I'd better get over to Planet Bass and buy some strings before the rest of you deplete the supply!

Planet bass is great to buy thru. Very knowledgeable and quick responses via e-mail. Thanks, Planet Bass!I just got 5 string flats E-C Thomastick from them and they upgraded shipping to next day!!!!
 
 
Nick

I've been using DR Sunbeams long scale on my shortie with no problems.  
 
Thomastik Jazz Flats short scale strings work out well, too.

Do you heard about issues when cutting a string? I always heard that this compromises its winding integrity, but I always cut the end to get just 2 or 3 turns on post... and never felt any problems. Never had the outer winding sliding off core, never had changes on intonation or tone. So I've never worried about cutting a string, and never regret that.

If it helps, I use GHS Bassics because they had the tone I like: brighter than brand's regular nickelwound, like Boomer, and not as harsh as their regular stainless steel strings, like Super Steels. To me Rotosound and D'Addario usually sound more muffled and feel stiffer compared to GHSs.
 
They are also offered in not so usual sets, so I can get a heavier E string with a light G string (0.102 - 0.040). I feel they balance better with the way I play (I bend a lot, so I like lighter strings, but bottom strings tend to hit frets more easily when light, so I mix them to get tighter bottom with more flexible upper strings).  
 
And they are cheap, great bonus!
 
Bassics are more affordable than any other GHS set (around 12 bucks in US webstores, like juststring.com). Hard to beat on price...
 
But they clearly do not feel as slippy as Elixir (no uncoated string will be, either) and they are nikel coated steel strings, so they are not so gentle on frets also. So I try to always remember to use GHS's Fast Fret or Dunlop 65 before playing to make them more slippery and to have them fresh longer. This doesn't protect frets, but make strings feel easier on my fingers (and extends string life if you clean them again after playing, too).
 
I like that feel on fingers, but I didn't liked Elixir tone (even when new they sound like my bassic set after a week or two). But I tried them a couple of time... And cutted its end with no perceivable issues.

If Planet Bass runs out of Alembic strings, I just bought 3 sets for my SCSD from Bass Central for $30 each. They don't have Alembic strings listed on their site, but they do carry them.  
 
http://www.basscentral.com/2003/stringclub.shtml

Just strings just told me Alembic doesn't manufacture their strings anymore.

Who makes them for Alembic?

Perhaps they want to keep the OEM manufacturer  close to the vest, but it seems juststrings.com may have meant that they as a vendor discontinued selling them.  Since Alembic strings are the standard string that the Mothership uses on new basses, unless you select otherwise, I suspect they still offer them for sale.  We previously were informed via this topic that PlanetBass.com sells them.  Avery useful post and place to electronically hang.

I ordered some Alembic strings from juststrings.com a few months ago along with some other sets.  I promptly got my other sets, but no Alembics.  After contacting juststrings, I was told we have no idea when our next Alembic shipment is coming in, but we'll ship your's out when we get them.
 
After about a month, I called them up to see what was going on.  They told me that, given the difficulty in obtaining Alembic's strings, they were discontinuing the line indefinitely.  
 
Alembic strings are still the best, longest lasting brand I've ever used, though.  The set that came with my new SCSD lasted well over two years.
 
I may try the planetbass.com site to get some more.

When I bought my 3 sets from Bass Central, they shipped them directly from Alembic to me. I placed the order on Thursday & they shipped out on Monday. I had them by the weekend.

Short scale strings aren't listed on the planetbass link.  
 
Has Alembic stopped offering these strings through retailers?

Well, I assume something is up, since there would've been some clarification otherwise. And it kind of sucks, honestly. 59 bucks for a pack of strings? Um, no thanks....

The only thing that's up is that we have been backordered on the strings - we have to keep enough here for the basses we are setting up. As far as I can tell we should be having another fresh load delivered before the end of June.

Thanks Mica. Glad to hear it.