Discontinued Strings.

[Dingus]

Why is it that as soon as I find some strings that I really like, the manufacturer stops making them ? I'm very particular about my strings , and the choice is getting to be depressingly uniform

So many strings on the market are much of a muchness, but every now and again some come along that have a remarkable sound and feel. Dean Markley Alchemy Randy Jackson Signature strings were such a string, and even better than them were Thomastik Super Alloys, but both are now sadly no more . Both those sets of strings were unique , but now are gone forever. I feel sad. Now I have to pay good money for strings that I don't really want.

I suppose I can understand why the Randy Jackson Alchemy had to go - Randy buggered off to Ernie Ball and they were overpriced crap ( I still liked them though)- but did they have to take away the Super Alloys too? I cannot see why Thomastik would discontinue their most mainstream bass string. It seems to make no sense to me.

[r16ktx]

Sounds like you need to get your own sig strings :-)

[Dingus]

[quote name='r16ktx' timestamp='1403800204' post='2486592']
Sounds like you need to get your own sig strings :-)
[/quote]

Yes, good idea!

They would have to be be overrated, expensive and difficult to get hold of though, just like me.

[BigRedX]

Ask [url=http://www.newtonestrings.com]Newtone[/url] if they will make you some?

[Dingus]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1403802509' post='2486651']
Ask [url="http://www.newtonestrings.com"]Newtone[/url] if they will make you some?
[/quote]

Unless they are Austrian, I can't really enjoy them.

The Thomastiks had that whole Hapsburg Empire thing going , as well as being a really unique sounding string . I don't know what Thomastik do in their manufacturing process, but they really do create strings that sound very different to anybody else's. Most other bass strings sound a bit scooped in the midrange by comparison.

[Coilte]

"Lord of the Strings" seems to still stock the Super Alloys :

[url="http://www.lordofthestrings.com/lots/RALBD/Thomastik/1570.html#1010"]http://www.lordofthe.../1570.html#1010[/url]


You could always buy all that they have remaining !!!!

Edited June 26, 2014 by Coilte

[Dingus]

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1403803784' post='2486673']
"Lord of the Strings" seems to still stock the Super Alloys :

[url="http://www.lordofthestrings.com/lots/RALBD/Thomastik/1570.html#1010"]http://www.lordofthe.../1570.html#1010[/url]


You could always buy all that they have remaining !!!!
[/quote]

Cheers for that, I can still get hold of them from various sources , but I need to know that they are still being manufactured and will be available indefinitely or I feel like it is just delaying the inevitable. I am hoping that discontinuing them is part of some master plan by Thomastik and that they are going to come out with a new Super Duper Alloy bass string that sounds even better, but they probably won't. .

[Coilte]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1403804586' post='2486683']
I am hoping that discontinuing them is part of some master plan by Thomastik .
[/quote]

You could always email Thomastik and ask them exactly that.....nothing to lose in doing so.

[url="http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/contact"]http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/contact[/url]

[ead]

How long do strings last unopened in their packaging out of interest?

[Coilte]

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1403815795' post='2486854']
How long do strings last unopened in their packaging out of interest?
[/quote]

Good question ! I'd imagine if the package was put into an airtight container they'd last a pretty long time.

[KevB]

If they were deemed 'special' enough and were likely to be discontinued then you could buy a bulk lot and use those vacuum bags intended to suck air out of bulky clothes to fit them into small spaces. With so much air removed from around them I'd expect strings to last decades if kept cool and dry (put some silica gel granules in the vac bag before deflating maybe?). For the bands I've been in over the years and numerous strings I've tried I've found the strings contribute marginally more to my overrall sound than say the colour my bass is painted but that's about it. Plenty others feel different and that's fine. Currently using strings I found on eBay for a little over a fiver a set, work fine for me.

Edited June 27, 2014 by KevB

[Beer of the Bass]

I'm surprised Thomastik are discontinuing strings, as over on the double bass side they seem to have kept the same line-up of sets for decades with only very occasional minor changes.

[Coilte]

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1403862763' post='2487163']
I've found the strings contribute marginally more to my overrall sound than say the colour my bass is painted but that's about it.
[/quote]

What also attracts people to certain types/brands of string is the [i]feel[/i] factor. Even with nickel rounds, there is a world of difference "feel" wise between certain brands.

[KevB]

Yep, if you don't feel comfy playing a string it's going to affect you no matter how good it sounds. Think I've just been lucky in that the various types I've had were all acceptable to me from the feel perspective. Still don't quite like that feel of brand new rounds but it soon wears off after a few gigs.

[Coilte]

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1403874595' post='2487328']
Yep, if you don't feel comfy playing a string it's going to affect you no matter how good it sounds. Think I've just been lucky in that the various types I've had were all acceptable to me from the feel perspective. Still don't quite like that feel of brand new rounds but it soon wears off after a few gigs.
[/quote]

Wish I was as easy going about strings as you seem to be.

I use both nickel rounds and flats, depending on the music being played. For the flats, I have always used Thomastik, and after trying a good few rounds, settled on DR Sunbeams. I love both their tone and smooth (for rounds) feel.

[winterfire666]

i used to love the randy jackson dean markleys, i was gutted when they stopped em, after many changes ive finally settled on sadowsky blue label steels, very nice but hard to get at a decent price in the uk.

[hollywoodrox]

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1403853829' post='2487026']


Good question ! I'd imagine if the package was put into an airtight container they'd last a pretty long time.
[/quote]look, s like a job for tupperware

[Telebass]

Keep spare strings and bits and bobs in large Haribo tubs, well washed, with silica gel packs. The local sweet shop puts them out for re-use.

Edited June 28, 2014 by Telebass

[Dingus]

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1403804932' post='2486688']
You could always email Thomastik and ask them exactly that.....nothing to lose in doing so.

[url="http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/contact"]http://www.thomastik...eld.com/contact[/url]
[/quote]

I did exactly that, but they never got back to me.

[Dingus]

[quote name='winterfire666' timestamp='1403886751' post='2487457']
i used to love the randy jackson dean markleys, i was gutted when they stopped em, after many changes ive finally settled on sadowsky blue label steels, very nice but hard to get at a decent price in the uk.
[/quote]

They were really interesting strings, and when they went dead they almost sounded like flatwounds, but were still very useable. Very pricey, though.

[lowdown]

Mid 90's I started using Will Lee sig from Dean Markley, and loved them.
To my horror they stopped making them (so I thought).
Then I found out that they just renamed and re packaged them.
(Dean Markley Electric Bass SR2000 Super 5 String Will Lee, .047 - .127)

Still use them to this day. Thomann have been my saviour for these the past five years or so,
I tend to by a few sets at a time. Hopeless trying to get them in the UK.

I feel your pain man.

[brensabre79]

I have had the exact same issue with the Ritter Swordsteel strings. Resigned myself to using Elixir's now as theyare the only ones that seem to last as long, but they don't sound anything like as good.