Don't bassists buy strings in Cape Town?

Jack-Flash-Jr

Obviously not, because none of the music stores bother stocking any sort of selection. Try and track down a set of the most common strings on the planet, Rotosound Swing 66s >☹
And the more common in SA brands like D'Addario are just as rare. I'm not looking for a flatwound unicorn horn man, just a decent set of strings.

AlanRatcliffe

Actually, the Rotosound strings are usually easy to find - not only do I usually find the double-ball bass strings, but even the electric 12-string sets. Just call a Bothner's branch and if they don't have the Swing 66's, ask them to order in a few sets from BeMusic (part of the Bothner group).

Jack-Flash-Jr

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Actually, the Rotosound strings are usually easy to find - not only do I usually find the double-ball bass strings, but even the electric 12-string sets. Just call a Bothner's branch and if they don't have the Swing 66's, ask them to order in a few sets from BeMusic (part of the Bothner group).

No go at Plumstead, Claremont was "unclear"... I'll swing by to make sure they've got exactly what I'm looking for. There seems to be a lot of 5 string sets floating around...
As for Marshall, almost nothing at Tokai but last resort I'll head for town.
The order for Bothners seemed to have an inordinately long lead time (weeks) but maybe I misunderstood :-\

nick

Jack Flash Jr wrote:
Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Actually, the Rotosound strings are usually easy to find - not only do I usually find the double-ball bass strings, but even the electric 12-string sets. Just call a Bothner's branch and if they don't have the Swing 66's, ask them to order in a few sets from BeMusic (part of the Bothner group).
No go at Plumstead, Claremont was "unclear"... I'll swing by to make sure they've got exactly what I'm looking for. There seems to be a lot of 5 string sets floating around...
As for Marshall, almost nothing at Tokai but last resort I'll head for town.
The order for Bothners seemed to have an inordinately long lead time (weeks) but maybe I misunderstood :-\

At Marshall when I wanted strings and they only had 7 string sets in what I wanted, they just sold me them at normal pricing and you throw the extra string in the bin ?

Gearhead

Hear hear, bass strings last longer and bassists also have peculiar taste in strings. If I ran a music store I would not stock much either. The other day I went to Andy's looking for short scale heavy gauge tape wounds, and he didn't even have stock ?

DaFiz

Guitar Centre Link Rd Parklands. Tony is a bass player himself and has a selection to choose from.
I recently fitted a set of D'Addario XL Nickel Wound .045 to .105 (I think this is pretty standard :-\)
I'm in that area in the morning and will ask him about the Rotosound. ?

Jack-Flash-Jr

Thanks Dave! Reminds me of the days that 6 string hybrids were like hen's teeth...

DaFiz

Sorry Bro. Tony duzzent stock the Rotosound strings and claims they're difficult to obtain.
He uses Elixirs and swears by them. Yours for R340 (my XLs are R200). ?

AlanRatcliffe

DaFiz wrote: Sorry Bro. Tony duzzent stock the Rotosound strings and claims they're difficult to obtain.

They were hard to get for a while, with the previous distributor (who specialised in drums). Let me look into it...

AlanRatcliffe

Bothner's Plumstead have on order since you phoned yesterday - apparently they usually stock, but only had the .040 when you called. Give them a few days and they will have again. Ask for Edgar when you call.

Jack-Flash-Jr

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Bothner's Plumstead have on order since you phoned yesterday - apparently they usually stock, but only had the .040 when you called. Give them a few days and they will have again. Ask for Edgar when you call.

Thanks, Darren at Claremont said he could organise as well. They are R171 (!) cheaper than another major retailer.