Just watched your video from the other day and realized my Paul Reed Smith was not hanging on the back wall. I was concerned. Nice to see it back on the wall.
Omnichannel sales manager here. Very few items are "co-mingled" in Amazon warehouses. If you see a sticker that starts with an "X", its called an fnusku and the inventory is seller specific and not mixed. If it doesn't have a sticker of the sticker starts with "B", the inventory is mixed.
What does the sticker look like? You mean those white/yellow stickers on the outside of the shipping box, or the Amazon product sticker stuck on the product itself? That’s actually very helpful info. What reasons would Amazon decide to co-mingle stock vs. not doing so from individual sellers? I posted the following as a separate comment but I’m re-posting as a reply to you here because it seems like you may know the answer as an Ominichannel sales manager. So if you buy directly from Amazon rather than individual sellers, can you still end up with fakes? Or is it just when purchasing from individual sellers? I was always under the impression that fakes were only possible when Amazon was accepting stock from individual sellers and storing it in their own warehouses (and obviously that’s a strong possibility when a seller is shipping directly without an Amazon warehouse involved). What about Amazon’s own stock that they source themselves? I would sure hope Amazon isn’t mixing their own sourced stock with the stock from individual sellers . . . . anyone know for sure how that works? I usually aim to purchase with Amazon being named as the seller, so I’m unclear if I should have concerns about doing that too. Not for nothing, but strings and other accessories add up quickly. If you’re buying a name brand, you want to know that you’re getting that name brand with confidence, especially when strings are a very important part of the playing guitar experience - and an extremely personal choice. This video also didn’t address what people can do if they get a counterfeit and how to determine/prove whether they have a counterfeit. Does the customer end up losing out, or is there a way to get help? And shouldn’t counterfeit cases always be reported to the manufacturer regardless of where they were purchased so they can investigate and work with Amazon and other websites to identify and remove counterfeit stock (and hopefully file police reports and take legal action against the people who supplied/sold them)?
@@MashaT22 The stickers will be on the product. They will have the product title, the FNSKU, and the barcode. They will generally be white and maybe 2.75 x 1.25 inches. Amazon offers a service to label for the sellers. Only products "fulfilled by Amazon" will have these stickers. There is no point of putting Amazon labels on products you aren't shipping to them to fulfill on your behalf. Amazon doesn't disclose which products are co-mingled but as far as the space I sell in, it's just about everything. You were given a choice a decade ago. Buying from Amazon directly is safest. Product fulfilled by Amazon are not vetted by Amazon once the seller is approved to sell the products. That said, there are plenty of trustworthy third party merchants though. If you see they have above 90% feedback and a history of receiving feedback for years (Amazon only shows twelve months), you should be safe. If the seller name does not look professional, avoid that seller and click more buying choices below the add to cart button. Paying an additional thirty cents for peace of mind is worth it imo. If you suspect a counterfeit, Amazon will cover you more if you buy from a third party merchant. Tell the seller. If they don't make it right or calm your concerns, you can file an A-Z claim. Amazon will step in and arbitrate. A lot of people have learned to claim items are fake to get them for free or there is a simple mistake (say the product packaging is updated and looks off to you). If you report a definitive counterfeit to Amazon, they will make the seller provide invoices to verify the product is legitimate.
WOW, after hearing about this I've looked through my packages. Almost all were fake and all from Amazon. Never knew. The trouble also is I've had inconsistent strings and truly thought it was the brand. Wow. Thanks for telling us about it.
If you play regular, you might be fooled. But if you play like 052 or 054 you will immediately get it! These bastards don't even care about gauges. I bought Beefy Slinky and got regulars! Got a refund, though.
Jeez guys, I loved GI joe. The sale of my youth toy collection a couple years ago helped fund some guitar purchases. I kept all of the Snake Eyes, a Zartan, and a few others that meant alot. I am happy with the mix of remaining GI Joe goodies and guitars. Life has been good. Thank you for a trip down memory lane! Have either of you tried the D'addario XS strings? I never liked Elixirs because of the filmy feel. That was years ago, so maybe things have improved. I am running the XS on all my acoustics now though. The longevity and tone over the life of the string is truly something to take note of.
A neighbor had the G.I.joe aircraft carrier. They just don’t make toys like they used too. It was 6ft long and they painted the basement floor blue to imitate the ocean.
