Too Bad About the Price ...Titanium Content

rokdog49 · #1 07-21-2018, 09:56 AM

About a month ago I stopped by one of my favorite little music stores for a visit with the guys and to pick up a few things.
While there, I noticed one single pack of Martin Titaniums in the string rack.
I asked my buddy Pat what the story was. He told me the Martin rep talked him into bringing just one package into stock and it had been there for a couple months.
He told me he would sell it to me at a huge discount and when I heard the price, I jumped. Now, as many here already know, I was a Beta Tester for these strings and
I gave them a big thumbs up on everything except the price which I felt and still feel is exhorbitant even for strings that last six months.
Well today, it was time for a string change on my J45 and so I put the Titaniums on. Once again, I was reminded how really good these strings sound on a Spruce/Hog guitar. It's just a shame they are priced so high.
Martin, are you listening?

Buc-a-Roo · #2 07-21-2018, 10:02 AM

Sure, at $39.95 a set they do indeed sound expensive, but if they last the better part of a year (which they do!) that price looks pretty good compared to 6 or 7 sets of bronze strings over the same period of time........yes?

HHP · #3 07-21-2018, 10:06 AM

I think Martin developed these as a prestige item to promote their string line. With multiple guitars, $40 a re-string is just impractical. I've used and liked their Monels and they last many months at $6 a set.

Rosewood99 · #4 07-21-2018, 10:08 AM

How can you say it's too expensive without knowing how long they last?

RussL30 · #5 07-21-2018, 10:15 AM

They sound like great strings and I would love to try them but $40 is insane. I can get 6 months out of a $13 set of Elixirs and $8 set of Monels so it’s hard to see value in $40.

rokdog49 · #6 07-21-2018, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulzoom

How can you say it's too expensive without knowing how long they last?

I forgot to mention that I got a little over six months out of the Beta set.
I can easily get three months out of a set of the very good sounding Retro's so for around $18 compared to $40, it's a no-brainer.
If Martin got down to around $25, it might be a winner for them.

TBman · #7 07-21-2018, 10:27 AM

I'm getting good mileage out of the set of Titanium that is on my J-45. I have a couple of sets of SC low tensions coming and a few others as well. I'll probably go back to the SC on the 45 which I really liked.

At least now I know I'll get my money's worth if I buy the Titaniums again.

Rosewood99 · #8 07-21-2018, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokdog49

I forgot to mention that I got a little over six months out of the Beta set.
I can easily get three months out of a set of the very good sounding Retro's so for around $18 compared to $40, it's a no-brainer.
If Martin got down to around $25, it might be a winner for them.

Wait-- if you got three months at $18 isn't that $36 for six months--only a $4 difference? Doesn't sound like much more if you like the sound better. Unless you just prefer the tone of the retros.

robj144 · #9 07-21-2018, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokdog49

I forgot to mention that I got a little over six months out of the Beta set.
I can easily get three months out of a set of the very good sounding Retro's so for around $18 compared to $40, it's a no-brainer.
If Martin got down to around $25, it might be a winner for them.

If you get 3 months out of $18 strings, isn't six months of those $36? Why is it a no brainer?

RussL30 · #10 07-21-2018, 11:17 AM

Retros are usually around $8, not $18.

robj144 · #11 07-21-2018, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RussL30

Retros are usually around $8, not $18.

Ahh... makes sense. It's a no-brainer for me because I use Martin Marquis at maybe like $6 a set and I cycle through my many guitars when I play, so they last something like 6 months for me.

StephenHD35 · #12 07-21-2018, 11:49 AM

Personally, I prefer the sound of the Monels, though I did like the one set of titaniums that I did try. When I changed them at just past 6 months they were still going strong. I just missed the monels. At 40 bucks, with that kind of longevity, I think they are reasonably priced.

Rosewood99 · #13 07-21-2018, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robj144

Ahh... makes sense. It's a no-brainer for me because I use Martin Marquis at maybe like $6 a set and I cycle through my many guitars when I play, so they last something like 6 months for me.

If Marquis last six months for you I would guess the titaniums would last at least a year and a half if not more.

SuperB23 · #14 07-21-2018, 01:00 PM

Are they making them in Mediums yet or still just lights?

rokdog49 · #15 07-21-2018, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulzoom

Wait-- if you got three months at $18 isn't that $36 for six months--only a $4 difference? Doesn't sound like much more if you like the sound better. Unless you just prefer the tone of the retros.

I said I got three months out of a set of Retros. I neglected to say the Retros cost $8.99 per set so two sets at $8.99 covering six months is $18 ( ok, $17.98)
I guess I assumed that would be evident. I should know never to assume.