Do stores sell individual strings at stores for guitar?

Question

Also, my friend is telling me that if you were to walk into a store and ask "For a packet of just A strings" they'll get you an unopened pack of JUST A strings which I don't think is true. They come with the six different strings used on guitars right? He's also saying that "There is no C string on a guitar" which, when correct for standard EADGBE tuning is true, but strings aren't labeled as "The E or A string" right? you can tune them to change their pitch.

Answer 1

Most music stores do indeed sell individual strings. It's more for people planning on playing a gig and wanting to have a couple spares on hand than for just replacing one string on your guitar at a time.



If you have one brand new string and 5 old, crusty strings on your guitar, it will sound weird because that one new string will sound way brighter than the rest.



Strings are sold by gauge, not what note they are tuned to.



If you walk into a music store and say "I need an A string", the first thing out of the clerk's mouth is going to be "Okay, what gauge?"



I play Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom strings. My high E is a .10 and my low E is a .54 (I think). But once they are on my guitar, I can tune those strings to any damn note I want (CGCFAD in my case).



Long story short: Your friend is an idiot.

Answer 2

Any decent music store or on-line music store that deals in strings at all will sell individual strings. I've never heard of packs of strings of the same guage string being available though. You couldn't get "a pack" of just A strings, you'd have to ask for however many A strings you wanted which would come in their separate little envelopes.



If you asked for "an A string" the first thing they'd want to know is whether it was for electric or acoustic. Then you might be given a choice of types - phosphor bronze, coated, stainless steel etc. They might then offer a choice of gauges but, essentially yes, they'd sell you an A string or a D or high E or whatever.



Most people though would as for a string according to its gauge - a "high E string" could be anything from 0.013" diameter (or even heavier) down to 0.008" diameter. The chances of being given exactly what you needed would be slim unless you specified the gauge.



Edit: the individual strings in sets are usually labeled as you describe (or 1st, 2nd etc.) but the individual strings I've bought are usually just labelled according to gauge (e.g "0.046").

Answer 3

OK, I'll pile on. Any good guitar shop, and many general music stores will sell singles, usually by actual size, so 'good to know what you need. When you 'pays your money, you get a "packet" ...wait for it... with one string.



Back to whatever. If you're going for your first new one(s), you may even want to take the guitar along for advice on strings to buy. Skipping 200 words, I'd recommend buying two complete sets, plus a couple of extra singles for at least the 1st & 2nd strings, the ones most often broken (and those little ones are really cheap).



With a set, the size of each string that makes the set is right on the front of the package. So for example if I decide on a light electric set with a .010 first string, I'll get a couple of single .010's too.



What you keep on hand kinda depends on how hard and often you play.

But you should at least have a full new set in the case, always. If you just use one from it - keep the "packet" it was in, and go buy a 'single.

Answer 4

It depends on the music store. Some will, others won't. If you're unsure just go there and ask or if they have a website, contact them there. Even if they do sell single strings, it may be more economical to buy a full pack for less per string and you can use the others later. Guitar strings are labelled by the gauge or thickness of the string. For example, an A string has a gauge between .030 and .042 for electric and between .039 and .049 for acoustic depending on how heavy the gauge is.

Answer 5

Every music store I've ever been to sells individual strings. One at a time, however, not in 6-packs. There is no C string. The strings are either labeled as 1st through 6th string or by their diameter.

Answer 6

It's true, they wouldn't make much money to sell one string at a time but, Iplay classical and 4th strings wear first and fastest. The three basses wear before the trebles. I choose from different company for basses tan trebles (the three top strings). I can't get individual strings in the Brand that I like for each string but some times must buy the pack for only the three basses--that's just the way it is. When I was in France, then I could buy individual Savarez basses. If you can't deal with that------just watch rock videos.

Answer 7

Most people buy pre-packaged sets of six strings but yes, you can buy individual; strings one at a time and you can but 'bulk' strings, usually at least a dozen, of any gauge. Not all stores offer that though. There is no C string on a standard guitar, but the six strings are all different gauges, or diameters, It is the diameter that dictates the range of its tuning. You will see them labeled by the gauge, by the letter name of the standard open string, or by the position (1-6) on the individual envelopes inside the package. Everything your friend said is true.

Answer 8

All the ones I've been to do, but 3 out of 5 didn't ask "E a d g b or e" but instead what gauge string I needed.



Side note: You likely won't find specialty strings sold individually (i.e., Cleartone, nylons, etc.)

Answer 9

You usually can't buy a "pack" of single strings.

However he is correct in that there is no "C" string, and strings are not labeled to the note you normally tune them to.

They are measured by thickness and whether they are wound or plain strings.

If you want a set of one particular string only, you can order them from Juststrings.com

Answer 10

Most likely not. Most stores sell sets because they tend to wear at the same pace or close and the rest will go eventually so it's better to replace them all. I'm sure if you really wanted to you could find some.

Answer 11

I'm pretty sure they don't sell individual strings, they wouldn't make much money off of that. And yea you can tune a string to a different note, but it doesn't change the name of the string.

Answer 12

It depends on the store. All the strings that you describe do exist, but they aren't carried by all music stores.

Answer 13

Oh my...