I feel you Jonathan. I burn through a set of electric strings in a set. They are toast. The start to turn slightly red after a few songs and a whole set they are black I’m not slippery anymore.
I’ve been using Stringjoy acoustic strings for about the last 6 months and I like them and they seem to last. Stringjoy is located in Nashville and free shipping if you spend enough. I’ve used there customer support, trying to get a better sound and they were very user friendly. It’s nice to have options.
I love buying strings from my local store because it gives me an excuse to check out the new inventory and ask the guys there any gear related questions that I’ve accumulated since my last visit.
Been buying direct from Ernie ball for 10+ years. You can buy single gauges so you don’t have to use their “package gauges”. They sometimes even send you more than you order. Free straps sometimes even shirts. No extra cost. Great company
I bought fake Elixirs. I’m in Australia and fake strings, effects and guitars are everywhere. It’s hard to buy a Fulltone OCD because the counterfeits look identical. It’s the same with strings.
@@telemeister Are you in Australia? I live in SA where there isn’t much good gear in the shops. We only have a couple of decent shops, and they don’t have much stuff.
@@telemeister Derringers is the best shop here, but they don’t have a lot of decent gear. I get almost all of my stuff from the Eastern states. I was looking for a Wampler Euphoria recently, but nobody here stocked Wampler, so I had to get it online. I’m looking for a PRS, but I don’t like my chances of getting it here. After 45 years of it, I’m used to going to Melbourne for gear.
I went to Paradigms after trying elixers and haven't thought about it till you compared directly but gonna buy some more Ernie ball paradigms to change the older ones this week
I recently got a set of used bass strings at my LGS (DR Hi-Beams). Someone evidently carefully took their old strings off, cut off the tuner end off and recoiled them somewhat neatly in the packaging. Don't know if they were a return or if they swapped them with a new set from the rack when no one was looking. Of course the store was shocked/amazed and gave me a new set.
About 40 years ago when I had a long stretch working in a music store, I could tell which manufacturers made which strings by looking at how the ball ends were wrapped. I didn't document it but at that time Martin, Nashville Straights, Dean Markley, Ernie Ball, Fender, GHS, D' Addario and others could be identified as to to whatever company made them. There were a lot of brands, but none of them produced the garbage that I have seen in counterfeit strings.
Shout out to Baxter for mentioning Flag Points! Things like this make me glad at least on bass I play flats. My strings are 10 and 7 years old respectively. Never gonna change em. Good video! Have a killer weekend!
GHS strings are still made (as far as I know) in Battle Creek, Michigan, then shipped directly to Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan. So if you buy from Elderly, you know that you are getting the real deal.
I bought some Ernie Ball strings off Amazon last month and they were counterfeit. It's rather easy to tell, genuine have a shinny box around printed area on the wrapper, fakes print a dark black box around.
Strictly an acoustic player, I tune down D to D… used to buy D’addario EJ18s heavies, 59-14, from local stores. Now order custom heavy gauge sets, 62-15, direct from Curt Mangan… no distributor, no retailer, so Counterfeits not possible! Jonathan said “change your strings”… YES! I change at least every month…for $10 or less per month,(Mangan strings are a little more expensive), you make your acoustic guitar sound ether than new!… I change at the first sign of the bronze discoloring, even if they still sound pretty good. New strings on an acoustic are the equivalent of an oil change and full tuneup on a car.
My one and only complaint with using Sweetwater is their relentless advertisements the second I open my browser to their page. It wouldn't be so bad, but they're all motion driven, it gets distracting when you're trying your best to read some actual news and a Telecaster is flashing in my vision field screaming "look at me John".
I enjoy that you don’t take yourselves too seriously. Music is supposed to be fun and I’d rather watch (and vote with my dollars for) people that are down to earth and enjoy making content as much as I like watching it. Now I just need to hit the lottery so I can afford all the toys I want. Cmon Powerball!
No argument on the point to buy from a guitar shop, but I kept waiting for you to explain how to spot a counterfeit string. I have no idea what to look for there. Don’t leave us hanging! :)
Interesting comparison of strings.I have one important question,I wonder if the fake Daddario strings break or are they as durable as the original Daddario strings?
