45 year old strings!!

[Tim Skaggs]

In a recent Bass Player segment, Phil Chen said the LaBella strings on his P-bass he used to record Jeff Beck's 1975 album "Blow By Blow" are 45 years old and still going strong. I have a Carvin 5 string with active electronics, a Gibson T-Bird with some kind of stainless steel roundwounds, a '62 Jazz parts bass (reissue parts) w/rounds, a Peavey Foundation "S" w/rounds, a MIJ Mustang w'flats, a Carvin 5 fretless w/half rounds, I even have a 1952 Kay M-1 upright, but I don't have ANYTHING CLOSE to as cool as a '63 P-bass with 45 year old flats.

That must be one of the coolest basses of in existence.

[ashtray9]

I'd love to give it a spin. I'm guessing the fingerboard is super grimy though... that's kind of off-putting.

[RickenBoogie]

There's another thread close by, and apparently, Mr Chen responded personally. How cool is that?

[Mr. Mig]

45 year old strings? Wow!!!! I wonder if he does a James Jamerson and boils the strings in vinegar to clean them and clean down the bass while they boil?

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mig

45 year old strings? Wow!!!! I wonder if he does a James Jamerson and boils the strings in vinegar to clean them and clean down the bass while they boil?

Qué?

I've never heard about JJ cleaning his strings. He never even cleaned his fretboards and he used to say the dirt kept the funk in!

[LilRay]

Originally Posted by One Drop

Qué?

I've never heard about JJ cleaning his strings. He never even cleaned his fretboards and he used to say the dirt kept the funk in!

A big +1 ?


BTW Rick, Chen posted on TB? Got a link?


God Bless, Ray

[wyleeboxer]

How does the metal keep from getting completely worn down after 45 years of plucking? I had big flats on my Azola electric stand up and after 2-3 years of playing they were like dental floss! But either way Phil is one of favorite players