Reliable String Selling Sites?

Edited: May 9, 2017, 10:31 AM · I've used this one quite a number of times. https://www.johnsonstring.com/

May 9, 2017, 10:08 AM · I have purchased strings from the below stores (online)

Quinn Violins
The Sound Post
The String Zone

I must say that I am really happy. No regrets whatsoever

May 9, 2017, 10:08 AM · Johnson, Quinn, Southwest Strings, Potters, Ifshins.

Edited: May 9, 2017, 11:06 AM · Another vote for Southwest Strings. I have been buying strings from them for more than five years and have no complaints so far. To boot, they have Warchal Amber E always in stock.

May 9, 2017, 11:27 AM · Southwest Strings has free shipping.

Edited: May 11, 2017, 1:37 PM · Violin-strings.com
Amazon
musiciansfriend.com
juststrings.com
theviolinchannelstore.com

May 9, 2017, 12:31 PM · Concord Music is excellent.

www.concordmusic.com

May 9, 2017, 12:37 PM · http://www.gostrings.com

May 9, 2017, 1:06 PM · Anywhere but eBay and you should be fine.

Edited: May 9, 2017, 2:38 PM · There are a lot of counterfeit Chinese versions of brand name strings floating around on ebay, often at not that big a discount, buyer beware.

I had a customer come in with what looked like counterfeit Dominants that they had purchased at the Guitar Centre. The string colours were subtly different and the windings were unequal lengths.

May 10, 2017, 12:16 PM · Funny no one has said Shar yet. I use them, Southwest, or Johnson.

May 10, 2017, 6:28 PM · Jason, the thread started out saying that Shar was out of Jargar Superiors

May 10, 2017, 6:40 PM · Well, it's still a string selling site.

May 10, 2017, 7:00 PM · Highly recommend Toronto's Sound Post. There is an Ottawa location, as well, but I haven't dealt with that one. Would never, ever worry about the strings being authentic. Most trustworthy.

Edited: May 10, 2017, 9:37 PM · I'd like to second (third) the sound post. I have made some medium sized purchases from them in the past as well as get all of my strings from them - the local shop only carries Violin strings, which are not much use for a violist.

I will say that sometimes the person handling their shipping is not quite on their game. They have a 24 hour shipping policy and if they are not going to meet it, they are supposed to contact you. I had made one order on a Friday that did not ship until the next Friday with not a word from them, and another that took 4 days to ship, again, no contact.

I wouldn't have paid extra for quicker shipping if I'd known they weren't going to meet their own internal deadline. Now I send emails with my orders if I need them by or around the date I paid for.

That said, this is two times out of many that I have ordered from them without a problem, and they have an excellent selection and the best prices I've found here in Canada. At one time I was playing around with the idea of a particular string set up using an uncommon string, and sent them an email. Alistair was very helpful and willing to go as far as tracking one down through the manufacture for me, and that pretty much cemented my respect for them, regardless of the couple of shipping delays.

P.S Their website is listing the Jargar Superiors for Violin, so I assume they are in stock.

May 10, 2017, 10:25 PM · I forgot to mention The Soundpost; they're great, and when they weren't stocking Jargar strings I e-mailed them and they started to, so they're very responsive on the customer service side.

Edited: May 10, 2017, 11:41 PM · Of course what you really want is VIOLA STRINGS, and where else should you get them besides Viola-Strings.com http://www.viola-strings.com/? Steve sells mixed sets, so you can get the ultimate hot setup of Larson A, Evah Pirazzi Gold C, G, D in medium tension, or any other combination that you want for the set price.

Steve has strings for your Bass can be had at String Emporium: http://www.stringemporium.com/upright-bass-strings.htm

He even has strings for Violin: https://www.violin-strings.com/

In all cases you get real strings, great service, and can get the mixed string combination you want for standard set prices.

May 11, 2017, 11:46 AM · I really like The Sound Post in Toronto, but had to cancel a cello string set order today because nothing had happened with the order since 4/23 with no email indicating out of stock, and we have year end recitals coming up week after next. I have a hunch they're more like a local shop rather than internet-focused (with up to date inventory). Will order again but will call next time :-).

What's the deal with gostrings.com? Used to get occasional 15-20% off coupons emailed which would make for really good pricing but haven't seen anything from them since last year.

Edited: May 11, 2017, 1:10 PM · if you can buy wholesale, Howard Core has about the best prices, a few percent cheaper than International Violin in Baltimore, don't know what there retail prices are like, if they sell retail. Howard Core is now selling 10 sets of Tonica for $20/set, what a deal!! You have to have a Tax ID number to buy wholesale from Howard Core.

May 11, 2017, 1:58 PM · The best answer is "your local violin shop" but it's a rare shop that can maintain inventory on something like violin strings where there are zillions of different products.

I used to order strings through Foster Violins here in Blacksburg. Dan's prices were comparable to Shar or Johnson, but he closed the retail side of his business. There's another local store (about a 25-minute drive, round trip) where probably I could order them but it's not really a violin shop so I haven't tried it. Maybe I should but even finding that additional half hour to deal with it is surprisingly challenging.