Active Band Man Chats - Tackling the Rising Price of Guitar Strings

So, what’s the topic this time?

Gen...

Huh?

Gen-nari...

Wait, are you feeling down?

Gen...nari...

Could it be... about the strings (‘Gen’ in Japanese)?

That’s it! Gen-nari!

Haha, Korosuke! (A character from the Japanese cartoon Kiteretsu Daihyakka)

Strings, right, strings.

They’re essential for any stringed instrument.

They’ve gone up in price, right!?

Yeah, they have. Recently, whenever I talk to my bandmates, it often comes up.

I’ve been keeping an eye on different shops, and it feels like the price has gone up by about 1.5 times...

It probably varies by store, but bass strings have gone up by the same percentage, so it’s really tough...

Yeah, it’s tough...

Yeah. With the global situation affecting things, the price hikes are understandable, but I’m sure the people at Sound House and the music stores feel bad about it too... So, what’s going on with the strings?

They’ve gone up, right!?

Huh? Are we looping!?

I was thinking about ways to deal with it.

Got any ideas? Maybe reducing the frequency of string changes?

Hmm... well, I usually use Elixir strings.

Elixir / NANOWEB Light #12052 Twin Pack

These are coated strings. Because they’re coated, they’re resistant to dirt and rust, so they tend to last longer than regular strings...

Exactly. So, I don’t change them often, but the price per set is still pretty high.

That’s true. They’re definitely more expensive than regular strings, but since they last longer, some people say they’re still a good deal. But with prices rising this much, it’s tough. Even the two-pack sets are pricey. What’s the plan?

Well, I looked for something similar but cheaper! Oh! This one’s cheap!

Aria / AGS-800C/L Coated

Wow! Even though it’s a coated string, it’s reasonably priced.

I’ll try it out next time!

Yeah. Like I said, the prices fluctuate a lot, so it might be a good idea to stock up when the prices are lower. It’s hard to know when the lowest price will be, though...

Right. Another option is Finger Ease.

Tone / Finger Ease Guitar String Cleaner and Fingerboard Lubricant

Oh, this is the one that’s been around for a long time.

Yeah. If I prevent rust on the strings, they should last a bit longer.

Exactly. It’s also important to wipe them down frequently to remove sweat and dirt. Other brands, like Greco, also have similar products.

Greco / FJ-150 Silver

Mhm.

Anything else?

For the same purpose, humidity control!

Greco / Dry Crew Forest Humidity Control

Oh, I see. The ‘forest’ scent?

The rose scent is discontinued... (Crying)

Don’t cry! But, I always thought humidity control was mostly for the body and neck to keep their condition stable, not really for preventing rust on the strings. It could be a good item to prepare before the rainy season, though.

Yeah!

Anything else?

Well, this ties in with the theme...

Ties in?

Hmm, just barely.

What does that even mean?

I swapped out the bridge on my guitar!

Huh? Does that really tie in?

Just barely.

Alright, go ahead then.

First, listen, what made me decide to replace it.

Keep it short, please.

The screws that adjust the height of the Telecaster bridge were sticking out.

I see... That’s the kind of thing that hurts when your hand brushes against it. I’m not a fan of that either.

Exactly. If the prince’s hand gets hurt, everyone will be sad, right?

Right... That would be sad...

So, I started with a wrench set...

CruzTOOLS / GrooveTech Guitar/Bass Multi-Tool

Like a Swiss army knife.

I tried turning the screws!

Huh!?

They wouldn’t turn!

Huh? Maybe the inside of the screw was damaged? You mean it was ‘stripped’?

Yeah, exactly. So sad.

Is it due to wear and tear? So, what did you do?

I decided to replace the bridge—or even the saddle—myself!

You really went for it!?

There are so many materials to choose from, so I was torn.

Like brass?

Titanium!

Well, the material can affect the tone too. So, which one did you go with?

This one!f

Graphtech / PS-8163-00

Graphtech?

YES！

It says, “As the strings move and vibrate against the saddle, a thin Teflon layer is created, which helps reduce string breakage and improves tuning stability. Also, it provides the deep, sharp tone of vintage saddles, with rich sustain.” Sounds impressive.

Yeah! I learned about it from a trusted guitarist, Takasick (from Ginmaku Ichiro to TimeCafe)!

Ah, advice from a fellow musician is always valuable!

So, I tried replacing it all by myself! This is the first time I’ve done this kind of work.

Good job!

And here’s the finished result!

Oh, it looks like it’s on there properly!

You did it! I even played it a bit, and there were no issues!

Great job!

It says in the product description that it helps reduce string breakage, so this could also be a solution to the rising string prices.

I see. That was a good tie-in! It makes sense though—if the cause of string breakage is the bridge or saddle, replacing those parts might be a good way to prevent it. For people who often break specific strings, it’s worth checking those parts.

For guitarists who find replacing the saddle difficult, they should also check out lubricants for the nut and bridge!

Big Bends / Nut Sauce Groove-Luber

D’Addario / PW-LBK-01 LubriKit Friction Remover

Right!

Well, I’ll allow myself to be a little proud of my efforts...

Go ahead, be proud!

That’s it, right?

Who’s abnormal?

I didn’t say so!

Well, I guess I’m not exactly normal... maybe a little royal, in a way...

Right.

Yeah, that’s it.

This time was great—practical stuff instead of just talking, which was nice.

Yes, I can do anything if I try! So what’s the moral of the story?

It’s all for love!