Can old strings damage neck?

ugly_bassplayer · #1 07-23-2011, 10:07 AM

I met a luthier at a gig recently and he told me that the 6 year old flats I have on my bass will damage the neck if I don't change for new ones. This is the first time I've heard of this.

I think it's BS....can you pro luthiers hit me up with some answers.

Thank you.

hover · #2 07-23-2011, 11:49 AM

not a chance.

I have an 8-string bass with 6 year old strings that is still in tune and neck is fine.
Most of my basses go 4-5 months between string changes. Sometimes more. What could possibly damage the bass?
Luthier or quack?

MusicBear · #3 07-23-2011, 11:53 AM

Your guess is correct - complete BS.

RED J · #4 07-23-2011, 11:56 AM

Joe Osborn had the original strings on his bass for what, how many decades ? What a crock.

ugly_bassplayer · #5 07-23-2011, 12:38 PM

I knew he was full of it, a lot of playesr have the same strings for years.

RickenBoogie · #6 07-23-2011, 05:10 PM

must not be a very good luthier if that's what he thinks.

ugly_bassplayer · #7 07-23-2011, 05:18 PM

Are any of you guys pro luthiers?

Evil Undead · #8 07-23-2011, 05:23 PM

Jamerson never changed his strings on The Funk Machine.

ugly_bassplayer · #9 07-23-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Undead

Jamerson never changed his strings on The Funk Machine.

I already knew that. He's been my num 1 influence for the past 15 years.

mcnach · #10 07-23-2011, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugly_bassplayer

I met a luthier at a gig recently and he told me that the 6 year old flats I have on my bass will damage the neck if I don't change for new ones. This is the first time I've heard of this.that

I think it's BS....can you pro luthiers hit me up with some answers.

Thank you.

You kidding? Of course not. The tension will not magically increase or anything.
That "luthier" would not get my custom. BS.

Craig_S · #11 07-23-2011, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Undead

Jamerson never changed his strings on The Funk Machine.

It also had a warped neck and didn't play in tune.

CapnSev · #12 07-23-2011, 06:45 PM

What difference would new vs old strings possibly make on a neck?

Blues Bass Man · #13 07-23-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Undead

Jamerson never changed his strings on The Funk Machine.

This is a myth....Jamerson also did not only play one Bass his whole career. The Bass Jamerson played in L.A. was not 'The Funk Machine'. He also owned and played two Fender Precision Basses before he owned The Funk Machine....a 1957 and what looks to be a 1960.

Hopkins · #14 07-23-2011, 07:01 PM

The "luthier" you met is 100 percent full of beans. You don't have anything to worry about.

WilliamSandoval · #15 07-23-2011, 07:05 PM

Did he also tell you that you should take your bass to him and have the neck adjusted?

Handyman · #16 07-23-2011, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blues Bass Man

This is a myth....Jamerson also did not only play one Bass his whole career. The Bass Jamerson played in L.A. was not 'The Funk Machine'. He also owned and played two Fender Precision Basses before he owned The Funk Machine....a 1957 and what looks to be a 1960.

According to Standing in the Shadows of Motown, the 57 and early 60s P basses were stolen quite soon after he got them, and the Funk Machine was bought to replace the stolen instruments. There's no information in there about another bass used in LA. Do you have any documentation on that?

Anyway, if those strings have been fine for six years, they're not going to do anything bad to the neck now.

Blues Bass Man · #17 07-23-2011, 07:22 PM

The Funk Machine was stolen in Detroit before Jamerson moved to L.A. I got that information from one of The Funk Brothers....not going to drop any names though. Documentation ? Have you seen one picture of James Jamerson and The Funk Machine taken during Jamerson's Los Angeles period ? Sure you see pictures of Jamerson in L.A. with a Precision Bass, but the logo looks to be a 1965.

darkstorm · #18 07-23-2011, 07:37 PM

Nope old strings wont damage neck but might make neck & bass feel sad if their old cruddy toneless strings so old they dont even stay in partial tune no more. In which case new strings will make bass happy again. Lol.

Craig_S · #19 07-23-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

What difference would new vs old strings possibly make on a neck?

This is what I've read: Eventually, the core loses it's flexibility. The strings get to the point where they won't stretch anymore; there is no give left in them. They won't intonate properly and the stiff core creates additional tension on the neck.

Handyman · #20 07-23-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blues Bass Man

The Funk Machine was stolen in Detroit before Jamerson moved to L.A. I got that information from one of The Funk Brothers....not going to drop any names though. Documentation ? Have you seen one picture of James Jamerson and The Funk Machine taken during Jamerson's Los Angeles period ? Sure you see pictures of Jamerson in L.A. with a Precision Bass, but the logo looks to be a 1965.

You're right, the LA era photos are with that sunburst P bass. Don't know how I never noticed. that. And man, that guy was a thief magnet. Apparently THAT bass was stolen, too.