So if you buy directly from Amazon rather than individual sellers, can you still end up with fakes? Or is it just when purchasing from individual sellers? I was always under the impression that fakes were only possible when Amazon was accepting stock from individual sellers and storing it in their own warehouses (and obviously that’s a strong possibility when a seller is shipping directly without an Amazon warehouse involved). What about Amazon’s own stock that they source themselves? I would sure hope Amazon isn’t mixing their own sourced stock with the stock from individual sellers . . . . anyone know for sure how that works? I usually aim to purchase with Amazon being named as the seller, so I’m unclear if I should have concerns about doing that too. Not for nothing, but strings and other accessories add up quickly. If you’re buying a name brand, you want to know that you’re getting that name brand with confidence, especially when strings are a very important part of the playing guitar experience - and an extremely personal choice. This video also didn’t address what people can do if they get a counterfeit and how to determine/prove whether they have a counterfeit. Does the customer end up losing out, or is there a way to get help? And shouldn’t counterfeit cases always be reported to the manufacturer regardless of where they were purchased so they can investigate and work with Amazon and other websites to identify and remove counterfeit stock (and hopefully file police reports and take legal action against the people who supplied/sold them)?
I bought some D'Addario 9's strings that bent the bridge way forward on my Fender Stratocaster. Try to only use Fender strings but the store I was at only had D'Addario strings. ( Am I misspelling D'Addario or is TH-cam Fu#&ing up the spelling again?)
I got addicted to Ernie Ball Cobalts, and I'm upset cause now every time I go back to slinkys it's underwhelming but it's so hard to pay $15-$16 for a pack of strings
I like the Thomastik flatwound bass strings , I have to order online . I've been to multiple thomastik dealers ( violin shops ) none will order or stock a electric Thomastik Bass sets.
I buy on Amazon b/c of the free two-day shipping since I'm a Prime Member. However, I once bought a 3 pack of Elixirs and one set didn't even come with strings! I was so pissed
I bought Elixirs from Amazon once, got 2 packs, I was out and overnight shipping tempted me. Turns out both packs had a "dead" D string that wouldn't intonate. At first, I thought there was a problem with my guitar, but I ruled everything else out and tried a new D string and problem solved. Ever since then, I vowed to never by strings from Amazon again. I don't know if they were fake or not, but I've never had that issue from packs I get from Sweetwater. Now I just get them from Sweetwater, Amazon has turned into as much of a shit-show as eBay...
Thanks for the heads-up. I've seen more and more complaints in customer-reviews about this recently on Amazon, so it's certainly an issue. I've never been much of a "string breaker" in all my years of playing, but I hit a patch last summer where G and B strings were going at every rehearsal - and this was after buying an Ernie Ball multi-pack from Amazon. Maybe they were fakes... who knows? Anyway, I'll follow your advice and buy direct from guitar shops in future - not only on the fakes aspect, but to give them a bigger cut of the sale.
I use NYXL & I’ve struggled to get the multi packs for the last 18 months or so. Even on Amazon. I’ve tried andertons & other retailers in the uk & still can’t get a multi pack of 8’s.
I just bought 10 packs of fake Daddario 10-46 on eBay. My first clue is the perforated tear strip on the packages doesn't tear correctly. Also the plastic bag inside each packet has a hole in the corner and they're not air tight. Looking at the actual strings, they're tarnished, the ball end colors are a bit off, and the wire wrap at the ball end is half-assed. Buyer beware!
I always buy strings local, although my wife did buy me a 3 pack of D'addario XT 10s from Amazon over Xmas, now I am afraid to open them up to see if they are legit :)
I buy from Amazon in bulk packs. If there were some fakes it really doesn't seem to have mattered. I leave the string on for really long periods of time. I hate new strings.
I always laugh at the people that review the Chinese budget guitars, and always mention "Ooh, they come with D'addario strings....just because the balls are colored. Those strings SUCK....they can't be authentic at all.
