’addario EJ16 9 12.20
Dunlop DAP1254 9 12.20
Ernie Ball 8.50 11.54
Martin MA540 8 10.90
Martin EC 8 10.90
Rotosound Jumbo King 7 9.50
Fender 6 8.14
Darco 6 8.14
Legacy 5 6.80
Comparisons are difficult as I understand that sales taxes very over the USA,
Note that when a string manufacturer introduces an new "wonder" or "improved" product it normally increases he prince significant price increase. e.g. D'addario. I've used EJ16s and EJ17s for meany years which tend to sell for about £9 a set, I note that the new XS strings cost twice as much, and the XTs (which I am currently testing), and XS sets are 72% more than the EJs.
for me all strings tend to last 2-3 months so I wonder whether there is any benefit in the more 3expensive items,
FWIW I am quite impressed with the Martin MA540(T)
I used to be able to get D'addario's 85/15 for the great price of £4,99 from Strings Direct a couple years ago, now they are £6,99 there.
However, PMT have them at £5,59. Surely that's one of the biggest bargains you can get for strings? These always sound great on mahogany backs/sides.
DAddario EZ930 85/15 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings Medium 13-56 (pmtonline.co.uk)
Strings direct was my go to place for over a decade. They are also only a 40 minute walk from me here in Southend. But they've stopped stocking my favourite strings - Pyramid Folk, Newtone, and they don't have any of the newer GHS strings or the popular Santa Cruz.
Sorry to change the subject there but I'm just disappointed. During my current string binge I'm having to order in from various places and I can't find a UK vendor that has Pyramid Western Folk strings in stock. Though I think Thomann does stock them.
