What's a good site to buy small components cheap?

[Gear_Junky]

Obviously we all know the usual suspects - Allparts, Guitar Fetish, eBay, etc. But has anyone found a site where you can buy good quality stuff (jacks, switches, pots, caps, etc.) at reasonable prices and not get killed on shipping?

I'd almost rather buy a whole bunch of parts and "earn" free shipping than pay $4 to ship a $3 switch or a switch plate, etc.

Please share your secret spots

[mozz]

$4 shipping would be a bargain. Tubedepot has good prices but for small orders shipping is gonna be a killer. I now only order when i'm up to $100 or so. Ali express for cheap prices, cheap quality and cheap shipping, and 2 months for shipping.

[Gear_Junky]

Thank you. I realize that $4 may be a relative bargain, but really obscene to pay for a $3 part. Fortunately I just found the part I needed in my "trunk of junk"! Thank you.

Guitar Parts Resource has free shipping over $50 and some parts there are well priced. Ancient site, though, just like I remember it

[jtcnj]

Depends where you are located.
I use Tube Depot most often as well, and try to hit the $100 mark when putting together a build.

Recently I needed 2 9-pin tube sockets for a subtotal of $6.50, plus shipping $2.84, and NJ sales tax (GRR).
2.84/6.5 = .436.
Shipping cost of 44% of the item total is atrocious from that standpoint, and it adds up if you keep needing small items.
But, under $3. shipped from TN to NJ for a couple of parts I need, is not going to raise my blood pressure (any more than... I digress)

[Gear_Junky]

Yes, my previous practice of this approach are clearly paying off - I seem to have everything I may need to proceed with the partscaster bass. And I even found the right idea for the pickguard - I hate anemic white pickguards but some Squier pickguards for P-Bass for some reason are different and not interchangeable from other Squiers and Fenders. I saw a video on youtube where a guy just used a self-adhesive material (automotive) to apply to the guard and it comes out ok. Might not be as good, but better than that scratched up anemic white and cheaper and easier than hand-making your own. But I'll wait to see if the bass is playable before ordering that.

[Chocol8]

Depends where you are located.
I use Tube Depot most often as well, and try to hit the $100 mark when putting together a build.

Recently I needed 2 9-pin tube sockets for a subtotal of $6.50, plus shipping $2.84, and NJ sales tax (GRR).
2.84/6.5 = .436.
Shipping cost of 44% of the item total is atrocious from that standpoint, and it adds up if you keep needing small items.
But, under $3. shipped from TN to NJ for a couple of parts I need, is not going to raise my blood pressure (any more than... I digress)

I would think long and hard before ordering just a couple of sockets, have a couple of drinks, then buy an extra $95 of shit I didn’t need to save $2.84 in shipping. After receiving the shit I didn’t need, I would then come up with a project to use it all to make something else I don’t need, but I would be short a couple of sockets for $6.50 and then...

[tobijohn]

I like Philadelphia Luthiers. They're not the cheapest but prices are reasonable, a good selection, quality of their stuff has been consistent, shipping is quick and reasonably priced:

https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/

You also might want to check out eyguitar, they have just about everything you could possibly need, no complaints with the quality but they're in China and so it took a while and their shipping charges got a bit pricey unless you were ordering quantity:

https://www.eyguitarmusic.com/

[msc_]

I've had good experiences with Amplified Parts over the years. They have a huge selection and it's easy to navigate. https://www.amplifiedparts.com/

[Mossman]

I buy parts like jacks and pots in bulk from Amazon or ebay. I'm always building or modding something and I finally got tired of making frequent, small, orders. You just have to watch out for Chinese junk and counterfeits... Yeah, the Chinese even counterfeit pots! I bought a mess of "Bournes" pots once, and almost every one of them junked out over a short period of time. Some were DOA. Unfortunately, by the time it became evident that the pots were garbage, it was long past the point of return.

If I know it's made in China, I steer clear of that stuff anymore... No more Musiclily or TOMTOM purchases for me, thank you very much. Chinese parts are cheap because they're cheap. If you can't tell the difference by looking at it (and sometimes, you can't), you will after you've used it for a while. To borrow an old saw: "He who buys Chinese buys twice"...

I won't even buy Chinese screws anymore. I've had too many of them break at the slightest pressure while embedded in a guitar, requiring heroic efforts to remove.

Anyway, none of this information may be of any use to you... I guess I just wanted to rant a little.

[jtcnj]

I like Philadelphia Luthiers. They're not the cheapest but a good selection, quality of their stuff has been consistent, shipping is quick and reasonably priced:

https://www.philadelphialuthiertools.com/

I have used them quite often as well and highly recommend them too.
Shipping to me on the east coast NJ from PHila is reasonable.

[Gear_Junky]

I buy parts like jacks and pots in bulk from Amazon or ebay. I'm always building or modding something and I finally got tired of making frequent, small, orders. You just have to watch out for Chinese junk and counterfeits... Yeah, the Chinese even counterfeit pots! I bought a mess of "Bournes" pots once, and almost every one of them junked out over a short period of time. Some were DOA. Unfortunately, by the time it became evident that the pots were garbage, it was long past the point of return.

If I know it's made in China, I steer clear of that stuff anymore... No more Musiclily or TOMTOM purchases for me, thank you very much. Chinese parts are cheap because they're cheap. If you can't tell the difference by looking at it (and sometimes, you can't), you will after you've used it for a while. To borrow an old saw: "He who buys Chinese buys twice"...

I won't even buy Chinese screws anymore. I've had too many of them break at the slightest pressure while embedded in a guitar, requiring heroic efforts to remove.

Anyway, none of this information may be of any use to you... I guess I just wanted to rant a little.

1. Rants are more than welcome - it adds to the knowledge base. I always treat threads like this as "documenting" valuable info.
2. TOMTOM has "MOMO" kind of cleverly hidden in it, so no wonder
3. I do have such a screw with a broken off head in a bass right now - my next project to repair. It's really a shame.