I love elixirs. $18 a pack but I can get 5 acoustic gigs out of one set though. I'd never consider buying anything guitar related off of Amazon. Sweetwater is my go to
@@alexwoolridge94aw well I will always prefer a local brick and mortar store when it comes to music gear, for one thing. they sold me a 100w EVH stealth amp head floor model, but they didn't actually have one and my $1900 was tied up for 2 weeks. they sent me 5 of their in-house built pro co midi cables that only have 3 wires in them. It caused me hours of trying to figure out why my hardware was not responding to midi commands. Instead of sending me midi cables with all 5 pins connected, Pat "my sales engineer" calls me at work wanting me to troubleshoot these midi cords that I already know won't work. There is nothing to troubleshoot, they only have 3 pins connected that is the trouble. I just went to guitar center and bought some, and I still have the bum midi cables sitting in a box somewhere. I see now sweetwater updated their descriptions indicating how many pins are wired up, and my negative review is gone. And finally, I don't want to be assigned a salesman or have some dude calling me to see if I want to buy gear. I use sweetwater if I can't get it anywhere else and they have it in stock, but I mostly buy used gear anyway, which they don't have. However I have to special order my bass strings for a 6 string set with a .170
I try to buy from 'Mom and Pops' stores every time I can. I also have 40ish electric guitars in my collection, and I change strings every time before I play them. I just can't keep track of string changes and I like new ones. For that reason I buy the D'Addario bulk 25 set box. The strings are separated by size, in compartments, but are not wrapped. With a % off code from Guitar Center I've got them as low as $3.00 a set for XL's. I wonder if a dishonest person could re-pack them and make $$ that way?? For me, my 'buddies' usually grab a set or 2 out of the box when they come to visit, so I loose my 'bulk' advantage there. I wouldn't have it any other way. 8) Just a couple thoughts??!! 8) Peace... --gary
Watching you two is like eavesdropping on a private conversation sometimes, but that's why I watch you guys. your great!
yes i agree. its not a show of sales, is a couple buds chatting+1
Thanks a bunch randy!
I had no idea that fake strings were a thing, but now I know... and knowing is half the battle.
GI Joe!
Just watched your video from the other day and realized my Paul Reed Smith was not hanging on the back wall. I was concerned. Nice to see it back on the wall.
Omnichannel sales manager here. Very few items are "co-mingled" in Amazon warehouses. If you see a sticker that starts with an "X", its called an fnusku and the inventory is seller specific and not mixed. If it doesn't have a sticker of the sticker starts with "B", the inventory is mixed.
What does the sticker look like? You mean those white/yellow stickers on the outside of the shipping box, or the Amazon product sticker stuck on the product itself? That’s actually very helpful info.
What reasons would Amazon decide to co-mingle stock vs. not doing so from individual sellers?
I posted the following as a separate comment but I’m re-posting as a reply to you here because it seems like you may know the answer as an Ominichannel sales manager.
So if you buy directly from Amazon rather than individual sellers, can you still end up with fakes? Or is it just when purchasing from individual sellers? I was always under the impression that fakes were only possible when Amazon was accepting stock from individual sellers and storing it in their own warehouses (and obviously that’s a strong possibility when a seller is shipping directly without an Amazon warehouse involved). What about Amazon’s own stock that they source themselves? I would sure hope Amazon isn’t mixing their own sourced stock with the stock from individual sellers . . . . anyone know for sure how that works? I usually aim to purchase with Amazon being named as the seller, so I’m unclear if I should have concerns about doing that too.
Not for nothing, but strings and other accessories add up quickly. If you’re buying a name brand, you want to know that you’re getting that name brand with confidence, especially when strings are a very important part of the playing guitar experience - and an extremely personal choice.
This video also didn’t address what people can do if they get a counterfeit and how to determine/prove whether they have a counterfeit. Does the customer end up losing out, or is there a way to get help? And shouldn’t counterfeit cases always be reported to the manufacturer regardless of where they were purchased so they can investigate and work with Amazon and other websites to identify and remove counterfeit stock (and hopefully file police reports and take legal action against the people who supplied/sold them)?
@@MashaT22 The stickers will be on the product. They will have the product title, the FNSKU, and the barcode. They will generally be white and maybe 2.75 x 1.25 inches. Amazon offers a service to label for the sellers. Only products "fulfilled by Amazon" will have these stickers. There is no point of putting Amazon labels on products you aren't shipping to them to fulfill on your behalf.
Amazon doesn't disclose which products are co-mingled but as far as the space I sell in, it's just about everything. You were given a choice a decade ago.
Buying from Amazon directly is safest. Product fulfilled by Amazon are not vetted by Amazon once the seller is approved to sell the products. That said, there are plenty of trustworthy third party merchants though. If you see they have above 90% feedback and a history of receiving feedback for years (Amazon only shows twelve months), you should be safe. If the seller name does not look professional, avoid that seller and click more buying choices below the add to cart button. Paying an additional thirty cents for peace of mind is worth it imo.
