UK Sources for Strings, Steels, Fingerpicks
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
UK Sources for Strings, Steels, Fingerpicks
I thought I'd found an online source (Resound), but it turns out they're in France, and though a UK contact is mentioned, it's evenings and weekends only. Shady? I want a sensible 6 string C6 set for an old cheap and nasty electric lap steel, a bullet steel, and some finger and thumbpicks. Who can steer me appropriately?
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Chris Drew
- Posts: 274
- Joined: 7 May 2007 6:22 am
- Location: Bristol, UK
- Contact:
Dunno about C6th stringsets, but I get my picks from here
They do steels too ( put "tonebars" in the searchbar...) though I usually get mine off the ebay, as they're cheaper from the USA, even with shipping!
( I prefer the Lap-Dawg, I'm not a bullet-guy
)
They do steels too ( put "tonebars" in the searchbar...) though I usually get mine off the ebay, as they're cheaper from the USA, even with shipping!
( I prefer the Lap-Dawg, I'm not a bullet-guy
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Fred Kinbom
- Posts: 1230
- Joined: 28 Sep 2005 12:01 am
- Location: Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
- Contact:
Newtone Strings are great and made in the UK. Their "Michael Messer Electric Slide Classics" last for ages.
C6th string sets are for sale here on the forum! See link at the top of the page.
As for other lap steel accessories, as Chris pointed out, it is cheaper to buy from the USA. I get most of my supplies from Elderly. They only charge $7 (or has it gone up to $10 - still a very fair price) shipping for small international orders.
The Broz-o-Phonic is a good place to start for a bullet bar, but the best all-round bullet bar IMHO (and many others' to) is the Tribo-Tone. Pricy but worth it.
Cheers,
Fred
C6th string sets are for sale here on the forum! See link at the top of the page.
As for other lap steel accessories, as Chris pointed out, it is cheaper to buy from the USA. I get most of my supplies from Elderly. They only charge $7 (or has it gone up to $10 - still a very fair price) shipping for small international orders.
The Broz-o-Phonic is a good place to start for a bullet bar, but the best all-round bullet bar IMHO (and many others' to) is the Tribo-Tone. Pricy but worth it.
Cheers,
Fred
www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium
Thanks guys. It turned out StringsDirect could've sold me everything I wanted (though I'd have had to settle for plastic fingerpicks), but my entire order, strings, picks and bar from Elderly, plus shipping, was about the same that SD would've charged me just for the tonebar. I guess it may take some time to get here, but never mind. Thankyou!
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Lee Jeffriess
- Posts: 512
- Joined: 27 Aug 2002 12:01 am
- Location: Vallejo California
- Contact:
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Chris Drew
- Posts: 274
- Joined: 7 May 2007 6:22 am
- Location: Bristol, UK
- Contact:
Just out of interest, why would you have had to settle for plastic fingerpicks?
I get the metal ones from SD, I tried various gauges & settled on the .20s.
You don't need to get the pliers on them ( or hot water like the plastic ones ).
Just coax the band to the size you need, I rotate them slightly on my fingers so they hit the string nice & square, to avoid/minimize pick-noise.
Oops, don't mean to sound like an authority on fingerpicks - I'm still getting to grips with actually using them!
I tried them for a while some time ago but ended up chickening out & going back to just the thumbpick & bare fingers.
With fingerpicks the tone/volume is more balanced between thumb&fingers but they do take some getting used to!
One day I'll get there!
So, what bar did you go for?
It's a shame they cost so much over here.
I get the metal ones from SD, I tried various gauges & settled on the .20s.
You don't need to get the pliers on them ( or hot water like the plastic ones ).
Just coax the band to the size you need, I rotate them slightly on my fingers so they hit the string nice & square, to avoid/minimize pick-noise.
Oops, don't mean to sound like an authority on fingerpicks - I'm still getting to grips with actually using them!
I tried them for a while some time ago but ended up chickening out & going back to just the thumbpick & bare fingers.
With fingerpicks the tone/volume is more balanced between thumb&fingers but they do take some getting used to!
One day I'll get there!
So, what bar did you go for?
It's a shame they cost so much over here.
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Chris Drew
- Posts: 274
- Joined: 7 May 2007 6:22 am
- Location: Bristol, UK
- Contact:
They're here but never mind eh!
I often find that most guitar shops ( certainly here in Bristol ) actually have thumb & fingerpicks in stock, usually all mixed up together in a clear plastic "candy-jar" on the counter that most regular guitar-shoppers ignore...
I've found some very strange fingerpicks in this way, some with a kind of "loop" instead of a blade, some with a wierd shape, strangely in a tub with ALL LEFT-HANDED thumbpicks !
It's worth checking your locals!
Mind-you, as with SD & most UK retailers, if they have ANY steels at all the choice will be limited & overpriced.
I often find that most guitar shops ( certainly here in Bristol ) actually have thumb & fingerpicks in stock, usually all mixed up together in a clear plastic "candy-jar" on the counter that most regular guitar-shoppers ignore...
I've found some very strange fingerpicks in this way, some with a kind of "loop" instead of a blade, some with a wierd shape, strangely in a tub with ALL LEFT-HANDED thumbpicks !
It's worth checking your locals!
Mind-you, as with SD & most UK retailers, if they have ANY steels at all the choice will be limited & overpriced.
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Bill Leach
- Posts: 39
- Joined: 23 Mar 2008 1:17 pm
- Location: Cheshire, england