Dodgy Ernie Ball Strings

[nick_gontarski]

Hey guys, bought a set of Ernie Ball strings from Amazon yesterday, and the packing is a little bit different from usual. 
Can it be fake? The new one is clear plastic, with a printed sleeve inside. 
I didn't open it, in case I need to return. 
Here is the link from the amazon website (strings provided by amazon, not an independent seller)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0002DVBIU?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Any thoughts welcome.
Thanks
Nick

[nick_gontarski]

the second picture is how the packing supposed to be.
 

[PaulThePlug]

I'd send some pics to Uncle Ernie...

You might get a freebie...

I'd also be returning them just in case...

 

I had similar feelings about a set of Dumlops from the bay... Sent pics to Dunlop who confirmed it was just older style packaging...

 

[Rayman]

I had a set of EB strings via Amazon a few months ago…… I strongly suspect they were fake. They didn’t feel or sound right. Fake strings are a thing, contrary to what some might say.

[Damnthatlazlo]

On 14/05/2023 at 17:37, Rayman said:

I had a set of EB strings via Amazon a few months ago…… I strongly suspect they were fake. They didn’t feel or sound right. Fake strings are a thing, contrary to what some might say.

Yip. If there’s money to be made, they’ll fake them. Ernie Ball appear to be a common brand to fake. I’ve had some not quite right looking pack in the mail. There’s a few YouTube videos on guitar string fakes. 
I just get my strings from the wee shop in town. Cost more, but I know what I’m getting. Rather than something not right turning up on my doorstep. 

[How1]

I have no faith in buying stuff from Amazon really these days other than the most meaningless household tat. There’s so much weird junk and things of questionable origin. As above I stick to the music shops, online or otherwise.

Edited May 15, 2023 by How1

[markbunney]

On 14/05/2023 at 17:37, Rayman said:

I had a set of EB strings via Amazon a few months ago…… I strongly suspect they were fake. They didn’t feel or sound right. Fake strings are a thing, contrary to what some might say.

This is interesting to read, I recently put a set of fender bass strings on that I had bought ages ago from Amazon.  I have been thinking that they sound rubbish and have terrible action

[TheGreek]

IIRC there was a similar thread recently - again I think it was about Amazon supplied strings.

 

Seems to be becoming more common. Hope whoever is responsible gets their come-uppance.

[nick_gontarski]

I’m returning that shite. 
will not even open the pack to try

[Mudpup]

1 hour ago, TheGreek said:

Seems to be becoming more common.

It does seem to be getting less safe on Amazon. My missus bought some of her fave perfume from them and it was fake - she spotted the box was wrong straight away. No problem returning and refunding it but it makes you think twice about it now. I always trusted them before. 

[iconic]

Not just strings, huge market for snide car parts, and always has been.

A naughty string isn't going to hurt you...unless it breaks and whips back, but I've seen some proper moody and scary automotive stuff...suspension and brake components notably. 

 

 

A company in India were making awful 'copies' of Lucas CAV fuel filters back in the early 70s. 

Edited May 16, 2023 by iconic

[Linus27]

I've had a set of fake Ernie Ball strings from Amazon in the past as well.

[stingrayPete1977]

I had some Rotosounds bought online, they sounded terrible, felt horrible and lost what top end they had after one gig, definitely genuine 😜

[nick_gontarski]

They “think” the pack may have changed?

Did return it

and not likely using Ernie Ball again 

[fretmeister]

With Amazon make sure that Amazon is actually the seller.

 

[Bolo]

I'm surprised so many people still use Amazon. I thought their atrocious company ethics, staggering destruction of resources, appalling employee treatment and mind-blowing knob headedness of Bezos would have deterred most people by now.

[BreadBin]

41 minutes ago, Bolo said:

I'm surprised so many people still use Amazon. I thought their atrocious company ethics, staggering destruction of resources, appalling employee treatment and mind-blowing knob headedness of Bezos would have deterred most people by now.