If you suspect a counterfeit, Amazon will cover you more if you buy from a third party merchant. Tell the seller. If they don't make it right or calm your concerns, you can file an A-Z claim. Amazon will step in and arbitrate. A lot of people have learned to claim items are fake to get them for free or there is a simple mistake (say the product packaging is updated and looks off to you). If you report a definitive counterfeit to Amazon, they will make the seller provide invoices to verify the product is legitimate.
I'm happy to see my Silver Sky back in the background.
Nice to see the return of the real PRS Silver Sky in the background ....looks amazing!
WOW, after hearing about this I've looked through my packages. Almost all were fake and all from Amazon. Never knew. The trouble also is I've had inconsistent strings and truly thought it was the brand. Wow. Thanks for telling us about it.
If you play regular, you might be fooled. But if you play like 052 or 054 you will immediately get it! These bastards don't even care about gauges. I bought Beefy Slinky and got regulars! Got a refund, though.
So... Chibson strings?
I recently made the switch to Stringjoy, and prefer to support the local shop that carries them.
The talk about GI Joes by Baxter was confusing me, but because I played with the early 1970s version.
Baxter Robinson.
"Could have been" lmao 🤣
Jeez guys, I loved GI joe. The sale of my youth toy collection a couple years ago helped fund some guitar purchases. I kept all of the Snake Eyes, a Zartan, and a few others that meant alot. I am happy with the mix of remaining GI Joe goodies and guitars. Life has been good. Thank you for a trip down memory lane!
Have either of you tried the D'addario XS strings? I never liked Elixirs because of the filmy feel. That was years ago, so maybe things have improved. I am running the XS on all my acoustics now though. The longevity and tone over the life of the string is truly something to take note of.
A neighbor had the G.I.joe aircraft carrier. They just don’t make toys like they used too. It was 6ft long and they painted the basement floor blue to imitate the ocean.
Thanks guys for looking out for us.
Does this apply to Air Guitar strings as well?? 😁
I love starting the morning with these videos, it’s becoming a part of the morning routine.
Buying strings is a great excuse to visit your local store!
Love the GI Joe story! My son collected all those guys too. We still have a bunch of them around here somewhere.
I feel you Jonathan. I burn through a set of electric strings in a set. They are toast. The start to turn slightly red after a few songs and a whole set they are black I’m not slippery anymore.
I love Elixer strings as well!
Baxter's new TH-cam channel unboxing G. I Joe's 😂
I’ve been using Stringjoy acoustic strings for about the last 6 months and I like them and they seem to last. Stringjoy is located in Nashville and free shipping if you spend enough. I’ve used there customer support, trying to get a better sound and they were very user friendly. It’s nice to have options.
Glad you guys warned guitarists about this!! we need customers back in shop keep up the good work!!
The pilot of the fire bat was Wild Weasel
Not GI Joe, but star wars. I got the Emperor Palpatine figure by collecting UPC's.
I order from Stringjoy in Nashville!!!
I love buying strings from my local store because it gives me an excuse to check out the new inventory and ask the guys there any gear related questions that I’ve accumulated since my last visit.
Been buying direct from Ernie ball for 10+ years. You can buy single gauges so you don’t have to use their “package gauges”. They sometimes even send you more than you order. Free straps sometimes even shirts. No extra cost. Great company
I bought fake Elixirs. I’m in Australia and fake strings, effects and guitars are everywhere. It’s hard to buy a Fulltone OCD because the counterfeits look identical. It’s the same with strings.
I'm lucky, I've got a good guitar store down the road, and another good one 30 minutes away.
@@telemeister Are you in Australia? I live in SA where there isn’t much good gear in the shops. We only have a couple of decent shops, and they don’t have much stuff.
@@MaxPower-js1sk yeah, Sydney. What about Derringer’s in Adelaide? They’re pretty good.
@@telemeister Derringers is the best shop here, but they don’t have a lot of decent gear. I get almost all of my stuff from the Eastern states. I was looking for a Wampler Euphoria recently, but nobody here stocked Wampler, so I had to get it online. I’m looking for a PRS, but I don’t like my chances of getting it here. After 45 years of it, I’m used to going to Melbourne for gear.
@@telemeister You are lucky. But If we had good shops I’d probably spend even more money. 😁👍
I've been playing guitar forever & NEVER even heard of fake strings.... Thanks for pulling this old dog up....
