Bufo Bill - Posted - 12/06/2013:  12:55:04

I compile the list of linked threads for the Polymer Strings Group page. I have seen nearly every relevent thread posted on BHO in the last couple of years, and have seen the fierce debate over Aquila Nylgut and Aquila Red strings. The posts are divided into those that love the strings and those who have had very bad experiences with breakages. Personally I have had no bad experience with these brands, but I accept that there is a real trend for breakage, and I feel that many former users and prospective users are put off by the fact that Aquila strings are not available singly.

I would therefore like to put forward the suggestion that more sales for Aquila may be found by making their strings available singly. This may have the beneficial effect of the cost of the overheads being offset by the extra customers that may be persuaded to give Aquila strings another go, knowing that should a single string break beyond repair they do not have to buy another full set.

I would love to hear the views of BHO members; would you be more inclined to buy Aquila strings if they were available singly?

I will also contacted Mimmo from Aquila, alerting him to this thread, so we may even get some reaction from him too.

I will also link this thread to the Polymer Strings Group page.

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 12/06/2013:  13:01:44

Your suggestion makes very good sense Bill and thanks for starting this thread.

Like many, I suppose, I am stuck with bits of sets and am going off Aquila and giving Chris Sands strings a go.

rudy - Posted - 12/06/2013:  14:18:16

As you might have noticed from one of the other topics, Mimmo isn't necessarily very open to suggestions.  One of the users e-mailed and asked if he would make the standard strings available again and he said "no" as I recall.

Here's a whole bunch of singles available from Elderly:

elderly.com/brand/STSG_aquila.html

Was there something else you were looking for?

Edited by - rudy on 12/06/2013 14:21:00

etparadox - Posted - 12/06/2013:  15:52:17

I would love if they sold singles. The strings rarely go dead before they break, with exception to wound 4ths which I shred faster than I'd like, especially with not being able to buy a single replacement. 

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 12/06/2013:  16:51:13

Silk and steel 4th strings are readily available from other manufacturers.

*******************************

I don't know... Nylguts performed wonderfully for me for a few years, then the breakages started.

The worst incident was breaking three first strings within 10 minutes. I gave up after that. That

would have used up too many singles as well, and this was on a banjo that had worn Nylguts with

no previous problems so it wasn't a tailpiece issue.



 

Edited by - R.D. Lunceford on 12/06/2013 16:52:12

stevel - Posted - 12/06/2013:  17:25:53

quote:

Originally posted by etparadox

I would love if they sold singles. The strings rarely go dead before they break, with exception to wound 4ths which I shred faster than I'd like, especially with not being able to buy a single replacement. 

Bernunzios sells single 4th strings. But there are other options as mentioned. 

bhniko - Posted - 12/07/2013:  15:36:25

All strings are not sold in singles by Elderly to fill out a set of Aquila Light or medium strings

I also have recently approached them regarding selling single strings...if not one string then by packaging each string in 5 string packs. That way when one breaks you would not have an abundance of left over strings from the standard packages. The owner was going on vacation and said that he would inform his staff to look into it. I haven't heard back but will contact them again after the holidays. If someone can copy these comments and emai them to Aquilla then perhaps there is a chance. If not I can do it after the holidays. Let me know by replying on this post.

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 12/08/2013:  04:33:43

The only set of Nylguts I ever bought was in the form of singles. I got them at Zepps about 6 years ago. He said he was out of sets but had full sets worth of singles, and he gave me the "set" price on them.

Bart Veerman - Posted - 12/08/2013:  08:31:40

It would be really really really nice if Aquilla would identify the gauges of their strings on the packages. Listing the string set catalogue numbers along with the gauges on their website, in a place where you can find it, would also come in real handy.

Bufo Bill - Posted - 12/08/2013:  13:39:39

Thanks for all the replies, keep them coming. Bhniko, your help in this matter would be greatly appreciated, many thanks.
All the best from Bill. :D

Corkhill Cobbler - Posted - 12/08/2013:  14:55:05

I tried the 5B package, all red from Elderly.  This was my first venture into nylon/nylgut.  I like them alot.  Tuning was going good untill I got to the fourth string.  I couldnt find D easy and went beyond and snapped it.  Im still learning so it was a rookie mistake.  You do alot of turning but I did learn to get used to them.  I guess in short I would say yes it would definitely be nice to pick up singles.  Love the feel and sound.  And the option of switching back a forth.

Bufo Bill - Posted - 12/09/2013:  13:50:58

Corkhill Cobbler: I think Elderly sell single fourth strings of the Reds, but not the others. Hope this helps. Thanks for your response.
All the best from Bill. :D

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 12/09/2013:  14:21:33

Has anybody tried Juststrings.com for single Aquilas?

I'm about to order up some LaBella Blacks for my guitar, and they even have those in singles - I've never seen LaBella black nylon strings in singles before, and I've been buying classical guitar strings for 52 years!

I'm thinking about getting an extra set and an extra 1st to try them on my nylon strung banjo.