Same, I still feel we are in a minority sadly.

[Burns-bass]

3 hours ago, Bolo said:

I'm surprised so many people still use Amazon. I thought their atrocious company ethics, staggering destruction of resources, appalling employee treatment and mind-blowing knob headedness of Bezos would have deterred most people by now.

Can add ASDA to this list now, as well

Edited May 21, 2023 by Burns-bass

[zZzReMiiXzZz]

On 20/05/2023 at 03:55, nick_gontarski said:

They “think” the pack may have changed?

Did return it

and not likely using Ernie Ball again 

I'm not sure if your issue has been resolved or not, but I was in the same situation as you. Even though Amazon said they were legit, I knew something was off. So I reached out directly to Ernie Ball, sent them photos of what I received and they immediately said that they would ship me new strings (from them, not Amazon). 

 

Amazon is definitely selling counterfeits and I wouldn't trust them to verify the product.

[Cliff Edge]

I bought a set of LaBella DTB 760FS a short while ago, not from Amazon but a well known music retailer, because I admit they were the cheapest I could find, and put them on my Stingray. I wasn’t really happy from the start but I carried, on thinking they would bed in. But D and G strings just sounded thin and the overall feel of the strings wasn’t what I’m familiar with as a long term user. The packing looked kosher to me. But today I took them off and put on a used set of TI Jazz flats that were on the bass before. Instantly better. So not just Amazon methinks. 

[dave_bass5]

19 hours ago, zZzReMiiXzZz said:

 

Amazon is definitely selling counterfeits and I wouldn't trust them to verify the product.

That reply was from the Importers, not Amazon. 

[Belka]

17 hours ago, Cliff Edge said:

I bought a set of LaBella DTB 760FS a short while ago, not from Amazon but a well known music retailer, because I admit they were the cheapest I could find, and put them on my Stingray. I wasn’t really happy from the start but I carried, on thinking they would bed in. But D and G strings just sounded thin and the overall feel of the strings wasn’t what I’m familiar with as a long term user. The packing looked kosher to me. But today I took them off and put on a used set of TI Jazz flats that were on the bass before. Instantly better. So not just Amazon methinks. 

I've recently bought a new set of Ernie Ball strings, along with a set of DR Lo-riders, Newtone nickels and LaBella RX nickels as I wanted to experiment and find a good set for one of my 5 strings. I don't know if it's just me but they all sounded thin and somewhat scooped. The LaBella had a decent enough B string (nowhere near as good as their old 'Slappers' set though) but none of the others were particularly impressive - thin, scooped sounding strings seem to make for quite a hollow B. 

 

I wonder if due to problems/price rises in the global supply chain quality is going down or something. Most US manufacturers at least buy their wire from only a couple of suppliers so it might explain why various companies are suffering.

 

 

[Ed_S]

As I quite liked the stock strings on my new Stingray I bought a couple of sets of the same regular slinky bass 5s from Amazon, but when I was fitting the first set I noticed that whenever I touched the strings there was an eggy, sulphurous smell coming from them. So many jokes, so little time. They didn't smell in and of themselves, but clearly the bit of sweat on my fingers was causing a reaction with something on the strings that shouldn't have been there. I tried the other pack and they were absolutely fine, so I contacted S&T and asked about the strange set. They confirmed that I was playing authentic, and although they seemed a little incredulous at what I was telling them, sent me a replacement pack which were also fine. I then bought another couple of sets from Thomann to pad out an order and get free shipping, one set of which has also turned out to be eggy. I couldn't be bothered with the back-and-forth over another set, so just binned them and won't bother buying any more.

[weepaul]

I got a few sets of EB strings from Amazon and Ebay. If the price was good I would buy a few and stockpile, I've had a few dodgy sets (felt rough,rusted rather quickly) that's why I may go the Status hotwire root. Direct from them and reasonably priced if you use the 6 pack bulk deal (£20 a pop for a 5 string set).