I went to Paradigms after trying elixers and haven't thought about it till you compared directly but gonna buy some more Ernie ball paradigms to change the older ones this week
Hooded Cobra Commander was the first mail-in. There's one in my parents' attic, somewhere.
I recently got a set of used bass strings at my LGS (DR Hi-Beams). Someone evidently carefully took their old strings off, cut off the tuner end off and recoiled them somewhat neatly in the packaging. Don't know if they were a return or if they swapped them with a new set from the rack when no one was looking. Of course the store was shocked/amazed and gave me a new set.
Baxter, when younger I played with 12 in GI JOE. recently got the same ones I had on Ebay.
Always buy strings local. I want that shop to be there!
The only store around here is GC. I refuse to buy anything from there.
@@vorpalblades Sorry to hear that. I try not to buy from them also.
About 40 years ago when I had a long stretch working in a music store, I could tell which manufacturers made which strings by looking at how the ball ends were wrapped. I didn't document it but at that time Martin, Nashville Straights, Dean Markley, Ernie Ball, Fender, GHS, D' Addario and others could be identified as to to whatever company made them.
There were a lot of brands, but none of them produced the garbage that I have seen in counterfeit strings.
I would absolutely hire Robinson-Baxter for any of my legal needs.
I still have the Fridge Gi Joe figure you had to order. Simpler times.
Shout out to Baxter for mentioning Flag Points! Things like this make me glad at least on bass I play flats. My strings are 10 and 7 years old respectively. Never gonna change em. Good video! Have a killer weekend!
GHS strings are still made (as far as I know) in Battle Creek, Michigan, then shipped directly to Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan. So if you buy from Elderly, you know that you are getting the real deal.
I switched to Stringjoy for strings they are out of Nashville, they are great they sound awesome and now I’m not breaking strings ..
Holy cow, the original cobra commander you had to turn in UPC’s, so worth it! Go Joe!
This is the way:)!
So that’s why I don’t see a lot of regular guitar stuff on Amazon anymore
in the early 80's, i saved up those G.I.Joe points for like 2 years to get Snowjob and his snowmobile... it wasn't available in stores
Had a couple of packs from Amazon that have been fakes, only noticed when they didn’t last as long. Now avoid using them.
Amazon is full of fake stuff even bicycle chains
I bought some Ernie Ball strings off Amazon last month and they were counterfeit. It's rather easy to tell, genuine have a shinny box around printed area on the wrapper, fakes print a dark black box around.
Strictly an acoustic player, I tune down D to D… used to buy D’addario EJ18s heavies, 59-14, from local stores. Now order custom heavy gauge sets, 62-15, direct from Curt Mangan… no distributor, no retailer, so Counterfeits not possible!
Jonathan said “change your strings”… YES! I change at least every month…for $10 or less per month,(Mangan strings are a little more expensive), you make your acoustic guitar sound ether than new!… I change at the first sign of the bronze discoloring, even if they still sound pretty good. New strings on an acoustic are the equivalent of an oil change and full tuneup on a car.
Really the same thing goes for electrics, too. People really need to change them out more often.
I’m old school... homemade gut strings for me.
My one and only complaint with using Sweetwater is their relentless advertisements the second I open my browser to their page. It wouldn't be so bad, but they're all motion driven, it gets distracting when you're trying your best to read some actual news and a Telecaster is flashing in my vision field screaming "look at me John".
I enjoy that you don’t take yourselves too seriously. Music is supposed to be fun and I’d rather watch (and vote with my dollars for) people that are down to earth and enjoy making content as much as I like watching it. Now I just need to hit the lottery so I can afford all the toys I want. Cmon Powerball!
Well as soon as my D’Addario player circle code doesn’t work I’m going to be pissed, I’m only a few packs away from that cool kill switch cable
That cable will be broken in a month.
@@vorpalblades yeah that’s why I don’t feel like paying for another one lol
@@vorpalblades I’m hoping the one that you actually have to hold the button down to kill it works better
"Only Rich people will go to space.."
At one time, the same was true for airplanes, cell phones, CD players, televisions... well, you get the point
I love Elixirs, but I’ve drifted toward 9.5-48s and that’s a StringJoy special order…
No argument on the point to buy from a guitar shop, but I kept waiting for you to explain how to spot a counterfeit string. I have no idea what to look for there. Don’t leave us hanging! :)
Interesting comparison of strings.I have one important question,I wonder if the fake Daddario strings break or are they as durable as the original Daddario strings?
I see the Silver Sky is back and the LP has moved locations!!
So if you buy directly from Amazon rather than individual sellers, can you still end up with fakes? Or is it just when purchasing from individual sellers? I was always under the impression that fakes were only possible when Amazon was accepting stock from individual sellers and storing it in their own warehouses (and obviously that’s a strong possibility when a seller is shipping directly without an Amazon warehouse involved). What about Amazon’s own stock that they source themselves? I would sure hope Amazon isn’t mixing their own sourced stock with the stock from individual sellers . . . . anyone know for sure how that works? I usually aim to purchase with Amazon being named as the seller, so I’m unclear if I should have concerns about doing that too.
Not for nothing, but strings and other accessories add up quickly. If you’re buying a name brand, you want to know that you’re getting that name brand with confidence, especially when strings are a very important part of the playing guitar experience - and an extremely personal choice.
This video also didn’t address what people can do if they get a counterfeit and how to determine/prove whether they have a counterfeit. Does the customer end up losing out, or is there a way to get help? And shouldn’t counterfeit cases always be reported to the manufacturer regardless of where they were purchased so they can investigate and work with Amazon and other websites to identify and remove counterfeit stock (and hopefully file police reports and take legal action against the people who supplied/sold them)?
I work for the company that makes elixir. Thanks for the endorsement ( They are for the most part a pretty good company)
I bought some D'Addario 9's strings that bent the bridge way forward on my Fender Stratocaster. Try to only use Fender strings but the store I was at only had D'Addario strings. ( Am I misspelling D'Addario or is TH-cam Fu#&ing up the spelling again?)
I got addicted to Ernie Ball Cobalts, and I'm upset cause now every time I go back to slinkys it's underwhelming but it's so hard to pay $15-$16 for a pack of strings
same here, I did the nyxl's and now normal strings feel old almost instantly
All the strings I bought when stuff was closed ended up being fake.
just another reason to not change strings. That and the funny look the dudes at the guitar store give me when I take my guitar in for new strings.
I like the Thomastik flatwound bass strings , I have to order online . I've been to multiple thomastik dealers ( violin shops ) none will order or stock a electric Thomastik Bass sets.
I play DR Black Beauties on everything. Can't go back to non-coated strings and prefer their feel over others I've tried.
I buy on Amazon b/c of the free two-day shipping since I'm a Prime Member. However, I once bought a 3 pack of Elixirs and one set didn't even come with strings! I was so pissed
The silver sky hath returned
Terrordome is an NWA record. The Terror Drome (wtf is a drome?) Was both the Cobra and TMNT bad guys hide out. Lol
Drome
1.
denoting a place for running or racing.
"velodrome"
2.
denoting something that runs or proceeds in a certain way.
"palindrome"
The Silver Sky is back on the wall.. Yay!
I literally just ordered a 3 pack of D’adarios from Amazon, first time ever. Then I see this. 😳🥵
So many non guitar nerds watching you guy’s!! Love it!! 😂
I bought Elixirs from Amazon once, got 2 packs, I was out and overnight shipping tempted me. Turns out both packs had a "dead" D string that wouldn't intonate. At first, I thought there was a problem with my guitar, but I ruled everything else out and tried a new D string and problem solved. Ever since then, I vowed to never by strings from Amazon again. I don't know if they were fake or not, but I've never had that issue from packs I get from Sweetwater. Now I just get them from Sweetwater, Amazon has turned into as much of a shit-show as eBay...
Thanks for the heads-up. I've seen more and more complaints in customer-reviews about this recently on Amazon, so it's certainly an issue. I've never been much of a "string breaker" in all my years of playing, but I hit a patch last summer where G and B strings were going at every rehearsal - and this was after buying an Ernie Ball multi-pack from Amazon. Maybe they were fakes... who knows? Anyway, I'll follow your advice and buy direct from guitar shops in future - not only on the fakes aspect, but to give them a bigger cut of the sale.
I used to collect those GiJOE points too! I don't think I ever ended up getting anything with them though.
I use NYXL & I’ve struggled to get the multi packs for the last 18 months or so. Even on Amazon. I’ve tried andertons & other retailers in the uk & still can’t get a multi pack of 8’s.
First time I have head about fake strings. what next?
I just bought 10 packs of fake Daddario 10-46 on eBay. My first clue is the perforated tear strip on the packages doesn't tear correctly. Also the plastic bag inside each packet has a hole in the corner and they're not air tight. Looking at the actual strings, they're tarnished, the ball end colors are a bit off, and the wire wrap at the ball end is half-assed. Buyer beware!
I get all my strings from Sweetwater. Unless I'm in a pinch and have to hit the GC.
Funny. I was looking for guitar strings recently, did not buy them from Amazon for this very reason. Same with batteries and a host of other stuff...
This has been an issue on tons of items. I have stopped buying from amazon.
Good to know. I’ve bought strings from Amazon before. Now I’m wondering if they were fake?
I always buy strings local, although my wife did buy me a 3 pack of D'addario XT 10s from Amazon over Xmas, now I am afraid to open them up to see if they are legit :)
I buy from Amazon in bulk packs. If there were some fakes it really doesn't seem to have mattered. I leave the string on for really long periods of time. I hate new strings.
I always laugh at the people that review the Chinese budget guitars, and always mention "Ooh, they come with D'addario strings....just because the balls are colored. Those strings SUCK....they can't be authentic at all.
Baxter looks like a low rent Bruce Springsteen in this one. I think that's a compliment.
Dude no, no, It came all the way down to strings?? Daaymmnn
Same issue with SD cards on Amazon, best to avoid 'em. Always be sure to check who the seller is when buying on Amazon.
I love elixirs. $18 a pack but I can get 5 acoustic gigs out of one set though. I'd never consider buying anything guitar related off of Amazon. Sweetwater is my go to
75 bucks for my bass strings, also fuck sweetwater
@@sqlb3rn what's your issue with sweetwater?
@@alexwoolridge94aw well I will always prefer a local brick and mortar store when it comes to music gear, for one thing. they sold me a 100w EVH stealth amp head floor model, but they didn't actually have one and my $1900 was tied up for 2 weeks. they sent me 5 of their in-house built pro co midi cables that only have 3 wires in them. It caused me hours of trying to figure out why my hardware was not responding to midi commands. Instead of sending me midi cables with all 5 pins connected, Pat "my sales engineer" calls me at work wanting me to troubleshoot these midi cords that I already know won't work. There is nothing to troubleshoot, they only have 3 pins connected that is the trouble. I just went to guitar center and bought some, and I still have the bum midi cables sitting in a box somewhere. I see now sweetwater updated their descriptions indicating how many pins are wired up, and my negative review is gone. And finally, I don't want to be assigned a salesman or have some dude calling me to see if I want to buy gear. I use sweetwater if I can't get it anywhere else and they have it in stock, but I mostly buy used gear anyway, which they don't have. However I have to special order my bass strings for a 6 string set with a .170
Thanks . I’ve just bought some on eBay , first time in over ten years, I won’t be fooled again
Oh wow this is good to know!
oh great. i started buying strings on amazon because they have 10 packs cheap. long and mcquade (i'm in canada) seems to only offer up to 3 packs.
I got strings on for over 3-5 year's never played stored in gig bags that are okay tight wadd
The hair dammit! Why are you trying to distract me?
Fake strings!? Thats a new one for me.
I try to buy from 'Mom and Pops' stores every time I can. I also have 40ish electric guitars in my collection, and I change strings every time before I play them. I just can't keep track of string changes and I like new ones. For that reason I buy the D'Addario bulk 25 set box. The strings are separated by size, in compartments, but are not wrapped. With a % off code from Guitar Center I've got them as low as $3.00 a set for XL's. I wonder if a dishonest person could re-pack them and make $$ that way?? For me, my 'buddies' usually grab a set or 2 out of the box when they come to visit, so I loose my 'bulk' advantage there. I wouldn't have it any other way. 8) Just a couple thoughts??!! 8) Peace... --gary
Sounds like you're throwing $$ away changing them that often. Unless you only play quarterly.
Well this was news to me. I had no idea this was a thing.
I'm still waiting for my hooded Cobra commander! Starting to lose hope :(
I buy mine from Chicago music exchange, they have the best price on Santa Cruz parabolic strings
My favorite strings aren't made anymore.
I just wait for when Musicians Friend has the 12 packs of Ernie Ball for 39.99 on eBay and load up on them.
I once got a fake fetzer valve from Amazon.
No doubt I have ran across fake Elixir strings before. Acoustic strings seems to be the one most counterfeiters love to make.